Topic: The Comb: contact or not?

[John Gimber: Webmaster]

OK, this is related to an earlier topic "How close to dance?".

It's a bit more specific - The Comb.

(For those who don't know this move, when both partners come in, the hand goes up over the lady's head, let go of the lady's hand, and as the man pulls back the hand is run around from the back of the lady's neck, past the face, and back to centre again.  Repeat over the guy's head, etc.)

Some people make contact and turn the step back into almost a caress, while others run the hand around about a cm away from their partners.

I have always taught this move during class as "no contact with the hair / face" - though obviously different moods, music and partners can change this.

I just wondered how other people see / do this move.

Do you feel a bit creeped-out if there is contact with your face during this move?  Or do you see more contact as a fun / serious flirt?

Are there preferences on how you see this move?

John.

[Pricey]

No no no no no!!!!!

Not because I'm particularly freaked out by people touching my face, (although it is a bit odd if I don't know you very well, it's quite an intimate gesture) but because usually the guy is hot and sweaty and uses my hand as a towel to wipe his forehead, the top of his head, his neck - and if I'm really unlucky his shoulders and arm and he steps away to take up the handhold again.  EURGH    It's even worse if he's a little thin on top 

The only person I'd make contact with is my boyfriend and he's usually dripping with sweat 

I have a bit of a rant about this in my classes when we teach the comb 

[Matt E]

As far as I've heard the long-standing question has been whether to avoid the neck. I tend to avoid placing the lady's hand on my neck for the reason Pricey mentioned. I often comb the lady and I try to avoid the back of the neck (lady sweat is unpleasant too!)

I would never, ever think of touching a lady's face apart from my girlfriend and just maybe my dance partner if we were competing and it worked with the music. It's much too intimate a gesture to just touch some random's face!!

[martinbendle]

Any deliberate contact that isn't required for (or as an aid to) a lead or follow is asking for trouble.  In asking for or accepting a dance in MJ, you're saying your hands, arms, shoulders, hips and back are fair game for contact when needed (I have to lead you somehow; I don't have Matt Evan's abilities to lead with a look, sadly).  There are a few other spots through which you can lead (tummy, legs, feet etc.), but should be done with lots of care and consideration, and are often led by an equivalent part of the man or with the lady's hand as a barrier.  Then same goes with where the man can place the lady's hand on him... (And where the lady places them!)

When it comes to leading a comb over my head, I usually make every effort to lead the ladies had towards (but not on to) my shoulder nearest to her to minimise necessary contact.  That was she can decide where her hand goes.

When it comes to a comb over the lady's head - unless you know *for sure* that it's OK - the only contact I make (beyond the above) is eye contact.

[jivedave]

please remove, thanks