Fair enough. I'll concede this point, too. On Mon, Oct 10, 2011 at 6:52 AM, Bill Baritompa < [email protected]> wrote:
> Hi, > > The following extract supports proper and improper as referring > to the 'correct' side of the longways formation (Dave: if everyone is > improper, > there is still no mixing of the sexes :-) ). > > Cheers, Bill > > --- > The country Dance Book Cecil J. Sharp Part VI. > http://openlibrary.org/books/**OL7093066M/The_country_dance_**book<http://openlibrary.org/books/OL7093066M/The_country_dance_book> > > In Playford's time, the top of the room was called the > Presence, alluding to the dais upon which the spectators > -were seated. The expression "facing the Presence" means, > therefore, facing up, i.e., toward the top of the room ; while > back to the Presence means facing down, toward the bottom > of the room. > > A Longways dance is one in which the performers take > partners and stand in two parallel lines, the men on one side > opposite and facing their partners on the other, those on > the men's side facing the right wall (i.e. the wall on the right > when facing the Presence), those on the women's - > side the left wall. > > The disposition of the dancers in a longways dance is said > to be proper when the men and women are on their own > sides; and improper when the men are on the women's side- > or the women on the men's. > --- > > > ______________________________**_________________ > Callers mailing list > [email protected] > http://www.sharedweight.net/**mailman/listinfo/callers<http://www.sharedweight.net/mailman/listinfo/callers> > >
