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Post by cosmoblue on Feb 10, 2008 16:24:13 GMT -5
Holy, cow is ECD complicated! Last night was my first time to try it. I had so much fun laughing, and tripping, and losing my place, and getting completely muddlefuddled. In the movies they make it look so easy chatting while dancing, are you kidding me? I could barely manage it while I was concentrating on it with all my brainpower(which may have been slightly compromised by a panic sewing overload). I thought I'd have no problem since I have been Lindy Hopping (and other swing) for ever. Dancing with one partner is soooo much easier than dancing with 23 other people who do not wish to be trampled on. The people who had done it before looked so lovely and made it so much easier for me to see what was supposed to happen. The caller was great and very patient I thought for how severely I was struggling. So much fun! ;D
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Post by Goblin, esq. on Apr 3, 2008 16:41:02 GMT -5
If find ECD easier than swing or Lindy hop. I don't have to keep deciding what to do next, and make sure I communicate to my partner what's coming. (But then, I'm leading - it might be different as a follower.) I can't imagine holding a conversation while swing dancing!
If you get stuck on what to do next, you can always peek at the next couple (well, two couples down in a duple minor set, to be precise) to see what you should be doing.
Last month, during our dance practice, I was able to hold a conversation with my partner during a country dance (without mishap, for a change). After five years, I finally feel like I'm in one of those Regency movies. :-)
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Post by Mrs Parker on Apr 3, 2008 23:35:39 GMT -5
When I was learning ECD, my friends would laugh at me, wondering where I would make my next misstep. Now I'm teaching and performing Victorian social dance. The steps suddenly began to make sense. There's always a pattern. To be truthful, a jay hey still gives me panic attacks.
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Post by The Major on Apr 4, 2008 7:09:16 GMT -5
When I was learning ECD, my friends would laugh at me, wondering where I would make my next misstep. Now I'm teaching and performing Victorian social dance. The steps suddenly began to make sense. There's always a pattern. To be truthful, a jay hey still gives me panic attacks. Is a "jay hey" the same as a 'Hey' in Contra dancing? Sorry, I can't find any ECD dancing in this area so I frequent the Contra dance groups instead (I'm learning, and getting better).
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Post by Mrs Parker on Apr 4, 2008 9:09:23 GMT -5
We haven't danced ECD for about a decade. The only place for it is the SCA and the local group is not our cup of tea, so to speak. There are 3 types, IIRC a hey danced by either the ladies together or the gents together, a hey for all which is like a grand right and left without the hands and the dreaded and feared jay hey which I have blocked from my memory. All I can recall of it is that I always made a great hash of it. I need to dig out my ECD book and review.
BTW, Major, are you in KS or farther north?
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Post by The Major on Apr 4, 2008 9:29:59 GMT -5
Dear Mrs. Parker,
I am a neighbor to the North of KS. About 2-1/2 hours North of KC. If we could find a society somewhere in between us, we are willing to travel a little distance to attend some events. But I haven't done much looking in KC, or other KS towns.
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Post by Mrs Parker on Apr 4, 2008 9:40:00 GMT -5
Major, have you looked into Fort Osage in the KC area? They are the closest 1812 reenactments to us. We haven't been there yet. Being a fort, they do concentrate on military activities but they do have things for ladies to take part in. There is a yahoo group for the fort's volunteers that might interest you.
I've done a quick flip-through of my ECD pages and I find I've left out a few heys...the hey for four which is today called right and left through and the dreaded and fearsome sheepskin hey that causes my knees to quake whilst reviewing the steps.
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Post by The Major on Apr 4, 2008 11:03:29 GMT -5
Major, have you looked into Fort Osage in the KC area? They are the closest 1812 reenactments to us. We haven't been there yet. Being a fort, they do concentrate on military activities but they do have things for ladies to take part in. There is a yahoo group for the fort's volunteers that might interest you. Dear Mrs. Parker, Yes, I have been to Fort Osage a number of times. You are right, they do have a few workshops a year for women's things that are very good. If you get the chance, you would enjoy them. There is a War of 1812 event there every October and they usually hold a Federal Ball. Unfortunately it's at a time of year that is jam packed full of events that I must pick and choose so I don't get to go there but every 2-3 years. If they have more social events, I'm not aware of them at this time but I'll have to look into it.
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Post by Mrs Parker on Apr 4, 2008 14:58:08 GMT -5
My dear Major, I am trying to suss out a way to cobble together a regency group with an eye more to dancing than shooting. I'm chatting with a lady from Ft Osage who has given me some leads. Unfortunately, everything is at least 3 hours from us but I shall persevere.
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Post by Mme de Beaufort on Apr 4, 2008 15:07:14 GMT -5
I'm all about group-building. Feel free to pester me about that anytime. I'm pretty skilled at scaring up participants.
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Post by Mrs Parker on Apr 4, 2008 19:03:44 GMT -5
I'm more concerned about scaring them than scaring them up! LOL I'm sure I'll pester you repeatedly on the matter. Thank you exceedingly for the offer.
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Post by The Major on Apr 4, 2008 20:52:23 GMT -5
My Dear Mrs. Parker,
While I do attend military reenactments and command troops in the field and battle, I also enjoy the just social events as well. Taking a turn about the green or town and having tea with a group of ladies and gentlemen is a splendid way to spend an afternoon. A Ball, well, that my dear lady is a most wonderful way to spend an evening - dancing with fine ladies, and having good conversation, &c, makes me long to return to civilization. While I also enjoy a soldiers life, I do so long for polite society away from the military. And I do so love a Ball.
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tess
Clergy
"...my gown is to be trimmed everywhere with white ribbon plaited somehow or other." - Jane Austen
Posts: 172
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Post by tess on Apr 6, 2008 19:35:17 GMT -5
I may be mistaken as to the best place for this question, but can someone enlighten me as to the practical differences between ECD and Contra dancing?
After attempting to research, I've only found that contra dance is an American cousin to ECD. I can't seem to find what the differences are in the actual practice.
I'm starting tomorrow with a local contra dance group, and am curious if those skills would transfer to a regency ball.
Many thanks all-knowing ones.
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Post by Mrs Parker on Apr 6, 2008 19:51:22 GMT -5
Contra skills should translate well. These were called longways dances in the period. There are also quadrilles or square dances for 4 couples and round dances. Regency dance is done with a bit more dignity than modern contras. English country dance is also done by SCA and Ren fair groups.
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Post by aylwen on Apr 12, 2008 6:13:07 GMT -5
Is the last hey that you described a crossover hey?Where the top man and top lady cross to the other side and both sides hey? We do it a lot in our dance classes here in Canberra, Australia. It used to take me a long time to learn these but now they come quickly. Cheers, Aylwen www.earthlydelights.com.au/english.htm
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Post by Mrs Parker on Apr 12, 2008 10:30:39 GMT -5
Is the last hey that you described a crossover hey?Where the top man and top lady cross to the other side and both sides hey? We do it a lot in our dance classes here in Canberra, Australia. It used to take me a long time to learn these but now they come quickly. Cheers, Aylwen www.earthlydelights.com.au/english.htmHello, Aylwen. I didn't know you were here. Ladies and Gentlemen, we have an expert in our midst. They "hey for four" or "right and left through" is done in an improper line or in a quadrille, right hand across the set, left to your partner (or neighbor if done in a contra line), right hand back across the set and left hands to place. Aylwen, I sent you an email a few days ago looking for instructional videos. do you have any suggestions?
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Post by aylwen on Apr 12, 2008 16:12:45 GMT -5
In Australia we call this rights and lefts, never a hey. We've even started doing this in a regency way where you take eyes with your diagonal opposite and do a gypsy, except one couple start after the other couple. Hard to describe, I'm a dancer not a dance teacher. I'll look for your email, but off my head, if it was ECD on video, I recommend you look on Youtube. We've found a lot on there. We haven't made any videos, but will have a set of books out in the next year or so. Cheers, Aylwen
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Post by Mrs Parker on Apr 12, 2008 17:23:13 GMT -5
We have one mid-century dance that features a gypsy turn and some of the dance callers like to call it in place of "2 hands round" in the ubiquitous Virginia Reel.
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Post by Mrs Parker on Apr 14, 2008 13:42:57 GMT -5
There was a minor set back in getting our ECD feet re-wetted. The local SCA Sunday rehearsal was to be in a local park. It was cold and windy and only a few brave souls turned out. All was for nought and we have Wednesday evening indoor rehearsals to look forward to.
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Post by Mme de Beaufort on Apr 14, 2008 14:53:54 GMT -5
I'm so sorry to hear that.
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