Thursday, October 20, 2011

Dancing on the Heights - 10 October 2011

There was a good turnout with a full set for most of the evening allowing me to explore several 4C dances.

The dances taught were:
Lassie wi' the lint white locks  (32 S 2)  Priddey - SDA #115
Ginger Sharks  (32 R 3)  Price - 8x32 Leaflet
Gary Scott's Jig  (32 J 3)  T. Wilson - Measures of Pleasure
Giradet House  (32 S 4 sq)  Francis Carr - leaflet
Ian Powrie's Farewell to Auchterarder  (128 J 4 sq)  leaflet
The Kilt Maker  (32 R 4)  P. Burrage - Pinewoods Coll 2
Maurice  (32 S 2)  G. Thomas - Dunsmuir Dances

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Lassie wi' the lint white locks :-  I love a Tournee! Especially when it has an easy entry without any change of direction and the dance has an attractive variation of a standard figure (chevron back-to-back). Keeper!

Ginger Sharks :- A Quick and dirty teaching dance I wrote a few weeks ago and published on Lara's web site http://blog.lib.umn.edu/ldfs/8x32/2011/10/312350.html  The dance will never receive a Dancer's Choice Award, but it was reasonably well liked when taught to the beginners in Westchester . I wanted to try it out to a more critical audience and what I got were smiles and "It's cute."

Gary Scott's Jig :- I am a Tim Wilson fan. He writes good dances. This one is simple enough (except for the Double Triangles) and the transition from 2nd corner half reel of four into position for the DTs is sweet enough to make the dance a keeper.

Giradet House :- How this dance came into my possession is a story I won't tell at this time. It is in the repertory of Naomi Lasher's Loch Leven Dancers and I got the verbal notes. I found the original directions today, here: <Giradet House>  The crossing reels of four are a fun challenge in this otherwise simple dance. 


Ian Powrie's Farewell to Auchterarder  :- After the long thread on strathspey.org I just had to buy the original leaflet and I found that it was written as a palindrome. I have done it a lot over the years and I still find it fun.


The Kilt Maker :- Fun! Dancer's Choice Award! I believe the original is still available. And did I say "Fun!"?


Maurice :- I love this dance and it is still fresh after 19 teachings. Do it with your sweetie: it rocks. See previous posts if you want more.