Advance and Retire

Peter M. Price

Message 7211 · 4 Apr 1997 05:02:31 · Fixed-width font · Whole thread

Terry, a lot happened and none of it good.

The Geud Man of Ballangigh from _The Playford Ball_ Keller and Shimer 1990

A1 1-4 1st couple lead down between 2nd couple and cast back to place.
5-8 Two men lead out between women and cast back to place.
A2 1-4 2nd couple lead up between 1st couple and cast down to place.
5-8 Two women lead out between men and cast back to place.
B1 1-4 1st man set forward to 2nd woman {who does not set}, and turn single
to right
back to place.
5-8 1st woman the same to 2nd man.
B2 1-4 Circle four-hands half-way and fall back in lines, improper and
progressed.
5-8 Partners set forward (5-6), and change places passing right shoulder
(7-8).

1. Scottish has nothing resembling _Turn single_ which is a small circle danced
by an individual using a _double step_ which is three steps and close. (R L R
close)

The Guidman of Balangigh from RSCDS Bk30

1-4 1st couple with nearer hands joined dance down between 2nd couple and
cast up to original places.

5-8 1st and 2nd men dance between 1st and 2nd women, cast round own partner
then
cross over to original places.

9-12 1st and 2nd women repeat bars 5-8 dancing between 1st and 2nd men.

13-16 2nd couple dance up between 1st couple and cast off to original places.

17-20 1st man and 2nd woman advance toward each other, then pulling right
shoulder
back, return to places (4 p d b)

21-24 1st woman and 2nd man repeat bars 17-20.

25-28 1st and 2nd couples four hands half round to opposite sides (4 sk ch).

29-32 2nd and 1st couples set to partners and cross over to own sides giving
right hands.

A) The sequence of lead throughs has changed- and the flow is broken.
In the Eng. version there is always a dancer connecting one lead through and
the next.
1M 1W; 1M 2M; 2M 2W; 2W 1W Very nice! But not in "our" version.

B) The English change from setting step to walking step for the "Turn Single".
1) The Scots don't have a Turn Single (which is a great move IMO).
All it would be is two (2) skip change either round by the right,
in a
small circle, ending back in place or 2 sk ch, pulling right
shoulder
back, returning to place (i.e. a cast).
2) P d b through out doesn't work during bars 17-24! It doesn't feel
good, looks
horrible- I've never seen an elegant example of this move.
3) Half a Circle in FOUR skip change steps? Ya sure! They could, at the
very least, have retained the "fall back in lines (read retire
for two).
(Again, IMO, a very elegant use of excess time).

The Scottish version of this dance is an example of Darwinism at work. When was
the last time you danced this one? I danced it only once, the year it was
published and our group went through the new book trying the dances out. And
this isn't English dance snobbery at work. None of our "purists" have done it
since then either.

Peter M Price
New Haven CT
103500.1357@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx

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The easiest way to eat crow is while it is still warm. The
colder it gets, the harder it is to swaller!
Texas Bix Bender
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