strathspey@strathspey.org:44443

George Meikle

Taking to the floor

March 3, 2006, 11:10 a.m. (Message 44443)

In a posting today entitled 'Dance Cards - clarification', David wrote:-

> I much prefer the more friendly SCD method of taking a partner when the
music strikes up.

Oh how I wish this were more often the case as I am finding it is becoming
more common for dancers either not to leave the floor at all, or take to the
floor before the dance has either been announced by the MC or the band has
had the opportunity to strike up with 8 bars of music to announce it. 

As a band leader I find this habit to be most annoying as it gives the band
no time to get music together. Please, please, please can dancers stop this
habit and consider the musician(s), and other dancers in the hall, before
taking to the floor. It is even more annoying when you find that those that
have just taken to the floor early, stand reading their crib sheet swatting
up on the dance they have just taken the floor for. I have even been given
dirty looks because I have started to play the actual dance before they have
finished reading their crib! Oh yes, I can assure you this has indeed
happened and I have actually had a dancer complain to me verbally that I had
not given them enough time to read their crib on the floor!!! Would it not
be easier for everyone, if these dancers were to read their crib during the
break between dances first, and then take to the floor when the dance is
announced?

I get the impression, perhaps wrongly, that certain dancers always want to
get as near to the band as possible, to the detriment of other dancers
(often less experienced) in the hall who politely wait for the dance to be
announced. Surely this is a very selfish attitude to take, but if they were
to wait until the dance was announced they would find that they would have
to fight with all the rest of the well mannered dancers who wait for the
dance to be announced. How tempting it must be at times for some MC's (and
musicians) to consider asking the set at the top of the hall to go to the
bottom - now that just might be one way of getting them out of this habit?

I hate to say this, but I find this habit is most noticeable at dances held
in the Central belt of Scotland, often run by RSCDS branches and (I hate to
say this even more) with RSCDS certificated teachers being every bit as
guilty as others. Surely they were taught this when taking their
certificate, or have they just conveniently forgotten that bit?

Come on, let's get this habit stopped once and for all as it does not lead
to a very friendly approach to dancing. After all is it not supposed to be a
social event involving everyone!

Let the onslaught begin!

George Meikle
Lothian Scottish Dance Band