strathspey@strathspey.org:29264

Fyreladdie

Re: Ladies' Chain

Jan. 24, 2002, 10:36 p.m. (Message 29264, in reply to message 29213)

Iain

<< We are dancing Scottish country dancing NOT contra dancing. ‘Spins and 
twirls’ might

be acceptable in contra dancing but, generally, they are not acceptable in 
Scottish

country dancing. 

 >>

I must agree that spins and twirls take away some of the beauty of SCD. 
Because there is no formal footwork in Contra, the twirls and spins can be 
executed easy enough. In my experience some of these twirls interrupt the 
flow of the dance, enough to compromise the other dancers beginning the next 
phrase. I can enjoy both forms of dancing but rather like the clean 
uncluttered look of SCD. I write my own dances with no extraneous figures to 
infringe on the flow and enjoyment of the dance. 
    I do not think that one can compare Contra Ladies Chain to SCD Ladies 
Chain with too much success. They are similar only in the execution of 
getting women to one side and then back. Enjoy each type as you will, but it 
would be unfair to say they should both be the same. 

Bob Mc Murtry
Felton, Calif