There's no one answer to that question.  Instead, you need to ask whoever is using the term what they mean by it.

One obvious answer would be from 1607 (when the English colony in Jamestown, Virginia, was founded) through 1776 (when independence was declared.)  However, that assumes that you are only interested in English colonies (Spanish colonies in America started earlier), and that you are talking about the colonial period of the United States of America (the Australian colonial period goes much later.)  Also, the person using the term may not be interested in that entire period, or may be including dances from near that period in their use of the term.

The Wayside Inn Steppers, in Sudbury, Massachusetts, refer to what we do as Colonial Dance, but we mostly do dances from the late colonial and early Federalist periods, from 1750 to 1810.

Jacob Bloom


On Wed, Feb 28, 2018 at 10:10 AM, Chris J Brady chrisjbrady@yahoo.com [trad-dance-callers] <trad-dance-callers@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
 

"Colonial period dances"

What's that defined in years?

CJB

--------------------------------------------
On Wed, 28/2/18, Dudley Laufman jdlaufman@comcast.net [trad-dance-callers] <trad-dance-callers@yahoogroups.com> wrote:

Subject: Re: [trad-dance-callers] Colonial Dances
To: "trad-dance-callers@yahoogroups.com" <trad-dance-callers@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Wednesday, 28 February, 2018, 15:07


 









Hunting The Fox
(Trenchmore) is another good Colonial Period dance.  It is
a longways set dance.  (No progression) for as many as
will.  Unphrased.  Music: Any jig will do..All
forward and back.  Twice.  Lead lines around (slip hey)
and back to place.  All that again.  All make bridges,
first couple go under followed by rest to all are back in
places.  A swing partners with elbow hooks.  Repeat if you
want.

On Sat, Feb 10, 2018 at
5:05 PM, Dudley Laufman <jdlaufman@comcast.net>
wrote:
Hey Rich:  Don't waste your time
trying to getting drunk beginners to dance duple minors. You
don't need to carry a torch for contra dances...they are
not going to know the difference anyway, and won't thank
you if you have to spend more than a minute to
"teach" the dance.  Sir Roger de Coverly is a
good one.  Family version of Virginia Reel good.  Repeat
it if you have to.  They'll love it.  If you must do a
duple, Jefferson & Liberty.  Just start with top couple
being active and the others join in when they reach the top,
having watched the first couple suffer through it. 
That's the way the old dancing masters did it anyway so
you will be correct that way.  Good luck.  cheers, 
Dudley

On Sat,
Feb 10, 2018 at 3:01 PM, Rich Sbardella richsbardella@gmail.com
[trad-dance-callers] s.com> wrote:















 









I am using an abbreviated
version of Sir Roger without the
reel.Thanks,Rich
On Sat, Feb 10, 2018 at
2:59 PM, John Ryan jryanvta@yahoo.com
[trad-dance-callers] s.com> wrote:















 










Not sure if Comonial I have done modified Virginia
Reel
John
RyanArroyo Grande, CA


Sent from
Yahoo Mail for iPhone

On
Saturday, February 10, 2018, 11:27 AM, Rich Sbardella richsbardella@gmail.com
[trad-dance-callers] s.com> wrote:
 









Hello Folks, 
Does anyone have dances that they are
willing to share of Colonial period dances that are adapted
to a Party Dance environment for non dances?  I instantly
think of Rakes of Mallow (longways) and Haste to the Wedding
(as a Duple Minor).
I have a few others, but would like
to add to my repertoire.  Easy is what I am looking for. 
Alcohol involved in reenactment party dance.
Thanks, From one of the
colonies!
Rich Sbardella
Stafford, CT


































































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