when to hop

mlbrown

Message 19882 · 21 Dec 1999 22:57:08 · Fixed-width font · Whole thread

Greetings:

While reading about the hops and bars I wondered how many teachers have used
the similarity of Strathspey's and Reels to correct a common fault -
retiring using pas-de-basque instead of skip-change?

Most people can dance two strathspey travel steps forward and two back in
strathspey time, with hops (the sort where the supporting foot comes off the
floor) - if the music is played gradually faster, until it becomes nearly
twice as fast, then the step becomes skip change (and it is a nice way of
showing that the hop occurs at precisely the same point in the music!) - of
course people who retire with pas-de-basque will suddenly swith over at some
critical speed, but with practice this critical speed can gradually be
increased! - Of course you need either a very good musician, or a variable
speed player!

Malcolm