Technique Doctor by Helen Russell
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Helen Russell provides some advice on managing movements that involve dancers turning under their arm (without looking like a badly opened deckchair).
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The instruction to “turn under partner’s arm” or, “turn under own arm” can lead to confusion and frustration even amongst experienced dancers. RSCDS dances contain a range of different “turning under” movements. A selected few are explored here.
Miss Allie Anderson (Leaflet) Bars 5 – 8: 3rd, 2nd and 1st couples lead down the middle. Bars 9 – 12: on bar 9 men turn partner under right arm and lead up to original places on opposite sides. Photo 3 shows the end of bar 8.
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Rory O’ More (Book 1). In bars 5-6, 1st and 2nd couples cross to the opposite sides, 1st and 2nd women, nearer hands joined, dancing under an arch made by 1st and 2nd men. Photo no 1 shows the positions at the end of bar 6.
During bar 9, the men dance below their partners, crossing to the opposite side, while the women pull back by the right as they go under the joined arms, changing places with their partners as they do so.
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Bars 7 – 8: retaining hands, 1st and 2nd women and 1st and 2nd men change places on the sides, 1st woman dancing down to second place under the arm of 2nd woman, who dances out and up to 1st place, while 1st man dances down to 2nd place under the arm of 2nd man who dances out and up to first place. This turn is managed by the 1st couple facing down and dancing down, while turning away from the 2nd couple who are dancing up the outside of the set.
Near the end of bar 9, the couples are facing up the dance, but on the opposite sides.
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Helen would like to thank the eight dancers at RSCDS Summer School for their help in producing this article.
