The Waterbury Class is a joy. We had 6 couples tonight and that makes the teaching and dynamics easier and pleasanter.
Tonight's dances were, again, all from the upcoming Tea Dance program and were:
Quarrie's Jig (32 J 3) 36/3
Gypsy Dreams (32 S 2) T. Glasspool
The Piper and the Penguin (88 R 4 square) R. Goldring
Da Rain Dancin' (32 R 3) R. Wallace
**********
Quarrie's Jig:- Another modern dance from the Society that is just delightful and, deservidly, becoming part of the standard repertoire.
Gypsy Dreams:- One of the most beautiful dances I have ever seen. And worth learning the tournee for. And if you can make the tournee beautiful the dance tips over into the sublime.
The Piper and the Penguin:- Another 88 bar reel from Roy Goldring. He has several of these and overall deserves being Canonized. Why ? Because it means I never ever again have to put The Round Reel of Eight on another program.
And then there is this - the dance and it's music are fun!
Da Rain Dancin':- Good music, good dance, good time! I learned this dance from Ron Wallace one summer at Pinewoods (dance camp in Plymouth, Mass.). One point that he made then is not explicitly made in the written directions.
In the set to corner, turn partner figure: the first pas de basque is in place to 1st corner, the second pas de basque is a move to the left, turning slightly, not to face partner, but to have right shoulders facing partner ready for the right hand turn to face second corners.
Again, when setting to second corners, the 'goodbye' portion is a small move that leaves the dancers with shoulders pointing toward one another and setting up the RH turn.
It changes the character of the dance.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Waterbury Class - 8 April 2011
Another installation in the continuing saga of ball prep.
Tonight it is Waterbury and the dances were:
Mrs Stewart's Jig (32 J 3) 35/1
Knights' Heys (32 H 3) T. Glasspool
Gordon of Straloch (32 S 3) Peter Price
Miss Muriel Johnstone's Jig (32 J 3) Dale Birdsall
**********
Mrs Stewart's Jig:- One of your everyday good enough jigs that a foundation stone of the dance.
Knights' Heys:- One of my favourite dances, recipient of a "Dancer's Choice Award" and every time I teach it I get positive responses from many of the dancers. Certainly deserving of a place on anyone's Top 50 list, and, in my humble opinion, deserving to be recognized more widely and incorporated into the standard repertoire.
Gordon of Straloch:- Yes I did write this dance. And the more I teach it the higher it rises in my estimation. I give most of the credit to Liz Donaldson for her arrangement that I could not resist and was so inspired by.
Miss Muriel Johnstone's Jig:- Oh my oh my. this one is far more confusing than I anticipated. The second teaching didn't go much better than the first. Ralph Page, the late celebrated caller of New England contra Dancers, had a category of dances that he called "little stinkers" because they played with experienced dancer's minds. This dance deserves the same sobriquet.
Tonight it is Waterbury and the dances were:
Mrs Stewart's Jig (32 J 3) 35/1
Knights' Heys (32 H 3) T. Glasspool
Gordon of Straloch (32 S 3) Peter Price
Miss Muriel Johnstone's Jig (32 J 3) Dale Birdsall
**********
Mrs Stewart's Jig:- One of your everyday good enough jigs that a foundation stone of the dance.
Knights' Heys:- One of my favourite dances, recipient of a "Dancer's Choice Award" and every time I teach it I get positive responses from many of the dancers. Certainly deserving of a place on anyone's Top 50 list, and, in my humble opinion, deserving to be recognized more widely and incorporated into the standard repertoire.
Gordon of Straloch:- Yes I did write this dance. And the more I teach it the higher it rises in my estimation. I give most of the credit to Liz Donaldson for her arrangement that I could not resist and was so inspired by.
Miss Muriel Johnstone's Jig:- Oh my oh my. this one is far more confusing than I anticipated. The second teaching didn't go much better than the first. Ralph Page, the late celebrated caller of New England contra Dancers, had a category of dances that he called "little stinkers" because they played with experienced dancer's minds. This dance deserves the same sobriquet.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Waterbury Class - 1 April 2011
Thank you Barbara Austen for teaching these many weeks and taking care of the class when I could not.
Class relocated from Woodbridge and now getting enough dancers on a regular basis. Hooray!
I tried a new teaching method tonight and several dancers responded well to it. The method is a bit slower than is my wont, but I can bear that if I don't have to keep making teaching points and if they actually need less walking through.
I walked the first 8 bars - had 1C walk and then dance it - and to the bottom.
Second couple then danced the first 8 bars, I then taught them the 2nd 8 bars and had them dance that and to the bottom. Third couple then dances the first 16 bars, gets taught the 3rd figure and dance it - and to the bottom. Then fourth couple dances the first 24 bars, gets taught the last figure, dances it.
Next couple (original 1st usually) now gets the whole dance, and if it goes well I let the music run 8x through.
It worked well enough that I'm going to refine it and use it but maybe not ALL the time.
Tonight's dances were:
Bonny Blue Bride (32 J 3) Tod McCall - Wee Hoose on the Prairie
Linnea's Strathspey (32 S 3) Tim Wilson -Dunsmuir
Fireside Reel (32 R 3) 18C
Hooper's Jig (32 J 3) Misc 2
**********
Bonny Blue Bride:- A nice simple baby jig that I pulled out of my wee card file 'cause I wasn't prepared and it looked easy enough and busy enough to make for a good warm up dance. I was right. And I was surprised that the dance wasn't a throw away either. It is just different enough to be worth keeping available. But no nominations for a Dancer's Choice Award.
Linnea's Strathspey:- Dancer's (and Teacher's) Choice Awards for this one! Keeper and then some. As far as I am concerned this one is and always shall be part of my standard repertoire.
My one wish is that there was a recording for this dance.
Fireside Reel:- Love the dance and hate the huffing and puffing when I'm done. I love an old vinyl recording but I can't adjust the tempo and it is a wee bit on the fast side but boy is the pianist (Jim Nicholson) having a whole lot of fun.
Hooper's Jig:- this was a 'let's have fun' last dance of the evening. Had some breakdowns here. Timing, it is all about timing, especially this dance. And remembering left from right. And using all the music you're given...
Class relocated from Woodbridge and now getting enough dancers on a regular basis. Hooray!
I tried a new teaching method tonight and several dancers responded well to it. The method is a bit slower than is my wont, but I can bear that if I don't have to keep making teaching points and if they actually need less walking through.
I walked the first 8 bars - had 1C walk and then dance it - and to the bottom.
Second couple then danced the first 8 bars, I then taught them the 2nd 8 bars and had them dance that and to the bottom. Third couple then dances the first 16 bars, gets taught the 3rd figure and dance it - and to the bottom. Then fourth couple dances the first 24 bars, gets taught the last figure, dances it.
Next couple (original 1st usually) now gets the whole dance, and if it goes well I let the music run 8x through.
It worked well enough that I'm going to refine it and use it but maybe not ALL the time.
Tonight's dances were:
Bonny Blue Bride (32 J 3) Tod McCall - Wee Hoose on the Prairie
Linnea's Strathspey (32 S 3) Tim Wilson -Dunsmuir
Fireside Reel (32 R 3) 18C
Hooper's Jig (32 J 3) Misc 2
**********
Bonny Blue Bride:- A nice simple baby jig that I pulled out of my wee card file 'cause I wasn't prepared and it looked easy enough and busy enough to make for a good warm up dance. I was right. And I was surprised that the dance wasn't a throw away either. It is just different enough to be worth keeping available. But no nominations for a Dancer's Choice Award.
Linnea's Strathspey:- Dancer's (and Teacher's) Choice Awards for this one! Keeper and then some. As far as I am concerned this one is and always shall be part of my standard repertoire.
My one wish is that there was a recording for this dance.
Fireside Reel:- Love the dance and hate the huffing and puffing when I'm done. I love an old vinyl recording but I can't adjust the tempo and it is a wee bit on the fast side but boy is the pianist (Jim Nicholson) having a whole lot of fun.
Hooper's Jig:- this was a 'let's have fun' last dance of the evening. Had some breakdowns here. Timing, it is all about timing, especially this dance. And remembering left from right. And using all the music you're given...
Wilton Class - 29 March 2011
It was a one set night, the young girls were not present and I got to work on three of the dance on the Kilts and Ghillies Tea Dance program.
I was surprised by how slow the learning, and it wasn't as if they had never seen them before... so I just went and checked and the only dance they had seen before was Gordon of Straloch. So I shouldn't be surprised. the two new dances are mind benders and take some work.
The three dances were:-
Miss Muriel Johnstone's Jig (32 J 3) G. Dale Birdsall
Lang May Your Lum Reek (32 J 2) Barry Priddey
Gordon of Straloch (32 S 3) Peter Price
**********
Miss Muriel Johnstone's Jig:- I read it, liked it, thought it would be a decent, middle of the road dance and not difficult. Boy was I wrong. Well it really isn't difficult, just very disorienting at the start of the second half reels of three. Nobody (except first couple) knows which way to face to start the reels. Because nobody (except the first couple) is where they expect so it is new position and new direction. I think I smoke checked most of the brains in the room.
Lang May Your Lum Reek:- I really like this dance but the setting figure (hello-goodbye - but never to partner and always with corner) needs to be dead on and dancers must MOVE and with control.
I fell in love with the progression because it is what I call a 'stealth' progression. When your done you wonder how you got there. Simply and elegantly. This one is a keeper if you get the third figure.
Gordon of Straloch:- I don't usually toot my own horn but the more I teach this dance the better I like it. And I wrote it. But I don't think the dance itself is superb but the music IS (arranged by Liz Donaldson and recorded by her band Waverley Station on their CD First Stop (set of strathspey airs 8x32)). The music, especially the third and fourth tunes ( rorate coeli and I long for they virginitie), is magnificent. So much so that every time I have taught this dance the room goes quiet, very quiet, and the dancers seem to lose themselves in the music as I do.
That Cd is a must buy! And the dance fits it and is worth downloading.
I was surprised by how slow the learning, and it wasn't as if they had never seen them before... so I just went and checked and the only dance they had seen before was Gordon of Straloch. So I shouldn't be surprised. the two new dances are mind benders and take some work.
The three dances were:-
Miss Muriel Johnstone's Jig (32 J 3) G. Dale Birdsall
Lang May Your Lum Reek (32 J 2) Barry Priddey
Gordon of Straloch (32 S 3) Peter Price
**********
Miss Muriel Johnstone's Jig:- I read it, liked it, thought it would be a decent, middle of the road dance and not difficult. Boy was I wrong. Well it really isn't difficult, just very disorienting at the start of the second half reels of three. Nobody (except first couple) knows which way to face to start the reels. Because nobody (except the first couple) is where they expect so it is new position and new direction. I think I smoke checked most of the brains in the room.
Lang May Your Lum Reek:- I really like this dance but the setting figure (hello-goodbye - but never to partner and always with corner) needs to be dead on and dancers must MOVE and with control.
I fell in love with the progression because it is what I call a 'stealth' progression. When your done you wonder how you got there. Simply and elegantly. This one is a keeper if you get the third figure.
Gordon of Straloch:- I don't usually toot my own horn but the more I teach this dance the better I like it. And I wrote it. But I don't think the dance itself is superb but the music IS (arranged by Liz Donaldson and recorded by her band Waverley Station on their CD First Stop (set of strathspey airs 8x32)). The music, especially the third and fourth tunes ( rorate coeli and I long for they virginitie), is magnificent. So much so that every time I have taught this dance the room goes quiet, very quiet, and the dancers seem to lose themselves in the music as I do.
That Cd is a must buy! And the dance fits it and is worth downloading.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Wilton Class - 22 March 2011
The girls were not present so the opportunity was there to get a start on the dances on the Tea Dance. It was an interesting evening because I was teaching dances that we had done before and the class was having a difficult time with them.
.
The evenings dances were:-
Admiral Beaufort (32 J 3) set mixer
Auchindrain (32 R 3) web leaflet
The Burn of Sorrow (32 S 2) B. Priddey
Gypsy Dreams (32 S 2) T. Glasspool
**********
Admiral Beaufort:- The first 24 bars are borrowed from Iain Boyd's dance The Calm before the Storm. The last eight bars are a variant of the set and link used by Jane Lataille in her dance Dragonflies.
Auchindrain:- A straight forward dance with nothing, absolutely nothing tricky about it.
The Burn of Sorrow:- when I drew my 'pilling' and wrote the crib I had an oops. I misread the directions. What I read was 1C dance a 2 bar RH turn once round and a two bar loop around partner - what Barry wrote was a Rh turn going on for 1 step and then a three bar loop around partner. The crib will be corrected Real Soon Now.
What I don't get, however, is how hard everyone seems to find the Tourbillon. It is not rocket science.
Both couples turn with two hands in two bars. First man turns three quarters ending in second woman's place while first woman turns once round and finishes back in her own place. This means they can not hold hands for the whole of the two bars. If first coupledrop appropriate hands (man's left/woman's right) you can 'unwind the turn to end in correct places. Second couple similarly - second woman turns three quarters, second man once round ending second woman in first man's place after dropping the appropriate hands.
I have had this rant before and it is getting old. But the figure is very pretty and I find it very enjoyable and more than worth the effort.
Gypsy Dreams:- 24 bars of pure delight leading into 8 bars of absolute terror - the dread Tournee.
What a bunch of horse pucky. the Tournee has one moment where you need to think, or not if you have really learned it. And it too is a beautiful figure but it does take a lot of work to perfect. Unfortunately too many dancers don't care to perfect. Sigh.
.
The evenings dances were:-
Admiral Beaufort (32 J 3) set mixer
Auchindrain (32 R 3) web leaflet
The Burn of Sorrow (32 S 2) B. Priddey
Gypsy Dreams (32 S 2) T. Glasspool
**********
Admiral Beaufort:- The first 24 bars are borrowed from Iain Boyd's dance The Calm before the Storm. The last eight bars are a variant of the set and link used by Jane Lataille in her dance Dragonflies.
Auchindrain:- A straight forward dance with nothing, absolutely nothing tricky about it.
The Burn of Sorrow:- when I drew my 'pilling' and wrote the crib I had an oops. I misread the directions. What I read was 1C dance a 2 bar RH turn once round and a two bar loop around partner - what Barry wrote was a Rh turn going on for 1 step and then a three bar loop around partner. The crib will be corrected Real Soon Now.
What I don't get, however, is how hard everyone seems to find the Tourbillon. It is not rocket science.
Both couples turn with two hands in two bars. First man turns three quarters ending in second woman's place while first woman turns once round and finishes back in her own place. This means they can not hold hands for the whole of the two bars. If first coupledrop appropriate hands (man's left/woman's right) you can 'unwind the turn to end in correct places. Second couple similarly - second woman turns three quarters, second man once round ending second woman in first man's place after dropping the appropriate hands.
I have had this rant before and it is getting old. But the figure is very pretty and I find it very enjoyable and more than worth the effort.
Gypsy Dreams:- 24 bars of pure delight leading into 8 bars of absolute terror - the dread Tournee.
What a bunch of horse pucky. the Tournee has one moment where you need to think, or not if you have really learned it. And it too is a beautiful figure but it does take a lot of work to perfect. Unfortunately too many dancers don't care to perfect. Sigh.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Wilton Class - 15 March 2011
Katie and Margaret (the girls) were back but with the Tea Dance coming soon I no longer have the luxury of dumbing down the evening program. I taught only two dances. They were:-
Hooper's Jig (32 J 3) MMM 2
Reekie Linn (32 J 2) J. Attwood
**********
Hooper's Jig - A quintessential "timing" dance and that throws just about everyone off their center.
The hardest thing:- getting hands across and not hands in a clump.
The 2nd hardest:- getting first and third couples to dance continuously during the diagonal crossing (loops!)
The 3rd hardest:- bars 23-24 - getting 3C to step up and first lady to cross LEFT hand into 2nd lady's place.
The 4th hardest:- getting 1st man to end the RH Across all the way round into 2nd place ladies' side.
It is a relatively simple dance and that is why any sloppy dancing stands out.
I really like this dance but I rarely teach it or dance it because it is so universally appallingly danced. Tonight I actually saw progress in almost all phases of the dance. Thanks be to God.
14 March 2011 - Dancing on the Heights
A lovely evening with a full set of dancers I taught a few new dances and a few that are on the Kilts and Ghillies April 30th Tea Dance.
The evenings dances were:
Reekie Linn (32 J 2) Jean Attwood
The Missing Turn (32 R 3) C. Williams - Bk 46/5
Barbara's Strathspey (32 S 3) McKinnell - Bk 46/4
Lang May Your Lum Reek (32 J 2) B. Priddey
Deborah Hope Leary (32 S 2) P. Price
Knights' Heys (32 H 3) T. Glasspool
The Cashmere Shawl (32 S 3) I. Boyd
**********
Reekie Linn - A lovely flow in fractions! Oh yum! My favourite!
Standard beginning followed by a standard reel of three. Then it gets interesting, especially the last figure which is three quarters of a double figure eight (in six bars) and set. I personally don't see the problem but just about every round of the dance someone got bitten.
The Missing Turn - A nice enough dance that is worth doing again but not good enough for a DCA.
Barbara's Strathspey - Super dance that gets a Teachers Choice Award! The double Birl, and the dance itself, are simply beautiful and a little bit of effort brings huge rewards. Every time I have danced or watched I have ended with a smile on my face. Gold Star!
Lang May your Lum Reek - On the upcoming Tea Dance program. I have talked about it before (see those earlier posts). In the third figure (which bears a resemblance to Hello-Goodbye Setting), the line of four rotates and the dancers who are setting to one another also rotate around each other. The difficulty is keeping the shape, and Deborah's reminder (that dancers coming into the center should make eye contact) made a real difference. Thank you Deb. And that is a nice segue into...
Deborah Hope Leary - I wrote this last month and inscribed it to Deb in honor of our first year anniversary.
Pretty good dance, the last half worked out well but I'd have like a better first sixteen bars. I will get it up on Eight by Thirty-two Real Soon Now.
Knights' Heys - The first few times I taught this dance the response was definitely underwhelming. Even after I put it on the K&G ball the response was tepid. The next year it was on the New Haven Highland Ball and now it is a recipient of a Dancers Choice Award. ???
The first time I saw it I knew this was a super dance and it immediately went on my top 50 list.
The Cashmere Shawl - Lovely dance and just different enough to make you think.
The evenings dances were:
Reekie Linn (32 J 2) Jean Attwood
The Missing Turn (32 R 3) C. Williams - Bk 46/5
Barbara's Strathspey (32 S 3) McKinnell - Bk 46/4
Lang May Your Lum Reek (32 J 2) B. Priddey
Deborah Hope Leary (32 S 2) P. Price
Knights' Heys (32 H 3) T. Glasspool
The Cashmere Shawl (32 S 3) I. Boyd
**********
Reekie Linn - A lovely flow in fractions! Oh yum! My favourite!
Standard beginning followed by a standard reel of three. Then it gets interesting, especially the last figure which is three quarters of a double figure eight (in six bars) and set. I personally don't see the problem but just about every round of the dance someone got bitten.
The Missing Turn - A nice enough dance that is worth doing again but not good enough for a DCA.
Barbara's Strathspey - Super dance that gets a Teachers Choice Award! The double Birl, and the dance itself, are simply beautiful and a little bit of effort brings huge rewards. Every time I have danced or watched I have ended with a smile on my face. Gold Star!
Lang May your Lum Reek - On the upcoming Tea Dance program. I have talked about it before (see those earlier posts). In the third figure (which bears a resemblance to Hello-Goodbye Setting), the line of four rotates and the dancers who are setting to one another also rotate around each other. The difficulty is keeping the shape, and Deborah's reminder (that dancers coming into the center should make eye contact) made a real difference. Thank you Deb. And that is a nice segue into...
Deborah Hope Leary - I wrote this last month and inscribed it to Deb in honor of our first year anniversary.
Pretty good dance, the last half worked out well but I'd have like a better first sixteen bars. I will get it up on Eight by Thirty-two Real Soon Now.
Knights' Heys - The first few times I taught this dance the response was definitely underwhelming. Even after I put it on the K&G ball the response was tepid. The next year it was on the New Haven Highland Ball and now it is a recipient of a Dancers Choice Award. ???
The first time I saw it I knew this was a super dance and it immediately went on my top 50 list.
The Cashmere Shawl - Lovely dance and just different enough to make you think.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Wilton class - 8 March 2011
A good night... and these days anytime we have a full set is a good night - even when I have to step in and fill out the set.
The New Haven Highland Ball is done - videos are showing up on YouTube and I had a wonderful time.
Next up - the Rerr Terr in NJ (1st weekend in April) and then our own Kilts and Ghillies Tea dance on the last weekend in April.
Last nights dances were:
Sage and Salsa ((16S+16R) M 3) Jane Lataillle
Hooper's Jig (32 J 3) Misc 2
Gypsy Dreams (32 S 2) T. Glasspool
Auchindrain (32 R 3) Peter Price
The Cashmere Shawl (32 S 3) I. Boyd
**********
Sage and Salsa - a good warm up. discussed in earlier posts. Recipient of a Dancer's Choice Award.
Hooper's Jig - I have always liked this dance but almost never teach it, or dance it, as it is so often so poorly danced that I just can't stand it.
First peeve - the hands across - I hate those 'clumps' of hands. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm being rather negative. Let me say that in a more positive why. I positively hate those 'clumps' of hands.. They are ugly and they ignore the essential nature of the formation:- Hands Across consists of two four bar turns: 1M and 2L dance a four bar turn. At the same time 1L and 2M are dancing a four bar turn. As a general, repeat general, rule 1M takes hands with 2L underneath the hands of 1L and 2M so 1M can use his thumb to locate and lock together the 'hub' of the wheel.
Second peeve - The loops that are part of the diagonal crossings. Nobody seems to understand the concept of 'continuous'. I see many dancers crossing and stopping. They wait for 2 bars before crossing back when they should still be dancing - 1st and 3rd couples have 6 bars of continuous dancing - i.e. NO Stopping. When they aren't crossing they should still be dancing - looping around to face back ready to cross back. Unfortunately this doesn't happen very often.
Third peeve - 2nd couple stepping up on bars 23-24 (end of the crossing figure).This is the critical moment of the dance. Sorry, but it is! If 2L doesn't step up in time she leaves nowhere for 1st woman to go except the wrong place at which point the dance breaks down. This is usually not fatal... Thank God for small favours.
The good news - I saw major progress in Wilton, especially with the handing in Hands Across. Yaaaa!
Gypsy Dreams - Yumm! See my previous posts. One of my top 10.
Auchindrain - You can find the dance on the web site Eight by Thirty-two. You can find the tune on Nigel Gatherer's web site. I rather like this dance. I am also prejudiced - I 'wrote' it. I did not give it an Dancer's Choice Award though. That was given by the dancers in several of my classes.
The Cashmere Shawl - A sweet dance, laid back and easy going. Just beware - don't lulled asleep or you'll get bit by the last figure.
The New Haven Highland Ball is done - videos are showing up on YouTube and I had a wonderful time.
Next up - the Rerr Terr in NJ (1st weekend in April) and then our own Kilts and Ghillies Tea dance on the last weekend in April.
Last nights dances were:
Sage and Salsa ((16S+16R) M 3) Jane Lataillle
Hooper's Jig (32 J 3) Misc 2
Gypsy Dreams (32 S 2) T. Glasspool
Auchindrain (32 R 3) Peter Price
The Cashmere Shawl (32 S 3) I. Boyd
**********
Sage and Salsa - a good warm up. discussed in earlier posts. Recipient of a Dancer's Choice Award.
Hooper's Jig - I have always liked this dance but almost never teach it, or dance it, as it is so often so poorly danced that I just can't stand it.
First peeve - the hands across - I hate those 'clumps' of hands. Oh, I'm sorry. I'm being rather negative. Let me say that in a more positive why. I positively hate those 'clumps' of hands.. They are ugly and they ignore the essential nature of the formation:- Hands Across consists of two four bar turns: 1M and 2L dance a four bar turn. At the same time 1L and 2M are dancing a four bar turn. As a general, repeat general, rule 1M takes hands with 2L underneath the hands of 1L and 2M so 1M can use his thumb to locate and lock together the 'hub' of the wheel.
Second peeve - The loops that are part of the diagonal crossings. Nobody seems to understand the concept of 'continuous'. I see many dancers crossing and stopping. They wait for 2 bars before crossing back when they should still be dancing - 1st and 3rd couples have 6 bars of continuous dancing - i.e. NO Stopping. When they aren't crossing they should still be dancing - looping around to face back ready to cross back. Unfortunately this doesn't happen very often.
Third peeve - 2nd couple stepping up on bars 23-24 (end of the crossing figure).This is the critical moment of the dance. Sorry, but it is! If 2L doesn't step up in time she leaves nowhere for 1st woman to go except the wrong place at which point the dance breaks down. This is usually not fatal... Thank God for small favours.
The good news - I saw major progress in Wilton, especially with the handing in Hands Across. Yaaaa!
Gypsy Dreams - Yumm! See my previous posts. One of my top 10.
Auchindrain - You can find the dance on the web site Eight by Thirty-two. You can find the tune on Nigel Gatherer's web site. I rather like this dance. I am also prejudiced - I 'wrote' it. I did not give it an Dancer's Choice Award though. That was given by the dancers in several of my classes.
The Cashmere Shawl - A sweet dance, laid back and easy going. Just beware - don't lulled asleep or you'll get bit by the last figure.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Wilton class - 1 March 2011
It is nice to be back. I had to cancel last weeks class when my elderly mother went into the hospital with circulation problems in her left leg, which led to vascular surgery on Friday. While waiting I wrote 2 dances and last night I had a chance to dance the strathspey and tweak it into final shape.
It is also the last class before the New Haven Highland Ball and there were quiet screams of near panic from the class as they felt they were totally unprepared - which is partly true. Due to weather there were NO classes held in January and only three this month.
Tonight's dances were:-
Deborah Hope Leary (32 S 2) Peter Price
St Andrew's of Brampton (32 R 4)
Trip to Fanwood (32 J 3) C. Ronald
Dark Lochnagar (32 S 2) I. Boyd - SDA
**********
Deborah Hope Leary - I wrote a jig, was reviewing it when my computer started playing a strathspey and the jig began to morph. This is the result after real dancers got hold of it.
1-8 1C 2C set, adv for 1, retire for 1; dance RHAcross half round (face prtnr in the center), and, pulling right shoulders back, cast out to side lines.
9-16 2C 1C dance back to back with ptnr; RHAcross half round and cast from the center to places.
17-24 1C 2C set and cross link (end beside ptnr, 1C facing up 2C down); 2C 1C set and link to side lines (face clock wise)
25-28 2C 1C chase half round and end, center of the dance, in line, facing ptner (1M 1L 2M 2L)
29-30 1C 2C set to partner (strong left step to pass partner and ...
31-32 1C 2C dance RHAcross half round to progressed places.
St Andrew's of Brampton:- Very wordy directions, even wordier (14 lines) ball booklet crib and panic all around. Needlessly. The best crib I have seen for this dance is only 5 lines long for a 4 figure dance. And the only tricky part is the final turn out of the double wheel. For 1M and 4L it is RH, for 1L and 4M it is LH. Why? so 1C is in the middle facing up and 4C is in the middle facing down both couples having had easy entries in through the sidelines.
Trip to Fanwood:- A sweet little dance especially if you treat the from the half reel into the turns flexibly - take hands when convenient and turn far enough to reach proper positions.
Dark Lochnagar:- It's the music! The dance is along for the ride.
It is also the last class before the New Haven Highland Ball and there were quiet screams of near panic from the class as they felt they were totally unprepared - which is partly true. Due to weather there were NO classes held in January and only three this month.
Tonight's dances were:-
Deborah Hope Leary (32 S 2) Peter Price
St Andrew's of Brampton (32 R 4)
Trip to Fanwood (32 J 3) C. Ronald
Dark Lochnagar (32 S 2) I. Boyd - SDA
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Deborah Hope Leary - I wrote a jig, was reviewing it when my computer started playing a strathspey and the jig began to morph. This is the result after real dancers got hold of it.
1-8 1C 2C set, adv for 1, retire for 1; dance RHAcross half round (face prtnr in the center), and, pulling right shoulders back, cast out to side lines.
9-16 2C 1C dance back to back with ptnr; RHAcross half round and cast from the center to places.
17-24 1C 2C set and cross link (end beside ptnr, 1C facing up 2C down); 2C 1C set and link to side lines (face clock wise)
25-28 2C 1C chase half round and end, center of the dance, in line, facing ptner (1M 1L 2M 2L)
29-30 1C 2C set to partner (strong left step to pass partner and ...
31-32 1C 2C dance RHAcross half round to progressed places.
St Andrew's of Brampton:- Very wordy directions, even wordier (14 lines) ball booklet crib and panic all around. Needlessly. The best crib I have seen for this dance is only 5 lines long for a 4 figure dance. And the only tricky part is the final turn out of the double wheel. For 1M and 4L it is RH, for 1L and 4M it is LH. Why? so 1C is in the middle facing up and 4C is in the middle facing down both couples having had easy entries in through the sidelines.
Trip to Fanwood:- A sweet little dance especially if you treat the from the half reel into the turns flexibly - take hands when convenient and turn far enough to reach proper positions.
Dark Lochnagar:- It's the music! The dance is along for the ride.
Loch Leven Dancers - 28 February 2011
I had a guest stint on Sunday teaching Those Russians to the Loch Leven Dancers.
They watched the YouTube video of the Dunedin Summer School performance and were absolutely psyched. It is a real joy to have a group still willing to try something new and different.
I spent about a week working out the choreography from the video, and in the end I got it right: the dance ended when the music did, and the dancers were flying high, as was I.
Bottom line: a whole lotta fun - they are now looking for places/venues to perform the dance. And I am looking forward to teaching it again, and again, and ...
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