17 Feb
2016
17 Feb
'16
6:52 p.m.
OK, sorry for this much delayed report back on the gig. First, I really appreciate all the
dance suggestions and helpful tips shared both on and off-list (many). A reminder of just
how wonderful this list can be!
At first, it was looking like my worries were founded - with just 5 minutes to go there
were maybe 8 people from the set up crew in the hall, clustered around the refreshments
table... and then the posse of t(w)een girls paraded out of the powder room where they
were all making ready, just in time for the start. And then the families appeared, etc. By
the end of the early circle -> spiral dance we'd coaxed most out of their chairs
and were close to 70 people on the dance floor. :)
I used a number of the suggested material, plus a bunch of my existing family dance
collection. Modified some dances to suit the theme -- for instance, there's a
"Grumpy March" longways in the NEDM "Sashay the Donut" book. I asked
the dancers "how does a cowboy walk?" and got a bunch of folks immediately
sticking their thumbs in belts and doing a bowlegged strut, just what I wanted! So we did
the A1 of that dance with a Cowboy Strut instead of the Grump Across in the original, plus
some simplification of the A2/B1.
Virginia (no)Reel type stuff, Sasha, two singing squares, bunch of simple longways with a
lot of shashays. Taught a basic and rotary waltz - I'd announced a waltz to start the
break and then noticed a whole bunch of folks watching my partner and I intently, trying
to follow along as we danced, so I stopped the band - gracefully - and then we started it
up again after a 5 minute basic lesson (everyone in long lines, leads on one side -
partner across, show hold and basic steps then get into formation around the hall).
Stopped once more and showed the rotary turn, then we did a second tune. They picked it up
pretty darn quickly - last one of the night they did a great job all on their own.
Big smiles all around and almost everyone danced most of the night. I don't think
more than a few left before the very end (and two tweens begged for one more dance after
the last waltz). The fiddler (Paul Lizotte) and pianist (Deborah Gerstein) were wonderful
and the live music/flexibility made my job much easier - but I was sure exhausted by the
end!
Thanks again,
Don