strathspey Archive: Fugal Fergus (was Re: 48 bar dances)

Well, sometimes we do schedule Fugal Fergus in its own right. Sometimes we schedule Waverley OR Fugal Fergus, the MC saying - if you want to dance Waverley, join the line of sets to my right, Fugal Fergus to the left. The relationship IS the music, and the fact that Hugh Foss named the book in which Fugal Fergus is number 1, The Waverley Fugues. I much prefer Fugal Fergus, because being old and pas de Basque challenged, I'd rather reel than dance a poussette followed by double triangles. Becky

Becky Sager
Marietta GA USA
"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about
learning how to dance in the rain." Vivian Greene

---------- Original Message ----------
From: Lara Friedman-Shedlov <lfriedmanshedlov@gmail.com>
To: strathspey@strathspey.org
Subject: Fugal Fergus (was Re: 48 bar dances)
Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:34:19 -0600

So this reminds me about a question I've had for a long time:

I like Fugal Fergus, and I like Waverley, but I have never understood
why Fugal Fergus is often substituted for Waverley at a dance, or why
Fugal Fergus almost never appears on the programs on its own. It's
not like Fugal Fergus is really a variation on Waverley. It bears
very little in common with Waverley other than the chasing figure, the
total number of bars, and the music. I enjoy dancing Waverley and
find it rather frustrating when other dancers in my set decide they
would rather do Fugal Fergus. Like I said, Fugal Fergus a great
dance, but why should Waverley always get bumped for its sake, and why
not just put Fugal Fergus on the program to begin with, if that's what
people want to do?

Lara Friedman-Shedlov
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

*****************************
Lara Friedman~Shedlov
lfriedmanshedlov@gmail.com

*****************************

On Wed, Feb 15, 2012 at 4:21 PM, Becky Sager <bsager3@juno.com> wrote:
> How about Waverley? That's certainly the most popular 48-bar dance in the Atlanta area, though often some of us stack a set or two to do Fugal Fergus instead! &#65533;Yay Hugh Foss, again! &#65533;Becky
>

Since the Midwest of the U.S. figures prominently in this thread, with Lara in Minneapolis starting it and Mike in Madison contributing, let me add remembering years ago at the annual ball in Madison that the program had Waverly OR Fugual Fergus, but as first lady's choice. In bar 9, if the first lady started setting rather than standing still, one knew that round would be Fugual Fergus; standing still meant Waverley. Most sets ended up doing some of each dance. It worked very well as long as everyone was familiar with both dances, which was the case in Madison in those days (with people coming from Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota).

Kent
(now Connecticut, USA)

-----Original Message-----
From: Becky Sager [mailto:bsager3@juno.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 5:53 PM
To: strathspey@strathspey.org
Subject: Re: Fugal Fergus (was Re: 48 bar dances)

Well, sometimes we do schedule Fugal Fergus in its own right. Sometimes we schedule Waverley OR Fugal Fergus, the MC saying - if you want to dance Waverley, join the line of sets to my right, Fugal Fergus to the left. The relationship IS the music, and the fact that Hugh Foss named the book in which Fugal Fergus is number 1, The Waverley Fugues. I much prefer Fugal Fergus, because being old and pas de Basque challenged, I'd rather reel than dance a poussette followed by double triangles. Becky

Becky Sager
Marietta GA USA
"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about
learning how to dance in the rain." Vivian Greene

---------- Original Message ----------
From: Lara Friedman-Shedlov <lfriedmanshedlov@gmail.com>
To: strathspey@strathspey.org
Subject: Fugal Fergus (was Re: 48 bar dances)
Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:34:19 -0600

So this reminds me about a question I've had for a long time:

I like Fugal Fergus, and I like Waverley, but I have never understood
why Fugal Fergus is often substituted for Waverley at a dance, or why
Fugal Fergus almost never appears on the programs on its own. It's
not like Fugal Fergus is really a variation on Waverley. It bears
very little in common with Waverley other than the chasing figure, the
total number of bars, and the music. I enjoy dancing Waverley and
find it rather frustrating when other dancers in my set decide they
would rather do Fugal Fergus. Like I said, Fugal Fergus a great
dance, but why should Waverley always get bumped for its sake, and why
not just put Fugal Fergus on the program to begin with, if that's what
people want to do?

Lara Friedman-Shedlov
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

*****************************
Lara Friedman~Shedlov
lfriedmanshedlov@gmail.com

*****************************

On Wed, Feb 15, 2012 at 4:21 PM, Becky Sager <bsager3@juno.com> wrote:
> How about Waverley? That's certainly the most popular 48-bar dance in the Atlanta area, though often some of us stack a set or two to do Fugal Fergus instead! &#65533;Yay Hugh Foss, again! &#65533;Becky
>

Kent W. Smith wrote:

> […] years ago at the annual ball in Madison that the program had
> Waverly OR Fugual Fergus, but as first lady's choice. In bar 9, if the
> first lady started setting rather than standing still, one knew that round
> would be Fugual Fergus; standing still meant Waverley.

Cool. Those were the days …

Anselm
--
Anselm Lingnau, Mainz/Mayence, Germany ................. anselm@strathspey.org
Calling Atheism a religion is like calling bald a hair color.
-- Don Hirschberg

Those indeed were the days. I remember a Christmas scottish dance party at
which an 8/32 jig was played and each couple had to do a different dance,
WITHOUT telling the other couples in the set which it was, and they just had
to think on their feet and join in. (experienced dancers only of course)
all good clean fun!!

----- Original Message -----
From: "Anselm Lingnau" <anselm@strathspey.org>
To: <strathspey@strathspey.org>
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2012 2:34 PM
Subject: Re: Fugal Fergus (was Re: 48 bar dances)

Kent W. Smith wrote:

> […] years ago at the annual ball in Madison that the program had
> Waverly OR Fugual Fergus, but as first lady's choice. In bar 9, if the
> first lady started setting rather than standing still, one knew that round
> would be Fugual Fergus; standing still meant Waverley.

Cool. Those were the days …

Anselm
--
Anselm Lingnau, Mainz/Mayence, Germany .................
anselm@strathspey.org
Calling Atheism a religion is like calling bald a hair color.
-- Don
Hirschberg

Angela Bulteel wrote............
"Those indeed were the days. I remember a Christmas scottish dance party at
which an 8/32 jig was played and each couple had to do a different dance,
WITHOUT telling the other couples in the set which it was, and they just
had to think on their feet and join in. (experienced dancers only of
course) all good clean fun!!"

So, why have things changed?"

Are there simply too many dances out there now that thoroughly mastering
some is too daunting a task?

Have dancers become lazy and less willing to put in the time and effort to
learn dances properly?

Have teachers become less demanding of their classes and inadvertently
developed a culture of dependency; dancers always needing a walk-through or
briefing?

Do we just have to resign ourselves to the fact that the days Angela
describes have gone forever?

I hope not!

Sue Ronald
New York

On Thu, Feb 16, 2012 at 11:35 AM, Angela Bulteel <a.bulteel@talktalk.net>wrote:

> Those indeed were the days. I remember a Christmas scottish dance party at
> which an 8/32 jig was played and each couple had to do a different dance,
> WITHOUT telling the other couples in the set which it was, and they just
> had to think on their feet and join in. (experienced dancers only of
> course) all good clean fun!!
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Anselm Lingnau" <anselm@strathspey.org
> >
> To: <strathspey@strathspey.org>
> Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2012 2:34 PM
> Subject: Re: Fugal Fergus (was Re: 48 bar dances)
>
>
> Kent W. Smith wrote:
>
> […] years ago at the annual ball in Madison that the program had
>> Waverly OR Fugual Fergus, but as first lady's choice. In bar 9, if the
>> first lady started setting rather than standing still, one knew that round
>> would be Fugual Fergus; standing still meant Waverley.
>>
>
> Cool. Those were the days …
>
> Anselm
> --
> Anselm Lingnau, Mainz/Mayence, Germany .................
> anselm@strathspey.org
> Calling Atheism a religion is like calling bald a hair color.
> -- Don
> Hirschberg
>

Some groups here in the West of Scotland, who are not 'slaves' to the RSCDS
still practice Angela's remembered style where each couple dance two
different dances in the set. They normally state as they start, which dance
they are dancing. The East Kilbride Highlander Group is one in particular.
No re-caps either. But they do mix in other styles of dancing so not a
constant set dance event.

The current teaching of the Society Groups here seems to brainwash the
dancers and they are not encouraged to think for themselves. They are told
there will be recaps and walkthroughs if required.
Groups like the East Kilbride Highlanders are attracting full halls at their
dances, which should tell us something. The Branch dances struggle at times
to cover costs.

Alasdair Graham
Dumbarton, Scotland

Looking for a dance?
Call up http://www.dancediary.info
to see if something suits.
Ceilidh Dance Pages
Country Dance Pages & Newsletter.

Angela Bulteel wrote............
"Those indeed were the days. I remember a Christmas scottish dance party at
which an 8/32 jig was played and each couple had to do a different dance,
WITHOUT telling the other couples in the set which it was, and they just had
to think on their feet and join in. (experienced dancers only of
course) all good clean fun!!"

So, why have things changed?"

Are there simply too many dances out there now that thoroughly mastering
some is too daunting a task?

Have dancers become lazy and less willing to put in the time and effort to
learn dances properly?

Have teachers become less demanding of their classes and inadvertently
developed a culture of dependency; dancers always needing a walk-through or
briefing?

Do we just have to resign ourselves to the fact that the days Angela
describes have gone forever?

I hope not!

Sue Ronald
New York

I think the suggestion below from Sue Ronald is worthy of further discussion
as I believe it is the crux of the matter. In my experience a lot of weekly
classes now concentrate on "learning" new dances every class night. But do
we actually learn them? - Or are we just walking them through, dancing them
once and then forgetting them. In the "old days" (dare I say), we might, at
class, learn one new dance. (as there were not so many being devised) and
then for the following weeks, this new dance would be gone through until we
all new it perfectly. These days, the average "class" consists of going
through many new dances every week, and the brain can only take so much
information. With an odd exception, the majority "learned" at these classes
will never be seen or heard of again. However, this may be construed as the
pot calling the kettle black as I am adding to the problem by forever
devising new dances myself, so apologies to all, for my opinions.
But having said that, I do feel that too little is done to teach a dance
fully, to ensure pupils can say with confidence, "I know this dance well",
and not have to pray to be 4th couple in a set, when another new one comes
up on a dance programme.
And finally, I should add that life, and Sottish country dancing would be
very dull indeed if we kept doing the same hundred or so dances week in week
out, ad infinitum, and sadly can suggest no happy medium to suit all!!
Angela

----- Original Message -----
From: "Sue Ronald" <sjr280@gmail.com>
To: <strathspey@strathspey.org>
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2012 5:40 PM
Subject: Re: Fugal Fergus (was Re: 48 bar dances)

So, why have things changed?"

Are there simply too many dances out there now that thoroughly mastering
some is too daunting a task?

On Thu, Feb 16, 2012 at 11:35 AM, Angela Bulteel
<a.bulteel@talktalk.net>wrote:

> Those indeed were the days. I remember a Christmas scottish dance party at
> which an 8/32 jig was played and each couple had to do a different dance,
> WITHOUT telling the other couples in the set which it was, and they just
> had to think on their feet and join in. (experienced dancers only of
> course) all good clean fun!!
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Anselm Lingnau" <anselm@strathspey.org
> >
> To: <strathspey@strathspey.org>
> Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2012 2:34 PM
> Subject: Re: Fugal Fergus (was Re: 48 bar dances)
>
>
> Kent W. Smith wrote:
>
> […] years ago at the annual ball in Madison that the program had
>> Waverly OR Fugual Fergus, but as first lady's choice. In bar 9, if the
>> first lady started setting rather than standing still, one knew that
>> round
>> would be Fugual Fergus; standing still meant Waverley.
>>
>
> Cool. Those were the days …
>
> Anselm
> --
> Anselm Lingnau, Mainz/Mayence, Germany .................
> anselm@strathspey.org
> Calling Atheism a religion is like calling bald a hair color.
> -- Don
> Hirschberg
>

When there are 1-3 dance parties every month and there are 12 to 16 dances per party, teachers are under pressure to teach all the dances being offered. The programs do not have much repetition. Therefore there isn't much chance that there will be a lot of time spent on each dance.
Sylvia Miskoe Concord, NH USA

-----Original Message-----
From: Angela Bulteel <a.bulteel@talktalk.net>
To: strathspey <strathspey@strathspey.org>
Sent: Thu, Feb 16, 2012 2:08 pm
Subject: Re: Fugal Fergus (was Re: 48 bar dances)

I think the suggestion below from Sue Ronald is worthy of further discussion
s I believe it is the crux of the matter. In my experience a lot of weekly
lasses now concentrate on "learning" new dances every class night. But do
e actually learn them? - Or are we just walking them through, dancing them
nce and then forgetting them. In the "old days" (dare I say), we might, at
lass, learn one new dance. (as there were not so many being devised) and
hen for the following weeks, this new dance would be gone through until we
ll new it perfectly. These days, the average "class" consists of going
hrough many new dances every week, and the brain can only take so much
nformation. With an odd exception, the majority "learned" at these classes
ill never be seen or heard of again. However, this may be construed as the
ot calling the kettle black as I am adding to the problem by forever
evising new dances myself, so apologies to all, for my opinions.
ut having said that, I do feel that too little is done to teach a dance
ully, to ensure pupils can say with confidence, "I know this dance well",
nd not have to pray to be 4th couple in a set, when another new one comes
p on a dance programme.
nd finally, I should add that life, and Sottish country dancing would be
ery dull indeed if we kept doing the same hundred or so dances week in week
ut, ad infinitum, and sadly can suggest no happy medium to suit all!!
ngela

---- Original Message -----
rom: "Sue Ronald" <sjr280@gmail.com>
o: <strathspey@strathspey.org>
ent: Thursday, February 16, 2012 5:40 PM
ubject: Re: Fugal Fergus (was Re: 48 bar dances)

o, why have things changed?"
Are there simply too many dances out there now that thoroughly mastering
ome is too daunting a task?

On Thu, Feb 16, 2012 at 11:35 AM, Angela Bulteel
a.bulteel@talktalk.net>wrote:
> Those indeed were the days. I remember a Christmas scottish dance party at
which an 8/32 jig was played and each couple had to do a different dance,
WITHOUT telling the other couples in the set which it was, and they just
had to think on their feet and join in. (experienced dancers only of
course) all good clean fun!!

----- Original Message ----- From: "Anselm Lingnau" <anselm@strathspey.org
>
To: <strathspey@strathspey.org>
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2012 2:34 PM
Subject: Re: Fugal Fergus (was Re: 48 bar dances)

Kent W. Smith wrote:

[…] years ago at the annual ball in Madison that the program had
> Waverly OR Fugual Fergus, but as first lady's choice. In bar 9, if the
> first lady started setting rather than standing still, one knew that
> round
> would be Fugual Fergus; standing still meant Waverley.
>

Cool. Those were the days …

Anselm
--
Anselm Lingnau, Mainz/Mayence, Germany .................
anselm@strathspey.org
Calling Atheism a religion is like calling bald a hair color.
-- Don
Hirschberg

I fully agree. In the two classes I attend, nearly all dances are
"new" each week, and the majority of dancers make no effort to learn
any dance "for keeps". Thus no "core repertoire of known dances" is
ever built up.

If each "new" dance for the class was repeated in successive weeks,
giving diminishing support and at the end even no recap, I am sure
every class could develop a solid "core repertoire". Any "event"
would make good use of this. It would give dancers more confidence,
making the events more enjoyable, Dancers from elsewhere would know
that everyone could help them. It would open opportunities to give
more attention to dancing beautifully. In class, it would give more
time actually dancing. I see no disadvantages.

Happy dancing,

Eric

On 16 Feb 2012 at 19:09, Angela Bulteel wrote:

> I think the suggestion below from Sue Ronald is worthy of further discussion
> as I believe it is the crux of the matter.

> In my experience a lot of weekly classes now concentrate on
> "learning" new dances every class night. But do we actually learn
> them? - Or are we just walking them through, dancing them once
> and then forgetting them. In the "old days" (dare I say), we
> might, at class, learn one new dance. (as there were not so many
> being devised) and then for the following weeks, this new dance
> would be gone through until we all new it perfectly.

> These days, the average "class" consists of going through many new
> dances every week, and the brain can only take so much information.
> With an odd exception, the majority "learned" at these classes
> will never be seen or heard of again.

> However, this may be construed as the pot calling the kettle black
> as I am adding to the problem by forever devising new dances
> myself, so apologies to all, for my opinions.

> But having said that, I do feel that too little is done to teach a
> dance fully, to ensure pupils can say with confidence, "I know this
> dance well", and not have to pray to be 4th couple in a set, when
> another new one comes up on a dance programme.

> And finally, I should add that life, and Sottish country dancing
> would be very dull indeed if we kept doing the same hundred or so
> dances week in week out, ad infinitum, and sadly can suggest no
> happy medium to suit all!!

> Angela
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Sue Ronald" <sjr280@gmail.com>
> To: <strathspey@strathspey.org>
> Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2012 5:40 PM
> Subject: Re: Fugal Fergus (was Re: 48 bar dances)
>
>
> So, why have things changed?"
>
> Are there simply too many dances out there now that thoroughly mastering
> some is too daunting a task?
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, Feb 16, 2012 at 11:35 AM, Angela Bulteel
> <a.bulteel@talktalk.net>wrote:
>
> > Those indeed were the days. I remember a Christmas scottish dance party at
> > which an 8/32 jig was played and each couple had to do a different dance,
> > WITHOUT telling the other couples in the set which it was, and they just
> > had to think on their feet and join in. (experienced dancers only of
> > course) all good clean fun!!
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Anselm Lingnau" <anselm@strathspey.org
> > >
> > To: <strathspey@strathspey.org>
> > Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2012 2:34 PM
> > Subject: Re: Fugal Fergus (was Re: 48 bar dances)
> >
> >
> > Kent W. Smith wrote:
> >
> > […] years ago at the annual ball in Madison that the program had
> >> Waverly OR Fugual Fergus, but as first lady's choice. In bar 9, if the
> >> first lady started setting rather than standing still, one knew that
> >> round
> >> would be Fugual Fergus; standing still meant Waverley.
> >>
> >
> > Cool. Those were the days …
> >
> > Anselm
> > --
> > Anselm Lingnau, Mainz/Mayence, Germany .................
> > anselm@strathspey.org
> > Calling Atheism a religion is like calling bald a hair color.
> > -- Don
> > Hirschberg
> >
>
>

--
Eric T. Ferguson,
van Reenenweg 3, 3702 SB ZEIST Netherlands
tel: +31 30-2673638

We are running a 6 week program in our Intermediate/Advanced Technique
classes in Brisbane. The 1st dance is the new dance from the week before,
the 2 nd dance is a new dance, the 3rd dance is from 2 weeks ago, 4 th
dance from 3 weeks ago, 5 th dance from 4 weeks ago and 6 th dance from 5
weeks ago - it then drops off the program. The program always has 6 dances
on it. The teacher only needs to prepare one dance a week - and the dancers
are given 6 weeks to refine a dance.
We were exposed to this method in our classes in Darwin under the tuition
of Angus Henry. It always worked well, everyone enjoyed it and it helped
people to become better dancers. The Brisbane dancers also enjoy it.

On Fri, Feb 17, 2012 at 10:04 PM, Eric Ferguson <e.ferguson@antenna.nl>wrote:

> I fully agree. In the two classes I attend, nearly all dances are
> "new" each week, and the majority of dancers make no effort to learn
> any dance "for keeps". Thus no "core repertoire of known dances" is
> ever built up.
>
> If each "new" dance for the class was repeated in successive weeks,
> giving diminishing support and at the end even no recap, I am sure
> every class could develop a solid "core repertoire". Any "event"
> would make good use of this. It would give dancers more confidence,
> making the events more enjoyable, Dancers from elsewhere would know
> that everyone could help them. It would open opportunities to give
> more attention to dancing beautifully. In class, it would give more
> time actually dancing. I see no disadvantages.
>
> Happy dancing,
>
> Eric
>
>
>
> On 16 Feb 2012 at 19:09, Angela Bulteel wrote:
>
> > I think the suggestion below from Sue Ronald is worthy of further
> discussion
> > as I believe it is the crux of the matter.
>
> > In my experience a lot of weekly classes now concentrate on
> > "learning" new dances every class night. But do we actually learn
> > them? - Or are we just walking them through, dancing them once
> > and then forgetting them. In the "old days" (dare I say), we
> > might, at class, learn one new dance. (as there were not so many
> > being devised) and then for the following weeks, this new dance
> > would be gone through until we all new it perfectly.
>
> > These days, the average "class" consists of going through many new
> > dances every week, and the brain can only take so much information.
> > With an odd exception, the majority "learned" at these classes
> > will never be seen or heard of again.
>
> > However, this may be construed as the pot calling the kettle black
> > as I am adding to the problem by forever devising new dances
> > myself, so apologies to all, for my opinions.
>
> > But having said that, I do feel that too little is done to teach a
> > dance fully, to ensure pupils can say with confidence, "I know this
> > dance well", and not have to pray to be 4th couple in a set, when
> > another new one comes up on a dance programme.
>
> > And finally, I should add that life, and Sottish country dancing
> > would be very dull indeed if we kept doing the same hundred or so
> > dances week in week out, ad infinitum, and sadly can suggest no
> > happy medium to suit all!!
>
> > Angela
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Sue Ronald" <sjr280@gmail.com>
> > To: <strathspey@strathspey.org>
> > Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2012 5:40 PM
> > Subject: Re: Fugal Fergus (was Re: 48 bar dances)
> >
> >
> > So, why have things changed?"
> >
> > Are there simply too many dances out there now that thoroughly mastering
> > some is too daunting a task?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Thu, Feb 16, 2012 at 11:35 AM, Angela Bulteel
> > <a.bulteel@talktalk.net>wrote:
> >
> > > Those indeed were the days. I remember a Christmas scottish dance
> party at
> > > which an 8/32 jig was played and each couple had to do a different
> dance,
> > > WITHOUT telling the other couples in the set which it was, and they
> just
> > > had to think on their feet and join in. (experienced dancers only of
> > > course) all good clean fun!!
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Anselm Lingnau" <
> anselm@strathspey.org
> > > >
> > > To: <strathspey@strathspey.org>
> > > Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2012 2:34 PM
> > > Subject: Re: Fugal Fergus (was Re: 48 bar dances)
> > >
> > >
> > > Kent W. Smith wrote:
> > >
> > > […] years ago at the annual ball in Madison that the program had
> > >> Waverly OR Fugual Fergus, but as first lady's choice. In bar 9, if the
> > >> first lady started setting rather than standing still, one knew that
> > >> round
> > >> would be Fugual Fergus; standing still meant Waverley.
> > >>
> > >
> > > Cool. Those were the days …
> > >
> > > Anselm
> > > --
> > > Anselm Lingnau, Mainz/Mayence, Germany .................
> > > anselm@strathspey.org
> > > Calling Atheism a religion is like calling bald a hair color.
> > > -- Don
> > > Hirschberg
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> Eric T. Ferguson,
> van Reenenweg 3, 3702 SB ZEIST Netherlands
> tel: +31 30-2673638
>
>

--
Denise Smith
76 Celandine St
Shailer Park Qld 4128
+617 3209 7006
pauldenise3@bigpond.com

This does bring back fond memories of similar "first lady's choice" for
Waverley or Fugal Fergus at San Francisco Branch events.

Marjorie McLaughlin
San Diego



-------Original Message-------

From: Smith, Kent W.
Date: 2/16/2012 6:04:34 AM
To: strathspey@strathspey.org
Subject: RE: Fugal Fergus (was Re: 48 bar dances)

Since the Midwest of the U.S. figures prominently in this thread, with Lara
in Minneapolis starting it and Mike in Madison contributing, let me add
remembering years ago at the annual ball in Madison that the program had
Waverly OR Fugual Fergus, but as first lady's choice. In bar 9, if the first
lady started setting rather than standing still, one knew that round would
be Fugual Fergus; standing still meant Waverley. Most sets ended up doing
some of each dance. It worked very well as long as everyone was familiar
with both dances, which was the case in Madison in those days (with people
coming from Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Minnesota).

Kent
(now Connecticut, USA)

-----Original Message-----
From: Becky Sager [mailto:bsager3@juno.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 15, 2012 5:53 PM
To: strathspey@strathspey.org
Subject: Re: Fugal Fergus (was Re: 48 bar dances)

Well, sometimes we do schedule Fugal Fergus in its own right. Sometimes we
schedule Waverley OR Fugal Fergus, the MC saying - if you want to dance
Waverley, join the line of sets to my right, Fugal Fergus to the left. The
relationship IS the music, and the fact that Hugh Foss named the book in
which Fugal Fergus is number 1, The Waverley Fugues. I much prefer Fugal
Fergus, because being old and pas de Basque challenged, I'd rather reel than
dance a poussette followed by double triangles. Becky


Becky Sager
Marietta GA USA
"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about
learning how to dance in the rain." Vivian Greene



---------- Original Message ----------
From: Lara Friedman-Shedlov <lfriedmanshedlov@gmail.com>
To: strathspey@strathspey.org
Subject: Fugal Fergus (was Re: 48 bar dances)
Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:34:19 -0600

So this reminds me about a question I've had for a long time:

I like Fugal Fergus, and I like Waverley, but I have never understood
why Fugal Fergus is often substituted for Waverley at a dance, or why
Fugal Fergus almost never appears on the programs on its own. It's
not like Fugal Fergus is really a variation on Waverley. It bears
very little in common with Waverley other than the chasing figure, the
total number of bars, and the music. I enjoy dancing Waverley and
find it rather frustrating when other dancers in my set decide they
would rather do Fugal Fergus. Like I said, Fugal Fergus a great
dance, but why should Waverley always get bumped for its sake, and why
not just put Fugal Fergus on the program to begin with, if that's what
people want to do?

Lara Friedman-Shedlov
Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

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Lara Friedman~Shedlov
lfriedmanshedlov@gmail.com

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On Wed, Feb 15, 2012 at 4:21 PM, Becky Sager <bsager3@juno.com> wrote:
> How about Waverley? That's certainly the most popular 48-bar dance in the
Atlanta area, though often some of us stack a set or two to do Fugal Fergus
instead! &#65533;Yay Hugh Foss, again! &#65533;Becky
>