Team Skating Lobes
(American Style in the side, Killian position)
(American Style in the side, Killian position)
source: Jim Moulton and Hazel Inman
Team skating lobes - American Style
(The Bridge)
The Criteria
A. The tracing is determined by the path between the partners. And as with solo dancing, the tracing and lobes should be smooth (usually circular) curves.
B. Both of both partners shoulders should be in parallel lines.
C. The line through the partners shoulders should be square with (perpendicular to) their tracing of the lobe, as is true with solo dancing.
The Consequence of these criteria is that the OUTER PARTNER on the lobe must travel faster over the floor than the INNER PARTNER.
During longer lobes this usually happens by small adjustments by each partner.
The Difficulty happens when changing lobes, especially small, tight ones.
For example, from curving right while on a center lobe to curving left on a barrier lobe. The partner inside of the center lobe curve (on the right) must speed up as they transition to become the partner outside the barrier lobe curve. The other partner (on the left) must slow down in order to keep shoulders in line and square to the tracing.
The Solution is for partners to exchange some momentum or speed, each slowing down or speeding up the other partner as the pattern requires. The feeling of this exchange is a slight, but definite rotation of the team as a whole. Some call this 'the bridge'.
The arms and holds must be firm, but not rigid, so each member can contribute to the effect, maintaining a taut, integrated whole.
'Spaghetti' arms are so not cool. And rigid arms don't give the flexibility needed for smoothly stroking each edge.
Accommodating the 'taller-shorter' effect. As partners change from being inside a lobe's curve to outside the next lobe's curve, their apparent relative height changes as they lean first one way, then the other. This also is particularly apparent when doing small, tight lobes. To avoid sliding up and down against each other as they change lobes, the partner on the inside should bend their knee a little more than when they are on the outside, making them selves more compact. The simple way to accomplish this is; if you feel that you are sliding up, bend you knee enough to stop the feeling that its happening. Think of an airplane banking in a turn, one wing lower, one wing higher.
What happens below the waist should not be seen above it.
Skating team is NOT two people skating next to each other in formation.
Skating team IS two people becoming one, unified, whole couple, interacting in subtle ways
Team Exercises
Side/Kilian position - consecutive 4 beat outside swings on left then right feet, straight down the rink. Both partners on same feet.
Open/Foxtrot position - consecutive 2 beat inside edges on left and right feet, straight down the floor. Both partners on same foot - both on left foot, then both on right foot. That is, both partners doing the mans Collegiate part.
(The Bridge)
The Criteria
A. The tracing is determined by the path between the partners. And as with solo dancing, the tracing and lobes should be smooth (usually circular) curves.
B. Both of both partners shoulders should be in parallel lines.
C. The line through the partners shoulders should be square with (perpendicular to) their tracing of the lobe, as is true with solo dancing.
The Consequence of these criteria is that the OUTER PARTNER on the lobe must travel faster over the floor than the INNER PARTNER.
During longer lobes this usually happens by small adjustments by each partner.
The Difficulty happens when changing lobes, especially small, tight ones.
For example, from curving right while on a center lobe to curving left on a barrier lobe. The partner inside of the center lobe curve (on the right) must speed up as they transition to become the partner outside the barrier lobe curve. The other partner (on the left) must slow down in order to keep shoulders in line and square to the tracing.
The Solution is for partners to exchange some momentum or speed, each slowing down or speeding up the other partner as the pattern requires. The feeling of this exchange is a slight, but definite rotation of the team as a whole. Some call this 'the bridge'.
The arms and holds must be firm, but not rigid, so each member can contribute to the effect, maintaining a taut, integrated whole.
'Spaghetti' arms are so not cool. And rigid arms don't give the flexibility needed for smoothly stroking each edge.
Accommodating the 'taller-shorter' effect. As partners change from being inside a lobe's curve to outside the next lobe's curve, their apparent relative height changes as they lean first one way, then the other. This also is particularly apparent when doing small, tight lobes. To avoid sliding up and down against each other as they change lobes, the partner on the inside should bend their knee a little more than when they are on the outside, making them selves more compact. The simple way to accomplish this is; if you feel that you are sliding up, bend you knee enough to stop the feeling that its happening. Think of an airplane banking in a turn, one wing lower, one wing higher.
What happens below the waist should not be seen above it.
Skating team is NOT two people skating next to each other in formation.
Skating team IS two people becoming one, unified, whole couple, interacting in subtle ways
Team Exercises
Side/Kilian position - consecutive 4 beat outside swings on left then right feet, straight down the rink. Both partners on same feet.
Open/Foxtrot position - consecutive 2 beat inside edges on left and right feet, straight down the floor. Both partners on same foot - both on left foot, then both on right foot. That is, both partners doing the mans Collegiate part.
The illustrations are not exact depictions of the Kilian (side) dance position, but are simplified to more clearly show the issues.
Illustration 1
Most common error. Left partner 'skating away' from the right partner, leaving them behind. |
Illustration 2
Keeping shoulders in line, but..... |
Illustration 3
What else to say? The illustration even looks happy. |
Illustration 4
Skaters at lobe transition |
Illustration 5 the problem
The taller-shorter effect |
Illustration 6 the solution
Keep shoulders even by more bent knee and slightly raised free leg (man), less bent knee (lady) |