16 May
2013
16 May
'13
3:55 p.m.
Missionary Men immediately circles left 3/4 to undo the formation. Becket
dances are often guilty of this, but have the reasoning of being able to
end a dance with a partner swing. Improper was a modification to Proper
because, I understand, it greatly facilitates dances without an inactive
couple. So... what does this new formation accomplish?
The dance Proper Becket omits the immediate circle, but the B2 seems
designed simply to get people into that formation; unlike Becket, it does
not serve an independent purpose. Either dance could be shifted 16 measures
and be Becket, or 24 measures and be improper.
I really like the concept of a Proper Becket formation, but I wonder if we
couldn't get to the root of *why* this formation is unique, rather than a
transitionary position. Some dances start in long or short wavy lines, but
we don't necessarily identify them as new formations, for I think the same
reason.
So in the case of Proper Becket, if there's a neighbor swing or partner
swing, it can be considered a Becket or improper dance. A dance would need
a compelling reason to force that new formation. Since the idea of a
no-partner-swing dance is very uncommon, I suggest that the dance needs to
accomplish something new, rather than be a formation for the sake of
formation.
So, the answer comes in the same reason we have Becket: to end a dance with
a particular swing. In this case, I'd suggest a same gender swing, even
better, where the dance can alternate between gents swing and ladies swing.
Then this needs to precede a move for gents and ladies to be facing
partners up and down (else, why not just improper?).
How about this, as a work in progress:
A1: Down the hall, gents in the center, partners next to them. Couple on
left turns alone, couple on right turns as a couple.
Up the hall, bend line
A2: circle L 1/2, slide L to new Ns
Ladies Chain
B1: 1s/2s swing in the center, end facing up to new new Ns
B2: Circle L 3/4
gents/ladies swing in the center, end facing partners
What I like is that the same gender swing is common in Greenfield from lots
of people dancing both roles. The dance feels both classic in its moves and
modern. The dance easily swaps actives each time. ... and it satisfies my
desire to make the formation meaningful.
Thoughts?
In dance,
Ron Blechner