strathspey@strathspey.org:48703

Karin Ingram

Re: Ceilidh Programme

May 9, 2007, 1:46 p.m. (Message 48703, in reply to message 48682)

I’ll second everything Bryan has said!  Re who dances with whom for the
Bridal Waltz, if parents are divorced I always suggest that they can “mix &
match” – Groom’s Dad with Bride’s Mum, and vice versa.  I would usually
bring them onto the floor in order: bride & groom, best man & chief
bridesmaid, parents, rest of bridal party, and all the guests.  The only
ones I actually name though are bride, groom, best man & bridesmaid (less
opportunity to make mistakes!).

Re Canadian Barn Dance… I have a theory about this (and do bear in mind I’m
not a musician so I may be talking nonsense).  When played in 2/4 time one
“round” of the dance is actually only 8 bars, although it lasts as long as
one “round” of The Military Two-Step, which is 16 bars.  Therefore if a band
plays the same number of bars for a Barn Dance set as they do for a Two-Step
one, the dancers are actually dancing twice as long.  That’s my excuse for
only dancing one half anyway!

You’re right Bryan, weddings never run to time!  Another hint that the
ladies will understand – if the bride is going to change into a going-away
outfit, try to get her to do so during the half-time break or soon after.
I’ve known so many brides leave it till the last minute and the band is
marking time before announcing the last waltz.  I usually say to the bride,
“You’ll be more comfortable dancing in your going-away outfit, and if you
change early on you can relax and let your hair down.”  The bride always
thinks it will take her 10 minutes to change – allow at least ½ an hour!

The bands I work with do play Quicksteps and Foxtrots if asked for – which
we find happens quite regularly.  I’d advise any SDB to have at least a
couple in their repertoire.  We also sometimes just announce an Old Time
Waltz so they can do a St Bernard’s a Pride of Erin or whatever takes their
fancy.  If the bride and groom aren’t dancers we often play a Modern Waltz
for the bridal and/or last waltz, because they find it easier to shuffle
round the floor to that.  I often take the bridal couple to one side before
they start and advise them to take tiny steps – that way it isn’t so obvious
if they can’t waltz.

I liked Bryan’s advice re demonstrating.  I wholeheartedly agree and would
always pick an older gentleman as my partner.  The one exception is if
there’s a loud-mouthed show-off around (and it’s always a young bloke!); he
would be my lucky partner for The Swedish Masquerade, which is guaranteed to
raise a laugh and will usually put him in fear for the rest of the evening!

If the bridal party make the effort to be on the floor for every dance then
you usually find that the other guests will get up no problem.  I always say
this to the bridal party before we start, and I tell the best man that it’s
his duty to make sure that everyone dances.  (I know it’s down to me really,
but at a wedding the guests feel less pressurised if the best man drags them
on to the floor.)  I also suggest that he makes sure that all the single
ladies get at least one dance (the bridesmaids can do the same for the
single gents).

One last hint to callers and teachers – learn how to use a microphone
properly.  Don’t shout, project – there’s a huge difference.  Ladies lower
the tone of your voice so you don’t sound squeaky.  Most hand-held mics are
uni-directional; they should be held at right angles to the body, so that
you are speaking directly into the mic, not talking across the top of it,
which is what happens if you hold the mic in line with the body.

A few years ago we held a “Callers’ Share Day”, when callers and teachers
(as well as people who wanted to give it a shot but didn’t know where to
begin) got together to discuss and share dances.  If anyone thinks it would
be a good idea we could do another one – probably somewhere central –
Stirling, Perth?

Best wishes,

Karin

PS I’ve never “called” at a Wake – what on earth happens there?  Who is the
guest of honour?  Last waltz takes on a whole new meaning!

PPS It’s just “The Riverside” Bryan; there is actually another dance called
The Riverside Jig.  But thanks for using it!


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