A full set tonight - what a joy.
This week's dances:
The Back o' Bennachie (32 R 2) J. M. Duthie - 8 Dances
Ca' the Ewes tae the Knowes (32 S 2) 16/8
John of Bon Accord (32 R 3) 33/5 (Roy Goldring)
The Duchess Tree (32 S 3) John Drewry - Brodie Book
Glen Falloch (32 J 3) Jean Attwood - Alexander Dances 2
Mrs. Fitchet (32 S 2) Hugh Foss - Angus Fitchet Album
********
Ca' the Ewes tae the Knowes -
The second figure is the dance. The biggest disapointment is the music. The music chosen is a good traditional strathspey and it fits the dance well. I like the tune, truely. It is a good tune - but it just isn't the song tune. And that song is one of the most heart rendingly beautiful songs I have ever heard. And the Society chose not to use it. I don't get it.
John of Bon Accord -
A very good dance. But every time I teach it the instructions drive me to distraction. I want to say 'to drink', but I'm not much of a drinking man.
"Four progressive half-reels of three across the dance – danced as follows:"
The only clue as to how the reels actually work is buried deep in the text that 'follows'. Why do it that way? Why not say it the way it is and say it up front: four progressive diagonal half reels of three. 1M finishes each reel in 1L's, 2M's, 2L's, and 3M's positions respectively… and so on and so forth. No additional clarifications, amendments or dancing notes needed. Which is as it should be.
I object to the vagueness of the directons for the reels- but the directions for last figure are actually worse because it is the very specificity of the directions that are the issue.
The instructions for bars 25-32 read:
25-28 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples turn partners with right hands
three-quarters round to finish in a line up and down the
dance; facing partners and retaining right hands, all set.
29-32 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples turn partners with right hands
to finish on own sides and then, joining hands on the sides,
set to partners.
The troubling words being "facing partner" because that is exactly what you get. On bars 27-28 you have three couples squarely facing partner. The result: the first three-quarter turn looks pretty good, but the second three-quarter turn is just plain ugly, and I do mean ugly. When they face the dancers lose the shape of the turn and they then spend most of bars 29-30 trying, and usually failing, to regain it. That, in turn, makes them late onto the sidelines where they invariably fail to take hands and set all higgidly piggidly. UGLY!
What I now teach is this: dance the first three-quarter turn but turn your head to face your partner, not your body. This maintains the shape of the turn since you are still facing the correct direction. Now the second turn can be as good looking as the first, the dancers get to the sidelines in time to take hands neatly and the lines looks good. It's simple and it works.
Glen Falloch –
Yet another winner from Jean Attwood that deserves a place in the standard repetoire. Just keep the Rights and Lefts on the compact side.
The Duchess Tree –
An early Drewry dance and a classic.
Mrs. Fitchet –
Discussed at some length in the previous post ;-)
What became clear tonight is that sloppy dancing, for whatever reason, won't cut it in this dance. Correctly timing the fig. 8 is critical to the transition to the half diamond poussette. Miss the first and you will miss the second and you will miss the fun.
Showing posts with label Kilts and Ghillies class. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kilts and Ghillies class. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Kilts and Ghillies Class - 8 December 2009
The holidays are wrecking havoc with attendance. This is the second week in a row with only four dancers. 'Twas a good thing I went looking for 2C dances after last week's class.
Looking ahead next week is going to be a little on the sparse side too.
This weeks dances:
Collie Law (32 J 2) Roy Goldring - 24 Graded & Social Dances
Gala Water (32 S 2) J. M. Duthie
Rovin' Robin (32 R 2) SDA #4
Ca' the Ewes to the Knowes (32 S 2) 16/8
Scottish Reform (32 J 2) 3/1
Duchess of Atholl's Slipper (32 S 2) 9/3
The Caithness Heart (32 R 2) Jean Attwood - Leaflet 2
*****
Gala Water – Highland Schottische setting - not. I asked for Glasgow Highlander setting instead and needed to review that. But in the end the class responded positively to the dance. The music made a huge difference. I started out with a set of classical Skinner strathspeys but they didn't feel right. I ended up using a 4x32 S set from a McBain's Band recording (lead tune = Laird of Thrums). Just right!
Ca' the Ewes to the Knowes – how did this one fall by the way side? Oh yes, I remember now, the music. I still can't get around why the Society would choose a lead tune that wasn't the name song (which is just staggeringly pretty). But they did. Nice dance that deserves more air time. (I last taught this dance in 1994. Yikes.)
Duchess of Atholl's Slipper – Another nice dance but just loaded with timing issues that require a jug load of fudge factor. With room (and we had that!) timing issues were easy to sort out and when both couples remembered to dance in together (bar 24) it looked really nice!
The Caithness Heart – Another winner from Jean Attwood. It looks harder than it dances and it earned itself a Montague award.
Looking ahead next week is going to be a little on the sparse side too.
This weeks dances:
Collie Law (32 J 2) Roy Goldring - 24 Graded & Social Dances
Gala Water (32 S 2) J. M. Duthie
Rovin' Robin (32 R 2) SDA #4
Ca' the Ewes to the Knowes (32 S 2) 16/8
Scottish Reform (32 J 2) 3/1
Duchess of Atholl's Slipper (32 S 2) 9/3
The Caithness Heart (32 R 2) Jean Attwood - Leaflet 2
*****
Gala Water – Highland Schottische setting - not. I asked for Glasgow Highlander setting instead and needed to review that. But in the end the class responded positively to the dance. The music made a huge difference. I started out with a set of classical Skinner strathspeys but they didn't feel right. I ended up using a 4x32 S set from a McBain's Band recording (lead tune = Laird of Thrums). Just right!
Ca' the Ewes to the Knowes – how did this one fall by the way side? Oh yes, I remember now, the music. I still can't get around why the Society would choose a lead tune that wasn't the name song (which is just staggeringly pretty). But they did. Nice dance that deserves more air time. (I last taught this dance in 1994. Yikes.)
Duchess of Atholl's Slipper – Another nice dance but just loaded with timing issues that require a jug load of fudge factor. With room (and we had that!) timing issues were easy to sort out and when both couples remembered to dance in together (bar 24) it looked really nice!
The Caithness Heart – Another winner from Jean Attwood. It looks harder than it dances and it earned itself a Montague award.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Kilts and Ghillies Class - 1 December 2009
The dances:
On the Quarterdeck (32 H 2) Harbour City Book
Anna Holden's Strathspey (32 S 2) 42/2
The River Cree (32 J 2) 8/5
Phyllis' Fancy (32 S 2) Priddey-Sutton Coldfield
Elizabeth Adair (32 J 2) H. Foss-Angus Fitchet Album
Saw Ye My Wee Thing (32 J 2) 25/9
The Lea Rig (32 S 2) 21/5
Rovin' Robin (32 R 2) SDA 4
******
On the Quarterdeck – is becoming part of my standard repertoire. Simple, fun (and what hornpipe isn't) with enough of a twist that it's staying fresh.
Anna Holden's Strathspey – tonight was the 3rd time I have taught it this fall and it is beginning to show very nicely indeed. A small technique point that makes a difference: in the down the middle and up - if 2C dances to the top and 'casts' into top place it looks really really good. Doing that is like serving up cold whipped cream on top of warm pumpkin pie. Not essential but lusciously decadent.
The Lea Rig – A simple dance that is one of the most physically demanding - especially if you're dancing to form. And it's pretty. And the music borders on the sublime. And there is one point where I differ with the written directions. On bars 15-16 the instructions say 2M is to dance home by going between 1C as they set to one another. I hate that! It is so rude - and 2M can get home just as easily by dancing behind 1M as he sets. That is how I dance it and that is how I teach it. On the shortlist for the 2011 K&G ball.
Rovin' Robin – also on the 2011 K&G ball shortlist. Everybody's having way too much fun when they dance this one.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Kilts and Ghillies Class - 17 November 2009
A full set present tonight - Hoo Rah!
We danced:
Joie de Vivre (32 J 3C - adapted for 3C set) Bk 39/2
Dance No.39 (32 S 3 set) Bk 46 project
John of Bon Accord (32 R 3) Bk 33/5
The Nurseryman (32 J 3) Bk37/7
Joie de Vivre: Adapting Joie de Vivre for a 3C set is an interesting proposition. With couples in the order 3,1,2 you need to end 2, 3, 1. The easiest solution is to "fix" the Allemande thus: 3C dances up and out to the right as 1C dances up and to the left. 1C has now cut in front of 3C and the Allemande completes normally. (Thank you, Mary Shoolbraid Brandon! She wrote this "fix" into her dance The Double Sixsome - which is where I first saw it).
Dance No. 39: Very frustrating. I have taught it twice now and both times it was like going to the dentist. I could not believe that I had to teach a group of experienced dancers (most with over 20 years dancing experience) how to set to corners. Not Hello-Goodbye setting but set to 1st corner, set to 2nd corner - from scratch no less. A comment though brought me to earth.
How often does that figure actually appear? Answer: Not often. My guess is that a dance with that figure might get done once every 10-12 years. And my struggle is to remember that I am not normal. I don't forget these things - Once learned - learned. Other dancers need repetition to retain familiarity and they haven't had that. My frustration - My bad.
John of Bon Accord: For some reason this dance continues to fly under my radar. I have taught the dance in 1992, twice in 1994, once in 2003 and tonight. It is a far better dance than that record would indicate.
What is needed are good crisp, properly timed reels. 1C needs to keep the first 3 half reels HALF reels and not overshoot their marks. Every four bars those marks are: for 1L the center line of the set; for 1M one or the other of the sidelines. The subtlety here is where IL, in the transitional moments between the half reels, positions herself along the center line– for it is her relationship to her partner that create the axis of each new half reel. The four reels are on the diagonal (1M to 2L), straight across the set in 2nd place, on the diagonal (2M to 3L), and across the set in 3rd place.
The Nurseryman: One of my favourite dances. What I find special is not the Inverting Double Triangles but rather the transition from the Left Hands Across on the sides into lines of 3 across the set. The secret is to dance the Left Hands Across about half round, release hands and expand it into a sort of chase. Then when everyone links hands at the same moment what appeared to be circular magically transforms into a line and it just shines! That, IMHO, is the moment that defines the dance. And tonight someone else actually 'got' it!
We danced:
Joie de Vivre (32 J 3C - adapted for 3C set) Bk 39/2
Dance No.39 (32 S 3 set) Bk 46 project
John of Bon Accord (32 R 3) Bk 33/5
The Nurseryman (32 J 3) Bk37/7
Joie de Vivre: Adapting Joie de Vivre for a 3C set is an interesting proposition. With couples in the order 3,1,2 you need to end 2, 3, 1. The easiest solution is to "fix" the Allemande thus: 3C dances up and out to the right as 1C dances up and to the left. 1C has now cut in front of 3C and the Allemande completes normally. (Thank you, Mary Shoolbraid Brandon! She wrote this "fix" into her dance The Double Sixsome - which is where I first saw it).
Dance No. 39: Very frustrating. I have taught it twice now and both times it was like going to the dentist. I could not believe that I had to teach a group of experienced dancers (most with over 20 years dancing experience) how to set to corners. Not Hello-Goodbye setting but set to 1st corner, set to 2nd corner - from scratch no less. A comment though brought me to earth.
How often does that figure actually appear? Answer: Not often. My guess is that a dance with that figure might get done once every 10-12 years. And my struggle is to remember that I am not normal. I don't forget these things - Once learned - learned. Other dancers need repetition to retain familiarity and they haven't had that. My frustration - My bad.
John of Bon Accord: For some reason this dance continues to fly under my radar. I have taught the dance in 1992, twice in 1994, once in 2003 and tonight. It is a far better dance than that record would indicate.
What is needed are good crisp, properly timed reels. 1C needs to keep the first 3 half reels HALF reels and not overshoot their marks. Every four bars those marks are: for 1L the center line of the set; for 1M one or the other of the sidelines. The subtlety here is where IL, in the transitional moments between the half reels, positions herself along the center line– for it is her relationship to her partner that create the axis of each new half reel. The four reels are on the diagonal (1M to 2L), straight across the set in 2nd place, on the diagonal (2M to 3L), and across the set in 3rd place.
The Nurseryman: One of my favourite dances. What I find special is not the Inverting Double Triangles but rather the transition from the Left Hands Across on the sides into lines of 3 across the set. The secret is to dance the Left Hands Across about half round, release hands and expand it into a sort of chase. Then when everyone links hands at the same moment what appeared to be circular magically transforms into a line and it just shines! That, IMHO, is the moment that defines the dance. And tonight someone else actually 'got' it!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Kilts and Ghillies Class - 10 November 2009
Another squeaker - 6 dancers present.
We danced:
A Wee Nothin’ - 32 J 2 - E. Brunken
Seann Truibhas Willichan - 32 S 2 - 27/9
Winter Wonder - 32 H 3 adapted - J. Lataille, Fun for All Seasons
The Quaich - 32 S 3 adapted - J. Drewry
Saw Ye My Wee Thing - 32 J 2 - 25/9
Kendall’s Hornpipe - 32 J 2 - Gr 22
Anna Holden’s Strathspey - 32 S 2 - 42/2
The Red Baron - 32 R 2 - I. Boyd - Katherine’s Book
The big disappointment - not being able to get my teeth into the Book 46 dances.
The big thrill - finding out the proper pronunciation and meaning of 'quaich'.
We danced:
A Wee Nothin’ - 32 J 2 - E. Brunken
Seann Truibhas Willichan - 32 S 2 - 27/9
Winter Wonder - 32 H 3 adapted - J. Lataille, Fun for All Seasons
The Quaich - 32 S 3 adapted - J. Drewry
Saw Ye My Wee Thing - 32 J 2 - 25/9
Kendall’s Hornpipe - 32 J 2 - Gr 22
Anna Holden’s Strathspey - 32 S 2 - 42/2
The Red Baron - 32 R 2 - I. Boyd - Katherine’s Book
The big disappointment - not being able to get my teeth into the Book 46 dances.
The big thrill - finding out the proper pronunciation and meaning of 'quaich'.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Kilts and Ghillies Class - 3 November 2009
It was a very small class tonight - all of 3 couples.
I opened with Jane Lataille's dance After You (32 J 2/3/4) as a 2C set.
Next was Dance No. 39 (32 S 3C set) from the Book 46 Project.
An oldie was next - Haste to the Wedding (32 J 2C),
A Jean Attwood dance: Langholm Fair (32 S 3C set),
and we closed with The White Cockade (32 R 3C) suitably modified (1C 3C R&L3/4 and set) for dancing in a three couple set.
I opened with Jane Lataille's dance After You (32 J 2/3/4) as a 2C set.
Next was Dance No. 39 (32 S 3C set) from the Book 46 Project.
An oldie was next - Haste to the Wedding (32 J 2C),
A Jean Attwood dance: Langholm Fair (32 S 3C set),
and we closed with The White Cockade (32 R 3C) suitably modified (1C 3C R&L3/4 and set) for dancing in a three couple set.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Kilts & Ghillies Class - 27 Oct '09
Dances done tonight:
The Cadger's Roadie (32 J 2) -M. Zadworny
The Bonny Heather (32 S 2) - H. Ways
Autumn Leaves (32 J 3 set) - J. Lataille
Glen Falloch (32 J 3) - J. Attwood
The Valentine (32 S 3) - L. Gaul
Dunbar Castle (32 J 2) - B. Priddey
The response to Glen Falloch was gratifying. (I do so like that dance!) It dances easier than it teaches. Fun too. After The Valentine was done everyone just stood there. It took a direct question before anyone would say they liked it. I will have to try it on the class at a time when everyone has their brains in gear, which was not the case tonight. I had to work to get the dancers to move tonight and to get them to go where they were supposed to was another struggle.
The Cadger's Roadie (32 J 2) -M. Zadworny
The Bonny Heather (32 S 2) - H. Ways
Autumn Leaves (32 J 3 set) - J. Lataille
Glen Falloch (32 J 3) - J. Attwood
The Valentine (32 S 3) - L. Gaul
Dunbar Castle (32 J 2) - B. Priddey
The response to Glen Falloch was gratifying. (I do so like that dance!) It dances easier than it teaches. Fun too. After The Valentine was done everyone just stood there. It took a direct question before anyone would say they liked it. I will have to try it on the class at a time when everyone has their brains in gear, which was not the case tonight. I had to work to get the dancers to move tonight and to get them to go where they were supposed to was another struggle.
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