Re: [Callers] Best number of dancers for this set dance needed

Rickey wrote: This looks to me like "Foula Reel", which is in the Community Dances Manual as a four-couple set dance (and which I've danced that way to Bruce Hamilton's calling). Four couples is what you want to make the poussette thing work in the time available. I think the breakdown in my notes will answer your timing questions. Here's the notes I have: ---------------------------------------------------------------- The Foula Reel CDM7 - "The Shaalds of Foula" (CDM gives two tunes with the same name, both jigs, NIB) Longways for four couples A1 (1-4) top couple lead down between the fours (5-8) [Strip the Willow] Arm right with partner 1.5, left with neighbor to move up one place, continue with 1x turns A2 (1-8) finish stripping the willow B1: (1-8) 1st couple, man inside, arch over men's lie down and over women's line up the set. B2: (1-8) Poussette with partners. (1st couple go the opposite direction from everybody else; everybody keeps moving all the way.) 1st man pushes, others pull; 1st man pulls, others push, repeat. Dave Hunt's Variation for B2 (via Mike Courthold on the ceilidh list): BOING: * Top cpl face and boing off each other's hands (ie clap once to each other with both hands); and cast around the neighbouring cpl * Repeat the boing and cast twice more to get to the bottom of the set ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Alan -- =============================================================================== Alan Winston --- WINSTON(a)SSRL.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU Disclaimer: I speak only for myself, not SLAC or SSRL Phone: 650/926-3056 Paper mail to: SSRL -- SLAC BIN 99, 2575 Sand Hill Rd, Menlo Park CA 94025 ===============================================================================