english (dartmoor) step dance

Subject: english (dartmoor) step dance
From: GUEST,adeleh
Date: 05 Apr 10 - 06:18 PM

I am very interested in learning English step dance - specifically Dartmoor step dance, but (living in Dublin + children!) am not able to go to lessons or anything at the moment.

Could anyone reccommend a CD/DVD to begin with? I can see that once you know some steps and the notation, you can find dancers' notations (I was looking on the EFDSS website) but I don't know how to start...

Thank you!

Adeleh

Subject: RE: english (dartmoor) step dance
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 05 Apr 10 - 06:31 PM

Not sure there is a printed notation, but have a look on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDGLF1kMoW4
and also see if the Dartmoor Folk festival people can help - they run a step dance competition.
good luck!
Derek Schofield

Subject: RE: english (dartmoor) step dance
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 05 Apr 10 - 06:33 PM

If only you and family could get to South Zeal in August you would really enjoy the Dartmoor festival The children could learn to step dance too!

Kitty

Subject: RE: english (dartmoor) step dance
From: Adeleh
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 05:06 AM

Thank you Derek - that was the youtube clip I found last night, when investigating kinds of step dance. It's great! And thank you both about the Dartmoor festival. I'm not sure the children could quite manage (one not walking yet!) but maybe next year... I will ask and see.

Subject: RE: english (dartmoor) step dance
From: Bloke from Poole
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 07:22 AM

There was a CD or DVD available at last year's Dartmoor FF with some info and notes. I can't remember who produced it.

I would suggest an email to [e-mail], addressed to Mark Bazeley.

Mark and Jason Rice are both members of the Dartmoor Pixie Band and extremely knowledgeable and able step clog dancers. You would be hard pressed to find a better source for Dartmoor clog.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: english (dartmoor) step dance
From: GUEST,dave of mawkin
Date: 06 Apr 10 - 07:29 AM

YAY for Step dance! Check out http://www.eatmt.org.uk/stepdancing.htm Katie Howson should be able to point you in the right direction.. My dad started the Steve Monk Memorial Competition back in the days of Moreton Midsummer Festival and (thankfully) Katie Howson picked up the torch and carried it on..

As for learning step dances, i'm inclined to say you dont really learn a dance, just watch the old boys (and some of the new boys) and just make it up as you go along.. theres a few set moves but then once you got a handle on that just go for it..

Dave Delarre

Subject: RE: english (dartmoor) step dance
From: Adeleh
Date: 07 Apr 10 - 10:43 AM

Thank you all very much! Malcolm, I'm specially grateful for the e-mail address and names. Dave, likewise, and it's the set moves that are bothering me at this stage...

There's enough leads there that I'm sure someone will be able to help. I'm most grateful!

Subject: RE: english (dartmoor) step dance
From: GUEST,PeterC
Date: 08 Apr 10 - 05:40 AM

Maybe get the hang of the more freeform East Anglian style first then move on to the more structured Dartmoor competition style.

Subject: RE: english (dartmoor) step dance
From: Tradsinger
Date: 08 Apr 10 - 07:37 AM

The Devon gyspy style is a bit more freeform than the Bob Cann/Les Rice style. Have a look at Tommy Orchard stepping, here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDGLF1kMoW4. He has learnt from his family traveller tradition. If you go to the Dartmoor Folk Festival, you will be able to see both styles. Enjoy.

Tradsinger