strathspey@strathspey.org:44538

Alasdair Graham

Re: Difference Between Briefing a dance and Recapping a Dance

March 7, 2006, 10:36 p.m. (Message 44538, in reply to message 44537)

Summer dancing in Alva (near Stirling, Scotland) is held for 12 weeks during 
each summer with a different programme each week and 20 dances on the 
programme.  There are no recaps.
Similarly the twice monthly Castle Club Dances in Stirling during the winter 
months have no recaps.

In both cases a booklet is issued in advance containing the names of the 
dances, and source for each, for every evening's dancing.
These venues are generally full (nine sets or more in the smaller winter 
venue) and the dancers attending are able to complete the dances without any 
problem.  What you find is the more confident dancers are usually in the top 
sets with the less confident towards the bottom of the rows.
At these venues dancers form up immediately after the preceding dance.

At dances in the Helensburgh, Glasgow and Ayr Branch areas a brief recap is 
given for each dance.
Dancers do not form sets before the dance is called at these events, as a 
general rule.  However, again the more confident dancers form up nearer the 
top of the rows and therefore the bands will see the same people most of the 
time.

I have noticed one or two sets which prefer to dance within their own group, 
one set comprises 'birlers' and another a 'self help' group who manage 
better when dancing together.  The vast majority dance with different 
partners each dance.

There is a saying here "he who pays the piper calls the tune" and if bands 
are accepting money to play at venues where they do not like the customs 
then perhaps they should refuse the bookings.

Alasdair Graham
Dumbarton, Scotland.

For those who indulge in pedantic corrections see 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedantic