ABSTRACT
In the progression from body-as-a-whole movements to specific gestures of a particular limb, we meet the need to designate one-sided actions without specifying arm or leg, or involvement of right or left hip or shoulder. An action for, let us say, the right side of the body could mean both limbs moving in the same direction, or each in an opposite or different direction. The normal counter movement in the body, e.g. right leg backward, right arm forward, or the reverse, right leg forward, right arm backward, would fill the requirements of Ex. 326a. So would twisting, flexion or extension for the right side of the body. Contracting at the waist, pulling the right hip and knee up, the right shoulder and elbow down, would also serve, though we would expect to see Ex. 326b written if such an action were specifically wanted. One-sided actions may seem limited, but much of interest can occur, and the possibilities should be explored using shifts of weight as well as directional actions. It will be found that in selecting movement patterns and establishing sequences, use of only one or other side of the body is more likely to occur occasionally, rather than continuously, hence the need for ‘signing off’ the center line of the body.
