2nd session of the series and a good one. We manage 8 dances over the evening, warming up with Kent Smith's Chicago Loop and then dancing City of Belfast without a talk through.
There is not a lot of story around the dances this week so
This night's dances were:
Chicago Loop (32 R 3) Kent Smith - Chicago Collection
City of Belfast (32 S 3 set) Mulholland - Belfast Jubilee
The Hazel Tree (32 J 3) Drewry - Brodie Book
The Docent's Tour (32 S 3) T. Wilson - Measures of Pleasure
Jessie's Hornpipe (32 R 3) Bk 8/9
Waverley (48 J 3) Bk 15/12
All for One (32 S 3 set) McMurtry - Dragonfly Book
The Punchbowl (32 R 3) Bk 5/5
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20 November 2013
The basics class was larger: last weeks beginners were back along with a couple who started last year but have been *very* busy this fall. Things are looking up here, 'cause a group without beginners is a dying group.
And that is my fear for Westchester. When I started teaching this group I could pull anything, and I do mean anything, out of my little box and they would handle it. Even a John Drewry piece of spaghetti choreography. I can't do that now. I now have to be careful what I choose and with teaching Shinkansen, in a bit of a time constraint ,was a mistake.
3rd session of the current series.
Warm up dance:
The Findlays' Jig (32 J 3) Goldring - 14 Social Dances 2000
The No Talk Through:
The Hazel Tree (32 J 3) Drewry - Brodie Book
Intermediate Class:
The Fountain Strathspey (32 S 3 set) Rbt. Gregg
Miss Hadden's Reel (32 J 3) Bk 23/5
Social hour:
The Silver Tassie (32 S 3) Drewry - L1
Blue Bonnets (32 J 2)
Shinkansen (32 R 3) A. Dix - Reel Friends 3
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The Findlays' Jig – It is basic and different. A hard combination to achieve. And I like cuddle casts if the dancers do more than 'make the motions' and actually acknowledge on another.
The Hazel Tree – I like the Espagnole! It isn't hard - it is simple!. So why all the panic stricken faces? It is only a half double fig. Eight… in a different orientation. Last weeks teaching actually took. They did a beautiful job of it.
The Fountain Strathspey – This one took more time than I anticipated. The opening figure took a lot more teaching than I planned. I need to re-think how and what I say cause what I did worked but not well. When done well a keeper!
Miss Hadden's Reel – An eye opener for me. Inverting a line of three should not be a mind twisting concept. But it was this day. Another "re-think the process" dance.
The Silver Tassie – Taught to the beginners downstairs, and opening the social dance period. Rondel is not my favourite figure. I do it well but very few others do. It is all about timing.
Blue Bonnets – good music but even that doesn't carry the dance. Good for beginners, otherwise tedious, in the extreme. (IMHO, of course)
Shinkansen – Again I misjudged. The meanwhile figure is the same as in Mrs Hamilton of Wishaw.
1C sets and dances an 6 bar track; 2C sets and dances a 4 bar track; 3C sets and dances a 2 bar track.
Even five years ago this would not have been a problem for this group. It is now. Sigh.
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