Dances for November 7, 2011

Sorry for the delay in posting the dances. We returned to Ottawa from San Francisco on an overnight flight. We were both a little tired from the flight.

This week we are actually introducing two new formations - Promenade and Grand Chain for 3 couples. Promenade is similar to the Allemande we covered a few weeks ago.

The Lady Wynd is on the Christmas dance (December 17) program and the Ardbrae ball program. McMarley's Cross is on both the Christmas dance program and the Beginner Ball at the end of the year.

The Lady Wynd
32 bar jig for 3 couples
Graded and Social Dances 2, devised by Roy Goldring

Bars
1 – 4    First couple dance in towards each other and cast off one place. Second couple step up on bars 3–4.
5 – 8    Second, first and third couples turn partners once round with right hands, to finish in the centre of the dance, facing up, ready for : -

9 – 16    Three couple promenade.

17 – 24    First couple dance a figure of eight on their own side. To begin, they pass the person on their right by the right shoulder.

25 – 28    Right hands across:  first woman with second couple, first man with third couple.
29 – 32    Left hands across:  first man with second couple, first woman with third couple.

Repeat having passed a couple.

Note: -     On bar 28, first couple dance through second place on their own sides.
For Joan Smith.
Tune: - Any good jig



McMARLEY’S CROSS 
A 32 bar strathspey for 3 couples in a 3 couple set
Rose and Thistle Book, of dances devised by Wigan Thistle Society

BARS
1 – 4        1st, 2nd and 3rd couples turn partner by the right hand once round.
5 – 8        1st, 2nd and 3rd couples turn partner by the left hand once round.

9 – 12        1st couple set and cast off one place. (2nd couple step up bars 11 &12.)
13 – 16    1st and 2nd couples dance right hands across.

17 – 20    1st couple set and cast off one place. (3rd couple step up bars 19 & 20.)
21 – 24    1st and 3rd couples dance left hands across.

25 – 32    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance a grand chain. (1st couple face 3rd couple
        and 2nd couple cross.)

Devised by – Lorna Grundy, Lisa Jones, Ailsa Longmuir, Rebecca Markey, Kathryn Parkinson, Katherine Small and Nicola Strachan, some of the Junior Members of the
Thistle Society, Wigan (1994)
 

Dances for October 31, 2011

This week we will continue to focus on the new step - Pas de Basque. No new formations will be covered this week. We will review reels of three in the dance Ecclefechan Feline.

The dance "The Mountain Stream" is on the program for the Beginner's Ball at the end of the year.

THE MOUNTAIN STREAM
32 bar Reel for 2 couples
Graded and Social Dances 3,  devised by Roy Goldring

Bars
1 – 8    1st woman and 2nd man set twice then turn with right hands.    They finish in place.

9 – 16    1st man and 2nd woman set twice then turn with left hands. They finish in place – 1st man facing out.

17 – 24    1st man, followed by his partner, casts behind 2nd man, crosses up between 2nd couple, casts behind 2nd woman and crosses to 2nd place on own side.  1st woman finishes in 2nd woman’s place. 2nd couple step up on bars 23-24.

25 – 32    2nd and 1st couples dance right hands across and left hands across.

Repeat having passed a couple.

Tune:    Miss Jean Donaldson’s Hornpipe (Traditional –
                                   James Walker 1st Collection)

                                  
ECCLEFECHAN FELINE
32 bar Jig for 3 couples – McMurtry – 2006
Le Petit Chat Celtique


1 – 8    1st couple dance a figure of eight on their own side. 1st couple dance between the 2nd couple to begin, taking nearer hands briefly wherever possible.

9 – 16        1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance a mirror reel of three on the sides, 1st couple dancing in and down, 2nd couple up and out and 3rd couple in and up to begin.

17 – 24    1st couple dance down for three steps, back for three steps and cast off one place, 2nd couple stepping up on bars 23 & 24.

25 – 28    1st man with 3rd couple and 1st woman with 2nd couple dance right hands across, passing right shoulders on the last bar to change places.

29 – 32    1st man with 2nd couple and 1st woman with 3rd couple dance left hands across. 1st couple finish in second place on own sides.

Repeat having passed a couple.

Dance Notes:  1st couple phrase step to finish on the sidelines at the end.

Recommended Recording:  Track #8 Just in Time on CD, Campbell’s Birl with Muriel Johnstone and Keith
Smith

Try to say the title quickly, 3 times in a row.






The Highland Fair
A 32 bar Jig for 2 couples
RSCDS Graded Book #6

MUSIC                    DESCRIPTION
Bars
1 – 8    First couple cast off and dance down behind own line for 4 skip change of step, turn outwards and dance four steps back to place.

9 – 16    First and second couples turn partner with right hand and return to place – 4 skip change of step, then repeat, giving left hand.

17 – 24    First couple, followed by second couple, lead down the middle for 4 skip change of step. Second couple, followed by first couple, lead up the middle to finish second couple at top and first couple in second place.  (Figs. 1 and 2.)

25 – 32    First and second couples dance right and left.

        Repeat, having passed a couple.

Dances for October 24, 2011

Up to this point we have done dances with just skip change of step or the slipping step. This week we will start teaching a new step - Pas De Basque. We will start out slow and try to bring the step up to speed.

We will also review figures learned last week. The Findlay's Jig has an Allemande for three couples. Last week we did the Allemande for two couples. There are subtle differences but they are essentially the same. If time permits we will repeat Ecclefechan Feline from last week.

Here are the instructions for the dances we plan to cover this week.

THE FINDLAY’S JIG
32 bar jig for 3 couples
14 Social Dances for 2000, devised by Roy Goldring
Bars
1 – 8        1st couple lead down the middle and back finishing at the top in the centre. 2nd and 3rd couples step in on bar 8.

9 – 16        3 couple allemande.

17 – 20    1st couple dance in, face down and cast up to the top. 3rd and 2nd couples step down on 19-20.
21 – 24    2nd couple repeat bars 17-20.  1st and 3rd couples step down on    bars 23-24.

25 – 32    6 hands round and back.
Repeat having passed a couple




Lassie Will Ye Come and Dance
A 32 bar jig for 3 Couples
J Trew, Let’s All Dance

1-8    1st couple set twice, cross right hands and cast down round 2nd couple on opposite sides. 2nd couple moves up on 7 & 8.

9-16.1    1st woman dances a figure of 8 round 2nd couple, passing 2nd woman by the right shoulder, while 1st  man dances a figure of 8 round 3rd couple passing 3rd man right shoulders to begin. 1st couple finishes on opposite sides in 2nd place.

17-20    2nd, 1st, & 3rd C set twice with nearer hands joined on the sides.

21-24    1st couple turn with right hands 1 1/4 times to finish with 1st woman between 2nd couple and 1st man between 3rd couple.
25-28    1st woman with 2nd couple and 1st man with 3rd couple, set twice with nearer hands joined in threes across the set.
29-32    1st couple turn with right hands 1 1/4 times to finish on own sides in 2nd place.





ECCLEFECHAN FELINE
32 bar Jig for 3 couples
Bob McMurtry, Le Petit Chat Celtique

1 – 8        1st couple dance a figure of eight on their own side. 1st couple dance between the 2nd couple to begin, taking nearer hands briefly wherever possible.

9 – 16        1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance a mirror reel of three on the sides, 1st couple dancing in and down, 2nd couple up and out and 3rd couple in and up to begin.

17 – 24    1st couple dance down for three steps, back for three steps and cast off one place, 2nd couple stepping up on bars 23 & 24.

25 – 28    1st man with 3rd couple and 1st woman with 2nd couple dance right hands across, passing right shoulders on the last bar to change places.

29 – 32    1st man with 2nd couple and 1st woman with 3rd couple dance left hands across. 1st couple finish in second place on own sides.

Repeat having passed a couple.

Dances for October 17, 2011

After a break for Thanksgiving we hope to see many of you out again. This week we are going to introduce two new figures.

Reels of 3 - A figure of 8 pattern on the floor for 3 dancers.

Allemande - An 8 bar figure where the 1st couple change places with the second couple. Here is a link to some instructions on the dictionary - Allemande for 2 couples

Here are the dances for this week

ECCLEFECHAN FELINE
32 bar Jig for 3 couples
By Bob McMurtry, published in Le Petit Chat Celtique, 2006

1 – 8        1st couple dance a figure of eight on their own side. 1st couple dance between the 2nd couple to begin, taking nearer hands briefly wherever possible.

9 – 16        1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance a mirror reel of three on the sides, 1st couple dancing in and down, 2nd couple up and out and 3rd couple in and up to begin.

17 – 24    1st couple dance down for three steps, back for three steps and cast off one place, 2nd couple stepping up on bars 23 & 24.

25 – 28    1st man with 3rd couple and 1st woman with 2nd couple dance right hands across, passing right shoulders on the last bar to change places.

29 – 32    1st man with 2nd couple and 1st woman with 3rd couple dance left hands across. 1st couple finish in second place on own sides.

        Repeat having passed a couple.


THE AULD GREY CAT
A 32 bar reel for 3 couples
By Iain Boyd, published in  Let’s All Dance

 1- 8      1s cross RH & cast 1 place, 1s cross LH & cast up to original places
 9-16     1s dance reflection reels of 3 on sides (in & down to start)
17-24    1s lead down the middle & back to place
25-32    1s+2s dance Allemande

Dances for October 3, 2011

Here we are, starting a new dance season. In the first few weeks we just want the dancers to become comfortable in class. Try to listen to the music and when possible move in time to the music. I will again try to post the dances we do here. They should be up either just before class or soon afterward.

This week we have a couple more dances that will reinforce the few figures learned last week. Don't worry about the term strathspey. We will introduce it in a couple of weeks. For now we will be doing just reels and jigs.

THE HIGHLAND FAIR   

A 32 bar jig for 3 couples from the RSCDS Book of Graded SCDs

 1- 8              1s cast, dance down behind own lines, turn outwards & dance back to place

 9-16            1s+2s turn partners RH back to place & then turn LH

17-24           1s, followed by 2s, lead down the middle & 2s lead back to the top

25-32           2s+1s dance R&L

THE SELKIRK SETTLERS
A 40 bar reel for 3 couples by M. Zadworny from Let's All Dance
1- 8      1s dance Fig of 8 round 2s
9-16     3s dance Fig of 8 round 2s
17-24   All men cross & dance Right Shoulder round partner back to places, all Ladies repeat
25-32   2s dance Fig of 8 round 1s+3s (down between 3s to start)
33-40   1s dance down for 3 bars & back to top, 1s cast to bottom

Dances for February 7, 2011

Again after the fact but here are the dances covered last night. After the more challenging dances last week hopefully these will prove to be easier.

The Wild Geese
32 bar Jig for 3 couples
RSCDS Book 24

MUSIC.                      DESCRIPTION           
   Bars.
1 – 4          First and third couples advance into the middle (two pas-de-basque steps), men with their partners on their right. All join hands to make a line of four, and set.  Fig. 1.

5 – 8          First couple dance a three-quarter turn with right hands to cast off to third place on their own sides of the dance. Meanwhile, third couple turn each other with right hand to face up the middle on their own sides and lead up to top place.

9 – 16          First and third couples repeat Bars 1– 8, but first couple now do the movement as danced by third couple, and third couple the movement as danced by first couple. Fig. 2. All finish in original places.

17 – 24    First couple lead down the middle and up, to finish in second place. Second couple move up.

25 – 32    First and second couples dance right and left across and back.

          Repeat, having passed a couple.



Queen Anne’s Lace
Let’s All Dance, Too, 1997
32/J or  S/4                                by Mary Jane Vanek   Lehigh Valley SCDS

Bars            Directions

1—4        1st woman with 2nd man and 3rd woman with 4th man turn with right hands once round.

5—8        1st man with 2nd woman and 3rd man with 4th woman turn with left hands once round.

9—16        1st couple facing 2nd couple, 3rd couple facing 4th couple, dance reels of four on the sides of the dance, beginning by passing right shoulders.

17—20    1st and 2nd couples, with nearer hands joined on the sides, set and dance right hands across half way.

21—24    1st and 3rd couples, with nearer hands joined on the sides, set and dance left hands across half way.

25—28    1st and 4th couples, with nearer hands joined on the sides, set and dance right hands across half way.

29—32    All couples set, with nearer hands joined on the sides, and cross to own sides with left hands to partners.

        Repeat from new places.


Music:        Any good reel or strathspey

Note:        I put this dance together to use for practicing reels of four with an easy
        entry and ending (no tricky bits). (MJV)

Dances for January 31

Sorry for the late posting of these dances. This week the dances come from the March social and dances Jody will be teaching at the Edmonton workshop in a few weeks

Book 11 – No. 2
Monymusk

32-bar strathspey for three couples in a four-couple longwise set


Bars                        Description

1 – 4        1st couple, giving right hands, turn once round and cast off one place on own sides. 2nd couple step up on bars 3-4.

5 – 8        1st couple, giving left hands, turn one-and-a-quarter times to finish 1st woman between the 2nd couple facing down, and 1st man between the 3rd couple, facing up.

9 – 12        1st woman with 2nd couple and 1st man with 3rd couple set twice. On bars 11-12, 1st couple turn to the right into second place on opposite sides.

13 – 16    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples set twice.

17 – 24    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance six hands round and back.

25 – 30    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance reels of three on the sides. 1st woman passes 3rd man and 1st man passes 2nd woman by the right to begin.

31 – 32    1st couple, giving right hands,  cross over to second place, own sides.

        Repeat, having passed a couple.




Graded Book — No. 20.
Tarry a While.    (Jig)

Music.                             Description.
 Bars.

1 – 8        1st man turns 2nd woman with right hand for 4 skip change of step, then with left hand for 4 steps.

9 – 12        2nd man turns 1st woman with right hand for 4 steps.

13 – 16    2nd man turns 1st woman with left hand for 4 steps but holds on and they give right hand to own partner.  (Diagram 1.)

17 – 20    All 4 set twice in line across dance.

21 – 24    1st woman and 2nd man turn each other with left hand to face partner.

25 – 32    1st and 2nd couples poussette.

        Repeat, having passed a couple.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
25-32    If using positions in Fig 2, cpls must dance on the spot (bar 25) & then proceed as usual. Alternatively, 1st man & 2nd woman may step in on bar 24 to meet partners for a normal poussette.




Book II – No. 1
La Tempête (The Tempest) (Reel)


   The couples stand in fours across the room, two couples facing two couples, women on the right of their partners.  (See Fig.).

MUSIC                    DESCRIPTION
Bars
1 – 8        1st and 4th couples dance four hands across with right hands and back again with left hands.

9 – 16        2nd and 3rd couples repeat bars 1–8.

17 – 24    1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th couples set twice and turn partners with two hands.

25 – 28    1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th couples join both hands with partner and slip across to change places with  pposite couple, i.e. 1st with 3rd and 2nd with 4th, men passing back to back.

29 – 32    1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th couples repeat bars 25–28 back to places, women passing back to back.

33 – 36    1st and 3rd couples and at the same time 2nd and 4th couples, dance four hands round to the left.

37 – 40    1st and 3rd couples and at the same time 2nd and 4th couples, dance four hands across (left hands) back to original places.

41 – 43    1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th couples advance two steps and retire one step.

       44        1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th couples clap three times.

45 – 48    1st and 2nd couples dancing down the dance, pass under the raised arms of 3rd and 4th couples who are dancing up.

        Repeat with the next two couples, and dance the same figures with every line until they arrive at the bottom of the room. As each line reaches the top or bottom of the room, change to correct side of partners and stand during one turn of the dance.

      Note:    This dance can also be done in groups of four in a circle, in which case, bars 9–16         are omitted.

Collected locally.         Tune: La Tempête.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’ 
17-20   Set twice to prtnrs.