strathspey@strathspey.org:40438

Rosemary Coupe

Skip change of step (was Cross over two couples, etc.)

Jan. 28, 2005, 1:13 a.m. (Message 40438, in reply to message 40436)

Pat's right, as always, about the prototype of the skip-change, which was
the chasse associated with the early 19th-century quadrilles. The MS
"Contre-Danses a Paris 1818" (which probably reflects the technique then
current in Scotland) gives a detailed description of the chasse step which
sounds very like the skip change.

I also agree that the fancy technique was probably taught by dancing masters
who wanted to promote dancing as a road to gentility and social prestige,
but it wasn't necessarily used on the barn floor by men in "tackety boots."
However, the Fletts talked to people in many parts of Scotland during their
research for "Traditional Dancing in Scotland." Drawing on the memory of
their informants which would go back to c.1870, they describe two quick-time
travelling steps: the chasse and the "hop-one-and-two" which had a hop where
the chasse had a lilt.

Interesting about the jete-assemble at the end of a phrase. This seems to
have been part of quadrille technique, and gives a very nice finish to a
phrase (Ron Wallace teaches it in the Caledonian Quadrilles). I don't know
whether it was used for country dancing or not.

Rosemary