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Taking to the floor (I'm with Simon!)
Volleyballjerry
March 5, 2006, 4:55 a.m. (Message 44476)
It seems to me that we had this same discussion not very long ago. I was again beginning to think that I was alone on the face of the planet not being in the least bothered either as a dancer or as a briefer (as we generally call MC-ers here) if the floor is not cleared and the sets are partially (or even fully) formed before the dance is specifically announced...until I saw Simon's message (below). (Perhaps in set dancing in the past, SCD et al., there was not always a preprinted program, and the floor was cleared and partners not taken until the dance was announced because folks didn't know what dance it would even be until it was actually announced.) I find myself, when briefing, employing much the same phrasing as Simon: I see that you're already forming / you've already formed / sets for...and saying it cheerfully. At our recent Burns Ball I briefed a section and found that I was sometimes cueing the band to play its own identifying "announcement" of eight bar after there were already sets formed in front of me, having still given them the breathing time that they needed between dances. As I mentioned when this was discussed recently, even with the "premature" formation of sets (which I personally refuse to necessarily consider as such), I see it as positive enthusiasm for the dancing, almost always carried out in polite and orderly fashion, hardly ever with folks mowing down others as they rush to the top. So why on earth not? I'm definitely with Simon on this. Robb Quint Thousand Oaks, CA, USA In a message dated 03/03/2006 5:44:45 PM Pacific Standard Time, xxxxx.xxxxx@xxxxx.xxx writes:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxx.xxx wrote: > At our recent Burns > Ball I briefed a section and found that I was sometimes cueing the band to > play its own identifying "announcement" of eight bar after there were already > sets formed in front of me, having still given them the breathing time that > they > needed between dances. As I mentioned when this was discussed recently, even > with the "premature" formation of sets (which I personally refuse to > necessarily consider as such), I see it as positive enthusiasm for the > dancing, almost > always carried out in polite and orderly fashion, hardly ever with folks > mowing down others as they rush to the top. So why on earth not? I'm > definitely > with Simon on this. I've fiddled for several dances recently when this situation has occurred and as a musician I find it uncomfortable and a bit embarrassing playing an introduction for a dance when sets are already formed up in front of me; it seems pointless, and I worry that we took too long between dances or something. I also have tried to look at this behavior positively and chalk it up to dancers' enthusiasm but really, it seems to me to just be bad manners since we've all been taught not to take the floor (and certainly not to form up sets) until the dance was announced. However if the MCs approve of the behavior, what are you going to do... -- Steve Wyrick -- Concord, California
When I first danced, in Britain, with my parents some fifty years ago we went to village halls, or often to stately houses where there was country dancing. As I remember, it was a social evening of dancing when a dance would be announced, danced and then we would continue to socialize until another one was announced. As a result, yes, we would leave the floor to talk to friends etc, but not because anyone said we should. It just happened that way. I think there was more time between dances and whether there was a pre-published program I can't remember. As I assume such gatherings were common then, or maybe now, may I also assume that certain customs of "etiquette" have grow from these types of occasions in the passed. Were they times when the circumstances of the evening may have been somewhat different. Now, and very much in contrast, I go to classes to learn, or to teach, dances for coming parties, balls and events. I am part of the RSCDS, which I knew nothing of at first. We have standards, we have structure, technique and goals for learning new dances etc, all of which I love with a passion, but originally knew nothing of at all. I just danced because that's what we did. As a result, when attending an event now, I find an excitement and anticipation far different than before. I feel that we now tend to go to a dance "to dance the program". We've learned the steps and the dances so now we are off to the spend the evening doing them. This is not a criticism, I love it. However, to me this seems to encourage us, and I most certainly include myself, to want to get up on the floor and be ready to dance. Why not ! I would prefer to see sets formed, in an orderly fashion, albeit to some prematurely, than to see couples, hand in hand, hovering at the edge of the floor awaiting the first word of the MC. I certainly sympathize with the comments made musician but I don't think that the enthusiasm of the dancers should, in any way, alter the pace of the evening. That should be in the hands of the MC and the band. Just my feeling. I notice that the majority of the contributors to this subject are from the North American continent, are there any in Britain who share my memories or ideas. Thank you Alex for your Manual reference. Simon Vancouver
As a musician I find that I often finish a dance, there is applause and milling and the MC tells me to play '8 bars'. Then there is a long down time while there are announcements, briefings, recaps, sometimes even a walk through. And then the next dance. I would rather eliminate the 8=bars or play them after the MC has everyone ready and is about to brief and says 'Let's hear the music for such and such.' Heresy?? Sylvia Miskoe, Concord, NH USA
A nice sensible suggestion. I was once at a local dance (--) years ago where the habit was for the MC to announce the dance and give the recap. He then invited us into sets while the band played the intro. That left just a minute or two to sort the sets and then away -- . Quite strange but pleasant when one got used to it. And - one could sit out if it sounded too grim. It certainly helped incomers.