What interesting timing for Michael to write "Some terms, such as Rory O'More,
petronella and California twirl should be banished for more descriptive phrases--in this
case "balance and slide/shift". "
I am about to introduce Mad Robins to my group for the first time in its 15 year history
(reminder, we are an island here in Halifax where 99+ percent of the dancers never dance
anywhere else)....
and I was feeling reluctant to use the term M.R., since it goes against the principle I
try to use here for our "always lots of beginners" group, of using intuitive,
descriptive names for my figures. But also a bit torn because I do love the term
"mad robin" and we will probably only use it in one dance :)
I had been seriously considering the term "Mirror Do-si-do" as an alternative -
because to me, this describes the term perfectly - my dancers know what a dosido is, and
now they will do one- watching their "reflection" do the same thing across the
set.
But! I know that "mirror do si do" unfortunately has another meaning in the
lexicon of figures...
I have been weighing the decision because I am quite sure 99-100 percent of the dancers
have never danced a real mirror do si do, and I feel 96-100 percent of them will never go
on to do so.
I thought I might even introduce the concept saying "just for your interest/in case
you go on to dance anywhere else, in the bigger contra dancing world, this figure is
called a " mad robin" and a "mirror do si do" is something
different..."
I think Michael's comment has emboldened me to go down this route :)
Kat in Hfx NS Canada