Oct. 25, 2000, 4:23 a.m. (Message 23215, in reply to message 23193)
BALANCE: Its recap time. So lets see what we have so far. 1. In US contras, balance means a generic setting step. 2. The EFDSS uses balance as a setting step usually involving a step swing, this is also used in Scotland in Ceilidh and County style dancing, and was probably generally before the RSCDS 3. The RSCDS calls setting while holding hands in facing in opposite directions, balancing, otherwise calls it setting in line. 4. In ballet, balence is a low impact form of our pas-de-basque 5. Milligan describes a balance figure in 1951 WYJTD (non- official RSCDS later official after quiet revisions). At about the same time, some dances that used to say balance just say set. 6. Wild Geese, provenance unknown, has the balance figure without the words. 7. Anselm seems to remember the term balance used in the teaching of Waltz Country Dance [aka Dutch Foursome]. Here the ballet pas de valse, looks a lot like balence. 8. I [Goss] was taught the same part of Waltz Country Dance as a 3/4 time or waltzing pas-de-bas(?que?). To be done as per the [incorrectly written] instructions for "Yellow Haired Laddie". 9. Now according to David, we have modern SCD's with the term balance being currently being used. While Anselm says that because it is used in WCD it is OK to use in in setting w/o the alternate facing in a line. ----- This discussion's path justifies my initial thesis that while recognizing an ambiguity, we should quietly retire the term "balance" be cause of the ambiguity. Of course there will be those who will want to change the rest of the world to fit what they think they learned. To quote the late, Hugh Foss's title, "We Agree to Differ" will not help in this case. As the continued use of this term will continue to be devisive and confusing. So I propose the following: 1. Let the country dance world outside the RSCDS have the word "balance" as its use without us is generically consistant. 2. Let the SOBHD, have their setting step called "balance and pas-de-bas" even though they really mean "coupe' and pas-de- bas". At the least the balance part that we use in Highland setting steps is consistant with the rest of the country dance world. 3. Since, A. the RSCDS, has already substituted "set" for "balance" in some of its dances (usually with English sources) where we have inserted pas-de-basque where the English balance used to be and by such act has admitted we have a problem, B. the RSCDS, has avoided the word in some of its recent publications when the previous conditions would have suggested otherwise, C. there is no necessity of this word being included in current vocabulary of the RSCDS, I therefore propose, in the interest of peace and harmony among peoples and nations, that like minded teachers ... A. refrain from using the word "balance" except in the aformentioned SOBHD setting step, and ... B. take every opportunity to encourage the powers that be within the RSCDS, to reconcile their publications in such a way that this verbal ambiguity die a natural death. Goss xxxxxxx.x.xxxx@xxx.xxx