Friendship through Equivalents and Dance Mechanics

EQUIVALENTS ARE YOUR FRIEND EQUIVALENTS ARE YOUR FRIEND ALL FRIENDSHIPS NEED WORK TO THRIVE ALL FRIENDSHIPS NEED WORK TO THRIVE Mel Wilkerson 28 Royce Crescent Lavington NSW, Australia 2641 wilkerson_mel@outlook.com

EQUIVALENTS ARE YOUR FRIEND EQUIVALENTS ARE YOUR FRIEND EQUIVALENT - Description - General Something equal to another in value, measure, force, effect or significance etc. equal; equivalent; even; facsimile; identical; indistinguishable; kindred; like; look- alike; matched; matching; mated; parallel; proportionate; related; resembling; same; same difference; similar; spitting image; undifferentiated; uniform EQUIVALENT - Square Dance Noun A movement or combinations of movements to achieve an outcome from start to finish that is equal in effect or significance to that movement or movements to which it has replaced. ALL EQUIVALENTS ARE EQUAL: BUT SOME EQUIVALENTS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS! Mel Wilkerson 28 Royce Crescent Lavington NSW, Australia 2641 wilkerson_mel@outlook.com George Orwell (kind of)

LESSONS LEARNED FROM MODULES LESSONS LEARNED FROM MODULES APPLY TO EQUIVALENTS APPLY TO EQUIVALENTS Caller Tool Kit Equivalents are a valuable Tool Tools must be used properly Take your time to learn them Choreographic Sequence A simple equivalent substitution can give a different feel or flow to already known sequences. Smooth Dancing IF YOUR ONLY TOOL IS A HAMMER EVERYTHING ELSE IS A NAIL

UNDERSTANDING IS THE KEY TO FRIENDSHIP UNDERSTANDING IS THE KEY TO FRIENDSHIP Published does not always mean correct Some equivalents work well in some cases but not in other cases holistic approach Body flow must be complimentary when using an equivalent Danceability must be considered with variety Any choreography that is uncomfortable to dance Is BAD CHOREOGRAPHY

Considerations of equivalent movement mechanics Considerations of equivalent movement mechanics Equivalent variety that sacrifices danceability is not worth it. Considerations: Floor space is there room to perform the action? Body Kinesthetics forward, right, left, static sudden change? Turning or spinning actions look for overflow with the equivalents Hand availability what hand is free before and after equivalent Knowing what an equivalent does is not enough! Half a battle is not winning a war.

Understanding equivalent use Understanding equivalent use Main uses for equivalents are correcting bad handedness or countering bad body flow or overflow. Consider: HEADS SQUARE THRU, (CB-CB Module) Swing thru, Boys Run, Bend the line, Right & Left Thru, Flutterwheel, Slide Thru, (Module ends), Allemande left, Square the set. What comes before the movement? What is the body motion (if any)? What hand is free at the start of the equivalent? What hand is free at the end of the equivalent? Is there room to do the equivalent dance action comfortably? Does the equivalent make a change in body flow? Anything else for example: What are the dancer s capabilities to perform the equivalent movements? I always start with Square thru, what can I do to change that? What must I consider? This is done for every equivalent used

Replacing Heads Square Thru. Replacing Heads Square Thru. HEADS SQUARE THRU, (CB-CB Module) Swing thru, Boys Run, Bend the line, Right & Left Thru, Flutterwheel, Slide Thru, (Module ends), Allemande left, Square the set. EQUIVALENTS REPLACE PERIODICALLY NOT ELIMINATE FROM REPETOIRE OPTIONS: 1. RIGHT AND LEFT THRU, HALF SASHAY, SLIDE THRU, (Star Thru) 2. RIGHT AND LEFT THRU, DIXIE STYLE, MEN TRADE, STEP THRU 3. PASS THE OCEAN, SWING THRU, TURN THRU (L-H free) 4. SLIDE THRU, LEFT SQUARE THRU 3 5. LADIES CHAIN & SWEEP 1/4, PASS THRU

Heads Square Thru Heads Square Thru Equivalent analysis. Equivalent analysis. 1. RIGHT AND LEFT THRU, HALF SASHAY, SLIDE THRU, Swing Thru, Boys Run, Bend the Line, Right and Left Thru, Flutterwheel, Slide thru . Is there anything before the movement to interfere with flow What is hand is free at the start What hand is free at the end Is there space to dance the sequence Does the following movement cause an unacceptable change in body flow Is there anything else to consider Is it a good equivalent for this module to replace square thru NO BOTH BOTH YES NO NO YES Works fine as an alternative equivalent sequence to replace Square Thru

Heads Square Thru Heads Square Thru Equivalent analysis. Equivalent analysis. 2. RIGHT AND LEFT THRU, DIXIE STYLE, MEN TRADE, STEP THRU, Swing Thru, Boys Run, Bend the Line, Right and Left Thru, Flutterwheel, Slide thru . Is there anything before the movement to interfere with flow What is hand is free at the start What hand is free at the end Is there space to dance the sequence Does the following movement cause an unacceptable change in body flow Is there anything else to consider Is it a good equivalent for this module to replace square thru NO BOTH BOTH YES Possibly NO NO The Step Thru is a forward left action for the ladies in the centre followed by the wave Swing Thru and for the boys is it like an extend. While not bad, it has that element which is in the Grey Area of possibly bad flow, so it is best not to use it followed by a Swing Thru

Heads Square Thru Heads Square Thru Equivalent analysis. Equivalent analysis. 3. PASS THE OCEAN, SWING THRU, TURN THRU, Swing Thru, Boys Run, Bend the Line, Right and Left Thru, Flutterwheel, Slide thru . Is there anything before the movement to interfere with flow What is hand is free at the start What hand is free at the end Is there space to dance the sequence Does the following movement cause an unacceptable change in body flow Is there anything else to consider Is it a good equivalent for this module to replace square thru NO BOTH LEFT YES NO NO NO Turn Thru is a right arm turning action followed by a right-hand Swing Thru. The argument that Scoot Back does the same thing is not valid because the release action is defined with Scoot Back, it is not with Turn Thru, and a left-hand action is the dancer expectation following a right arm Turn Thru.

Heads Square Thru Heads Square Thru Equivalent analysis. Equivalent analysis. 4. SLIDE THRU, LEFT SQUARE THRU 3, Swing Thru, Boys Run, Bend the Line, Right and Left Thru, Flutterwheel, Slide thru . Is there anything before the movement to interfere with flow What is hand is free at the start What hand is free at the end Is there space to dance the sequence Does the following movement cause an unacceptable change in body flow Is there anything else to consider Is it a good equivalent for this module to replace square thru NO BOTH RIGHT YES NO NO YES This appears to work fine. The Left Square Thru may need a prompt or extra emphasis. It is a good and familiar alternative to a regular square thru. Different - Not Difficult.

Heads Square Thru Heads Square Thru Equivalent analysis. Equivalent analysis. 5. LADIES CHAIN AND SWEEP 1/4, PASS THRU Swing Thru, Boys Run, Bend the Line, Right and Left Thru, Flutterwheel, Slide thru . Is there anything before the movement to interfere with flow What is hand is free at the start What hand is free at the end Is there space to dance the sequence Does the following movement cause an unacceptable change in body flow Is there anything else to consider Is it a good equivalent for this module to replace square thru NO BOTH BOTH YES NO YES NO Ladies chain and sweep - is it proper. According to Taminations yes it can be done. According to callers that use it, their dancers have no problems with it. According to other callers, it is improper and will break a floor down. According to the ARC, they do not define this specifically which some callers take to mean that it is fine because the ARC has not said it is improper. Although it is published in a lot of older manuals and references it is improper use

SIMPLE RULES AND CONSIDERATIONS SIMPLE RULES AND CONSIDERATIONS Knowing a=b is not enough Understanding equivalents and how to use makes them friendly Ignoring friends needs and boundaries makes them enemies -- the same for equivalents Equivalents, like modules, will fight against you if you do not respect their nature. All equivalents are equal But some are more equal than others It is all situation dependent.

Questions and Discussion Questions and Discussion Mel Wilkerson 28 Royce Crescent Lavington NSW, Australia 2641 wilkerson_mel@outlook.com