Move gurus: what's this one called?

[David Bailey]

OK, in a possibly-vain effort to put some structure into my dancing, I'll try and describe some moves I do, which I've done for ages, but which I can't for the life of me remember their names. I know, I've looked through (a lot of) the after5 and jiveaholic sites, but these are the ones I couldn't identify. Any help would be most appreciated?

So, here's the first Mystery Move 1: "Comb with arm-curl":
- Get into LH man comb position
- Move your left arm up and around in a clockwise semi-circle, pushing the lady's arm forward and around as you go (so her arm also describes a semi-circle in front of you)
- Return the arms to the original position, then step back as for normal comb

Obviously, the lady has to bend her arm

Variants of this is when you do the semi-circle more energetically, and spin the lady clockwise at the top of the semi-circle...

I think this is a comb variant, but I can't find any description of it. I remember being taught it by Mike Ellard a few years back (so it must be a proper move ), but dunno what it's called...

Any ideas?

[Tiggerbabe]

Originally Posted by DavidJames

I remember being taught it by Mike Ellard a few years back (so it must be a proper move ), but dunno what it's called...

Any ideas?

Mmmmn, forgive me here..........but, if you can remember it being taught and you can lead it - does it matter what it's called?

[TheTramp]

Originally Posted by DavidJames

I remember being taught it by Mike Ellard a few years back (so it must be a proper move )

You think?!?

[David Bailey]

Originally Posted by Tiggerbabe

Mmmmn, forgive me here..........but, if you can remember it being taught and you can lead it - does it matter what it's called?

Maybe I'm just being picky, but I'd like to be able to describe it without having to call it the "slow comb corkscrew thingy", then having to write a long-winded description of it when people say "huh?"

I dunno, it's a good question as to useful move names are... Certainly lots of people have spent lots of time categorising them. I'd hate to have to learn all 600 of them, though, like teachers do, apparently.

Like everyone, I pretty much wrote down my own descriptions of each move when learning them. But I think the labels are still useful, except when they're things like "Nigel's Move", which is massively uninformative...

Originally Posted by TheTramp

You think?!?

Note the smiley on my post
Or, "How dare you imply that the very head of Ceroc could ever teach a dodgy move?!? Wash your mouth out, you 'orrible little man, and bow down in abject apology!"

[Gadget]

Originally Posted by DavidJames

So, here's the first Mystery Move 1: "Comb with arm-curl":
- Get into LH man comb position
- Move your left arm up and around in a clockwise semi-circle, pushing the lady's arm forward and around as you go (so her arm also describes a semi-circle in front of you)
- Return the arms to the original position, then step back as for normal comb

- Left handed comb? you sure? seems a bit of a waste if you are then using the left to pick up again - I do a similar move from a standard right handed comb.
- The semi-circle: clockwise (outside to in) or anticlockwise (inside to out)? And does the lady turn with it?
- "original position" as in the comb, or as in before the comb?

Not that any of that matters to the name of the move: I call my variation(s) comb with inside/outside arm-swoop exit. But it could easily be called fred.

[El Salsero Gringo]

I don't know what it's called, but I learnt it as an alternative exit from the move where the guy puts the girls right hand over his left shoulder then ducks under it so it passes onto his right shoulder (isn't that a duck-comb?) then sweeps with the left arm to turn the girl in front of him.

[MartinHarper]

I'm afraid I don't recognise the move from your description. I'd probably just call it a left-handed comb variation.

Originally Posted by DavidJames

It's a good question as to (how) useful move names are...

Poll: Are the names of moves useful to you?

[David Bailey]

Originally Posted by Gadget

Left handed comb? you sure?

Actually, now you come to mention it, it is probably the right hand...

But it can be done from the LH... just not as good.

Originally Posted by Gadget

And does the lady turn with it?

Nope, just wiggles, looking happy / bored / puzzled....

Originally Posted by Gadget

"original position" as in the comb, or as in before the comb?

As in the comb.

Originally Posted by Gadget

I call my variation(s) comb with inside/outside arm-swoop exit. But it could easily be called fred.

Good name! (the first one... )

So I guess it doesn't have an "official" name then...?

[El Salsero Gringo]

Originally Posted by DavidJames

So I guess it doesn't have an "official" name then...?

Oh, it does, but only those who are 'clear' are allowed to know it. Otherwise it might be dangerous.

[Trish]

Originally Posted by DavidJames

OK, in a possibly-vain effort to put some structure into my dancing, I'll try and describe some moves I do, which I've done for ages, but which I can't for the life of me remember their names. I know, I've looked through (a lot of) the after5 and jiveaholic sites, but these are the ones I couldn't identify. Any help would be most appreciated?

So, here's the first Mystery Move 1: "Comb with arm-curl":
- Get into LH man comb position
- Move your left arm up and around in a clockwise semi-circle, pushing the lady's arm forward and around as you go (so her arm also describes a semi-circle in front of you)
- Return the arms to the original position, then step back as for normal comb

Obviously, the lady has to bend her arm

Variants of this is when you do the semi-circle more energetically, and spin the lady clockwise at the top of the semi-circle...

I think this is a comb variant, but I can't find any description of it. I remember being taught it by Mike Ellard a few years back (so it must be a proper move ), but dunno what it's called...

Any ideas?

Nope, I'm with Gadget on this one, and I'm not clear what it looks like. It does sound a bit like a duckspin comb as ESG said.

Just to clarify:

1. Get into LH man comb position [with you so far]
2. Move your left [right?] arm up and around in a clockwise semi-circle, pushing the lady's arm forward and around as you go (so her arm also describes a semi-circle in front of you) [sounds to me as though the lady turns at this point, otherwise she's just waving her arm in a big circle, which would look a bit strange, I'd have thought. Otherwise do you turn as she keeps her arm on your shoulder? - if so this is a duck-spin comb.]
3. Return the arms to the original position [as Gadget said - which original position? The comb?], then step back as for normal comb [ok]

Anyway, if it's not a duck-spin, but is the move where you push the lady in a big sweeping return with your arm straight, I have done it but don't know if it's got a specific name. Otherwise I'm no further forward. Please can you help me out here? - sounds like a move I might like to try on some unsuspecting girls if I was clearer of the steps!

[David Bailey]

Originally Posted by Trish

Nope, I'm with Gadget on this one, and I'm not clear what it looks like.

Probably because my descriptive powers are less than stellar

Originally Posted by Trish

sounds to me as though the lady turns at this point, otherwise she's just waving her arm in a big circle, which would look a bit strange, I'd have thought. Otherwise do you turn as she keeps her arm on your shoulder? - if so this is a duck-spin comb.

No-one turns, no-one moves back, you're in close, and you just face each other and wiggle (if you want ). In fact, it's sometimes helpful during the "wave" bit to put your right hand lightly on the girl's left shoulder to ensure she doesn't turn - although that doesn't look so good.

I love the move because you can do it slow, it's a great filler, and (honest!) it looks good. It's also a great anticipation-catcher, not that I'd ever recommend doing such a nasty thing to any over-eager follower.
(But Mike did... )

[Trish]

Originally Posted by DavidJames

Probably because my descriptive powers are less than stellar


No-one turns, no-one moves back, you're in close, and you just face each other and wiggle (if you want ). In fact, it's sometimes helpful during the "wave" bit to put your right hand lightly on the girl's left shoulder to ensure she doesn't turn - although that doesn't look so good.

I love the move because you can do it slow, it's a great filler, and (honest!) it looks good. It's also a great anticipation-catcher, not that I'd ever recommend doing such a nasty thing to any over-eager follower.
(But Mike did... )

Still can't quite picture it - sorry, but then my powers of imagination were never that great! It's a shame you're not going to Camber - or perhaps you are and just haven't admitted it! If you are, we'll have to meet up, and you can show me how this move goes - I'm really curious now!

[David Bailey]

Originally Posted by Trish

Still can't quite picture it - sorry, but then my powers of imagination were never that great! It's a shame you're not going to Camber - or perhaps you are and just haven't admitted it! If you are, we'll have to meet up, and you can show me how this move goes - I'm really curious now!

Both ZW and Lory should be able to show it to you, I'll refresh them on it next time I see them

It's really not difficult, just a bit weird. Story of my life really...

[Nick M]

Originally Posted by DavidJames

No-one turns, no-one moves back, you're in close, and you just face each other and wiggle (if you want ). In fact, it's sometimes helpful during the "wave" bit to put your right hand lightly on the girl's left shoulder to ensure she doesn't turn - although that doesn't look so good.)

I think I was taught it (by John Eastman in Bristol) under the name "comb - shoulder roll"

BICBW

[David Bailey]

Originally Posted by Nick M

I think I was taught it (by John Eastman in Bristol) under the name "comb - shoulder roll"

BICBW

Sounds like a good name to me! (Certainly better than "Comb waving the arm about", which was my previous description...!)

Thanks

[spindr]

Dunno' what the name is -- I sort of think of it as an arm circle -- we've been dancing it at Salsa a lot -- and it suddenly appeared at a recent MJ class (alegedly having been on SDF).

The general effect is a bit like a one-armed Hallelujah except the arms do a big clockwise circle (from the leader's viewpoint) outwards (up above head height) and then in and down.

You don't really need a handhold to lead it -- you can just be wrist to wrist.
The problem is that a lot of MJ followers will immediately assume that because you've taken their hand above head height that you want them to turn under it -- even if there's no pressure/lead to do so.

There's a number of options to finish -- lead another start of the circle with more of a "flick and release" -- the lady *should* follow take her own hand up and then down (preferably with a bit of styling, rather than just letting it fall like a stone ) -- although there's a good chance that she'll dance a spin/turn anyway. While the lady's hand is completing its ascent/descent the guy can dance a spin and catch the lady's hand in front afterwards -- or the guy can simply step in slightly to the side and catch in a hammerlock behind his back.

SpinDr.

[David Bailey]

Originally Posted by spindr

Dunno' what the name is -- I sort of think of it as an arm circle -- we've been dancing it at Salsa a lot -- and it suddenly appeared at a recent MJ class (alegedly having been on SDF).

The general effect is a bit like a one-armed Hallelujah except the arms do a big clockwise circle (from the leader's viewpoint) outwards (up above head height) and then in and down.

Exactly - that's the baby!! Gold star, that man . And superb description, wish I could have been that clear at the start.

It's been in MJ a while, certainly I learnt it a few years ago, and have used it ever since - maybe it's now back in style... Still in the dark about official name though

Originally Posted by spindr

The problem is that a lot of MJ followers will immediately assume that because you've taken their hand above head height that you want them to turn under it -- even if there's no pressure/lead to do so.

Ah, well that's what sorts out the Women from the Girls, so to speak. It was originally taught to me specifically as an anticipation-catcher. Or, back-followers beware, to put it another way

[Trish]

Now that Nick M has mentioned a shoulder roll, it does sound a bit like one. Whenever I've been taught one of them though it's usually gone on into some sort of Mambo thing, rather than just staying still and wiggling. I'll take your advice though DavidJames and ask ZW and Lory if I find them at Camber.