Monday, January 30, 2012

Lesson Plan for January 30 Beginner Class

Steps taught: skip change of step, slip step, strathspey traveling step.

Figures taught: circle, figure of eight, hands across, rights & lefts, allemande.

ALICE'S REQUEST (J8x32) 2C (4C set) R Goldring Graded & Social Dances 2
1- 8          1s+2s circle 4H round & back
9-16         1s fig of 8 round 2s
17-24       1L+2M turn RH, 1M+2L turn RH
25-32       1s lead down the middle & up to 2nd place

HOOPER'S JIG (J8x32) 3C (4C set) MMM 2
1- 8          All clap & 1s cross passing RSh, cast to 2nd place &
                dance RH across with 3s
9-16         All clap & 1s cross passing RSh, cast to 1st place &
                dance LH across with 2s
17-24       1M+3L change places RH,
                1L+3M change places RH (as 1M+3L loop round),
                1M+3L change places RH (as 1L+3M loop round),
                1L+3M cross LH 1L ending in 2nd place (as 1M casts to 2nd pl)
25-32       2s+1s dance R&L

RAKES OF GLASGOW (S8x32) 3C (4C set) Preston RSCDS Bk 11
1- 8          1s+2s dance R&L
9-16         1s lead down the middle & back to top
17-24       1s+2s dance Allemande
25-32       2s+1s+3s circle 6H round & back

Video of Rakes of Glascow from the Scottish Screen Archive at the National Library of Scotland, recorded in 1950.

Friday, January 27, 2012

Beginners Class Series

Join us for a beginners class series starting this Monday!

We'll do two "intro" weeks in a row and then go on to building on previous lessons.

We meet every Monday, 7.30-9.30pm
at
Gretchen's House 5 Barn
2625 Traver Boulevard
Ann Arbor, MI 48105

with live music from Susie Lorand & friends.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Lesson Plan for January 23

HA! HA! THE WOOIN' O' IT   R8x32  2C (4C set)                                      MMM 1
 1- 8          1L+2L advance towards partners & set, retire & set
9-16          1M+2M repeat bars 1- 8
17-24        1s lead down & back
25-32        1s+2s dance Poussette

"Ha, ha, the wooin' o' it." is a line from Duncan Grey, by Robert Burns, 1792

GREEN GROW THE RASHES   S8x32 3C (4C set) Johnson RSCDS Bk 12
 1- 8         1s dance parallel RSh reels of 3 on own sides
9-16         1s set, turn 2H, 1s facing 2s on sides set & turn 2s with 2H 1½ times
17-24       1M+3s circle 3H round to L end 3s on opp sides & 1M casts to 2nd pl,
                  1L+3s circle 3H round to right & end 3s own sides & 1L casts to 2nd pl
25-32       1s set dance up to top, cast to 2nd place & turn RH

Green Grow the Rashes, by Robert Burns, 1783

BURNS NIGHT  J8x32  2C (4C set)                         R McOwen 50y Boston Branch
 1- 8        1M+2L cross RH, 1L+2M cross RH, 2s+1s Set+Link
9-16        1L+2M cross RH, 1M+2L cross RH,
                 2s+1s Set+Link back to original places
17-24      1s+2s ½ turn RH, slip step down for 2 bars & back,
               ½ turn 2H (PdB) to face up
25-32      1s+2s dance Allemande

MY JO   S8x32  2C (4C set)                                       R Goldring 15 Social Dances
 1- 8       1L+2M advance for 1 step, turn individually to right,
              cast round 2L/1M & turn RH 1¼ times
              to end in each others place
9-16      1M+2L repeat bars 1- 8 but turn to left & turn LH
17-24    2s+1s set, advance passing partner RSh
              & turn individually to right to face each other,
              continue turn & dance out to own side, 2s+1s set
25-32    2s+1s dance Diamond Poussette right round

Dance Information
In Scots, "my jo" means my dear, my darling, or my sweetheart, and is derived from "joy".  This phrase is used in several Robert Burns poems.

After these dances, we will be reviewing our demo dances for Wednesday night again.

Friday, January 13, 2012

Lesson Plan for January 16

We're back at the Traver location starting this week!

Gretchen's House #5 Barn
2625 Traver Boulevard
Ann Arbor, MI 48105

GAY GORDONS (16 bar March) Round the Room dance
1 - 4        All in Allemande hold march forward 4 steps,
               swivel about to face opposite direction &
               march backwards (same direction around room) 4 steps
5-8          Repeat
9 - 12      Men set advancing as Ladies turn under Man's right arm,
13-16      All take ballroom hold and polka round the room,
               finishing facing ready to begin again.

Dance Information

92nd Highlanders at Kandahar
by Richard Caton Woodville (1856-1927)

The Gordon Highlanders was a British Army infantry regiment from 1794 until 1994. The regiment took its name from the Clan Gordon and recruited principally from Aberdeen and the North-East of Scotland.

Video on Scotland TV of the Gay Gordons.


GOOD-HEARTED GLASGOW J8x32 3C (4C set) P Knapman Collins Pocket Bk
1- 8         1s turn RH cast to 2nd place, & turn partner LH
               1¼ times to end Man down & Lady up
9-16        1s dance RH across (Lady with 2s & Man with 3s),
               1s passing RSh & dance LH with other couple
17-24      1s lead down the middle & back to 2nd place own side
25-32      2s+1s+3s circle 6H round & back

SHIFTIN' BOBBINS (R8x32) 3C (4C set) R Clowes Ormskirk Bk
1- 8         1s cross RH to double triangle pstn with 2s+3s & set, 1s cast up to top &
               dance down until they are between 2s & 3s
9-16        1L dances RH across with 2M+3M
               while 1M dances LH across with 2L+3L,
               1s followed by 2s+3s dance down centre
17-24      3s followed by 2s+1s dance up (3s+2s cast off to places),
               1L dances LH across with 2M+3M
               while 1M dances RH across with 2L+3L
25-32      1s dance up to top, cast down to 2nd place opposite side &
               dance 1/2 fig of 8 around 2s
               to end in 2nd place on own sides

Shiftin Bobbins demo by the Twin Cities Branch on You Tube.

MAIRI'S WEDDING (R8x40) 3C (4C set) Cosh 22 SCDs+2
1- 8        1s turn RH, cast to 2nd place & turn LH to face 1st corners
9-16       1s dance 1/2 diagonal Reel of 4 with 1st corners &
               1/2 diagonal reel with 2nd corners
17-24     1s dance 1/2 diagonal Reel with 3rd corners &
               1/2 diagonal reel with 4th corners
25-32     1s dance reel of 3 across Lady with 2s & Man with 3s
33-40     2s+1s+3s circle 6H round & back

Dance Information


The song was originally written in Gaelic by Johnny Bannerman for Mary McNiven, and was first played for her in 1935 at the Old Highlanders Institute in Glasgow. The next year, an English version was written by High S. Robertson.  Read both versions here, including a literal translation of the Gaelic.

Mairi's Wedding danced at Portadown on You Tube.

THE DREAM CATCHER (S96) Sq.Set E Orr RSCDS Bk 45
1- 8         All circle 8H round & back
9-16       1s+3s dance the Swirl: - Turn partner RH into Allemande hold,
               dance LSh round each other 1/2 way & dance LH across 3/4s,
               turn left about to face side cpls (facing other ptnr)
17-24     All dance reels of 4 across
25-32     All set, dancing couples lead out between side couples, cross & cast,
               change places RH with partner back to places
33-40     All set, advance with partners, retire diagonally with corners & set
41-48     1L+4M dance R&L with 3L+2M (on diagonal)
49-56     1M+2L dance R&L with 3M+4L (other diagonal)
57-64     All set with corners, Advance+Retire with partners & set
65-88     2s & 4s repeat bars 9-32
89-96     All circle 8H round & back

THE WHITE COCKADE R8x32 3C (4C set)    Preston RSCDS Bk 5
1- 8        1s+2s+3s set & cross RH, set & cross back RH
9-16       1s lead down the middle for 4 bars & back to top
17-24     1s cast to 2nd place on own sides & circle 4H round to the left with 3s
25-32     2s+1s dance R&L

Dance Information


Portrait of Charles Edward Stewart
("Bonnie Prince Charlie")
wearing a white cockade.  


A cockade is a knot of pleated ribbon, usually circular, that was worn to adorn hats in the 18th century, and was used to identify one's political allegiance.  White cockades were worn to show allegiance to the Jacobite dynasty, the Stewarts.  With no formal uniform, the cockade became the way of identifying Jacobite troops.


The White Cockade is also a song written by Robert Burns in 1790.  Read the lyrics here.

The White Cockade danced by St.Andrews Society of West Australia on You Tube.

MY JO S8x32 2C (4C set)    R Goldring 15 Social dances
1- 8        1L+2M advance for 1 step, turn individually to right,
               cast round 2L/1M & turn RH 1¼ times
               to end in each others place
9-16       1M+2L repeat bars 1- 8 but turn to left & turn LH
17-24     2s+1s set, advance passing partner RSh
               & turn individually to right to face each other,
               continue turn & dance out to own side, 2s+1s set
25-32     2s+1s dance Diamond Poussette right round

John Anderson, My Jo, by Robert Burns, 1789

BAULDY BAIN'S FIDDLE R8x32 3C (4C set)    J Dickson Lothian Coll
1- 8         1s turn by the right and cast one place;
               1s turn by left 1½ times, finishing facing out on opposite sides
               (in 2nd place);
9-16       1s cast to the left, and chase anti-clockwise halfway round the outside
               while 2s and 3s right hands across, finishing on the side lines;
               2s and 3s chase clockwise halfway round the outside
               while 1s turn by the left 1¼ to face first corner positions
               (1M facing 2M, 1L facing 3L);
17-24     1s ½ diagonal reel of 4 with 1st corner positions; pass right shoulder,
               1s ½ diagonal reel of 4 with 2nd corner positions,
               finishing by passing right shoulder to 2nd place on own sides;
25-32     2s, 1s, and 3s circle 6 hands round and back.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Ann Arbor Ball Program



Plan to attend the Ann Arbor Ball Weekend!  We will host a formal ball with dinner on May 12, 2012, preceded on the 11th by an advanced English dance.

See our ball program and flier.

Lesson Plan for January 9

THE BRAES OF BALQUHIDDER 1 (R8x32) 3C (4C set) 18C Dances
1- 8      1s+2s dance RH across & 1s cast 1 place as 2s lead up
9-16     1s+3s dance RH across & 1s cast 1 place as 3s lead up
17-24   1s lead up to top, cast to 2nd place,
             lead down & cast round 3s to 2nd place own sides
25-32   1s pass RSh, dance out on opposite sides, cast round 1st corner,
             turn RH, dance out ends & cast round 4th corner to 2nd places

Dance Information

Balquidder, a glen and village in Southern Perthshire, has always had many variant spellings, including Balquither, Balwhither, Bowhether etc. ('Balquidder' is obviously a modern Anglicisation of the Gaelic, since the letter Q does not occur in that language) - 'Balwhither' seems to be the correct and/or most traditional pronounciation.

A song and melody "The Braes of Balquhidder" (also known as "Frae far beyond the Grampian hills") was the tune was used by Robert Burns for his "Bonnie Peggy Alison" (1780). Curiously, the melody also became the basis for "Lone Pilgrim" or "White Pilgrim", a song recorded by Dylan in 1993 on "World Gone Wrong". Another song and poem, "The Braes of Balquidder" was penned by Scottish poet Robert Tannahill (1774-1810) of Paisley. Tannahill's melody is probably an earlier traditional air - he followed Robert Burns' interest in collecting and adapting traditional songs, and indeed he seems to have based this one on an even earlier song "The Braes o' Bowhether". Tannahill's poem was rewritten by Francis McPeake, in 1957 for the series "As I Roved Out" on BBC, and is well known as "Will You Go Lassie, Go", "Wild Mountain Thyme", or "Purple Heather".


THE LEA RIG S8x32 2C (4C set) RSCDS 21
1-16      1s+2s dance full Petronella back to places
              (with 2s stepping up & join in on bar 3 by setting, then follow 1s.
              2s petronella turn to place on bars 15-16)
17-24    1s lead down centre of set & back to top
25-32    1s+2s dance RH across once round &
              ½ Diamond Poussette to change places

I'll Meet Thee On The Lea Rig, by Robert Burns, 1792

LIGHT & AIRY (J8x32) 3C (4C set) W Campbell RSCDS Bk 4
1- 8       1s set & cast to 3rd place, set & cast back to top
9-16      1s lead down the middle & back
17-24    1s+2s dance Allemande (1s end facing 1st corners)
25-32    1s turn 1st corners RH, partner LH, 2nd corner RH, partner LH
              to end in 2nd place own sides

HIGHLAND LADDIE (R8x32) 3C (4C set) RSCDS Bk 4
1- 8       1s set, cast to 3rd place (3s step up), 2s+3s cross RH
9-16      1s lead up to top (2s+3s step down), set,
             cast down 1 place to face 3rd corner pstns (2s step up)
17-24    1s set & turn 3rd corners, set & turn 4th corners.
             1s end facing out in 2nd place on own sides
25-32    2s+1s+3s Balance-in-Line twice & turn RH back to places
             (2s & 3s turn 1½ times)

Dance Information

Burns wrote words to both the tune which gave the name to the dance and the tune the RSCDS uses for the dance, "Cairney Mount".

As I cam o'er the Cairney Mount, by Robert Burns, 1796. Read by Blythe Duff.


BAULDY BAIN'S FIDDLE (R8x32) 3C (4C set) J Dickson Lothian Coll
1- 8       1s turn RH, cast 1 place, turn LH 1½ times 2nd place opposite sides
9-16      1s cast to their left (man up, lady down), cross RH &
              cast to their right to 2nd place own side
              while 2s+3s dance RH across once round
              1s turn LH 1½ times to face 1st corners
              while 2s+3s chase clockwise to opposite corners
17-24    1s dance ½ diagonal reel of 4 with 1st corners &
              ½ reel of 4 with 2nd corners
25-32    2s+1s+3s dance 6H round & back

THE DUSTY MILLER (J8x32) 3C (4C set)       Border Bk

1- 8       1s set, cast down below 3s, lead up, cross over & cast
              to 2nd place opposite sides
9-16      2s+1s+3s circle 6H round & back 1s ending facing 1st corners
17-24    1s set to 1st corners & turn 2H, set to 2nd corners & turn 2H
25-32    1s dance reels of 3 on opposite sides (giving LSh to 1st corners to start)
             & cross to own sides

Hey The Dusty Miller, by Robert Burns, 1788.

Burns Night Celebration

Don't forget our Burns Night gathering on January 27th!

Join us for songs, poems, and dancing, along with a potluck supper, complete with haggis.

Friday, the 27 January 2012 6pm
Pittsfield Union Grange
3377 Ann Arbor-Saline Road
Ann Arbor 48108

Cribs for the dance can be found here.

Dances from January 2

With everyone recovering form New Year's, we had a casual get together on the day after and only danced a few dances, brought by several different people.

GALLOWAY HOUSE (R8x32) 2C (4C set) Bk of Graded SCDs
1- 8      1s cast down on own sides, turn out & back to places
9-16     1s+2s circle 4H round & back
17-24   1s turn RH, cast 1 place & turn LH
25-32   2s+1s dance R&L

Dance information



Adjoining the estate village of Garlieston, on Wigtown Bay in Dumfries and Galloway, Galloway House was begun in 1740 for Lord Garlies, later sixth Earl of Galloway, to designs by John Douglas.

THE MONTGOMERIES' RANT (R8x32) 3C (4C set) 
Castle Menzies RSCDS Bk 10
1- 8      1s cross RH & cast down to 2nd place, cross LH &
             cast to the left (1L casts up while 1M casts down)
9-16     1s dance reels of 3 across, 1L with 2s & 1M with 3s
17-24   1s with nearer hands joined set to 2L, turn inwards & set to 3M,
             set 3L, turn & set to 2M
25-32   2s+1s+3s dance reels of 3 on sides 1s giving RSh to 2nd corner,
            1s cross RH to 2nd place own sides

The Montgomeries' Rant, on You Tube

THE DREAM CATCHER (S96) Sq.Set E Orr RSCDS Bk 45
1- 8       All circle 8H round & back
9-16      1s+3s dance the Swirl:
                   Turn partner RH into Allemande hold, dance LSh round each other 1/2 way &
                   dance LH across 3/4s, turn left about to face side cpls (facing other ptnr)
17-24    All dance reels of 4 across
25-32    All set, dancing couples lead out between side couples, cross & cast,
             change places RH with partner back to places
33-40    All set, advance with partners, retire diagonally with corners & set
41-48    1L+4M dance R&L with 3L+2M (on diagonal)
49-56    1M+2L dance R&L with 3M+4L (other diagonal)
57-64    All set with corners, Advance+Retire with partners & set
65-88    2s & 4s repeat bars 9-32
89-96    All circle 8H round & back

Dance information



The dance, The Dream Catcher, is a figurative dance that describes a traditional Native American object made from a willow hoop and woven with nettle fiber or sinew to resemble a spider web, finished with feathers and beads, then hung above beds to snare dreams so that the sleeper would dream only good dreams and be protected from bad ones.  Dream catchers have been found as artifacts from the Sioux Nation dating back as far as 700 AD.  They are also common in other First Nations, such as the Ojibwe, and are often seen as a symbol of unity among various different Nations.

We will dance The Dream Catcher at our demo on Wednesday, January 25th.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Bruce's Memorial Service

We are all saddened by the passing of our friend and fellow dancer and musician, Bruce Campbell. In his time with us, he was always dedicated to and enthusiastic about learning to dance and tackling dancing challenges. We will miss the wonderful shortbread he baked each week, and his piping at our balls. His contribution to this blog has also been tremendous. He kept it interesting by adding all of the tidbits and photos he found for each posting. I can only hope to try to do him justice as I follow in his footsteps.

His memorial service will be this afternoon, at 4:00 at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 1315 Abbot Road, East Lansing. The family will receive friends 1 hour prior at the church.
Those desiring may make contributions to the American Heart Association in memory of Bruce.
On-line condolences may be made at www.greastlansing.com. More information can be found in his obituary.