Let's write an Xmarks dance

[londonpiper]

How about the dancers on this forum getting their several heads together and writing an Xmarks jig, reel or strathspey or even an Xmarks jig, reel and strathspey?
I envisage some sort of balance in line type thingy to symbolise the X being involved.

Perhaps if we each have a try at producing something then publish it here on the forum for members to try out at their classes. Then, when we're all mentally exhausted, have a vote on which one we like the best.
What say chaps and chapesses?

[McMurdo]

must have dolphin reels involved that's for certain.

[MartinGrenoble]

must have dolphin reels involved that's for certain.

What's the connexion?

The same suggestion was made some years ago on the Strathspey mailing list. People put their heads together (electronically), and eventually something was published as "the Strathspey Reel". It had no coherence whatsoever, and, as far as I know, was very quickly forgotten.

I have composed a lot of dances and have always tried to make them hang together as a unit, not a series of barely linked figures. Having differnet people making suggestions would very likely produce just another series of figures.

Martin

[Panache]

I'm an intermediate dancer (at best) but I have a bit of an idea.

Perhaps I'll give it a try.

Cheers

Jamie

[Panache]

Hamish's Mirror

A 32 bar strathspey for three couples

[Bars 1-4] 1st and 2nd couples dance right hands across

[Bars 5-12] 1st and 2nd couples dance diamond pousette

[Bars 13-14] 1st man and 1st lady cast off 1 place

[Bars 15-16] 1st man and 1st lady dance up taking nearer hands up 1 place (ready to cast off into mirror reels with 1st couple going out)

[Bars 17-24] Mirror reels (starting with 1st and 3rd couples going out and 2nd couple going in)

[Bars 26-28] 1st, 2nd, and 3rd couples turn both hands (2nd and 3rd couples returning to their own sides)

[Bars 29-30] 1st couple continue turning to pull back right shoulders for a half gypsy turn to own side (facing out)

[Bars 31-32] 1st couple exit out own side down to second place (or bottom of set)



Be kind folks this is the first time I have ever tried to write a dance!


Cheers

Jamie

[McMurdo]

What's the connexion?

The same suggestion was made some years ago on the Strathspey mailing list. People put their heads together (electronically), and eventually something was published as "the Strathspey Reel". It had no coherence whatsoever, and, as far as I know, was very quickly forgotten.

I have composed a lot of dances and have always tried to make them hang together as a unit, not a series of barely linked figures. Having differnet people making suggestions would very likely produce just another series of figures.

Martin

The connection is the X shape, or so I thought, well it would be a dolphin reel starting with your first corner.

[Andrewson]

The connection is the X shape, or so I thought, well it would be a dolphin reel starting with your first corner.

I think a more obvious "X" shape would be the figure known as "dance to corner and set" - also known as Courage Reels from the John Drewry dance of that name. In this 12 bar figure the dancing couple starts facing 1st corners, takes 2 bars to change places with corners who pass each other in the middle and turn right, then, while the dancing couple turns inwards and sets for 2 bars, their first corners change places with the dancing couples' 2nd corners who also pass each other and turn right in the middle to face the dancing couple. These movements continue for a further eight bars until the dancing couple are again in the middle facing their 1st corner person in 3rd corner position. (This is a lot more complicated to describe than to dance but I hope you can see that the dancers repeatedly dance along "V" shapes that make up an "X".

So if we want to add a kind of "S" shape for "Scot" (it is actually a figure of eight) to this you could have the following dance: An XS Reel

Bars 1-4 1st couple set and cast off one place to face 1st corners
Bars 5-16 Dance to corners and set, 1st couple end facing 1st corners in 3rd corner position
Bars 17-20 1M pick up 3L in promenade hold and dance a figure of eight round 3M and 2L giving RS to begin, while 1L picks up 2M and dances a figure of eight round the same two standing couples (1M&3L pass 1L&2M RS in the middle) so that both 3L and 2M are returned to their original positions
Bars 21-24 1C dances half a reel of 4 with 3M & 2L ending in 2nd place on their own side (1M gives RS to 3M and 1L gives RS to 2L to begin)
Bars 25 - 32 6 hands round to the left and back


Not much of a dance but with maybe just a shade of coherence to it.

[starbkjrus]

Hamish's Mirror

A 32 bar strathspey for three couples

[Bars 1-4] 1st and 2nd couples dance right hands across

[Bars 5-12] 1st and 2nd couples dance diamond pousette

[Bars 13-14] 1st man and 1st lady cast off 1 place

[Bars 15-16] 1st man and 1st lady dance up taking nearer hands up 1 place (ready to cast off into mirror reels with 1st couple going out)

[Bars 17-24] Mirror reels (starting with 1st and 3rd couples going out and 2nd couple going in)

[Bars 26-28] 1st, 2nd, and 3rd couples turn both hands (2nd and 3rd couples returning to their own sides)

[Bars 29-30] 1st couple continue turning to pull back right shoulders for a half gypsy turn to own side (facing out)

[Bars 31-32] 1st couple exit out own side down to second place (or bottom of set)



Be kind folks this is the first time I have ever tried to write a dance!


Cheers

Jamie

At least I can read Java script.

I guess I'll keep my day job.

(Well, I HOPE I will.)

[Kiltman]

Panache,
It seems a little too complicated, although I like high level dances. I do think that there needs to be some balance in line moves.

I'll take it to the next SCD meeting as see how it dances.

[The F-H.C.A.G.]

Balance in line is all well and good, but why has everyone overlooked the obvious?!


We need....





DOUBLE TRIANGLES!





Be well,