| K. from Amarillo
believes if you danced clockwise in the same direction you wind up a clock you
would soon be wound up too tight to dance. I agree wholeheartedly as I have seen
many dancers that were too tight to dance or even to walk straight for that matter.
Liz, a transplanted British subject, now a self-proclaimed Texan, states
from experience, not only Texans dance counter-clockwise. The English Gay Gordons,
the Military Two-Step and Greek dancing dating back to sixth century B.C., all
dance in counter-clockwise fashion.
Some eight respondents agree that
the majority of all people are right-handed and therefore probably right-footed
also. (This may vary.) They place their right hand on their partner's waist, grasp
their partner's other hand in their left hand and yell "charge" or "Big Balls
In Cow Town" then lead in the direction pointed. This could have originated either
in the military or on a Bob
Wills dance floor sometime after the break.
Linda believes the dance
direction could be influenced by the equator. An old adage touts that flushed
toilet water north of the equator swirled counter clockwise while flushed toilet
water south of the equator swirled clockwise. I checked both my bathrooms and
can testify that if this is true, the equator lies somewhere between my north
and south bathrooms.
L.R., a doctor from Amarillo
states, "We dance counter-clockwise because that is the direction ordained by
NASCAR." (This may cloud our opinions of always trusting our doctor and his or
her decisions.)
Some six respondents pointed out that NASCAR, horse races,
high school, collegiate and Olympic races and airport landing patterns all circle
counter clockwise.
We now know that military and Greek dancing go left,
cowboys mount their horses on the left, car steering wheels in America are located
on the left, cars meet and pass to the left, and on and on and on.
So
we have determined from all our research, verified by our readers and backed up
from a lifetime of experience, that we dance around
the floor in a counter clockwise direction because "it seems to be the natural
order of things."
Saying it best we quote Buck Owens the famous western
singer who said it in song, "all I have to do is act naturally."
Thanks
folks. That was fun!
© Delbert
Trew
"It's All Trew" December
21, 2010 column
Delbert Trew is a freelance writer and retired rancher. He
can be reached at 806-779-3164, by mail at Box A, Alanreed, TX 79002, or by e-mail
at trewblue@centramedia.net. For books see DelbertTrew.com. His column appears
weekly.
See
Burning question counterintuitive - Western Dance by Delbert Trew |
