Message-ID: <38F34C5F.5EC0@ar.com.au> Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2000 09:01:35 -0700 From: Don Richmond Reply-To: d.richmond@chk.com.au, donr@ar.com.au X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.01 (Win16; I) MIME-Version: 1.0 Newsgroups: rec.folk-dancing Subject: Re: Ideas on Grand March? References: <38F22AE1.41C6@dexter.mnopltd.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit NNTP-Posting-Host: dialup19.ar.com.au X-Trace: 12 Apr 2000 00:34:30 +1000, dialup19.ar.com.au Lines: 59 Path: nntp.stanford.edu!newsfeed.stanford.edu!newsfeed.berkeley.edu!intgwpad.nntp.telstra.net!news1.optus.net.au!optus!newsfeed.zip.com.au!news.syd.ausbone.net!bn.ar.com.au!dialup19.ar.com.au Xref: nntp.stanford.edu rec.folk-dancing:34833 Neal Rhodes wrote: > > We may be lead band for a community dance here at a local church > in May. > > Since it's a community/beginner affair, I'm going to make it real > basic. > I wanted to start off with a Grand March. Of course, my memory of > doing same is spotty. > > I'm thinking in terms of: > Promenade, around once, then up the middle > Split every other couple left and right, up the middle 4 abreast > Split every other couple left and right, up the middle 8 abreast > Leader snakes through each group, pulling them into a big circle > Spiral in and out > AND THEN I DRAW A BLANK.... > > Ideas? We traditionally commence the programme for our Colonial Balls with a Grand March followed by a Quadrille (often a multi-figure one). The march usually concludes with the dancers 8 abreast, after the "platoon" movement (as I have seen it called) with the dancers advancing in line towards the stage as couples, alternating left and right, reforming at the bottom to advance as lines of four (two couples), then separating again, to advance in lines of 8 (four couples). We usually finish there, perform the official welcomes etc, then introduce the musicians prior to commencing the first dance. At our next Ball run by the BUSH MUSIC CLUB here in Sydney (this year called the Heritage Gold Medal Ball - 2000) (27th May at Parramatta, NSW) we have The Heritage Ensemble playing, a collection of about 25 musicians representing quite a few of our bush bands (but I digress). During the Grand March at our balls for the past couple of years, when I have been MC I have introduced a now-popular movement into the Grand March that fits in with a couples promenade prior to the platoon sequence. As the couples promenade around the perimeter of the hall, the leading couple stop and stand apart, the next couple pass through them then stop and stand apart just past the leading couple. Each successive couple does the same until the dancers are standing apart from their partner and there is a long gap between the line of men and the line of ladies. After sufficient delay to allow the trailing couple to be far enough away from the leading couple, the leading couple then join hands again and advance down between the two lines, with each couple in turn joining in behind them. With dancers in costume, it provides a great opportunity for everyone to see each others costume. I have seen a similar movement described as an "arbor" march, where the dancers form arches, but as a previous writer mentions, the arches can create some physical discomfort with repeated bending, not to mention some difficulty in passing under the arches as a couple, particularly if the ladies are wearing crinolines. Good luck with your march! Don Richmond Bush Dance Caller BUSH MUSIC CLUB http://folk.mountaintracks.com.au/bushmusic/