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.