Oct. 17, 2001, 10:47 a.m. (Message 27911)
There have been some queries about the way to start the reels in certain dances. Often, it doesn't matter, since everyone finishes the reel in the position they started (excepting cases where you might find yourself facing in the wrong direction for the figure that follows the reel). I devised a dance some years ago, where 1st man, in 3rd place of a 4-couple set, had to make up his mind with which of the 4 ladies surrounding him to start his reel. When everyone is prepared for this moment of quick decision-taking and cue-following, the result is quite satisfactory, and we never had any collisions. It could be used as a dance to practice appropriate signaling and quick reactions -- or simply as a fun dance. Here it is: DOCTOR'S DILEMMA, a 4 x 48-bar reel , 1980. 1 - 4: 1st & 3rd cps set diagonally across the dance, then cast clockwise, 1st lady to 3rd lady's place, 3rd man up to 1st man's, 1st man & 3rd lady into their pts' places. 5 - 8: 1st & 3rd ladies dance LH across with 4th cp, while 1st & 3rd men dance RH across with 2nd. 9 -12: 1st & 3rd cps set & cast clockwise again as in 1 - 4. 13-16: 1st & 4th cps dance four hands round to the right, while 2nd & 3rd dance four hands round to the left. 17-24: 1st man must now choose one of the ladies to begin a reel of three, either across the dance with 1st & 2nd ladies, or up & down with 3rd & 4th. 25-32: 1st man then dances a reel of three with the other two ladies. 33-36: All set to pts and turn LH. 37-40: All facing up/down on sides to begin, dance grand chain halfway. Order is now 4th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd. 41-44: All facing up/down, set to next person on sides lines and turn RH. 45-48: 2nd & 4th cps set to pts and cross over to own sides. Repeat from new positions. --- Martin, in Grenoble, France. http://perso.wanadoo.fr/scots.in.france/scd.htm (dance groups, events, some new dances ...)
Oct. 28, 2001, 5:34 p.m. (Message 27980, in reply to message 27911)
Greetings Martin We were discussing your dance last night, (I must confess that I had archived it but not gone any further), and were a little undecided about the reels. I reckon that at the end of bar 16 3s are in first place, opposite side 1s are in 3rd place opposite side, and 2s and 4s are in original places. 1M then either reels across or up and down the dance - giving which shoulder to which lady? Malcolm
Oct. 29, 2001, 11:06 a.m. (Message 27990, in reply to message 27980)
Hello, Malcolm, >I reckon that at the end of bar 16 3s are in first place, opposite side 1s >are in 3rd place opposite side, and 2s and 4s are in original places. Quite right. > >1M then either reels across or up and down the dance - giving which shoulder >to which lady? That's the dilemma ! It doesn't matter, since he will end up in the same place. An appropraite inclination of the shoulders should be a good enough clue to the lady in question. All the best, Martin.