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re Open Meeting in Edinburgh!Q!
Robert Lambie
April 24, 2013, 12:53 a.m. (Message 63994)
I wonder how many of the responders have ventured at all into the rest of the world of Country Dancing? I agree with you that RSCDS style is very enjoyable - it is what I do more than any other. BUT I am also aware that it feels remarkably narrow, or perhaps "thin" is a better description, than the experience of those who dance the full range. I like triple time dances, a variety of footwork, putting in "cuts" ( as described by Dickens in his "A Christmas Carol", in Country dancing before it was nationalised), and generally following the description in "the Art of Dancing" by Soame Jenyns as best I can; but all this as well as RSCDS.My view point is much the same as the people who wanted to dance Mairi's Wedding to the intense disapproval of the RSCDS, which I remember well. New dances were totally banned from RSCDS programmes, unless given special permission - such as Robertson Rant, and Reel of 51st.AND yes, when I dance at EDFSS style dances, I desire to get nearer to baroque technique/RSCDS technique - unless I am tired or my feet hurt!I don't have any desire to REPLACE the Milligan style, but to be less fixated on that as the only possible one, exactly as is expressed in "the Art of Dancing", to choose whatever is appropriate for the circumstances and the dance.I will shortly be going to Mull to dance EFDSS style for a week, but it will include some RSCDS, Contra, Square, and possibly others that I wot not of! The full Monty - great! > > "Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it’s time to pause > and reflect." - Mark Twain >
Robert Lambie wrote: > I don't have > any desire to REPLACE the Milligan style, but to be less fixated on that > as the only possible one, exactly as is expressed in "the Art of Dancing", > to choose whatever is appropriate for the circumstances and the dance. I > will shortly be going to Mull to dance EFDSS style for a week, but it will > include some RSCDS, Contra, Square, and possibly others that I wot not of! I don't think anyone here believes that RSCDS-style SCD is »the only possible« way of doing country dancing. Personally I spent a very enjoyable Saturday a few weeks ago at a big meeting of dance groups (most of whom were doing Playford dances, but some French and others) where the various groups took turns teaching dances in »their« style to the rest of the attendees. It is great to be able to get together and share our love for dancing in this way, but it doesn't mean that RSCDS-style SCD will necessarily improve from taking on board the various things that make these other styles special. Curry is great in a chicken dish but I still wouldn't want it on my sponge cake. The great thing about RSCDS-style SCD is that it defines a »framework« of steps and formations that is reasonable to teach and learn but supports – with very few exceptions or special cases – a very considerable scope for artistic expression. Do note that 95% or more of the current SCD repertoire is »modern«, i.e., was invented during the last 75 years or so, based on the tenets and style promulgated by the »Jean Milligan School of Dance« rather than the earlier styles from the 18th and 19th centuries. You may feel that SCD is »narrow«, but a style that covers everything from basic audience- participation dances up to awe-inspiring performance art like The Waverley Fugues is never going to grow old for me. People like Hugh Foss or Barry Priddey have proved that there is ample room for innovation *within* the framework, to a point where adding new »fancy footwork« seems cheap by comparison. (Adding more technique would also make the style more difficult to learn, when one of the major criticisms leveled at RSCDS-style SCD is that it is »too difficult« already – so it may not be worth it after all.) Finally, there are people who enjoy RSCDS-style SCD as well as, say, ceilidh dancing or salsa. This does not mean that the RSCDS should try to extend its efforts to cover ceilidh dancing or salsa. It stands to reason that people who are into these styles will know where to find them. In that respect having a forum where the proponents of various Scottish dance styles talk to one another is useful because it will keep the people who are into any one of the styles from labouring under the misconception that theirs is the most traditional, most popular, most »Scottish« … one and concluding that all the others must be inferior by comparison. If it leads to more opportunities for dancers to find out about and practise what they like to do then so much the better. Anselm PS. For the record, I've done EFDSS-style country dancing as well as ballroom dancing, international folk dancing, Argentinian tango, lindy-hop and probably a few other styles that I can't remember just now, but out of all of these it is RSCDS-style SCD that I like best. Other people may reasonably disagree and I don't have an issue with that. -- Anselm Lingnau, Mainz/Mayence, Germany ................. xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx Terrorism is not a leading cause of death in the world. If we want to save lives, far better to divert a small portion of the world's counterterrorism budgets to mosquito netting. -- Charles Kurzman, »Why Is It So Hard To Find A Suicide Bomber These Days?«
I don't think anyone here believes that RSCDS-style SCD is the only possible way of doing country dancing. You would be surprised, Anselm. I encounter many who see it as a mission to teach the poor "ignorant" how to dance properly. I have been verbally attacked for wanting to teach Ceilidh! (It doesn't hold me back). And At my RSCDS exam training (ok a few years ago) - I was told that I was more of an international dancer than an RSCDS dancer! (I took that as a compliment). Here in Scotland, I have heard some people call us "The pointy toe professionals" - I wonder why? LOL Pia
Pia wrote:
> You would be surprised, Anselm. I encounter many who see it as a mission to
> teach the poor "ignorant" how to dance properly.
I've been told off by people who thought that as a German I ought to do German
folk dances and leave Scottish country dancing to the Scots. Unfortunately
that was back when I was young and easily impressed and unable to reduce them
to a small heap of smoking ashes like I would today ;^)
There are ignorant bigots everywhere. However, as far as I can tell they do
not speak for the Society or the SCD community at large – and for d#$% sure
they do not speak for me.
Anselm
--
Anselm Lingnau, Mainz/Mayence, Germany ................. xxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxx.xxx
I think this is what happens when you make a bunch of cult shows that get
canceled before they should, and then karma repays you generously.
-- Jamie Frevele, on Joss Whedon's epic deal with Marvel Comics
I am very sorry if you have had negative experiences in the past, but I get the feeling you might be pushing at an open door, Pia. You must be aware that for at least several St Andrews Summer Schools past there have been ceilidh evenings in parallel with SCD options either in the residence or elsewhere. In my experience they have often been run, and attended, by very well known members of the Society, with equally prominent musicians, so it has not been a hole-in-the-corner activity by any stretch of the imagination. I would like to suggest that some of what might now be called the 'Old Guard' maybe over-interpreted some of Miss M's views, and were over protective of what they saw as the 'right way'. I have been told off for using the highland travelling step in the reels in The Robertson Rant, "because it is not a highland dance". I did not bother asking if that was the case why was there Highland schottische setting in the dance? My more recent experience has been that there is an element in Society that welcomes ceilidh dancing as a way of introducing people to the music first, then leading in to formations and steps. It is now over 60 years since I was introduced to SCD, under protest, and cannot remember the first class. What I do clearly remember is that I could not wait for the next one, so can only think that it was the music that drew me in, as it still does. (Then I was not old enough or aware enough for the fact that there were girls there to make any difference.) I just cannot think that if I had been subjected to a footwork class that I would have had the same reaction. Some might assume that I am strictly RSCDS, but I do enjoy ceilidh dancing, and am not averse to being unconventional as long as it does not spoil the flow for others. For what it is worth, I fully endorse Anselm's various comments on this topic. Best wishes, Andrew Smith, Bristol, UK.