Here is a variant...The Duke of Ellington's Waltz....
Hello Hanny,
There are two called waltzes that I’ve used at contra dances: Circle
Waltz, and Duke of Kent’s Waltz.
Circle Waltz is a wonderful way to begin.
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwLsJ6JIYqw>
and <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w682qG7aG-M>
both show the choreography I enjoy teaching the most because the couples’
waltzing time is only 8 beats, and can be done as a two hand turn, which
feels doable for anxious or beginning waltz learners.
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuYmJ48IezY> In this video, the Circle
Waltz goes into an open waltz at the end.
<
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivg4OsR3OeI> is a fine model for
teaching. This video echoes my own recent experience. Although I did begin
the teaching letting the ladies know they step forward on the right foot,
and the gents on the left foot, I never mentioned it again. I encouraged
people who were learning to waltz to let go of thoughts of where their
feet needed to be, and to notice the pattern of the moves, to let the
music [Ashokan Farewell is lovely and clearly phrased] come into their
bodies and arms and feet. Dancers could choose to ‘step–2–3, step-2-3’, or
just move forward and back. We did spend a few moments on ladies
three-step roll and the gentle-manly assistance with a little weight in
the handholds, but just a brief description; we went one time through the
dance, moving, then once through the dance, imagining the moves to calls,
and then began with the music. In this video, Peter Amidon sets the pace
and the mood with bows and sighs. Choose words, make suggestions that seem
appropriate to the group you are with. And Peter is absolutely right about
what happens when the caller no longer speaks; I teared up as the circle
became full and round and rhythmic and the room was quiet but for the
swish of dancing and the lovely tune.
Duke of Kent’s Waltz is an elegant tune worth seeking out, but the dance
can go with any contra dance waltz tune.
This video is well done and beautifully demonstrates the historical dance:
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=KOL-TwoMMGs>
You can hear the caller’s cues here: <
http://dancevideos.childgrove.org/ecd/playford/333-duke-of-kents-waltz.html…
and this pdf gives you the historical description:
<http://www.folkdance.com/LDNotations/DukeofKentsWaltz2010LD.pdf>
Because the enjoyment of the dancers has been so favorable, I’ve begun
collecting other called waltzes that might be friendly to contra dancers.
If you are interested, I will be happy to send you online sources.
Karin Neils
West Michigan
Many contra events have a couple waltz during
intermission or at the
last dance. BUT does anyone ever due a contra (duple or triple minor) in
waltz time?
Hanny
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