Elmsford - 7 December 2011

Just another evening of dance. A few dances from the upcoming Westchester New Year's eve program and a few from the Kilts and Ghillies' Tea Dance program and we have an full evening.

The evening's dances were:
     Cabbages and Kings   (32 J 3)  Harbour City Coll.
     The Dean Bridge of Edinburgh   (32 S 3)   Bk 23/4
     The Chicago Loop   (32 R 3)  Kent Smith
     The Elusive Muse   (32 J 3 set)  Tim Wilson
     The Border Weavers   (32 S 3 set)  Alex Grey
     Christine M. Phillips   (32 J 3)  Bk 46/1
     Broadway   (32 S 3 set)  Chris Ronald

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Cabbages and Kings:-  A simple introduction to corners and a fine opening (read warm-up) dance.

The Dean Bridge of Edinburgh:- I taught this in 2002 and not again until this summer. It is growing on me but isn't likely to become my favourite strathspey of all time but, as I said, it is growing on me. I am not sure why the original directions for bars 17-20 read as two simultaneous half rights & lefts with the couple at the top crossing to begin and 3rd and 1st couples facing on the side to begin. It is an interesting concept but all it really is is a half grand chain 2 bars per hand. I find it much easier for the dancers to wrap their aching heads around that concept then the "as written" one.

The Chicago Loop:- This dance, in the words of the great contra-dance caller Ralph Paige, is "a little stinker".
Looks nice and easy until you have to remember the correct hand to use on bar 21.

The Elusive Muse:- This dance keeps garnering hearty applause and wide smiles when it is over. Neat dance and well deserving of its Dancer's Choice Award. Tim Wilson has written a number of very nice dances and is fast becoming one of my favourite devisors. I have put this one, and two others of his, on the Kilts and Ghillies Tea Dance in the hope that he becomes popular. He deserves it.

The Border Weavers:- The music for this dance is just scrumptious and carries the dance. Which needs space so the set can expand to accommodate the three couple petronella into line. Only a B/B+ dance in my opinion the music kicks it up a notch and it is worth doing again.

Christine M. Phillips:- A dancer's dance. If you still do not know how to dance a half reel of four, still do not know that if you start in the middle you MUST pass somebody by left shoulders on bar 4 you should stay in your chair. This dance rewards good knowledgeable dancers and that is why it too is on the Kilts and Ghillies Tea Dance program.

Broadway:- What a neat dance! Recommended.