Interesting......

I like the way Ed mentioned in Russia, lady raise her left arm to signal the traffic behind the man when he is dancing backward.

As Philipp indicates that in UK, lady would pull back with her left hand behind the man's back.

I was taught that in such situation in U.S., lady will gently apply pressure with her left hand on man's upper arm in Standard/Smooth. If it is in Latin/Rhythm dances will be applying pressure to the back/top of man's shoulder.

Keh

Me again. Just realised I should be sticking to the smilies provided, as my own ones never come out right with the font changing! So here's the one that should come instead of the ugly :\ which looks quite good in DOS font:

thanx for your understanding

Whoah, clockwise... I wonder where those people learned how to dance? Maybe it would be good if the DJ would tell the crowd every once in a while that the direction to go is counterclockwise, that way you won't get vedy ticked off people on your back

"Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero." - Horace

Michelle, I believe that Ed is referring holding at the top of the rise for one (or more) full measure. For example, in waltz, instead of lowering at the end of "3" you would hold in the risen position and lower at the end of "6". This isn't that easy, requiring good balance and control.

Blair

Well, that's more than usual, to have your line crossed with the other couple. And NO there aren't plenty of people who have no regard to other couples, there are just few of them who KNOW what to do. The solution is however very very simple:

When the male partner moves along the line of Dance forward and sees a couple in front of him, the task isn't any difficult, just hang up (in my own experience, it is easier to do in the upper point of the movement), wait for the road to free up, then continue.

When it's backward it's is more complex, because the male partner does not see what happens behind his back. Here a help of the female partner is needed, in a form of signal that there's a need to pause. The most common signal know to me is rising her LEFT hand. Feeling that her left hand is up, do the same, hang... try seeing what happens or just wait for her hand to start going back down.

Just my two cents

letting the left hand rise - interesting. in the UK, it seems to be patting on the shoulder, pulling the leader back with the left hand (i.e. follower pulling herself closer to him, Newton) or grabbing his shoulder very hard. seems to naturally stop guys in their flow somehow.

Ooops sorry Michelle, one of those smilies went wrong. I didn't realise it was animated and it now appears rude, which was not intended!

Howard

Keh,

I have seen all three of these methods used. However, lifting the left hand very subtle and not always an effective way to communcate. The lady pulling on the man's shoulder is OK for social dancing but it will affect topline and is problably not the best for competition. This shoulder pull also often comes with a look of panic on the ladies face.

One of the floorcraft difficulties in American smooth is making an adjustment in an open position when man is backing LOD. The lady must signal the man with a look or gesture to indicate the trouble ahead.

Blair

Hi Ed What do you mean with "hang"? Do you stop dancing until you found a way to 'escape', or do just refrain yourself from taking big steps so you can avoid collision with whomever's there? Thanks

"Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero." - Horace

We've bumped into just about everyone from the danceschool, but that's not too surprising, since the floor is PACKED!

When my partner and I are on the floor, we do try to avoid everyone. I often hear him say: "Okie, let's get outta here!", and when he can't see what's happening behind him whenever he has to step backwards, I pat him on the shoulder or tell him that he has to hold back a little.

Do you mean with the line of dance the direction (counterclockwise) or the speed of the couple in a certain lane? It's kind of hard dancing clockwise when you see everyone coming atcha , but if you mean the latter I see your point. It's not always fun to have a couple in a "wrong" lane, but that will always happen and besides, it's great for developing floorcraft

"Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero." - Horace