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SHADOW DANCE POSITIONS
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The term "shadow" is a rather broad one, refering to any position in which you are both facing the same way, one a little to the left and behind the other. The "default" is Man's Shadow, where he is the one behind, and the woman is to his right. In Left Shadow, he is behind and she is a little to his left.
In Woman's Shadow, she is the one who is behind. She is "shadowing" him, sort of following him. Woman's Right Shadow would put him on her right, and Woman's Left Shadow would put him on her left, still in front of her.
In the top photo here, we have a standard Shadow Position or Man's Right Shadow. They are exhibiting same footwork, but opposite footwork is common, too.
The second photo shows a very tight Shadow. She is barely to his right. When one partner is directly behind the other, we call this Tandem Position.
Much variability is allowed, in exact body position, footwork, handwork, and in body movement.
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Skaters
In Shadow Position, when left-left hands are joined and outstretched, and right-right hands are joined at the woman's waist, the position is called Skaters. If the woman uses her right hand to flare her skirt (and the man leaves his right hand on her hip), it is Skirt Skaters Position.
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(click on any thumbnail for a larger view)
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Left Shadow
In Left Shadow, the man is still behind the woman, but she is to his left.
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Woman's Shadow
Here, we have a sort of Shadow Position, but it is the woman who is behind and to the left of the man.
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Varsouvienne
In Varsouvienne Position, the man again dances behind and to the left of the woman, but right-right and left-left hands are joined and held high.
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Tandem
Again, in Tandem Position, the man is directly behind the woman. Actually, I suppose it is rare that the rule is strictly followed. In these photos, we see varying degrees of offset and almost continuous variation from Tandem, through Shadow, and into both Varsouvienne and Skaters.
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Woman's Tandem
As you would expect, in Woman's Tandem, she stands behind the man.
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Horizontal Tandem?
Is this an extreme form of Tandem or some kind of "layback" or even "lie down?"
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| Again, note the variability displayed in the degree of offset, that is, just how far to the left or right each dancer is relative to the other, in the distance between them, and in other features of styling. What name would you give to each of these positions, shown here and below? |
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| Oh, scratch my back; it feels soo good. |
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| Hey! No tickling. |
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| Photos © A. Curths; A. Gorczycki; A. Miller; D. Drury; E.Allen; F. Lepretre; J. Lee; P. Sosabowski; P. Suba; R. Sullivan; from Dancesport UK photo gallery. |
If you would like to read other articles on dance position, technique, styling, and specific dance rhythms, you may visit the article TOC.
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Go beyond this manual. Good instructional books and videos, both new and used, are available at low prices at Amazon. Find other references on our Sources and Links pages.
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