Pulling Taffy Variation # 1, Anchor, by Ev Hanson-Florin (February 2010)

Practicing this movement develops softness and a flow that originates from the waist and below. It’s a four-part movement as follows:

Start by bending the knees softly, turning the waist (carrying the upper body with it) to the right and bringing the right forearm across (palm facing the ground) while the left forearm (palm up) rests below the right elbow. Put all the weight on the right foot, extend the left foot forward from the knee heel down, turn the waist to the left. Allow the arms to separate as the left hand seems as if it’s sowing seeds while the weight shifts from the back foot to the front foot while anchoring the back heel to the ground. Bring the left foot back, turn the left hand over and end in graceful conclusion.

Turn the waist to the right, bringing the forearm across (palm facing the ground); the left arm (palm up) rests below the right elbow. Put all the weight on the right foot, extend the left foot sideways (heel first), turn the waist to the left, allowing the hands and arms to flow over each other, while the weight shifts gradually from the right foot to the left foot. Bring the right weightless foot in to meet the left foot, turn the left hand over and end in graceful conclusion.

Turn the waist to the left, and move the left forearm across (palm facing the ground); the right forearm (palm up) rests below the left elbow. Put all the weight on the left foot, extend the right foot forward from the knee (heel down), turn the waist to the right, allowing the arms and hands to flow over each other, while the weight shifts from the back foot to the front foot while anchoring the back heel to the ground. Bring the right foot back, turn the right hand over and end in graceful conclusion.

Turn the waist to the left, and move the left forearm across the body (palm facing the ground); the right forearm (palm up) rests below the left elbow. Put all the weight on the left foot, extend the right foot sideways, turn the waist to the right, allowing the arms to separate while the weight shifts from the left foot to the right foot. Bring the left foot to the right foot, turn the right hand over and end in graceful conclusion.

Repeat the above 4 steps three times and end in graceful conclusion. The waist and weight shift allow the hands and forearms to flow gracefully with practice. This is a movement that seems difficult at first and is not easy to teach to beginners in a circle.

There are several different options to use. First, demonstrate the movement. (This usually shows how gracefully it flows so the students will want to learn it.) Second, teach the footwork and waist turns (without arms) to get the flow of directions and the idea that the movement comes from the waist and below and combines the backwards and forwards movement (without lifting the back heel off the ground) with the sideways movement. This can be done either by mirroring and facing the students or by turning around so the students can see the movement from the back – and they can mimic the foot and waist movements unobtrusively. Next, face the students and mirror with hand movements, then with your back to the class. By this time the students will often have the flow and be able to relax in the movement. Then, with practice, the next lesson may even flow in a circle.

Extra tips: The top hand is the balance/grounding hand since it balances the foot that becomes weightless. The back foot is anchored to the ground, making it stable for those who have balance problems. The waist movement allows the hands to separate, giving weightlessness to the arms and hands.