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  1. #1
    Panache's Avatar
    Panache is offline
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    Invisible Mcleod of Lewis Pt. II - At Scottish Country Dancing

    I just returned with the lovely Flame-Haired Celtic Amazon Goddess from our weekly Scottish Country Dance class. I had decided to put my new USA Mcleod of Lewis semi-traditional kilt to the test and wore it with black hose, red flashes, and a red polo shirt.

    We were practicing a Strathspey and the teacher had indicated that a paricular move called a "polite turn" was optional. (Note to other SC Dancers out there: we were going from "rights and lefts" to setting to first corners.) Now a "polite turn" is a move where a dancer gets a little extra spin to get back to his or her place. If one is wearing a kilt or pleated skirt there is a marvelous "swish factor" opportunity. The instructor stated that the transition to the next step was easier without it and "since none of the gentlemen are wearing a kilt tonight there isn't really any reason to do the polite turn." As one, all twenty people in the class turned toward me and pointed.

    Our teacher gasped "How could I have missed that!"

    The class broke out laughing and I kept doing the polite turn.

    Maybe Ron was onto something about "Invisible Mcleod"


    Cheers

    Jamie
    -See it there, a white plume
    Over the battle - A diamond in the ash
    Of the ultimate combustion-My panache

    Edmond Rostand

  2. #2
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    Funny Jamie!

    It is great to disappear!

    I feel the same way sometimes, been "overlooked" for many a year! Maybe that's part of why I like wearing kilts, it's hard to overlook!

    Except maybe in Scottish Country Dance class!!!!
    Mark Dockendorf
    Left on the Right Coast

  3. #3
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    Great story, sometimes it's nice to just blend in, of course if it happens too much I find myself wondering, don't these people know I'm wearing a Kilt?

  4. #4
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    Jamie, I read this to my wife today and her first comment was "How can anyone miss that tartan!!" Funny, funny story!
    "A veteran, whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve, is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America", for an amount of "up to and including my life." That is honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it." anon

  5. #5
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    The teacher was obviously not paying much attention.
    Neat story.

  6. #6
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    Panache lets give the credit where it is due. When you are standing next to the Flame-Haired Celtic Amazon Goddess, even in Mcleod of Lewis, you are invisible - all eyes are on FHCAG.
    Last edited by cacunn; 15th May 07 at 08:15 AM.

  7. #7
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    As a classroom teacher I can tell you - nothing is more humbling than having one of "those" cosmic moments in front of your students!

  8. #8
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    Wish I had been there Jamie! I have to agree about the 'polite turn'. They are possible in many dances, reels and jigs as well as strathspeys. If everyone is doing them, and you have to be quick, a small hurricane is caused by those flying pleats - GREAT fun!
    [B][I][U]No. of Kilts[/U][/I][/B][I]:[/I] 102.[I] [B]"[U][B]Title[/B]"[/U][/B][/I]: Lord Hamish Bicknell, Laird of Lochaber / [B][U][I]Life Member:[/I][/U][/B] The Scottish Tartans Authority / [B][U][I]Life Member:[/I][/U][/B] The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society / [U][I][B]Member:[/B][/I][/U] The Ardbeg Committee / [I][B][U]My NEW Photo Album[/U]: [/B][/I][COLOR=purple]Sadly, and with great regret, it seems my extensive and comprehensive album may now have been lost forever![/COLOR]/

  9. #9
    Panache's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hamish View Post
    Wish I had been there Jamie! I have to agree about the 'polite turn'. They are possible in many dances, reels and jigs as well as strathspeys. If everyone is doing them, and you have to be quick, a small hurricane is caused by those flying pleats - GREAT fun!
    The teacher told me the trick was to do the "polite turn" while moving to face first corner instead of doing it in one spot as normal. Which made for an even bigger pleat twirl

    Cheers

    Jamie
    -See it there, a white plume
    Over the battle - A diamond in the ash
    Of the ultimate combustion-My panache

    Edmond Rostand

  10. #10
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    It sounds like you had a blast even with an invisible kilt.
    I am dreadful at polite turns, but they really do cause such flurries of swishing.

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