March 25, 2006, 2:10 a.m. (Message 44876)
Charles Upton wrote - If we have a live band I check with the band that the dance will be preceded by 2 chords and that if a encore is needed, it will be preceded by 1 chord. If this is agreed then I don't have to make any statement whatsoever as this is the norm. Unfortunately, two chords for dances where 3rd and 4th couples or 2nd and 4th couples or (occasionally) 1st and 3rd couples cross over before beginning is, in my mind, not the norm. It is a custom that was introduced by John Drewry and which has been taken up by some other devisers who have devised similar dances. When I have devised dances of this sort I have provided a diagram or instructions specifying the 'starting positions'. I do not like two chords for positioning purposes and do not specify them in the instructions for my dances and would prefer that two chords not be used. However, local custom will often prevail. Regards, Iain Boyd Send instant messages to your online friends http://au.messenger.yahoo.com
March 25, 2006, 3:01 a.m. (Message 44877, in reply to message 44876)
Unfortunately, two chords for dances where 3rd and 4th couples or 2nd and 4th couples or (occasionally) 1st and 3rd couples cross over before beginning is, in my mind, not the norm. It is a custom that was introduced by John Drewry and which has been taken up by some other devisers who have devised similar dances. When I have devised dances of this sort I have provided a diagram or instructions specifying the 'starting positions'. I do not like two chords for positioning purposes and do not specify them in the instructions for my dances and would prefer that two chords not be used. However, local custom will often prevail. Regards, Iain Boyd I completely agree with Iain and I'd go as far as to say that if dancers originally stand on the traditional side of the set in such dances they are in fact in the "wrong" or "inappropriate" place. Simon Send instant messages to your online friends http://au.messenger.yahoo.com
March 25, 2006, 10:19 a.m. (Message 44878, in reply to message 44877)
At all the dances I have attended in Scotland TWO chords ARE the norm for the start of such dances and only ONE chord for the encore. The reason being that the second time through the dancers are already in the correct position. This applies whether a live band is playing or CD's are being used. I would agree with Charles on this one and it would appear Scotland has "wonderful dancers" too. The same applies to the ceilidh dance scene here when they are dancing the set dances. At ceilidh dances the band usually act as MC and if they forget the second chord on the first playing the dancers just don't start dancing. Alasdair Graham Dumbarton, Scotland
March 25, 2006, 12:19 p.m. (Message 44879, in reply to message 44878)
Alasdair wrote: > At all the dances I have attended in Scotland TWO chords ARE the norm for > the start of such dances and only ONE chord for the encore. The reason > being that the second time through the dancers are already in the correct > position. > This applies whether a live band is playing or CD's are being used. > I would agree with Charles on this one and it would appear Scotland has > "wonderful dancers" too. > > The same applies to the ceilidh dance scene here when they are dancing the > set dances. At ceilidh dances the band usually act as MC and if they > forget > the second chord on the first playing the dancers just don't start > dancing. > That clinches the argument for me - if the Scottish can do it then surely the rest of us can too. And if the Scottish DO do it, then we SHOULD too. But now can we move on, because this is becoming a bit of a tennis match between Simon and whoever will answer him. Campbell
March 25, 2006, 1:24 p.m. (Message 44880, in reply to message 44879)
But some Scots think it's daft. In message <xxxxx.xxx.xxx.xxx.xx.xxxxxxxxxx.xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxxx.xxx>, xxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xx.xx writes >Alasdair wrote: > >> At all the dances I have attended in Scotland TWO chords ARE the norm for >> the start of such dances and only ONE chord for the encore. The reason >> being that the second time through the dancers are already in the correct >> position. >> This applies whether a live band is playing or CD's are being used. >> I would agree with Charles on this one and it would appear Scotland has >> "wonderful dancers" too. >> >> The same applies to the ceilidh dance scene here when they are dancing the >> set dances. At ceilidh dances the band usually act as MC and if they >> forget >> the second chord on the first playing the dancers just don't start >> dancing. >> >That clinches the argument for me - if the Scottish can do it then surely >the rest of us can too. And if the Scottish DO do it, then we SHOULD too. > But now can we move on, because this is becoming a bit of a tennis match >between Simon and whoever will answer him. > >Campbell -- Bryan McAlister
March 26, 2006, 1:03 a.m. (Message 44881, in reply to message 44879)
> > > That clinches the argument for me - if the Scottish can do it then surely > the rest of us can too. And if the Scottish DO do it, then we SHOULD too. > But now can we move on, because this is becoming a bit of a tennis match > between Simon and whoever will answer him. > > Campbell Well, it doesn't for me! I've been carrying out a quick poll of the dancers I meet each week and the vast majority say that the usual two chords produce a messy and untidy feel to the start of a dance.
March 26, 2006, 5:57 a.m. (Message 44882, in reply to message 44879)
That clinches the argument for me - if the Scottish can do it then surely the rest of us can too. And if the Scottish DO do it, then we SHOULD too. I am sorry, Campbell, but I take exception to the statement that "if the Scottish DO do it, then we SHOULD too." Blindly following what is done in Scotland is not necessarily doing the right/correct thing. As many will be aware, I am not a 'yes man'! Regards, Iain Boyd Send instant messages to your online friends http://au.messenger.yahoo.com