On Thu, 11 Apr 2019 at 02:33, Michael Houghton <xxxxxx@gmail.com> wrote:
Howdy!

On Wed, Apr 10, 2019 at 9:09 PM Jeff Zeitlin
<xxxxxx@freelancetraveller.com> wrote:
>
> Most of the Americans on this list - and probably a good number of the
> non-Americans, if my limited research is any indication - are familiar with
> the Square Dance, where groups of four couples dance particular
> steps/maneuvers that are "called" by a (most usually) non-dancing 'caller'.
>
> The square dance developed out of earlier 'pattern dances', some of which
> any members who have spent time as members of the Society for Creative
> Anachronism will be familiar with. However, my experience with the latter
> suggests that the SCA pattern dances are only 'called' while you're being
> taught; there isn't a phenomenon like the 'called' square dance.
>
> On the other hand, the SCA has been known to Get It Wrong, and so have I. I
> therefore invoke the TML Brain Trust: What sort of pattern dances are you
> familiar with/aware of, and are any of them 'called'? Do you have
> references that I can read further on?

I did Scottish Country Dancing in my younger days. It is clearly 'pattern
dancing'. There is no caller. The dancers are expected to know the moves.
The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society exists to preserve and promote
Scottish Country Dancing.


Likewise, country dancing down here in the south of England is something that's not too hard to find.  Although almost invariably has a caller because most people aren't *that* familiar with the dances and just turning up to one occasionally for some social function that includes it.  Sometimes, towards the end of an evening, the calling is pretty minimal after people get used to some of the moves.  I would imagine that with venues/groups that do it more regularly, they'd only call the name of the dance at the start and expect people to know what they're doing.

On my two years on a book ship in South East Asia, we'd be in a new port every three weeks or so.  Each new port would include an "International Night" in some venue ashore which would seat around 2000 locals which was a typical audience.  With 350 people from 40 odd nationalities the first 3/4 of the programme consisted of 'cultural' contributions from various countries.  A Korean woman would do a fan dance, the Philippinos would do the Tinikling (with the ankle breaking bamboo poles) etc etc.  The contingent from the US would do a square dance (with lots of yee haws and checked shirts of course) and us Brits did a "Dorset Four Hand Reel" - a pattern dance celebrating the return of fishermen with their catches.  I reckon I could still perform it now.  But it wasn't called of course as we'd learned it completely.  I *think* I recall the American square dance *was* called on the sound track but that was more for effect or because it was kind of "expected" rather than the 8 of them needing it. 

As a complete aside the Philippinos were short handed one time and I filled in and helped with the Tinikling.  I can't think of a tougher dance I've ever learned to do, nor one that was more punishing when you got it wrong.  There's a video I've just found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TonQH9DjJT8 of what it looks like.  Just hearing the music again brings it all back.  Including the ankle bruising feeling!  (We also learned to do both parts - the dancing and the bamboo beating.)  Fun.  Thanks for reminding me!

tc

PS the video linked to above is pretty much exactly the look and feel of what we managed (maybe speeding up a bit at the end IIRC), but if you want to see it taken to a whole 'nother level, I've just found this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WLfqDMwA_o     - particularly 5 minutes in with the blindfolds!!

and while I'm looking, here's the Dorset Four Hand Reel (although we did it with four couples - 8 guys and gals).  Ahhhh, hearing that tune again...!

Now, what was the original question?!