14 Oct
2008
14 Oct
'08
10 a.m.
Hi again Allison,
On 10/13/08, crunchymama(a)juno.com <crunchymama(a)juno.com> wrote:
Thank you for all the responses! I'm excited to try the Rick Mohr 4f4. And
I think I understand the Double Becket formation and the power turn well! I
love the power turn; it's that butterfly whirl feeling I've been looking
for, in a different format.
So I'm looking at possibly calling K&E for a contra crowd- there are no EC
dances in our area so there would be nowhere to carry over the knowledge.
Would it be a crime against nature to teach N gypsy, N lt sh gypsy in place
of the split and cast around to place? It seems like it would keep the
dancers a bit more active and use their existing vocabulary- and I wouldn't
spend time teaching a move we won't be using again any time soon. I'm sure
there are a variety of opinions on this!
My opinion: A gypsy wouldn't be right with the feeling of the dance, and
might even make the transition in to the star feel weird for some of the
dancers. However, I would encourage you to contemplate substituting
do-si-do (and 1s turn to face other 1s at the end) in the A1 and seesaw
(Lshld do-si-do) in the A2. I think that momentum would work just fine.
I do still have questions about the way the progression works in B2. I can't
seem to figure it out without adding some sliding,
turning alone, twirling,
or passing through. Here's the dance again and the progression Lark notated
for me:
K&E by Pat Shaw- formation Double Becket
1's are in the middle and progress down, 2's are on the ends and progress
up
A1: 1's split the 2's, cast back to place, end facing the other 1's(8)
OR
N gypsy (8)
1's only- Right hand star, back to your 2's (8)
A2: 2's split the 1's and cast back to place (8)
OR
N l sh gypsy (8)
Same four (1's w/ 2's): Left hand star (8) (L start the chain as they pass
each other, 3/4 of the way through the star)
B1: 1's only- Ladies chain with power turn - face out (8)
Ones with the twos: Ladies chain (8)
B2: Same four: Circle left 3/4 (8)
1's Circle left 3/4 and move down a little while 2's Swing
and move up (8)
Lark wrote:
Don't worry, the circles will get you back with your partner.
The Circle Ls are both 3/4--i.e. until the "insides" are back on the inside
of the set and can whirl around to take Circle L hands-4 with their
partners.
<end quote>
At the end of B1, as a #1 lady, I've got a #1 gent in my right hand and a
#2 on my left.
This is correct
If we (1's and 2's) circle L a complete 3/4, I end up as a #1 back to back
with my partner. If all then turn alone, my partner
will be on the wrong
side of me, so after the second circle L 3/4, we will need to twirl (would
that be a star through or?) to swap places and directions.
This is also correct--mostly. At the end of the first Circle L 3/4, #1s are
back-to-back with their partners. All turn alone and, yes, Circle L 3/4
(while moving down) with the ladies on the L of each partnership (the wrong
side). At the end of the second Circle L 3/4 the 1s are back-to-back with
NEW 2s. Again, turn alone to face these new 2s, and presto! the lady's on
the right again. i.e. switch ONLY direction after each of the Circles L
3/4. If you swapped places AND directions, as you suggested, the ladies
would be on the wrong side at the top of the next A1.
I'm sure there may be another option on the progression that I'm missing,
and maybe one that is CORRECT. I know there has to be
something missing,
since 1's need to end up facing 2's, not 1's.
How have you danced it? And is the progression only within each line, or do
the ones cross over each time through?
You stay in your own "half" of the set throughout the dance.
Thanks again!
-Alison Murphy
Thanks for bringing up such a wonderful dance!
Lark
--
"In this case, we may waive formalities. We
really haven't time. This is
to-day, but it will soon be to-morrow, and then we may be very different
people, and in some other country."
-- Willa Cather, _The Song of the Lark_