Merrylin - Straight or Diagonal?

[ZPomeroy]

which way does this step go? the book says side, but some professionals say diagonal, so which is actually correct? picture this, your competing in merrylin and have just done step, swivel, step, you are just about to go into the chasse that follows, which direction do you take it? a horizontal line sidewards or on a diagonal?

[mummsie]

diagonal moving forward - never go to the side or backwards on this step as I have seen social dancers do it or you will run into people - mummsie

[Lioness]

We go sideways because our teacher teaches very much 'by the book' (too much, I say) but now I guess I've learnt something new.

[SwingWaltz]

Diagonal forward, to keep the momentum going. It's really hard going forward forward then horizontal to the side.

[ZPomeroy]

i'm just confused because 2 pro's from my studio have said complete opposite things to eachother, these pro's are usually very spot on wih their technical understanding, so thought i would clarify here.

[SwingWaltz]

Yes the book says side...some pros really stick to the book, others focus more on the overall movement.

[QPO]

Actually the original script says;

FWD WALK WITH SWIVEL TO DC - SIDE STEPS - FWD WALK WITH SWIVEL TO DW - SIDE STEPS


5   LF fwd down LOD, swivel to L, preparing to move DC, brush RF to LF ww   HB   S
    RF fwd and across in CBMP DC, moving DC                                           H   S
6   LF to side and diagonally fwd, moving DC                                           T   Q
    Close RF to LF                                                                                   T   Q
   LF to side and diagonally fwd, moving DC                                           TH   S
7   RF fwd down LOD, swivel to R, preparing to move DW, brush LF to RF ww   HB   S
   LF fwd and across in CBMP DW, moving DW                                           H   S
8   RF to side and diagonally fwd, moving DW                                          T   Q
    Close LF to RF                                                                                  T   Q
    RF to side and diagonally fwd, moving DW                                          TH   S

by Jim Fahey of Melbourne, and named after his daughter in the 1940's

[SwingWaltz]

Interesting....what does the other books say?

[waltzelf]

It's not diagonal.

"Diagonal" suggests that the foot itself is pointing diagonal to centre when the step is taken.

The step is a side step, as the foot alignment is parallell to the side of the floor. However the body is moving diagonal to centre.

[Vagabond]

Well if the creator of the script doesn't know what he was on about how can we?  But okay interpreting the script (original) states;  LF to side and diagonally fwd, moving DC - or the feet are moving in a forward diagonal movement thus the direction of movement is diagonal, This doesn't mean that the feet are pointing DC but LOD

If my recollection is right the question was in what direction the step goes;

which way does this step go? the book says side, but some professionals say diagonal, so which is actually correct? picture this, your competing in merrylin and have just done step, swivel, step, you are just about to go into the chasse that follows, which direction do you take it? a horizontal line sidewards or on a diagonal?

[waltzelf]

Well if the creator of the script doesn't know what he was on about how can we?  But okay interpreting the script (original) states;  LF to side and diagonally fwd, moving DC - or the feet are moving in a forward diagonal movement thus the direction of movement is diagonal, This doesn't mean that the feet are pointing DC but LOD

If my recollection is right the question was in what direction the step goes;

which way does this step go? the book says side, but some professionals say diagonal, so which is actually correct? picture this, your competing in merrylin and have just done step, swivel, step, you are just about to go into the chasse that follows, which direction do you take it? a horizontal line sidewards or on a diagonal?

This is all good, but remembering that the Merrilyn is a beginners dance - the moment you say "diagonal" the student will twist the entire body to be facing diagonal when taking the step, which is incorrect.

When teaching the Merrilyn, you want to tell the student to take a step to the side, while having the body move in a diagonal direction.

[QPO]

Hence it is very hard to read scripts if you don't understand the concept of the terms...Potatoe..potartoe :-)

[QPO]

I actually saw Maxine Durham do a merrilyn the other day, she did it so slow...it looked great. a friend of mine got to dance with her for the whole evening....I think he was very pleased to be able to do so and got some great advice along the way I think.

[waltzelf]

I actually saw Maxine Durham do a merrilyn the other day, she did it so slow...it looked great. a friend of mine got to dance with her for the whole evening....I think he was very pleased to be able to do so and got some great advice along the way I think.

Maxine was the one who taught my partner and I the Merrilyn that won us last years South Pacific championships

Brilliant teacher.

[QPO]

yes ...she is becoming part of our social circle...we keep crossing paths....and we are happy for her to join us... she is very knowledgeable