How to use a Lobe Guide
Lobe guides available from RSA for $6.00 call Sharon McMahon 317-347-2626 Ext 108
Also there are downloadable files you can print out
Also there are downloadable files you can print out
A Lobe Guide works best for American Style Dances, where lobes have a constant curvature. Many International Style dances also have constant curvature, but some are written with 'hooked' edges and are not amenable to using the Lobe Guide.
Whether its a Test Dance that you are being tested on for a judges' commission or, for your OSP - Original Set Pattern dance, a lobe guide makes it so much easier to draw an accurate pattern. Students that are learning a dance can also benefit from 'diagramming' it; it focuses attention on where the baseline is, where the center of lobes are and where key steps occur.
Whether its a Test Dance that you are being tested on for a judges' commission or, for your OSP - Original Set Pattern dance, a lobe guide makes it so much easier to draw an accurate pattern. Students that are learning a dance can also benefit from 'diagramming' it; it focuses attention on where the baseline is, where the center of lobes are and where key steps occur.
I've chosen a simple dance to illustrate using the Lobe Guide: The City Blues. Its easiest to have a sketch to work from, this gives you a 'road map' of where you're going. Its a sketch, so it doesn't need to be too precise. It does need to show the edge's curve, exactly what edge it is, the number of beats its held and the step number. You only need to do one sequence, the repeated one will be done later
Draw a line with a ruler that will be the first straightaway baseline. Count the total number of beats or counts of the first (or only) center lobe. Select the section of the lobe guide that has that number. For the City Blues, that number is 8. Align the line on the lobe guide with the baseline. Trace the lobe guide from base line to baseline. Important: Also make separate marks at each count. We start drawing here because some dances - such as the Carlos Tango - do not begin at the baseline. We'll draw the first barrier lobe later.
Now count the total number of beats of the next lobe (a barrier lobe) from the center lobe until the baseline is crossed. In the City Blues this is 4. Trace the guide and mark where the counts are.
Drawing the corner lobe: Using a drafting triangle or the corner of a piece of paper, draw a perpendicular to the baseline where the previous lobe touches it. Count the total number of beats in the corner lobe. In the City Blues it is 8. Align the line on the guide, with 8 counts, to this line. Trace the curve and mark the counts. Not that the center of this lobe is also the center of the dance.
Now we come back to the first barrier lobe. We find that 4 beats will bring us to the baseline. Align the guide's 4 beat line, line up the end with the first center lobe, trace the curve and mark the counts.
Now erase small gaps to show the individual steps. Noting that steps start on the beat and end, for purposes here, before the next beat.
The repeated sequence: Most current dances show it. It makes it easy to see how the dance should be put on the floor. Although some published diagrams do not . The next step depends on what equipment you have.
If you can scan what you've done and have some image processing software, you can rotate your work 180 degrees and move it to align with your previous work. That is the easiest way to get a good symmetrical pattern.
You could also repeat the work you've done with the lobe guide, starting with another baseline and progressing from the last step in the sequence, working around in a counterclockwise direction.
If you can scan what you've done and have some image processing software, you can rotate your work 180 degrees and move it to align with your previous work. That is the easiest way to get a good symmetrical pattern.
You could also repeat the work you've done with the lobe guide, starting with another baseline and progressing from the last step in the sequence, working around in a counterclockwise direction.
Drawing centerlines and baselines:
Centerlines - Clearly indicate where those parts of the dance are. There are two, one through the long axis, the other through the short axis. They are drawn in a lighter weight than the pattern and are made with alternating long and short dashed lines.
Baselines - There are two schools of thought on baselines.
-The contemporary only shows baselines for the straightaway lobe/s. This allows dances like the City Blues to have center lobes that cross the center line of the rink, as dancers try to show how strong a skater they are.
-The traditional gives guidance on the corner/end lobes. This provides a more definite structure to putting the dance on the floor.
Baselines are drawn in a lighter weight than the pattern and are made with a uniformly dashed line.
Centerlines - Clearly indicate where those parts of the dance are. There are two, one through the long axis, the other through the short axis. They are drawn in a lighter weight than the pattern and are made with alternating long and short dashed lines.
Baselines - There are two schools of thought on baselines.
-The contemporary only shows baselines for the straightaway lobe/s. This allows dances like the City Blues to have center lobes that cross the center line of the rink, as dancers try to show how strong a skater they are.
-The traditional gives guidance on the corner/end lobes. This provides a more definite structure to putting the dance on the floor.
Baselines are drawn in a lighter weight than the pattern and are made with a uniformly dashed line.
Label the counts or beats. The dancers beats are not the same as the musical beats, although they are closely linked. For the City Blues, the musical time is Blues 4/4, the upper number being the counts per musical measure and is the one we're interested in. The dance notes sometimes state, "counted 1, 2, 3, 4" as is the case for the City Blues. This means that starting with the first step, we label the dots 1, 2, 3, 4, and repeat, 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on. The font for these numbers is usually quite small but still legible.
Waltzes are usually in 3/4 time and the dance steps are counted 1, 2, 3. In some cases, the dance's authors want us to count two musical measures together, so counted 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Marches are usually counted 1, 2, 3, 4, whether in 2/4, 4/4 or 6/8 time. But thats a story for a whole 'nuther chapter.
Waltzes are usually in 3/4 time and the dance steps are counted 1, 2, 3. In some cases, the dance's authors want us to count two musical measures together, so counted 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Marches are usually counted 1, 2, 3, 4, whether in 2/4, 4/4 or 6/8 time. But thats a story for a whole 'nuther chapter.
Label the steps: American Style dance uses the LOF - RIF type nomenclature. Foot, edge and direction (Forward or Backward) in that order.
Ice, and some domestic International Style and World Skate patterns use the LFO - RFI nomenclature and other small differences.
The font size is larger than the beat count labels. The step numbers are the same size as the steps.
Add START and REPEAT and, Title.
One might say, "But that doesn't fill an 8-1/2" by 11" sheet of paper." This is true, but the City Blues is a small dance. And the lobe Guide was made to fit diagrams on a 5-1/2" by 8-1/2" page in a booklet. Larger dances will naturally be larger using the Guide. And your finished drawing can be enlarged digitally or optically with a copier.
Dance notes - Look at existing dance notes to get ideas as how detailed to be. Steps that are unusual or present specific difficulties should be described.
Essentials:
Music: Rhythm, Time signature, Skaters' counting Blues 4/4; Counting 1-2-3-4
Tempo: Number of beats per minute 88 BPM
Position: Team bridge/s or solo Side "B" or Solo
Pattern: Set (fixed) or Border Set
Axis: angles allowed to cross the baseline 45-90 degrees
Opening
The dance starts on count 1 of a measure of music. The first step of the dance skated must be step #1. Opening steps must be either 8 or 16 beats of music in duration.
Dance notes
Comments on whatever steps need attention.
Ice, and some domestic International Style and World Skate patterns use the LFO - RFI nomenclature and other small differences.
The font size is larger than the beat count labels. The step numbers are the same size as the steps.
Add START and REPEAT and, Title.
One might say, "But that doesn't fill an 8-1/2" by 11" sheet of paper." This is true, but the City Blues is a small dance. And the lobe Guide was made to fit diagrams on a 5-1/2" by 8-1/2" page in a booklet. Larger dances will naturally be larger using the Guide. And your finished drawing can be enlarged digitally or optically with a copier.
Dance notes - Look at existing dance notes to get ideas as how detailed to be. Steps that are unusual or present specific difficulties should be described.
Essentials:
Music: Rhythm, Time signature, Skaters' counting Blues 4/4; Counting 1-2-3-4
Tempo: Number of beats per minute 88 BPM
Position: Team bridge/s or solo Side "B" or Solo
Pattern: Set (fixed) or Border Set
Axis: angles allowed to cross the baseline 45-90 degrees
Opening
The dance starts on count 1 of a measure of music. The first step of the dance skated must be step #1. Opening steps must be either 8 or 16 beats of music in duration.
Dance notes
Comments on whatever steps need attention.