Tony's call is good.  Gene Ward really nails it with the tempo. The older dancers, when inactive, would hold inside hands, turn towards each other
and bow to the active couple as they promenaded behind them.
Ed Gilmore's version is moving into MWSD territory.  Two couples promenading is more just doing figures rather than letting one couple shine
and be honored as they step out.

Can't say enough good things about the Square Dance History Project.      Bob Livingston  Middletown, CT




From: "Patricia Campbell countrydancecaller@gmail.com [trad-dance-callers]"
To: "trad-dance-callers@yahoogroups.com"
Sent: Monday, February 1, 2016 10:45 PM
Subject: Re: [trad-dance-callers] Request starter squares ("Of course everybody knows this dance")

 
For anyone interested - 

Here are three versions of My Little Girl (one audio version & two videos) (all thanks to David Millstone's Square Dance History Project):

Audio clip of Ed Gilmore, 1954

Gene Ward, 1990


Tony Parkes, 2011


Patricia Campbell
Newtown, CT

On Mon, Feb 1, 2016 at 9:11 PM, Robert Livingston rlivngstn@yahoo.com [trad-dance-callers] <trad-dance-callers@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
 
John,

I say everybody knows this dance because back when the square dance (including contra chestnuts) was part of the New England fabric and culture
and Ralph Page was known as a singing caller, certain figures became associated with certain melodies (Americana)  Perhaps the availability of
dance recordings helped. So folks knew Dip and Dive was Red Wing,  Just Because was Ladies Chains and Golden Slippers had a cutaway figure.

It's been noted that My Little Girl was a sensation when it came out.

First Couple Promenade around the outside - around the outside of the ring.
Head Ladies Chain right down the Center - and you Chain them back again
You Chain to the Right with the Right Hand Couple - and you Chain them back again
You Chain to the Left with the Left Hand Couple - and you Chain back home again

Dosado with the Corner Girl, Dosado go 'round Your Own - go back and Swing your Corner round
Runaway Home and Swing your Darlin' - She's the sweetest girl in town.

Allemande Left with the ole left hand - Partner Right with a Right and Left Grand - go all the way go 'round
It's all the way go 'round, you are homeward bound  - to the... 2ND COUPLE TAKE A WALK.. don't stop at home...round the outside...
---
The routine or route of the dance is simple and there is no partner change - a single couple goes round the outside as they may do to any music.
when they separate from each other or promenade together.. Then a little something at home and a finish using up a couple of phrases (or more)
to go once around the set.  It doesn't have to be Grand Rights and Lefts and it doesn't have to be Ladies Chains.
For those who dance once a year dancers its Promenade once around - just some Forward & Backs or Dosadoes, etc at home and a Promenade.
Modify it but the music is great!

But for the dancers who dance this regularly in New England  it's set in stone as above and on the old 78s.

The break may vary on record and in books I've seen, but this one I've typed here allows no recovery or stopping at home.  The figure flows.
Two Dosados in one phrase starting with left shoulders around the Corner and one large circle (not a figure 8) around the Partner -
back to a Corner Swing
It's the way I picked it up in Heath, MA  (1st & 3rd Saturdays into the late '90s)  and I still have Heath dancers.

Bob Livingston
Middletown, CT