Hi,
I'm getting ready for an "introduction to
contra" workshop at our local folk festival next
weekend. I've been looking at some of the
'chestnut' dances. Partly to learn more about the
background, but I'd also like to teach a simple
one for everyone to try.
I've found this traditional version of Lady
Walpole's Reel in "The Country Dance Book."
A1: Balance and swing neighbor; A2: Actives
down the center, turn alone, come back and cast;
B1: Ladies chain over and back; B2: Promenade
across; Right and Left thru back.
On various web pages I've also found this version
which I thought might be a bit easier as the
dancers stay connected. It has A2: 4 in line down
the hall, turn alone and come back, cast off.
This doesn't seem right to me. In the traditional
version the actives cast around the inactive
neighbor they had just swung, thus giving the
progression. However, in this second version, the
actives are on the ends of the lines, so the
inactive neighbors are casting around and no
progression occurs (as well as men not ending up
with women on their right to start the chains). I
would have thought it should be A2: 4 in line down
the hall, as couple turn, come back, cast off (as
in David Smuckler's Stopping By Woods and Tony
Parkes' Woods Hole Jig). Could someone clarify? I
may be missing something obvious as I'm thinking
more like a square dancer. Can you chain the
ladies when the men have them on their left? If so
that would fix it, but the flow and hand
availability doesn't seem right.
Thanks. Cheers, Bill
