strathspey@strathspey.org:44855

GOSS9@telefonica.net

Re: Move on

March 23, 2006, 7:52 a.m. (Message 44855, in reply to message 44840)

Personally, I agree, and prefer that instead of two chords, simply a 
longer (as in 4 bar) intro. 

I think the bowing and moving, which started out as a simple polite 
recognition unrelated to any dance, has gotten out of hand. The two 
chords sound strict and militaristic, by the numbers. With a 4 bar 
intro, those less rigid will know that they have time to acknowledge 
both partners, and those with the "by the numbers dem team" bent, can 
still have their bow, by the numbers. To me, if the bow is supposed to 
be a form of acknowledgement before the dance, then having everyone, 
covering perfectly going down and up, has certain element of sincerity. 
In [my] the old days, after sporting events the teams would cluster and 
exchange hand shakes, some did, some didn´t, some had more enthusiasm 
then others. If you go to some highschool games now, the two teams line 
up and march past each other touching hands, often not even 
acknowledging the other. Regimenting a social grace often takes away 
its meaning.

I feel that the source of the problem has more to do with the 
evolution of RSCDS-country dancing then any historical or necessary 
process. Because the early society chose not to follow some of the 
EFDSS conventions, it ignored an entire corpus of country dances, 
ironicly caused "ecossaise" in some sources. The EFDSS term is simply 
called "longways improper". The MC solution is simple, when announcing 
the dance, just as one would say "form square sets for x", could say 
"form sets, longways imporper for say "Glasgow Highlanders".