strathspey@strathspey.org:23215

Richard Goss

Re: Balance vs. Set in Lines

Oct. 25, 2000, 4:23 a.m. (Message 23215, in reply to message 23193)

BALANCE:

Its recap time. So lets see what we have so far.

1. In US contras, balance means a generic setting step.
2. The EFDSS uses balance as a setting step usually
involving a step swing, this is also used in Scotland
in Ceilidh and County style dancing, and was probably
generally before the RSCDS
3. The RSCDS calls setting while holding hands in facing
in opposite directions, balancing, otherwise calls it
setting in line.
4. In ballet, balence is a low impact form of our
pas-de-basque
5. Milligan describes a balance figure in 1951 WYJTD (non-
official RSCDS later official after quiet revisions). At
about the same time, some dances that used to say balance
just say set.
6. Wild Geese, provenance unknown, has the balance figure
without
the words.
7. Anselm seems to remember the term balance used in the
teaching
of Waltz Country Dance [aka Dutch Foursome]. Here the ballet
pas de valse, looks a lot like balence.
8. I [Goss] was taught the same part of Waltz Country Dance
as a
3/4 time or waltzing pas-de-bas(?que?). To be done as per
the
[incorrectly written] instructions for "Yellow Haired
Laddie".
9. Now according to David, we have modern SCD's with the
term
balance being currently being used. While Anselm says that
because it is used in WCD it is OK to use in in setting w/o
the alternate facing in a line.
-----
This discussion's path justifies my initial thesis that
while recognizing an ambiguity, we should quietly retire the
term "balance" be cause of the ambiguity. Of course there
will be those who will want to change the rest of the world
to fit what they think they learned.
To quote the late, Hugh Foss's title, "We Agree to Differ"
will not help in this case. As the continued use of this
term will continue to be devisive and confusing. So I
propose the following:
1. Let the country dance world outside the RSCDS have the
word
"balance" as its use without us is generically consistant.
2. Let the SOBHD, have their setting step called "balance
and
pas-de-bas" even though they really mean "coupe' and pas-de-
bas". At the least the balance part that we use in Highland
setting steps is consistant with the rest of the country
dance
world.
3. Since,
A. the RSCDS, has already substituted "set" for "balance"
in some of its dances (usually with English sources) where
we have inserted pas-de-basque where the English balance
used to be and by such act has admitted we have a problem,
B. the RSCDS, has avoided the word in some of its recent
publications when the previous conditions would have
suggested otherwise,
C. there is no necessity of this word being included in
current vocabulary of the RSCDS,
I therefore propose, in the interest of peace and harmony
among peoples and nations, that like minded teachers ...
A. refrain from using the word "balance" except in the
aformentioned SOBHD setting step, and ...
B. take every opportunity to encourage the powers that be
within the RSCDS, to reconcile their publications in
such a way that this verbal ambiguity die a natural
death.

Goss
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