strathspey@strathspey.org:27735

Adam Hughes

Re: Cribs (was Re: Square dancing.)

Oct. 4, 2001, 1:38 p.m. (Message 27735, in reply to message 27712)

Hi

Lara Friedman-Shedlov wrote:

> Quoting Adam Hughes <xxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.xx.xx>:
>>What I'd really like is for everyone to understand Pilling...
> 
> It's ironic that you cite Pilling as (presumably) an example of clear 
> and "unmystical" cribs.  


No, I mentioned Pilling as an example of the worst case since if people 
could understand that, surely they'd have no trouble at all with mere 
words...

Like you, I took to Pilling instantly.  It is the way my head works. 
But I am surrounded by dancers who find translating dances from the 
written word to movement very difficult.


> Most dances I go to do not rely soley on cribs, anyway.  In these 
> parts, 99.9% of the time, dances are always briefed at a social event.  
> If the crib wasn't crystal clear, the briefing often helps to clarify.

I have been to only four social events (balls) since I started dancing a 
few years ago which had briefs for all dances.  I organised three of the 
four, and while I have received no hate mail, I certainly am looked down 
on by the local RSCDS Branch for dumbing down SCD.  The fourth was a 
wonderful surprise at last year's SUSCDF at St Andrews, which also had a 
written crib and a page of dances not in the 7th edition supplied in 
Pilling Notation, so all three media were covered.

Is it the norm outside the UK (or even in the UK) for dances to be briefed?

Adam