September 2024: Jeremy Hill

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We had a great start to the new season with a vigorous and most enjoyable class from Jeremy Hill, accompanied by Adam Brady.  Noting that many of the  dances included novel variations on standard formations, Jeremy began with the Newby Circle which, unusually for an around the room dance, had different moves for first and second couples. The Brisk Young Lad, a five-couple dance,  demanded a degree of briskness from all as the initial reel of 4 was danced around the stationary 3rd couple.

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The class numbers enforced an amendment to “Two up, Two down”, resulting in one set dancing “Two up, One down”  (perhaps a reflection on the modern housing market). Inspired by Pat Batt’s poem ‘The Ladies Man’,  which paid tribute to the  “two-sex Scottish Dancers who have to dance on either side of the set”, this dance reversed ends after each iteration. The poem, plus link to the dance, and Pat’s other poems may be found on the London Branch website.

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“Oh , whistle and I’ll come tae ye my Lad” was, confusingly, was not accompanied by the traditional song but by “Borowlaski's Fancy”. It began by both first and third couple crossing righthand into a mirror reel of three and then crossing back for a second reel (leading to a little confusion, initially as to who was dancing as what sex but all well resolved by the end of the dance).

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“Minard Castle” required a bit of googling to advise the class that it is located on the northwest shore of Loch Fyne near the road from Inveraray to Lochgilphead. The next dance, The Saltire Medley, had an unusual formation beginning in a square set with a lady at each corner and two men, back to back in the middle. The dance began with  “Hazel Tree corners”  and ended with “Mairi's Wedding Reels”  in Strathspey time, with the reel time variation of all four ladies joining in for double diagonal reels of 4 at the end, The evening ended with “The Penny Whistle”, devised by Ann Dix for Frank and Kathy Reid.

 

Thanks to all who came this month. Our next class will be on Tuesday 15 October and the teacher will be Andrew Nolan.

 

Meanwhile our NEW SEASON TEA DANCE  is this coming Saturday 21 September 2-5pm in the assembly hall at Maria Fidelis School, NW1 1LY. Join us for great music from Ian Robertson and his band – plus cake!

 

• The Newby Circle2RR · R32 Haynes

• Brisk Young Lad 5/5L · J48 Drewry

• Two up, Two Down 4/4L · S32 Haynes

• Oh, Whistle and I'll come tae ye my Lad 3/4L · J32 RSDCDS Book 24

• Minard Castle 3/4L · R40 RSCDS Book 22

• Saltire Medley 4w+2m · M96 Haynes

• The Penny Whistle 2/4L · J32 Dix

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