strathspey@strathspey.org:37487

Richard Goss

RE: Left shoulder petronella: historical vs traditional dances

Jan. 9, 2004, 6:47 a.m. (Message 37487, in reply to message 37483)

Since the majority of present "traditional" dances cames from books
such as those described. In the majority of cases, we can never know
if they were ever danced in any time and place. So a book comes out
called "24 Fav C D for the year [n]". when the Society publishes it we
are going only on the printed notes as proof of its existance. In the
same way, when Miss M used to introduce the new book at St Andrews,
some dances were an instant hit, and others were seldom, if ever
danced anywhere. We, in our time, have our own preferences which make
a dance popular. But because of a different environment many
historical figures and styles are considered boring today.