I presented the following dances:
Mrs Stewart's Jig - (32 J 3) - 35/11
Miss Janet Laing's Strathspey - (32 S 4) - 22/11 (Cramb)
Well Met in Paris - (32 H 3) - Glasspool
From Paper to Pearl - (32 S 3) - Collin
Mrs Stewart Linnell - (40 R 3) - Imperial 3 (Bayly)
«=» «=» «=» «=» «=» «= + =» «=» «=» «=» «=» «=»
Mrs Stewart's Jig:- Easy Peasy and now a part of the standard repertoire.
Miss Janet Laing's Strathspey:- It is on the K&G program. The dancers need to know it. Oh my poor aching head! SB is pointing her finger at me and I am pointing my finger at her, and honestly, I need to laugh.
When they finally get the circle thing it will be a nice dance. Will it be worth the effort? I am not sure. But the dance demands that the dancers rise above their usual. Demanding a stretch from dancers -- can it be a bad thing?
Well Met in Paris:- I had to. I truly had no choice. We have a new (to us) dancer in the class. He is from Paris, teaching at Yale, and his wife was visiting. Newly married, and… they met in Paris.
And the dance is in my top 50. It is indeed that good. The crossing by 2C to enter the reels of 3 on their own sides is just that needed hint of hot pepper that balances the meal.
From Paper to Pearl:- 👍 From Gaye Collin in NZ. Nice dance but even better, it is satisfying for everyone. I only show one thumb but actually there are enough thumbs for the dance to be on the K&G program
Mrs Stewart Linnell:- I taught this years ago and considered it difficult enough that I haven't been willing to teach it to any of my current classes. I am just a wimp - but enough of that!
The heart of the dance is a sequence. A quick one. you don't have time to consider things you need to move it. You need to complete the half reel passing by left shoulders in the middle before you take left hands and turn 3/4! The math becomes a wee bit convoluted if you take hands early and remember the 3/4 turn thing!
It works. Really! It works. Well enough that I have found in on ball programs from the UK from when they didn't talk dances through.
I give it two thumbs up: 👍 👍
Tuesday, July 23, 2019
19 December 2018_Westchester
Upcoming events: Hogmany; Burns Night (everywhere!); New Haven Ball; Rerr Terr Ball; Kilts and Ghilllies Tea Dance; Boston Ball; and Pawling. And that is many of but certainly not all of what is coming.
So does the burden, no lets be honest here, the tyranny of ball prep seem to hover over all of our shoulders? I am reminded of the story about the sword of Damocles.
Enough of that and on to nicer thoughts.
The dances I presented tonight were:
Bottoms Up - (32 J 3/3L) - Rhodes
Itchy Feet - (32 J 3) - Walton
Christmas Candy - (32 S 3) - McKinnell
The Clansman - (32 R 2) - 32/8 (Haynes)
The Lea Rig - (32 S 2) - 21/5
-†- = -†- + -†- = -†- + -†- = -†- + + + -†- = -†- + -†- = -†- + -†- = -†-
Bottoms Up:- Suggested by my co-conspirator SB for the Kilts and Ghillies Tea Dance. I never heard of it before so I needed to try it. It is a good wee simple dance but I found myself losing count which I usually don't do. So, rating? How does "Interesting" fit?
Itchy Feet:- This dance is becoming popular locally. It is fairly simple with only Set&Link3 to worry about.
Christmas Candy:- I do not know now why I picked up on this dance but it has that 'something" on reading. I know we didn't choose it for the K&G program but there are many reasons why dances don't make a cut that usually have nothing to do with the quality of the dance. This one just made it back on my "For Consideration" list.
The Clansman:- Just because. It is on the NY Branch dance list and NY dancers need to be familiar with it.
The Lea Rig:- Because I haven't done it or even seen it on a local program in a good 20 years!
Yes it was a bit over done. But there are so many newer dances who have never seen it and the music os too good to get lost. Just because I remember being burned out on it is not sufficient justification for never ever doing it again. And the repose was suitably positive. So there!
So does the burden, no lets be honest here, the tyranny of ball prep seem to hover over all of our shoulders? I am reminded of the story about the sword of Damocles.
Enough of that and on to nicer thoughts.
The dances I presented tonight were:
Bottoms Up - (32 J 3/3L) - Rhodes
Itchy Feet - (32 J 3) - Walton
Christmas Candy - (32 S 3) - McKinnell
The Clansman - (32 R 2) - 32/8 (Haynes)
The Lea Rig - (32 S 2) - 21/5
-†- = -†- + -†- = -†- + -†- = -†- + + + -†- = -†- + -†- = -†- + -†- = -†-
Bottoms Up:- Suggested by my co-conspirator SB for the Kilts and Ghillies Tea Dance. I never heard of it before so I needed to try it. It is a good wee simple dance but I found myself losing count which I usually don't do. So, rating? How does "Interesting" fit?
Itchy Feet:- This dance is becoming popular locally. It is fairly simple with only Set&Link3 to worry about.
Christmas Candy:- I do not know now why I picked up on this dance but it has that 'something" on reading. I know we didn't choose it for the K&G program but there are many reasons why dances don't make a cut that usually have nothing to do with the quality of the dance. This one just made it back on my "For Consideration" list.
The Clansman:- Just because. It is on the NY Branch dance list and NY dancers need to be familiar with it.
The Lea Rig:- Because I haven't done it or even seen it on a local program in a good 20 years!
Yes it was a bit over done. But there are so many newer dances who have never seen it and the music os too good to get lost. Just because I remember being burned out on it is not sufficient justification for never ever doing it again. And the repose was suitably positive. So there!
Saturday, July 20, 2019
27 November 2018_New Haven
Still prepping both Drewry Night and the April Kilts and Ghillies Tea Dance!
Beach Dancer - (32 J 3) - E. West
Belle of Bon Accord - (32 S 4) - Drewry
The Hazel Tree - (32 J 3) - Drewry
Peter's Mermaid - (32 S 3) - Katt
Ferla Mor - (32 R 3) - Drewry
Driving Through Eutaw - (32 J 3) - Leary
∆ † † ∆ ≠ ∆ † † ∆ ≠ ≠ ∆ ≠ ≠ ∆ † † ∆ ≠ ∆ † † ∆
Beach Dancer:- another nice Eddy West dance suggested by Sharlene Penman. And that zesty little chase gets them every time!
Peter's Mermaid:- Wendy has been working hard - this is the 5th or 6th iteration. This one!
And it is enough different. Coming Real Soon Now (to channel Jerry Pournelle).
Ferla Mor:- I hate it. Oh!– not the dance, just the way it is so often danced. The upraised arms and supposedly eerie sounds! Not good! The grey man is the person you sense following you, but when you turn and look – isn't there!
Oh well.
Driving Through Eutaw:- By Deborah and in the New Haven Ruby Collection. Asymmetrical, which blows many a mind, but I like that!
Beach Dancer - (32 J 3) - E. West
Belle of Bon Accord - (32 S 4) - Drewry
The Hazel Tree - (32 J 3) - Drewry
Peter's Mermaid - (32 S 3) - Katt
Ferla Mor - (32 R 3) - Drewry
Driving Through Eutaw - (32 J 3) - Leary
∆ † † ∆ ≠ ∆ † † ∆ ≠ ≠ ∆ ≠ ≠ ∆ † † ∆ ≠ ∆ † † ∆
Beach Dancer:- another nice Eddy West dance suggested by Sharlene Penman. And that zesty little chase gets them every time!
Peter's Mermaid:- Wendy has been working hard - this is the 5th or 6th iteration. This one!
And it is enough different. Coming Real Soon Now (to channel Jerry Pournelle).
Ferla Mor:- I hate it. Oh!– not the dance, just the way it is so often danced. The upraised arms and supposedly eerie sounds! Not good! The grey man is the person you sense following you, but when you turn and look – isn't there!
Oh well.
Driving Through Eutaw:- By Deborah and in the New Haven Ruby Collection. Asymmetrical, which blows many a mind, but I like that!
26 November 2018_Scotia
Coming Real Soon Now _ Drewry Night. And I have had enough. I taught three dances from the program, then onto two dances from the K&G tea dance - one of them a real stinker!
Ranadan-ce - (32 R 3) - Drewry
Bob Campbell - (32 S 3) - Drewry
Major Ian Stewart - (32 J 3) - Bk 35 (Drewry)
Miss Janet Laing's Strathspey - (32 S 4) - Bk 22 (Cramb)
Trip to Timber Ridge - (32 R 3) - Bk 52 (L. Henderson)
¢¢$ – $¢¢ - ¢¢$ – $¢¢ - ¢¢$ – $¢¢ - ¢¢$ – $¢¢ - ¢¢$ – $¢¢
Ramadan-ce:- It is (almost) all about the recorded music. It is so much fun! I like John's solution to the timing on bars 13-16 - there isn't enough time to turn RH twice around and too much time to turn only once. So, essentially, he says "figure it out". Me, I like to birl and go three, or even four, times round. Recommended, but not every week!
Bob Campbell:- It is a Drewry dance. Not one of his best but approachable by most. Faint praise?
Major Ian Stewart:- It has now become a standard. What I like is the rewards that good dancers get. It doable by fair dancers, it shines for good dancers - they get the eye contact and partnership rewards.
Miss Janet Laing's Strathspey:- H#@y Cow! What superb dancers-teachers can come up with boggles the mind! The opening 16 bars are nice - the following circles are nightmares! The standard of dancing required verges on the professional. Sloppy? Forget it! Impeccable? Maybe!
Trip to Timber Ridge:- Glorious!
Ranadan-ce - (32 R 3) - Drewry
Bob Campbell - (32 S 3) - Drewry
Major Ian Stewart - (32 J 3) - Bk 35 (Drewry)
Miss Janet Laing's Strathspey - (32 S 4) - Bk 22 (Cramb)
Trip to Timber Ridge - (32 R 3) - Bk 52 (L. Henderson)
¢¢$ – $¢¢ - ¢¢$ – $¢¢ - ¢¢$ – $¢¢ - ¢¢$ – $¢¢ - ¢¢$ – $¢¢
Ramadan-ce:- It is (almost) all about the recorded music. It is so much fun! I like John's solution to the timing on bars 13-16 - there isn't enough time to turn RH twice around and too much time to turn only once. So, essentially, he says "figure it out". Me, I like to birl and go three, or even four, times round. Recommended, but not every week!
Bob Campbell:- It is a Drewry dance. Not one of his best but approachable by most. Faint praise?
Major Ian Stewart:- It has now become a standard. What I like is the rewards that good dancers get. It doable by fair dancers, it shines for good dancers - they get the eye contact and partnership rewards.
Miss Janet Laing's Strathspey:- H#@y Cow! What superb dancers-teachers can come up with boggles the mind! The opening 16 bars are nice - the following circles are nightmares! The standard of dancing required verges on the professional. Sloppy? Forget it! Impeccable? Maybe!
Trip to Timber Ridge:- Glorious!
19 November 2018_Scotia
This week I was doing prep for both Drewry Night and my own Kilts and Ghillies Tea Dance (coming in April).
Kamo Karousel - (32 J 3) - Eddy West (NZ)
Bees of Maggieknockater - (32 J 4) - Drewry
Belle of Bon Accord - (32 S 4) - Drewry
Glenalmond Gamekeeper - (40 R 3) - Drewry
Balgownie Brig - (32 S 3 ) - Drewry
The Spinning Wheel - (32 J - Let's All Dance Too
+* - *+ * +*-*+ * +*-*+ * +*-*+ * +*-*+ - +*-*+
Kamo Karousel:- Nice dance. From NZ devised by Eddy West. On the K&G program for two good reasons. First: it is a good dance. Second the bandleader is Sharlene Penman who also is from NZ (and she recommended it).
Currently my "problem" is that, given the necessary prep for the 2020 K&G dance there are too many good dances just don't fit into the time constraints and drop through the cracks. This one deserves to be repeated and I keep failing get it in.
Bees of Maggieknockater:- in the local repertoire, and a multi-year choice for the Drewry Night program. When danced well it is beautiful. As usually danced it is not so nice, actually kind of messy.
My key to the dance is the letting go have hands when in the promenade reels of three.
If you wait until you are in the middle of the dance and are directly face-to-face with your next "partner" it is too late!! IMHO the best time to release promenade hold is bar 3-ish - when you are either on the sidelines or on the ends of the set - before you actually meet. Think bars 1 and 8 of lead down the middle and up.
Belle of Bon Accord:- It's a nice one. Rewards good dancing.
Glenalmond Gamekeeper:- I remember John teaching this dance when he visited New Haven. It took a while. He was a bit too particular with his wording, which he understood. He didn't have any alternative phrases/wording to fall back on.
Balgownie Brig:- In this one he bends the usual almost beyond recognition. Be prepared to teach!
It was my experience that it works, quite nicely actually (don't most of his?) but I didn't get the sense that the dancers loved it and really really wanted to do it again.
Maybe when there is no ball prep pressure?
Sla'ine's Fancy (The Spinning Wheel):- Nice, simple, easy peasy jig. Good to have in your back pocket.
Kamo Karousel - (32 J 3) - Eddy West (NZ)
Bees of Maggieknockater - (32 J 4) - Drewry
Belle of Bon Accord - (32 S 4) - Drewry
Glenalmond Gamekeeper - (40 R 3) - Drewry
Balgownie Brig - (32 S 3 ) - Drewry
The Spinning Wheel - (32 J - Let's All Dance Too
+* - *+ * +*-*+ * +*-*+ * +*-*+ * +*-*+ - +*-*+
Kamo Karousel:- Nice dance. From NZ devised by Eddy West. On the K&G program for two good reasons. First: it is a good dance. Second the bandleader is Sharlene Penman who also is from NZ (and she recommended it).
Currently my "problem" is that, given the necessary prep for the 2020 K&G dance there are too many good dances just don't fit into the time constraints and drop through the cracks. This one deserves to be repeated and I keep failing get it in.
Bees of Maggieknockater:- in the local repertoire, and a multi-year choice for the Drewry Night program. When danced well it is beautiful. As usually danced it is not so nice, actually kind of messy.
My key to the dance is the letting go have hands when in the promenade reels of three.
If you wait until you are in the middle of the dance and are directly face-to-face with your next "partner" it is too late!! IMHO the best time to release promenade hold is bar 3-ish - when you are either on the sidelines or on the ends of the set - before you actually meet. Think bars 1 and 8 of lead down the middle and up.
Belle of Bon Accord:- It's a nice one. Rewards good dancing.
Glenalmond Gamekeeper:- I remember John teaching this dance when he visited New Haven. It took a while. He was a bit too particular with his wording, which he understood. He didn't have any alternative phrases/wording to fall back on.
Balgownie Brig:- In this one he bends the usual almost beyond recognition. Be prepared to teach!
It was my experience that it works, quite nicely actually (don't most of his?) but I didn't get the sense that the dancers loved it and really really wanted to do it again.
Maybe when there is no ball prep pressure?
Sla'ine's Fancy (The Spinning Wheel):- Nice, simple, easy peasy jig. Good to have in your back pocket.
5 November 2018_Scotia
Surging toward us with a rattle and a roar is Drewry Night, an early December program of John Drewry dances.
Tonights program with come leavening):
Orpington Caaledonians - (32 R 3) - Bk 49/2
Hazel Tree - (32 J 3) - John Drewry
Blooms of Bon Accord - (32 R 4) - John Drewry
The Aviator - (32 J 3) - Bk 52/9 (K. Fischer)
Triple Happiness - (32 S 3/3L) - Bk 52/10
The Sailor - (32 H 3) - Bk 24/4
** - - ** ** - - ** ** - - ** ** - - ** ** - - **
Nothing of any real importance.
Orpington Caledonians:- asymmetrical. Good for the brains!
Hazel Tree:- local repertoire and it too breaks with muscle memory.
The Aviator:- Why? Because I love it! When the 1C cover the peel off
reels and turns it is just the best!
Triple Happiness:- not bad. Not my favourite but it is a fairly easy peasy go to dance. And somewhere in here I needed a strathspey.
The Sailor:- a nice known doable dance for an ender.
Tonights program with come leavening):
Orpington Caaledonians - (32 R 3) - Bk 49/2
Hazel Tree - (32 J 3) - John Drewry
Blooms of Bon Accord - (32 R 4) - John Drewry
The Aviator - (32 J 3) - Bk 52/9 (K. Fischer)
Triple Happiness - (32 S 3/3L) - Bk 52/10
The Sailor - (32 H 3) - Bk 24/4
** - - ** ** - - ** ** - - ** ** - - ** ** - - **
Nothing of any real importance.
Orpington Caledonians:- asymmetrical. Good for the brains!
Hazel Tree:- local repertoire and it too breaks with muscle memory.
The Aviator:- Why? Because I love it! When the 1C cover the peel off
reels and turns it is just the best!
Triple Happiness:- not bad. Not my favourite but it is a fairly easy peasy go to dance. And somewhere in here I needed a strathspey.
The Sailor:- a nice known doable dance for an ender.
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