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The RSCDS dance publication process
mlamontbrown
Aug. 8, 2008, 3:24 p.m. (Message 53349)
Andrew wrote: > May I add that the suggestion was made in class at St Andrews, in the year > of publication, by our teacher , Christine Mair, that the dancing couple > give nearer hands briefly as they come round together from turning the third > couple and before they go in to the double triangles formation. > I am thoroughly in favour of this and, as I said at the time, wish that I > had thought of it for myself. I though that the turns with third couple were supposed to be 4 bar turns (i.e. the third couple danced for 4 steps) - don't you think it would look a little strange / be a bit difficult to hold on to third couple while taking hands with partner and then releasing them to take hands in double triangles? Malcolm Malcolm L Brown York (UK)
Yes, the turns are 4-bar turns and "give...briefly" are the operative words, though "touch" might have been better. Malcolm interpreted this as "taking hands" which to my mind implies a longer contact, and no, I find it neither strange nor difficult. In a very large set it might be, but even when the dance was done as part of the Thursday night dem in the Younger Hall in a generously spaced set each dancing couple were very nearly shoulder to shoulder as they came round, so hand contact would not have been at all difficult. I do not intend to get in to a "which beat of which bar" debate. It is a suggestion which I approve and it is up to dancers to use it or not according to their own preference and skill level. Andrew Smith, Bristol, UK.