What do we do?

For those asking, what is English Country Dancing, then this clip from Poldark might give an idea.  We aren't so well choreographed or as elegantly dressed (21st Century after all!) but it gives the idea of moving with music in coordination with others.

https://youtu.be/cUIYFrTMGsc

New Year, New Dancers

A brilliant time last night at Lydham Village Hall for the first clubnight of the year and 26 dancers. Plus caller and 6 in the band so many thanks to all the helper sin the kitchen making drinks

Given so many newcomers we focused on getting through the dances in an orderly fashion.  The "1's lead down and cast back" in Sun Assembly did cause a little confusion with newcomers trying to work out where they sarted the next round but otherwise everyone coped admirably.
Dances included: Gued Man of Ballangigh, Sun Assembly, Childgrove, Dartington, Turning by Threes, I care not for these ladies, Halfe Hannekin and Circassian Circle.

The band played beautifully throughout.
Next clubnight 22 January starts at 8pm

Ball

Some photos from the Ball can be seen at
https://www.facebook.com/nick.yaxley.9?fref=ts
We all had a lovely time  and the music was fantastic for dancing. Due to enjoying ourselves so much we did leave out a couple of dances, but we'll be going through them on 13th November when the band will agian be playing for us at Lydham VH, 8pm start dancing :-)
Here's just a ;little clip from the playout

Latest dances for the BAll

We still have a few tickets for the 250th Anniversary Ball for Bishops Castle Town Hall - and we have one more session where we will be running through dances on 23 October.  And there will be cake in the interval.

Last time we ran through:
Fandango
Merry Salopians (or The Old Mill)
Shrewsbury Lasses
Shropshire Lass
The Physical Snob
Turning by Threes
Wakefield Hunt

All were successfull, though Merry Salopians was thought to perhaps require a bit more work!

More dances successfully trialled

At the club on 25th September we successfully worked our way through:
Bar a Bar
Childgrove
Fandango
Hunsdon House
Indian Queen
Lovely Nancy Johnson
Wakefield Hunt

A lovely evening. Someone commented "Could we all move at the same time" which means the idea of dancing together and to the music has been taken onboard.  And it looked magnificent when it did all click:-)

A donation of £15 was made to Macmillan following the cutting of the teapot cake and sale of some apples.  Well done all

Ball dances progress

Our Ball on 31 October for the 250th Anniversary of the Town Hall in Bishops Castle is progressing.  Last time we danced:

Barbarini's Tambourine
Indian Queen
Shrewsbury Lasses
Childgrove
Fandango
Turning by threes
Wakefield Hunt

plus gathering Peascods as a starter

More fun and games on Friday 25th where we'll try to get through another half dozen of the Ball dances.
If you want tickets for the Ball, email alphabetdancers@gmail.com - they are starting to sell well so don't leave it too long as numbers are limited

Dancing restarts 13 September at 8pm

Welcome back to the autumn programme of dancing at Lydham.  We will be having our first session with the band on Friday 11th September with an 8pm prompt start. We will be looking at the dances for the 250 Anniversary Ball which is on 31 October in the evening, and for which the dances will be drawn from the list below.

For those of you wondering what a "Ball" is, it's a posh fancy dress dance. You can come dressed from the 18th century, or from 21st Century. For men Black tie is modern, or period costume; for ladies Ballgowns or long type dresses.  But don't worry too much, just make an effort. Kilts are allowed if you have one!

We have 4 weeks to go through the dances, decide which ones might cause problems and leave them off the schedule;-) All dances will be walked through on the night, and once you buy your ticket you will get a copy of all the dance notations (if that means anything to you!).

There is limited space in the Town Hall so do let me know as soon as possible if you want to come. It should be a fascinating evening as the venue is laying on some 18th century nibbles. Tickets are £10 , doors open 7pm, dancing starts 7:15 and carriages at 10pm.

Arcadian Nuptials Thompson 1765

Bar A Bar duple proper longways 1718 **

Barbarini’s Tambourine  Longways duple minor Walsh, 1745

Childgrove DM1: 1701-1728 *

Christina by Naomi Alexander duple improper longways **

Fandango  3 couple longways set Thompson, 1774

Hunsdon House 1665 Square *

Indian Queen duple proper longways 1701 *

Lovely Nancy Johnson 1744 Longways, Duple Minor ¾ *

Merry Salopians; or Women and Wine (aka The Old Mill)—3-cu. set (3/2) (G) Walsh, 1718 **

Mutual Love (Thompson, 1777)**

Portsmouth 1701 *

Red and All Red Thompson, 1757

Shrewsbury Lasses  3 couple longways set set Thompson, 1765

Shropshire Lass 1710 3 Cple set *

Take a Dance

The Comical Fellow 1776, 40 Bars

The Physical Snob  3 couple longways set set Unidentified collection, c. 1790

Turning By Threes by Gary Roodman circle for 3 couples

Wakefield Hunt  Longways triple minor (triple progression) Thompson, 1779