Lesson Plan for Feb 28, 2011

Intro / Review Class taught by Dan.
Perfect chance for new / lapsed dancers to join the class!

-dance from just a talk through

WARM-UP DANCE  J32  3C
  1  -8  1s set, cast, dance between the 3s, and cast up to 2nd place

  9-16  1s with 1st corners dance back-to-back and turn RH

17-24  1s repeat with 2nd corners.

25-32  6 hands around left and back

-review: poussette right round
-review: set to corners

STRATHCARE  S8x32  3C (4C set)                               W Miller Skye Coll 1
 1- 8      1s+2s dance All Round Poussette (right round; Diamond)


 9-16     1s turn RH and cast 1 place on own side, 2s step up 11-12;
             1s cross RH and cast  (1M down round 3W and 1W up round 2M)
             to end back-to-back facing 1st corners
 

17-24   1s set to 1st corners, set to 2nd corners, 1s spiral to the right
             round each other 1½ times to face 4th corner (partner’s 2nd corner;
             1L between 2s and 1M between 3s)

25-32   1s dance reel of 3 across giving RSh to 4th corner (partner’s 2nd corner);
            1s end in 2nd pace on opposite sides, 1s cross RH back to own sides

 -"hello-goodbye" setting
 -"chain progression"

LINNEA'S STRATHSPEY  S8x32  3C (4C set)        T Wilson Dunsmuir Dances
 1- 8      1s set and cast 1 place, 1s cross passing LSh and cast RSh round 1st corners.
             1s end back-to-back facing 1st corners. 2s step up 3-4.


 9-16     1s set to corners and partner ('hello-goodbye' setting) and end
             passing RSh to face out on own side in 2nd place


17-24    “Promenade chain progression”: 2s and 3s turn RH ¾ into middle
             while 1s cast to right (dance clockwise ¼ round the set).
             2M+3L turn LH 1½ times while 1M/2W take promenade hold
             and 1W/3M take reverse-promenade hold and dance clockwise
             ½ way round the set. 3s and 2s turn RH ¾ and remain in centre facing up
             while 1s dance clockwise ¼ round the set to end in 2nd place in centre
             facing up

25-32    2s+1s+3s dance Allemande

"Linnea's Strathspey" part 1 on YouTube
"Linnea's Strathspey" part 2 on YouTube

Quicktime: “hello-goodbye”

ARTHUR'S SEAT  R8x32  3C (4C set)                                               18C Dances
 1- 8    1s+2s dance RH across, 1s cast down 1 place and set (2s step up)

9-16   1s+3s dance LH across, 1s cast down 1 place and set 
 (3s step up)

17-24  1s lead up to top and cast to 2nd place, lead down between 3s
            and cast up and face 1st corners (3s step down)


25-32  1s dance 'hello-goodbye' setting ending with RH turn to 2nd places

Arthur's Seat is the main peak of the group of hills which form most of Holyrood Park, a wild piece of highland landscape in the centre of the city of Edinburgh, about a mile to the east of Edinburgh Castle. The hill rises to a height of 251 m (823 ft), and provides an excellent panorama of the city. It is quite easy to climb, and therefore a popular walk. Many claim that its name is a derivation of a myriad of legends pertaining to King Arthur, such as the reference in Y Gododdin.

MAJOR IAN STEWART  J8x32  3C (4C set)                 J Drewry RSCDS Bk 35
  1- 8     1s+2s turn partners RH ½ and dance RH across ½ way;
             2s+1s full turn partner RH ending with 2s at top and 1s in 2nd place

 
 9-16    2s+1s+3s dance reel of 3 on own sides (1W dances in and up
             as 1M dances in and down to start) and 1s end facing 1st corners 


17-24   1s set to 1st corners then to each other across the dance,
            set to 2nd corners and Petronella-turn to 2nd place own sides 


25-32   2s+1s+3s circle 6H round to left 6 steps, pivot (cross right foot over left,
            swivelling to face out) to face anti-clockwise and chase back to own sides
            (2,1,3)

Argo Pond Strathspey Instructions

Here are the directions for the Argo Pond Strathspey, an original 32-bar strathspey for 3 couples by Dan Blim, written for the 2011 Ann Arbor Ball Program.

ARGO POND  S8x32  3C                                                    Dan Blim
  1- 8    1s & 2s dance set-and-rotate: Both couples set facing partner.
             Pulling right shoulder back (both couples), cast one place
             clockwise around the ring. Facing partner on the side,
             change places RH, and chase clockwise one place to
             progressed place. 1M, with 1W behind him, end facing 2M.

  9-16   1s dance a half-dolphin-reel with 1st corners: as 1s pass 2M,
             they turn individually to put the 1W in the lead.
            1s end facing 3M for a half-dolphin-reel with 2nd corners.
            1s end in 2nd place on opposite sides.

17-24   All three couples dance set-and-link for three, twice.

25-32   All three couples circle six hands around to the left and back.

University of Michigan students began rowing on Argo Pond in the 1800s. The current incarnation of the Men's Rowing team is one of the most successful non-varsity crew teams in the country. For anyone who has ever walked alongside, rowed upon, or stopped to appreciate the beautiful, calm water of Argo Pond -- preserve Ann Arbor's most beautiful and historic body of water!

Lesson Plan for Feb 21, 2011

Upcoming classes:
  • Feb 28: Dan
  • Mar  7: Ruth
  • Mar 14: Molly

-review: skip-change of step
-practice” bars 9-16, Corners Pass and Turn (with special ending)
(-review reels if necessary)
-review: Pas de Basque
-practice: Double Triangles

THE CHEQUERED COURT J8x32  3C (4C set)  Duncan Brown   RSCDS Book 42

 1- 8     1s cross RH and cast down one place; 2s step up bars 3–4. 1M dance
             ½ figure of 8 up while 1W dance ½ figure of 8 down,
             to end facing 1st corners.

9-16    1s dance corners Pass & Turn with 1st corners. 1s pull right shoulder back
            (loop round in centre) to end back-to-back facing partner’s 2nd corner
            (AKA 4th corner). 1s dance corners Pass & Turn with partner’s 2nd
            corners, (loop round) to end back-to-back facing own sides
            in Double Triangles position.

17-24   All three couples dance Double Triangles. 1M end between the 3s,
            facing 3M; 1W end between 2s, facing 2W.

25-32   1s dance 6-bar right-shoulder reel of three across the dance (right
             shoulder to 4th corner), ending in 2nd place on opposite sides;
             cross RH to own sides. (end: 2, 1, 3)

"The Chequered Court" on YouTube


-dissect dance: Talk about being ready for the next 8 bars at the end of each phrase.  Each couple to describe its next move.
-Details to work on?
-practice: bars 1-8; Discuss stepping up (and down).  Eye contact, phrasing, etc.

THE EARL OF NORTHAMPTON S8x32 2C (4C set) Virginia Van Scoy, Boston Branch 50

1-8       1s  & 2s dance Set and Link, and circle 4H left.

9-16     2s & 1s dance back-to-back (DoSiDos) and turn both hands into
            promenade hold

17-24   2s & 1s dance the first six bars of the Allemande (but replace last two bars
            by RH turn), ending in centre by turning RH once around (ending in centre
            with RH joined).

25-32   1s & 2s dance the Knot.

SEANN TRUIBHAS WILLICHAN  S8x32  2C (4C set)       T Wilson  RSCDS Bk 27

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

 9-16    1L+2M set & change places RH while 1M+2L change places & set; repeat

17-24   1s lead down the middle for 2 steps, turn RH; lead up to top & cast off
             to 2nd place

25-32   2s+1s set & turn partner 2H opening out to circle 4H round to left

"Seann Truibhas Willichan" on YouTube (2.45-3.45)
---
Pronounced 'Shan trews Willichan' meaning 'Willie's old trousers'. 

Lesson Plan for Feb 14, 2011

We're working on mirror (reflection) reels and cross-over reels.  Most of the dances are reels as these figures appears most often in reels!

HAPPY RETURNS  R8x32  3C (4C set)          Miss Milligan's Miscellany #2

 1- 8     1s dance reflection reel of 3 on opposite sides
            [1s cross; 1s, 2s, 3s mirror reel of 3 on sidelines]

 9-16   1s dance reflection reel of 3 on own sides
           [1s cross back to own side; 1s, 2s, 3s mirror reel of 3 on sidelines]

17-24  1s lead down the middle for 3 steps & back, cast to 2nd place (2s step up)

25-32  1s dance RH-across with 3s;  then LH-across with 2s

MISS MARY ELIZABETH WESSEL WALKER R4x32 4C (4C set)  J. Hellmann

1-8       1s, 2s, 3s mirror reel of three on sidelines
            1s begins in and down, end in center facing down
            2s begin out and up, end out and up, ready to dance to 1st place
            3s begin in and up, 3M ends in place, 3W continues down the center

9-12     3W down the center, casts around 4W, up into 2nd place
            1s, in promenade hold (M on right), chase her, cutting through 3W’s place

13-16   3M casts off around 4M, up the center into 2nd place.
            1s chase him, ending in the center of 3rd place on opposite sides,
            facing up

17-18   1s and 3s set
19-22   1s and 3s dance slipping circle once around to the left
23-24   1s and 3s set

25-30   Mirror reel of three for bottom three couples (3, 1, 4)
            1s begin in and down
            4s begin out and up
            3s (not being faced) begin out and down

31-32   1s cross to 4th place
            4s dance out and up to 3rd place, ready to continue in & up
            in the next repetition


BALQUIDDER STRATHSPEY  S8x32  3C (4C set)     Rutherford  RSCDS Bk 24

 1- 8     1s cross & dance reflection reel of 3 on opposite sides
            [1s cross down; 1s, 2s, 3s mirror reel of 3 on sidelines]

 9-16    1s dance reel of 3 on own sides
            [1s cross back to own side; 1s, 2s, 3s mirror reel of 3 on sidelines]

17-24   1s dance down 1 place (join nearer hand), face each other and set;
             dance up to top & cast to face 1st corners (2s step up)

25-32   1s turn 1st corners RH, partner LH, 2nd corner RH & partner LH (2, 1, 3)

SLEEPWALKING  R8x32  3C (4C Set)      K Giacoletti

 1- 8     1s cross RH, cast to 2nd place (2s step up), turn LH & cast down to
            3rd place (3s step up)  (2, 3, 1x)

 9-16    1s dance reflection reel on opposite sides (1s in & up to start;
            3s - at top - starting out and down)

17-24   3s continue the reel while 1s dance up to top;
            1s cast to 2nd place & dance ½ Fig of 8 round 3s  (2, 1, 3)

25-32   1s turn 1st corner RH, pass partner RSh; turn 2nd corner RH
            & pass partner RSh to 2nd places (corners turn for 4 bars)


NORTHAMPTON JIG  J8x32  3C (4C set)   K Smith

 1- 8     1s cross RH & cast down 1 place; 1s dance RH across
            (1M with 2s & 1L with 3s)

 9-16    1s turn LH & cast down 1 place on opposite sides; cross up & turn 2s
            (2M RH & 2L LH)

17-24   1s dance reflection reels of 3 on own sides (1s dance between 2s
            to start); 1s+2s remain in middle for

25-32   1s & 2s dance Allemande

Lesson Plan for Feb 7, 2011

The plan for this Monday is to try out some of the lesser-known dances on the current ball program draft.  We actually have two slightly different ball program drafts in circulation right now, and doing a few of these dances might help us know which program we want to go with.
There seem to be LOTS of circles on tap this week!


Program A

MACLEOD'S TABLES J8x32  3C (4C set)        Derek Haynes, Carnforth Collection 3

1-8      1s cross down to dance mirror reels with 2s and 3s on opposite sides. 1s and 3s end facing up and down.

9-16    1s and 3s couples dance a mens’ chain up and down the middle.

17-24  1s set, cast off, and turn RH 1½ times to own side. 2s step up on bars 19–20.

25-32  2s+1s+3s circle 6H round and back.
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Dance Information
Duirinish is a peninsula on the island of Skye in Scotland. It is situated in the north west between Loch Dunvegan and Loch Bracadale.
The main peaks on Duirinish are Healabhal Mhòr and Healabhal Bheag, which reach 469 metres (1,539 ft) 488 metres (1,601 ft) respectively and are better known as MacLeod's Tables.
They lie in the centre of the Duirinish peninsula and their distinctive shapes are visible throughout much of northwest Skye. 
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Program B

THE LORDS OF THE WIND   R8x32 3C (4C set)    Ian Boyd, Lord of the Rings Collection

1-8        1M set to 2L, 1M cast off one place (2M step up). 1L sets to 2M, 1L cast off one place, (2W step up).

9-16      RH across: 1M with 3s, 1L with 2s (top couple). 1M followed by 3s, and 1L followed by 2s, pass left shoulders in the middle and lead their lines to the other end of the set, finishing 3-1-2 (“snake pass”).

17-24    LH across: 1M with 3s, 1L with 2s. 1M followed by 3s, and 1L followed by 2s, pass right shoulders in the middle and lead their lines back to place, finishing 2-1-3 (“snake pass”).

25-32    2s+1s+3s circle 6H round and back

Program A and B

SIMON BRODIE  S8x32   3C (4C set)     J Young   18C Dances

1- 8 1M and 2L set advancing, turn 2H. 1L and 2M repeat (set advancing, turn 2H).

9-16 1s lead down, cross below 3s & cast up to 2nd place on opposite sides (2s step up bars 11-12). 2s and 1s dance rights-and-lefts (1 bar per hand), 1s end facing 1st corners

17-24 1s set to and turn 2H with 1st corners & 2nd corners, ending in 2nd place (middle) facing ladies’ side: lady on man’s left (1M below).

25-28 1s dance out on ladies’ side (between 2L & 3L), cast round nearer lady to meet in the middle, turn 2H to end facing men’s side: lady on man’s left (1M below).

29-32 1s dance out on men’s side (between 2M & 3M), cast round nearer man to meet in the middle, turn LH to place on own side.

Program B

THE GATHERING   R8x32   3C (4C set)                    MMM 1

 1- 8     1s cross RH & cast 1 place, 2s+1s+3s circle 6H round to left and back to places

 9-16    2s+1s+3s set, cross RH, set, 2s & 3s cross back while 1s turn RH to face 1st corners

17-24   1s set & turn 1st corners, set & turn 2nd corners

25-32   1s dance reels of 3 on opposite sides, passing 1st corner LSh to start. 1s cross RH to 2nd place on own sides.