new RSCDS dance book(s) (was new RSCDS magazine)

Bruce Herbold

Message 55658 · 9 Apr 2009 19:09:24 · Fixed-width font · Whole thread

Steve, it seems to me that we are on the edge of SCD becoming something
different. With 13000 published new dances, the need for a new book is hard
to defend. But then the same could be true of pop songs or fiddle tunes or
crossword puzzles or novels -- most of which are the same sort of 'shuffling
standard figures around' as SCD. But as you point out -- there are some
mighty fine dances being written and it would be a shame not to share them.

We have found a format that allows people to express their creativity but we
have not come to terms with how that fits in to a 'traditional' art form.
Perhaps we go back to emphasizing the teaching of 'dancing rather than
dances' -- but my experience in recent years (and scanning programs from
around the world) suggestst that that leads to a tendency to lose touch with
the actual roots of the tradition (iffy though those roots are).

I think Kaleidoscope is coming at an ideal juncture as we try to figure out
where our favorite pastime is heading.

Bruce Herbold
San Francisco

On 4/9/09, Steve Wyrick <xxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xxx> wrote:
>
> I DID get my magazine, on time; thank you RSCDS HQ!
>
> From the blurb they appear to be looking for "tried and true" but
> unpublished dances and asked for one submission per branch/teacher,
> whatever
> that means. Personally I've danced a number of dances from members of THIS
> branch which I think are publication-worthy, so I believe they'd have no
> trouble filling a book with decent dances. Whether or not there's a "need"
> for the RSCDS to be publishing another book is another matter, although I
> believe they indicated that members were in favor of them continuing to
> publish new books of dances so fine... -Steve
>
> On Thu, Apr 9, 2009 at 6:02 AM, Becky Sager <xxxxxx3@xxxx.xxx> wrote:
>
> > Sounds like this is not the same project as the new Graded Book, for
> which
> > our branch has offered to evaluate a few dances - the deadline for that
> is
> > the end of this month? The dances we were sent are, well, I could echo
> > Martin's comment - Do they really think that ever more reshuffling of the
> > same old figures is necessary? Except for the round-the-room circle
> dances
> > which are just plain bad. We had a look at the dances sent to our
> > neighboring branch in the Carolinas, and they are no better.
> >
> > Becky
> >
> > Becky Sager
> > Marietta GA USA
> >
> > From: xxxxxxxxx7@xxx.xxx
> > To: xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx
> > Subject: new RSCDS magazine
> > Date: Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:08:42 -0400
> >
> > I was positive surprised to read that RSCDS has plans to publish a new
> book
> > of dances in
> > 2010 and asks branches and SCD teachers to submit succesful tried out
> > dances for this
> > project. Deadline is in early September 2009
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> Steve Wyrick -- Walnut Creek, California
>
>

--
Bruce Herbold