Beginner Class – 8 February 2021

Great to see all our new people back this week apart from one who was caught in holiday traffic. We were really impressed how much you had retained and everyone was having plenty of fun.

Tutor’s Recap
The dances we did all had the same formations we learnt last week and I added stepping up and down (usually the second couple to make room for the first couple). Step, cross, step, together is the little ditty. I also introduced right and lefts – danced in a square – cross right hand face on the side, change left hand and face across the set, change right hand across the set and face down, change left hand on the side with the person in first man’s and second woman’s place dance a courtesy turn. No twiddles until bar 8 – just keep going the way you are facing – either clockwise or anti clockwise.

We also did some more step practice for skip change of step concentrating on achieving third position, turn out and the extension of our lead leg – straight from the hip right down to a beautifully pointed toe and a reminder of the rhyme – hop right, close right, skip left close left.

We danced a circle dance and a four couple dance in a four couple set (1st couple dances once through and finished at the bottom – one opportunity to shine!). The rest of the dances were 2 couple dances in a four couple set – 1st couple dances three rotations. 1st and 2nd couples begin, while 3rd and 4th couple stand. 2nd rotation 1s in second place and 3rd couple dance with 2nd and 4th couple stand. Third rotation 1s in 3rd place and 4s, and 2s who are now in top place and 3s now in 2nd place all dance. You are getting the “hang” of this now

As I mentioned I would include links to some videos of the dances we did. I haven’t included all of them because there were a couple that were incorrect!

The Fairy Ring – Circle dance.
Circle round and back, woman dance to their left in front of their partners, back to place and in front of the man to their right, men dance to their right in front of their partner, back to place, and in front of the woman on his left and face their partner, change right, change left, change right and change left (2 bars per hand)

The Ox
1s and 2s four hands round and back 9circle), 1s and 2s right hands across and left hands back, 1 couple lead down the middle and back to 2nd place (2s step up on 3 and 4), 2s and 1s turn partner right hand and then left hand

The Kingston Flyer
Chase for 4 – women and then men, 1st couple lead down the middle and back, 1st couple cast to the bottom – (supporting couples step up on 3 and 4), 1st couple turns with the right hand

Galloway House
1st couple cast off behind own line and back to place, 1s and 2s four hands round and back (circle), 11s turn right hand for 2 bars, cast for 2 bars, turn left hand for 4 bars, rights and lefts

I also mentioned an information sheet that Ann has put together summarising what we have covered in the last two weeks. You can find this here; Beginners-Classes_handout-1.pdf