A Different Way Forward https://share.google/1OzBw4bN7wf8Zu9JN
I am calling this weekend and walked this dance through with a small group
last night to prepare. I thought it was such an easy, straightforward
dance. 😆 No hard moves, everything flows into the next move nicely... The
end effects were tripping people up even though they *knew* what was going
on. These were all experienced dancers. We only had 2 hands fours and it's
a triple progression dance, so everyone was always involved in end effects.
Maybe that's the only reason it was so complicated. I do know more things I
could point out from the beginning now (the ladies that are out won't be
doing the first allemande, but everybody will be doing the second
allemande; all the ladies will be traveling counterclockwise around the
major set and all the men will be traveling clockwise) but I'm afraid to
call it on Saturday. Is this dance really that hard? What should I think?
😅 How do I do a better walkthrough? I don't want it to be information
overload but do I need to give a big picture explanation of the dance
before anyone starts moving? Or is this just all going to go better in
longer sets and people will sort out the end effects... ? It's such a fun
dance that I don't want to give it up but I don't want it to be a flop
either.
I'm trying to get in touch with Tom Hinds to ask whether I may put a
modified version of his dance "Portland Chain" on my website, but have
had no reply. I'm using an address with yahoo but if someone has a more
recent one please let me know.
Colin Hume
Email: colin(a)colinhume.com Website: https://colinhume.com
Hi Folks,
I wanted to report in as some of you gave some alternative B1/B2 parts to
Anne's Dream and I was able to workshop a few this weekend to some really
great success.
(I would have tried others but I'm thinking about the context of my local
dance community and what might work best here given their familiarity. I
really appreciate everyone who chimed in though.)
The first we tried was Lisa Sieverts' version:
*B1: 1s with #3 neighbor, balance and allemande right 1 1/2, 1s with #2
neighbor, balance and allemande left 1 1/2B2: 1s cast to bottom. All step
up and 2H turn or swing to their original side.I’m tempted by a mirror
allemande in B1, which I think would leave both 1s facing out at the end of
the second allemande, but fear that would be too complicated.*
When we tested this, we quickly found that there wasn't enough time to
balance and do the Allemands + cast/swing. What we ended up doing is
B1: 1&3s Neighbour Allemand R 1.5 --> 1&2s Neighbour Allemand L 1.5
B2: Kept the same.
The dancers really liked this version. They did point out that the cast
should be prompted as the 1s forget what to do at the top. Folks also
really liked the idea of the mirror Allemande but we didn't test that.
Trickiest part is the 1s turn around to start Als right after popping thru.
The second we tried was Jacob Bloom's version:
*B1 Take hands in a ring, top couple (original #2 couple) make an arch, 1s
duck through the arch and separate, pulling couples 3 and 2 under the arch
as they cast back to placeB2 All swing partners in their new place*
Folks really liked this! There seemed to be too much music for the amount
of dance plus the end of A2 is a bit disorienting for the 1s. One dancer
suggested we do a Bal at the top of the B1 before the rip and snort as well
as a Bal at the top of the B2 before the P sw. That worked really well.
Anyway... just wanted to share in the thought that a few others might enjoy
trying these!
Thanks again to all those who chimed in to share ideas.
:) Emily in Ottawa
