Reel, Jig, or Strathspey?

**Arlen** · 24th November 08, 12:43 PM

I am told repeatedly 'If you're not flirting you're not dancing!' which I think came from Bruce Herbold himself.
I think that is a wonderful sentiment and echoes especially well in Strathspeys.
That said, I do love a good reel for the sheer exuberance of it.
It's hard to choose a single one of the three, but I'll go for reel.

I just love the dancing in general!!!

**The F-H.C.A.G.** · 24th November 08, 08:09 PM

Originally Posted by Panache

...
... I would happily do nothing but Strathspey all through the night and into the wee hours if I could. I absolutely adore the graceful steps and the wonderful music that accompanies them....
...

...Aaaand.... the flirting you get to do with most strathpeys, my dear. Hmmm...Gypsy turns with Janet.

I chose strathspey as well. When we were first learning, I was annoyed at the step, as it just didn't seem to make intuitive sense for me, but then, something just clicked and it was lovely.

My only problem is that my legs are a bit longer than pretty much everybody else in our class, so when I really stretch with the strathspeys, I end up in another county compared to my partner!

Originally Posted by unaspenser

So hard to choose... I love them all! I chose Jig because they're not as frantically fast as reels and I love the rhythm. Hornpipes are especially fun. That said, my favorite dance is a Strathspey/Reel medley, so go figure.

Augh! Medleys make me feel schitzophrenic. But they're amusing to watch!

Originally Posted by vmac3205

I love Strathspeys, not only for the gracefulness of the dance, but folks are expected to interact with their eyes during the dance as well. Lots of flirt time with your partner, especially in the turns and passes. Unfortunately as a demo team member, we do a lot more quick time dances because strathspeys are not as much fun for an audience to watch. They get bored.

What I notice is that during the long strathspeys I tend to trance out listening to the lovely music and watching the graceful dancing. Then, suddenly, it's my turn to dance and I'm standing there like an idiot!

I never get bored watching them though.

Be well,

Star

**McMurdo** · 24th November 08, 08:15 PM

Originally Posted by The F-H.C.A.G.

What I notice is that during the long strathspeys I tend to trance out listening to the lovely music and watching the graceful dancing. Then, suddenly, it's my turn to dance and I'm standing there like an idiot!

I never get bored watching them though.

Be well,

Star

That happens to me almost every week

but I truly think I'm getting better, I just love to dance, never thought I'd say that, a bit surprising for a guy who could not skip when he started SCD.

**unaspenser** · 25th November 08, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by Arlen

I am told repeatedly 'If you're not flirting you're not dancing!' which I think came from Bruce Herbold himself.
I think that is a wonderful sentiment and echoes especially well in Strathspeys.
That said, I do love a good reel for the sheer exuberance of it.
It's hard to choose a single one of the three, but I'll go for reel.

I just love the dancing in general!!!

Yeah, Bruce said that in Portland last spring, and a fellow from our class adopted it as his mantra. Bruce said that while teaching Strathspeys, which can certainly be very expressive because of the extra time. I don't think a quick dance warrants any less flirting though, as you may have noticed from how I dance. :P

**Sir William** · 25th November 08, 11:23 AM

Originally Posted by Panache

For those ladies and gentlemen of X Marks the ...I would happily do nothing but Strathspey all through the night and into the wee hours if I could. I absolutely adore the graceful steps and the wonderful music that accompanies them.

Completely agree. And, as stated by others, the "flirting" that takes place along with it.

And, I've also been where Star has been - entranced by the music and dancing - and then at a loss when it's my turn.

**CaptMac** · 2nd December 08, 10:01 AM

I must say that my favorite dance is the Strathspey. It has a romance; an elegance that fits most Scots "incurable romantic" souls. Like fly-fishing is to general fishing, it has an inherent beauty that, if done well, lifts it above other forms into the realm of art. It allows a dancer with good footwork to stand out. Actually, with my age and my asthma, it is the only dance I can finish without my wife worrying about calling the paramedics!