UNWINDING (Jeff Garbutt April 2001)

INTRODUCTION:

Are your dancers getting too wound up and need to be "unwound" ? 
Well maybe they need some "unwinding therapy". 
Not to worry, you too can be a doctor and give your dancers some much needed treatment!
What am I talking about? Well this is how I explain it to my patients... er .. I mean dancers.

EXPLAINING IT TO THE DANCERS

For years, doctors have been telling us about the health benefits of Square Dancing. How it is a complete physical workout for the whole body, keeps us young, is good for our heart and is enjoyable at the same time.
But... they also warn us about a potential problem. Mainly that most of our dancing is done in a clockwise direction. Think of it, most times when we use moves such as "ferris wheel" or "couple circulate" we are moving clockwise - not anti-clockwise. We even "circle left" more times than we "circle right".
As a result -most dancers are getting "wound up". (Usually gets a bit of a laugh from the dancers").
In fact - studies done actually show that "long time" dancers develop longer left legs than right legs.
(Usually gets another bit of laughter).

So - it has been recommended that every few months- you should receive some "unwinding therapy" to prevent future health problems.

IDEAS TO THAT CAN BE USED

Rather than introduce complete modules, the following are some ideas that you can build upon in creating your own.
B1c - wave (W1c) - girls trade - boys run - ferris wheel - centres pass thru - B1c
W1c - girls trade - boys run - couples circulate - wheel and deal - veer right - veer left - trade by - B1c
W1c - swing thru - girls run - couples circulate twice - wheel & deal - pass thru - right and left grand
W1c - swing thru - boys run - veer right - centres veer left - centres wheel & deal - everyone trade by - B1c
L1p - left touch 1/4 - (column) circulate once - girls run left - B1c
Heads (sides) lead left - circle right halfway - head (side) men break and make two lines - L1p
Heads (sides) left square thru 4 - see saw corner - make a left hand wave - (LW1c) - Left swing thru - left spin the top - left hand hinge - boys turn back - B1c
LW1c - Left spin chain thru - boys circulate once - left spin chain thru - boys run - promenade
LW1c - left wing thru - left hand hinge - left scoot back - girls run left - wheel & deal - centres pass thru - B1c

And - don't forget "circle right". Anything, you can do from "circle left" can also be done whilst doing "circle right". For instance - "allemande left", "walk around", "half sashay", "ladies in men sashay" can all be done just as comfortably from "circle right" as they are done from "circle left"

WRAPPING IT UP:

Make sure you leave your patients (dancers) with a final statement such as: "There you are, you've had enough therapy for now, you will need another session in about 6 months. If you suffer any problems, take 2 asprin and call me in the morning."