21 Nov
2023
21 Nov
'23
1:29 p.m.
My favorite end-of-the-night dance for a Family Dance is Kings and
Queens. Because it’s a slower dance, it helps excited children to calm
down. I love the honoring of each dancer as they walk down the center.
(Note that I use Larry Jennings notation, thus 1+2 = A1, 3+4 = A2, etc.)
Kings and Queens
By Peter Amidon (in the style of historic English country dances)
Formation: Longways lines of couples for 7-10 couples.
Music: “On the Danforth” or your favorite renaissance dance music.
1. Hands along lines, forward, bow & back
2. Right hand turn partner (palm to palm)
3. Left hand turn partner (palm to palm)
4. Right shoulder round (facing partner, walk once around partner,
maintaining eye contact).
5&6. Top couple sashay down and back
7&8. Top couple face down (elbows down, hand up about shoulder height)
take handy hand and walk slowly to bottom of set.
Other dancers bow to them as they pass.
Each dancer moves up one step and takes hands along lines right after
the active couple passes by.
Notes from Peter Amidon:
Before I teach the children I ʻdubʼ each child a king
or queen, and
talk with them about how kings and queens have good posture, always
take their time, bow simply and elegantly (ʻlook in your partners
eyes, now look at your shoes, now look at your partnerʼs eyes
againʼ), always make good decisions, etc. I often teach this with the
music playing to help set and sustain the mood. B2 is simply the top
couple walking together to the bottom while other folks bow to them,
but I teach it carefully and specifically since it is what the dance
is mostly about: each child getting honored as the king and queen that
they are.
Lisa Sieverts
603-762-0235
lisa(a)lisasieverts.com