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Heather
and Rose Terminology and Conventions
Left File
- in longways sets, those with their left shoulder to the top
(where the music is) as they face their partner.
Right File
- in longways sets, those with their right shoulder to the top.
Designating
roles in circle dances - person on the left (or right) of
partner (for dance like Jovial Beggar); or ones and twos (for
dance like Gathering Peascods)
First Diagonal
- in duple minor longways sets, those diagonally across with right
hands closest (#1L-file, #2 R-file) (In many English Country Dance
groups around the country this is referred to as 1st
corner.) In square sets the concept of diagonal with right
hand closest with opposite couple follows from longways formation;
in a square of eight there are four first diagonals (another way
to describe this position in a square is 'person on the left of
partner'). In Sicilian circles first diagonals are on the
left of their partner or those with right hand closest with diagonal
of opposite couple.
Second
Diagonal - the other diagonal.
First Corner
- used in longways sets of six, triple minors, Scottish longways
sets referring to relationship of other dancers to the twos (or
the ones when in second place) - the person across the set diagonally
to the right (e.g. ones turn first corner).
Second
Corner - the other corner (the person across the set diagonally
to the left).
Who passes
in front (when crossing down the dance...) - we have a convention
of passing right shoulder to right shoulder (within a couple,
who the person that passes first is will vary depending on where
you are both coming from in the dance). However, when in doubt
don't crash or wait around to accommodate the convention if someone
is late (i.e. whoever who gets there first, crosses first).
How to
hold hands in circles, two-hand turns, hands with neighbor...
- our convention is right palm up, left palm down.
How we
deal with 'improper dances' - this term becomes meaningless
because of the way we dance; since it doesn't matter what side
of the dance one starts on, it becomes pointless to add this layer.
When teaching duple minors we don't bother to have people change
sides at top or bottom. When teaching set dances where you change
sides we will point out at the end of one time through that some
(or all) people will have switched sides and that is what was
supposed to happen (just as we would point out at the end of a
dance like Merry Andrew where you switch partners each time through
the dance).
Forming
sets: When we form sets we call for the number of additional
dancers needed rather than calling for couples. Everyone who wants
to dance comes to the floor to either side of the set (generally
as individuals). By taking hands four (or six...) from the top
it determines who is dancing with whom. If people want to dance
an occasional dance with someone special, we ask them come in
at the bottom after the set has been formed. Sometimes a couple
may find themselves leaving an odd person out ahead of them in
the middle of a longways. If this happens we encourage shifting
so that one of them dances with the odd person out and the hands
four continues on down the longways or inviting someone coming
to the floor to jump in that spot.
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Ways
to make the dance more fun
Eye Contact
- this is a social dance form so looking (and smiling) at the
people you are dancing with is a good thing. Keeping your eyes
focused on the other dancers will also help you catch cues on
where to go or what to do next if you have momentarily forgotten.
Giving
Weight - on circles and turns, applying tension to improve
centrifugal force - in circles this helps keep the circle round,
with a partner it helps regulate the speed, helps the appearance
of the turn and makes it more fun.
Listen
- when the teacher is teaching or calling the dance and encourage
others in your set to do the same; if you have a question ask
the teacher (the whole room will benefit). H&R teachers tend
to stop calling the dance fairly soon so dancers can enjoy the
music while dancing.
Helping
others - the subtler the help the better. If you help within
your sets do so with your mouths closed - use eye contact, smiles,
very small gestures (an occasional 'here' or 'left'... during
the dance is fine, but please no sentences). Most people don't
like to be pushed, pulled or grabbed so don't.
Country
Dance Police - there are none, if you or someone else makes
a mistake it's ok; this is supposed to be fun - rather than worrying,
chastising or stopping, use it as an opportunity to play and keep
dancing.
When in
doubt, leave it out - for example if you didn't quite get
through a figure and there is still a two-hand turn to do but
the music/dance is on to the next figure, leave out the turn and
do the next figure.
Partners
- you don't need one to come to any H&R dance. We encourage
people to dance with as many different people as possible. Improvement
comes more quickly by dancing with more experienced partners.
We recommend that two beginners not dance together for more than
a dance or two. If you want to dance, come to the dance floor
and you will find a partner and a set. By taking hands from the
top (and retaining hands until the whole set is formed) you will
determine who is dancing with whom. If you want to dance an occasional
dance with someone special, please come in at the bottom after
the set has formed. Make sure not to leave anyone without a partner
in the middle of a set.
Children
- our events are family environments, and dancers sometimes bring
their children along. We invite children to dance. The annual
dance camps and balls will provide childcare on request. In order
to maintain a safe environment for both children and adults, we
request that parents prevent non-participating children from coming
on the dance floor during the dance, for this may be very dangerous
for everyone.
Fragrance
- please avoid wearing perfume, aftershave, cologne and other
scented products to a dance. Besides their scent being magnified
by the aerobic nature of dancing and making them unpleasant to
many, some dancers are very sensitive or allergic to such products.
This is not a preference issue - it is a health issue. The Seattle
Country Dancers website has more
information on safe products to use and the harmful effects
of fragrance.
Clothing
and Shoes - H&R classes/dances are informal. Wear comfortable,
breathable clothes. For balls and other special events some people
get more dressed up but it is not required. Shoes should be clean-soled
and non-marking, no big heels. Ghillies or ballet slippers work
well for Scottish. Many dancers like jazz shoes (oxford style
rather than sneaker style) with a soft arch - these give flexibility
and point for Scottish and a bit more support for English.
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Some
Common Terminology
Presence
- historically, the location in the ballroom of the highest ranking
person. In modern country dance usually the location of the music.
Sets are generally organized with the top nearest the presence.
Top of
the Set - location of the number one couple as the dance begins.
Bottom
of the set - the end farthest from the top (or the music/presence).
Numbering
- couple nearest the top in a longways set
are ones, others are numbered in sequence down the set. In a longways
set for eight dancers numbering is one, twos, threes and fours.
In a duple minor longways for as many as will numbering is hands
four from the top with ones and twos all the way to the bottom;
in a triple minor numbering is hands six from the top with ones,
twos, and threes all the way to the bottom.
Improper
- (or crossed over) when you are on the opposite side of the dance
from where you started (in a longways dance).
Partner
- The primary person you are dancing with; in a longways this
person is across the dance from you, in a square, circle, Sicilian
circle this person is next to you
Neighbor
- the person you are standing beside (in a longways dance) or
the person next to you who isn't your partner (in a square set).
Corner
- see diagonals and corners in H&R
Terminology and Conventions. Can also mean (in a square or
round set) your neighbor.
Opposite
- The person you are facing.
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Some
Common Set Formations
Longways
set - a set made up of two parallel lines, partners facing.
May be for a specified number of people in English and Scottish
(six and eight being the most common, sometimes ten, rarely more)
or for as many as will in English.
Duple Minor
- a longways formation for as many as will with 'minor' groups
of two couples, each couple progressing down or up to join a new
couple for the next repetition (ones move toward the bottom of
the set and twos move toward the top).
Triple
Minor - a longways formation for as many as will with ‘minor’
groups of three couples with the ones progressing down the set
to the bottom, twos and threes progressing up changing numbers
with each repetition.
Square
set - English and Scottish. Usually eight dancers (four couples)
arranged so that each couple forms one side of a square, all facing
the center of the square with partners standing side by side.
Head couples
or Heads - in a square set, the heads are those facing and
with their backs to the music (presence)
Side Couples
or Sides - In a square set, the couples on either side of
the head couples
Round set
- English and (occasionally) Scottish. Any even number of dancers
(six or more) in a circle, partners side by side.
Sicilian
Circle - English and Scottish. Two facing two in a circle
around the room.
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Some
Common Figures
Allemande
- Scottish. A progressive figure for two (or more) couples. Facing
up with hands joined right in right (the person on left’s hand
behind shoulder of partner) and left in left (in front), with
the ones followed closely by the other couple(s): dance one step
out to the right, turn 1/4 left as a couple to face across the
dance, dance across the dance and turn down, dance down the dance,
turn into a line facing the center, dance into the center with
the dancer on the right turning under to face partner, in two
bars partners fall back to sidelines.
Arming
- English. Two dancers ‘link’ right or left forearms and dance
round each other.
Back to
Back - two dancers move forward toward each other to pass
right shoulders and then backing up pass left shoulders to end
where started the figure (may also be done starting by passing
left shoulders).
Cast
- turn outward and dance outside the set. Cast up (or down) is
to turn outward and dance up (or down) outside the set.
Chase
- a figure in which one partner follows the other’s track
Circular
Hey - see Rights and Lefts.
Cross over
(or just cross) - changing places with partner (or diagonal) usually
with right hands in Scottish and right shoulder in English.
Cross and
cast - cross over and dance down (or up) one or more places,
done without turning away as in a regular cast.
Double
Triangle - Scottish. Ones are back to back in the middle of
the dance facing their own side with right hands joined with person
on right and left hand joined with person on left – all six set,
then ones drop hands and with setting step dance round right shoulders
to face opposite side while others set, taking hands as before
all six set, then ones drop hands and with setting set dance round
right shoulders to second place on their own sidelines while others
set.
Draw pousette
- see pousette-draw
Figure
of 8 - dancing the pattern of a figure of 8 (usually around
standing dancers).
Chain
- a number of handing figures, for example rights and lefts around
a circle (a grand chain).
Corner,
Partner, Corner, Partner - with the ones in second place of
a set of six, ones turn first corner by right (or left) hand once
round, ones turn by left (or right) to get to second corner, ones
turn second corner by right (or left) hand once round, ones turn
by left (or right) to own side in second place.
Corners
Set and Turn - Scottish. Ones set to first corner, ones 2-hand
turn with first corner (using setting step) to get to second corner,
ones set to second corner, ones 2-hand turn once round with second
corner
Corners
Pass and Turn - Scottish. Ones cross, passing
right shoulder and dance right around first corner positions,
while first corners turn once round by two hands; ones
repeat this pattern with second corners, on the last two bars
ones return to own sides passing right shoulder.
Gypsy
- Two dancers move around each other in a circular path facing
outward or towards the center as directed.
Hands across
- usually for three or four dancers. In the four person figure
diagonals join either right or left hands to form a star and all
move in the direction they face. This may be once round, halfway
round, 3/4 round, etc. Three hands across: two dancers join hands,
the third dancer places his/her hand on top.
Hands three,
four (six or eight...) - The designated number of dancers
form a ring/circle and move around in the direction indicated,
usually first to the left and back to the right.
Hello/Goodbye
Setting - see set to corners and partners
Hey
- English figure (same as Scottish reel) Interwoven figure for
three or more dancers.
When for three
dancers, the first dancer faces the other two and passes right
(or left) shoulders with the second dancer, left (or right) shoulders
with the third, the other dancers moving and passing the indicated
shoulder. On making the last pass, each dancer makes a whole turn
on the end, bearing right if the last pass was by the right shoulder,
left if the last pass was by the left, and reenters the figure
returning to place. Each dancer describes a figure of 8 pattern.
May also be done half way.
When for four
(or six or more even number of dancers), dancers face alternately,
the two in the middle facing out; each dancer goes forward passing
alternate shoulders with the other dancers as they approach until
they get to end of the line where they pass out, turn and pass
in by the same shoulder they went out by, then continue weaving
back to where started. May also be done half way.
Lead (up
or down) (and lead down the middle and back) - traveling down
or up the inside of the set to move into a new position, usually
done holding right hands in Scottish and inside hands in English.
Orbit
- traveling around the outside of the set (or one or more standing
or moving dancer).
Petronella
- moving one position counterclockwise while setting and turning
over the right shoulder.
Poussette
(Scottish quick time) - a progressive figure for two couples
(or more) in which each couple, with both hands joined, uses eight
pas de basque or setting steps to dance three sides of a square.
Each couple moves as a unit counterclockwise (out to the side,
quarter turn, up or down, quarter turn, into the middle, half
turn, fall back, fall back - all turns are done by pulling back
the right shoulder). If the figure is done with three or four
couples the ones move all the way below the other couples who
each move up one space.
Poussette
(Scottish strathspey time) - also called diamond poussette
or all around poussette. A non-progressive figure for two couples.
Each couple, with both hands joined, moves as a unit counterclockwise
using strathspey setting and traveling to go once round each other.
May also be done halfway to progress.
Poussette
(English) - a non-progressive figure for two couples. Each
couple, with both hands joined, moves as a unit without turning.
One pair moves a double (diagonally) toward the right wall, the
other to the left wall and then back into set formation progressed,
then complete the poussette moving in the opposite direction to
end in original places. May be done clockwise or counterclockwise.
Some dances use a half pousette to progress.
Poussette
- Draw (English) - a non-progressive figure for two couples.
Each couple, with both hands joined, moves as a unit while turning
in a smooth oval to dance around the other couple. May be done
clockwise or counterclockwise. Some dances use a half draw poussette
to progress.
Promenade
- a figure for two or more couples with partners in promenade
hold and moving as a unit, the lead couple, followed by the other
couples, dancing (casting) to left (or right), down to the bottom
and back up the middle to place.
Reel
- Scottish figure (same as English hey).
Rights
and Lefts - usually a figure for four dancers where each person
travels forward alternating right and then left hands or shoulders
around a square. Can be two, three or four exchanges. Usually
starts facing partner across the set (partner by right, face neighbor
up or down by left, partner by right, neighbor by left). May sometimes
start with neighbor and/or by left. Sometimes referred to as a
circular hey in English dances when no hands are given. May also
be done by more than two couples facing alternately and moving
in opposite directions-usually to original places; this is sometimes
called a grand chain.
Set and
Link for four - Scottish. Neighbors set
with nearer hands joined, then 2nd diagonals cast up or down while
1st diagonals dance through center and curve into neighbors' places.
Set
and Link for six - Scottish. Begins
with all improper - set, dancers at the left end of each line
(1st corners) dance through the middle to the right end, to end
on the left end of a line of three across the dance facing up
or down. The dancers in the middle (ones) and at the right end
(2nd corners) pull their right shoulders back and cast clockwise
(2nd corners following middles), finishing in two lines across
the set facing up or down (middle people still in the middle);
Repeat the figure to finish on own sides progressed
Set to
Corners and Partners - Scottish. Ones set to 1st
corners but use the second part of the setting step to pull back
right shoulder to the sideline and face partner across the dance;
ones set to partner but use the second part of the setting step
to face second corner; set to second corner but use the second
part of the setting step to face partner up and down the dance;
set while turning over right shoulder to second place on own side
of dance. The corner set back when the ones set to them.
Siding
- two dancers dance forward to meet right (or left) shoulders
and retire. (Another version is ‘Sharp siding’ in which two dancers
come forward in a curve passing left shoulders and reverse that
track back to place.)
Turn single
- Turn in four steps, clockwise (i.e., to your own right) unless
otherwise directed.
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Some
Common Footwork
Chassé
- Slipping step to right or left as directed.
Double
- in English dance, four steps forward (or back) closing on the
fourth step; up a double and back or forward a double and back
are common introductory figures.
Pas de
Basque - a basic three-beat step beginning with weight evenly
distributed, then shifting to the right foot, back to the left
foot and finishing on the right foot; then left, right left for
a full setting step. Used in both English and Scottish setting,
may be in place or traveling.
Rant
- a particular type of step in English dance.
Set
- a set of two pas de basque steps.
Single
- in English dance, two steps in any direction, closing feet on
the second step.
Skip Change
- the Scottish traveling step for jigs, reels and hornpipes.
Slip Step
- Used in circular or sideways movements in English (sometimes)
and Scottish (always) dances.
Strathspey
- a slow but strong Scottish dance step. Written in 4/4 time..
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Some
Common Musical Terms
Bar
- 1) a vertical line on the staff separating measures of music.2)
an alternate term for one measure of music.
Beat
- Originally one strike to a drumhead, now used to designate the
number of counts per measure, i.e. 2/4 time has two counts/beats
per measure. Each strong beat corresponds to a dance step.
Duple meter
(English) - dances with time signatures divisible by 2 (two beats
per bar), requiring two, or multiples of two, steps per bar.
Hornpipe
(Scottish) - a reel variant characterized by a distinctive note
sequence.
Hornpipe
(English) - modern hornpipes are strongly dotted (sharply uneven
divisions within a measure) reels; historical hornpipes are in
3/2
Jig
- a quick time (Scottish) dance written in 6/8 time. Many English
dance tunes are also jigs.
Measure
- one time through the time signature, e.g. in 4/4 time, one repetition
of four beats. Quick time (Scottish) Ð music played at a rapid
tempo, e.g. reels and jigs
Reel
- a quick time (Scottish) dance written in 4/4 or 2/4 time. Many
English dance tunes are also reels.
Rhythm
- a series of strong and weak beats in each measure of music,
e.g. a reel has four strong beats per measure, while a jig has
a sequence of one strong beat followed by two weak beats per measure.
Strathspey
(Scottish) - a slow tempo dance written in 4/4 or 2/4 time, characterized
by a fiddle snap (dotted quarter note).
Tempo
- the speed at which music is played
Time signature
- musical notation that defines the meter (number of beats per
measure) and the note value of one beat, e.g. 4/4 time has four
beats per measure and a quarter note has a value of one beat.
Triple
meter (English) - dances with time signatures divisible by
3 (three beats per bar), requiring three, or multiples of three,
steps per bar, e.g. 3/2, 3/4, 9/8
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