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What is a Celtic Reel Answer
Lara D. Friedman~Shedlov
Nov. 3, 2000, 6:41 p.m. (Message 23361)
The "celtic reel" is a formation recently devised by Barry Skelton and first appearing in his dance by the same name. It is much easier done than described, but basically it is a reel of 4 in a cloverleaf pattern. It starts and ends as in a normal reel of 4, with the dancers in a straight line, with two dancers in the middle facing the dancers on the ends. The dancers who start the reel in the middle pass right shoulders with the end people and then curve out to the right to change the axis of the reel perpendicular to where it was originally. The "end" dancers pass the middle right shoulders and then pass each other left should 3/4 of the way around to end up facing the new axis. This is bars 1-4. The reel is danced at half the speed of a normal reel of 4 so that it takes 16 bars to get back to original positions. A complete description can be found in the Celtic Book by Barry Skelton. We just did the dance Celtic Reel for the first time last Friday and though it took us a while to interpret the directions, it was a pretty fun dance. A question for anyone familiar with the dance: Does anyone else agree that it seems rather odd that the third couple are used only in the last 4 bars and then only as "posts" for the 1st couple to dance a half figure of 8 around? We tried the dance with the 1st couple dancing the half figure 8 around the 2C (above them) rather than the 3C, and it flows very nicely that way. We thought it made a better 2-couple dance than a 3-couple dance. I realize there are a number of traditional dances, such as Flowers of Edinburgh, where the 3C are only posts, but I find it an odd that a deviser would choose to construct a new dance that way. Anyone have any insights? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lara Friedman~Shedlov "Thwart not the librarian!" xxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks for your response! I didn't realize you were on the list. I agree that 2-couple dances can be rather tiring, but we enjoyed very much danced with only 2 couples. The half figure of eight up around the 2nd couple flows really nicely out of the turns that come right before. Thank you for a nice dance! Cheers, Lara Friedman-Shedlov Minneapolis, MN
Thanks to everyone who replied. I will take the explanations to our social group next week. Barry, I don't know if you were aware that Georgina Findlay wrote Bonavista using your celtic reel as the model and inspiration for her dance. I find the figure a nice variation and not difficult at all. She gave you credit for this new figure when we danced it Tuesday night and also when she introduced the dance last year at our group. By the way, Bonavista is a four couple dance with each set of pairs doing the celtic reel at the same time. Georgina's dancers liked it and not just because it came from her. I will use it at the York Contra Dance Holiday later this month in our SCD sessions. Grant
The Celtic reel is a pleasing figure to dance, with the lines of four forming and reforming. Dancers may be disoriented at first by the changing axis of the reel, but find it easier when they discover they're facing the same person every four bars. Careful phrasing is essential but not difficult, and the sense of harmonious interaction that comes with good phrasing is especially strong in this dance. Because the Celtic reel pattern lasts 16 bars--it doesn't pass in a flash--and the axis of the reel alternates every four bars, this is also an attractive figure for a demonstration. We have danced it twice through in a four-couple set with the two bottom couples on opposite sides. The top and bottom couples then dance first couple's pattern with second and third couples respectively. Instead of the half figure of eight on bars 29-32 (see Lara's message) we have had the "first couples" (the original top and bottom couples) dance half right hands across in the middle of the set, then half turn partners by the right hand. This brings them into third and second positions respectively, ready to repeat the dance as supporting couples. We hope Barry won't mind this adaptation of his excellent dance. Oh, and the hard "C" in Celtic reflects the original Greek word which begins with "K". Most other "ce-" words in English are of Latin / French derivation and follow the general rule that "c" followed by "e" is pronounced as "s." The OED actually gives "Kelt" as an alternative spelling for "Celt," although it's archaic. Rosemary Coupe Vancouver