strathspey@strathspey.org:69483

Andrew Smith

Re: small favor: Arthur's Seat 31-32

Feb. 27, 2018, 10:53 a.m. (Message 69483, in reply to message 69481)

Anselm asked for an example of ambiguity.

Admittedly, in this case there is no ambiguity in the instructions, but 
many, many years ago now the habit had crept in for the final all-round 
poussette in 'Bonnie Anne' for the 1s & 2s and 3s & 4s to be done as 
ordinary progressive poussettes. There were three couples in the set who 
knew nothing other than the 'bad' habit. The remaining couple were very 
serious dancers, who incidentally almost invariably danced together, who 
must have known the correct version. All was well until the final eight 
bars. Anselm's "guess is that the vast majority of such “mismatches” will be 
sorted out dynamically” and at worst lead to a good laugh." was way off the 
mark in this case, certainly for the 'serious' couple. The light-hearted 
attitude to chaos of the other three was disapproved of so vigorously that 
the atmosphere became really poisonous. It sticks in my memory solely 
because it cast such a shadow over the rest of the evening.

Incidentally, I was checking my spelling of 'poussette' in my 2006 edition 
of the Society's "Index to Formations and Movements ...", and 'Bonnie Anne' 
does not get a mention. A quick random selection of titles I have danced 
socially seems to indicate that MacNab dances might be beyond the pale as 
far as this 'Index' is concerned?

Andrew,
Bristol, UK