Dancin' AND Playin'

Subject: Dancin' AND Playin'
From: GUEST,Knicke
Date: 30 Mar 00 - 08:08 PM

Hi, y'all. I just was thinking about the FEW (and well-coordinated) performers I know that have the guts to dance and play at the same time...two notable examples are John Hartford and Ashley MacIsaac. How do they DO that? Does anyone know? Does anyone here do that, and if so, can you PLEASE teach me?!! (it seems so cool!!!)

Subject: RE: Dancin' AND Playin'
From: rangeroger
Date: 30 Mar 00 - 10:15 PM

You should also see Natalie MacMaster live sometime. I don't know how she manages to get her legs moving like they do while she fiddles. Stunning to watch.
By the way, she's going to be at the Spring Strawberry Music Festival.I hope she wears white leather again.
rr

Subject: RE: Dancin' AND Playin'
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 31 Mar 00 - 05:09 AM

... and see my footnote re: the late Jesse Fuller on the Footdeller thread.
RtS

Subject: RE: Dancin' AND Playin'
From: Hyperabid
Date: 31 Mar 00 - 05:45 AM

Knicke

Having not one jot of latin or afro-carribean blood flowing through my veins I am a member of that unique breed that knows only one real stage dance...

That slight nervous jiggle that makes your body move around somewhat like shaking a small sack of potatoes with limited enthusiasm.

However, things sometimes do happen. I remember a gig back in the mid-nineties - a farewell show for our then lead guitarist off over the pond to visit the US to work. Everybody got into what we were doing - we dropped into a high crunch version of "Honky Tonk Woman".

The crowd got into this bigtime and began to sing along - small hall - 3-400 people. We got into it too - three part harmony - plenty of noise. Then - sh*t! I was singing - dancing - playing all in time and stone-cold sober - so it wasn't just the beer talking.

The crowd eventually got so loud that the sound limiter in the hall switched our PA out as we were playing it out - we just carried on regardless accapella - so did the crowd.

Don't know what the point is really except that sometimes it just all comes together - and that moment - it's burned into you for good.

So keep trying to dance while you play.

Hyp

Subject: RE: Dancin' AND Playin'
From: harpgirl
Date: 31 Mar 00 - 08:29 AM

John Hartford has said he learned to dance while playing, from old Homer Dillard. I saw them together in the Salem forest in Missouri a long time ago, dancing and fiddling together in a gazebo, under the moonlight. Unforgettable experience! John uses mics under a quarter inch plywoood floor, I think to get that sound.

Subject: RE: Dancin' AND Playin'
From: Jacob B
Date: 31 Mar 00 - 11:36 AM

This may be useless advice, but I'll try.

First of all, dance.

Dance whenever you've got the opportunity. Make the opportunity. Dance while listening to the music that's played on the telephone while you're on hold. Dance while waiting for the bus. Dance until it comes so naturally that you're tempted to pick up your instrument and play along while you're dancing.

Then do it.

By the way, John Hartford does just two different steps, so don't worry about getting fancy. If you dance because it's fun, and love it when people dance and play at the same time, then you'll learn how to do it to, within a few years. If you love it, it will come.

Subject: RE: Dancin' AND Playin'
From: Jon W.
Date: 31 Mar 00 - 11:53 AM

Okay, now how about the old dancing masters England and Scotland who would play the tune (on a "pocket" fiddle), dance the part, and teach all the other dancers the steps all at the same time in the English and Scottish country dancing traditions.

Subject: RE: Dancin' AND Playin'
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 31 Mar 00 - 01:32 PM

John Hartford, I'll admit, I don't know from Adam and Ashley "The Pedophile" MacIsac dances as well as he playes, which is to say not at all...

I'll also admit, that so called "Irish Dancing" bores me to tears... real people don't dance like Riverdance... all straigh arms and backs... please... when people realld dance in celebration, there's very little controll at all...

Ian Anderson, in his day was THE active performer... And some would say he still is, even if the jumps aren't quite as high... He's pretty spry fer an old guy! LOL!!

But don't tell him I said that, he'll kick my butt! Or he'll get Martin Barre to do it!! LOL!!!!!!

Holy rant Batman! Maybe I should go back to smoking...

{~`

Subject: RE: Dancin' AND Playin'
From: BlueJay
Date: 31 Mar 00 - 02:52 PM

Clinton: ...especially for a guy blowin a FLUTE. Myself,I can't even dance when I'm NOT playing an instrument...

Subject: RE: Dancin' AND Playin'
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 31 Mar 00 - 03:50 PM

Ya no kiddin' eh Bluejay...

I get winded climbling the curb! LOL!!

And I dance like the villagers are chasing me with torches

{~`

Subject: RE: Dancin' AND Playin'
From: Caitrin
Date: 31 Mar 00 - 04:00 PM

Jacob's advice is the greatest there is for learning to dance while doing other things. Just dance. Hop, prance, spin, twirl, boogie...whatever comes to you at the moment. Don't worry about looking silly. Have fun. Soon, before you know it, you'll be dancing all the time. : )

Subject: RE: Dancin' AND Playin'
From: Marion
Date: 26 Apr 00 - 11:13 AM

Jacob... "If you love it, it will come..." Thanks for saying that!

I'm working on my stepdancing-while-fiddling abilities now, so I'll offer my suggestions. I haven't arrived yet, so I can't guarantee their effectiveness, but I have definitely made some progress in the last couple of weeks that I have been seriously working at this.

1. When practicing this, arrange for some privacy, both auditory and visual. You need the psychological freedom to make a complete fool of yourself for a while.

2. There are two main difficulties to overcome: the mental coordination of simultaneously doing dance steps and playing and instrument, and the physical problem of playing a moving instrument.

So I suggest that you separate these skills in the beginning:

Learn to play a moving instrument by playing while simply jogging in place, or bouncing up and down, or prancing randomly around the room instead of trying to do choreographed steps.

You can work on your coordination without the moving instrument problem by sitting down to play and doing some simple footwork - experiment to find a chair height that works well for this.

3. Make it as easy as possible for yourself when learning! Pick tunes that are easy to you, and play them slowly. Get used to reels before moving on to jigs, or vice versa if you prefer. Before doing "the real thing" steps that dancers would use without instruments, choreograph some very simple steps for yourself. At first do the same step all through the tune, then try changing from one simple pattern to another every eight bars.

4. When waiting for a bus or a bathroom, practice the simple steps you've choreographed for yourself while humming one of the tunes you're practicing on, just to cement in your head how the steps correspond to the tune.

5. Wear shoes that are fairly loud. Besides making the practice more fun, it's helpful to be able to hear your feet's rhythm clearly through the tune.

I hope this is helpful - good luck to you and to me.

Marion

Subject: RE: Dancin' AND Playin'
From: Amos
Date: 26 Apr 00 - 12:24 PM

Y'know I often wonder about this notion of being the complete fool (making one of yourself by doing something exuberant, happy, extroverted, funny, affectionate). The direct implication here is that the "unfoolish" way to be is neutral, bland, unfeeling, indifferent, moderate in the extreme, un-inspired, quiet -- kind of like untoasted Wonder Bread, doughy and flat and tasteless but quite "safe" and "unfoolish", if insidiously oppressive.

Funny thing is, no one particularly believes this version of "wisdom", but many, many people seem to grow up in terror of violating it, of "looking foolish".

Where do we learn these weird, lifeless lessons? Why do we learn them so well? Where's the value in learning to imitate Wonder Bread?

Subject: RE: Dancin' AND Playin'
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 26 Apr 00 - 12:35 PM

Peer pressure, I think, Amos. I am always amazed by the spontaneity that children under school age express. It seems that school, and its social regimen, is what forces the quiet conformity and sullen expression of joy that comes to typify adult behavior.

Subject: RE: Dancin' AND Playin'
From: Mbo
Date: 26 Apr 00 - 12:41 PM

I think maybe I should try this.

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Dancin' AND Playin'
From: SINSULL
Date: 26 Apr 00 - 12:43 PM

I remember John Hartford announcing on the Glen Campbell Show (early 70s; god am I old) that he was going to play and dance in some traditional performance. We all cringed then immediately fell in love. You really need to try this, guys.

Subject: RE: Dancin' AND Playin'
From: keltcgrasshoppper
Date: 26 Apr 00 - 05:49 PM

You haven't ssen anything till you catch CELTIC TIDE a new band from PEI, Canada.. They are the most talented young musicians you will ever see.. At the end of sets all of them step down off stage with instruments and beark into steps while playing... They are just amazing.. They are going to be at the Stan Rogers Festival this summer. One of thier young cousins Tim Chaisson at the ripe old age of 13 dances while playing better that Richard Wood , Natalie or AShley combined...

Subject: RE: Dancin' AND Playin'
From: Little Neophyte
Date: 26 Apr 00 - 10:51 PM

Amos & Lonesome, I think people can break the Wonderbread spell. It is not that easy but it is possible.
Best way to do this is to start socializing with people under the age of 5 years old.
And when you find the opportunity to dance or be silly, start mastering the art of not thinking.
Thinking can be detrimental to those breaking loose of the lifeless Wonderbread conformity.

Little Neo

Subject: RE: Dancin' AND Playin'
From: alison
Date: 27 Apr 00 - 03:12 AM

I'd love to... but it'll have to wait until I get a head set mic....... you tend to have to be glued to a mic stand playing the whistle/ flute.... although the girl from the Corrs manages to wiggle up and down the mic stand.

the bodhran and accordion allow me to move a bit though.....

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Dancin' AND Playin'
From: GUEST,Sam Pirt
Date: 27 Apr 00 - 05:25 AM

I play piano accordion and I am into French Canadian music BIG TIME and what seems to be traditional is the foot percussion (sitting down) while they are playing.(The Fiddler with La Bottine does it) Well I liked it so much I learn't how to do it and now I play while dancing. The way I found I could do it was to slow every thing down so you can trace each step to a note then you keep repeating that until it becomes flowing and natural. Now I can do the percussion on any tune and when I do do it it really takes the tune in to a completely different place than if I only played the tune, after all music is for dancing to!

Cheers, Sam

Subject: RE: Dancin' AND Playin'
From: Pete_Standing
Date: 26 Nov 04 - 05:51 AM

I've been told that Nancy Kerr can play fiddle, sing and step dance simultaneously. What a gal! I'll check the veracity of this at Fiddles at Witney.

BTW, I'd like to have at bash at step dancing, are there any mentors in the Oxford area?

Subject: RE: Dancin' AND Playin'
From: jonm
Date: 26 Nov 04 - 08:33 AM

I was playing for a morris processional at Lytham festival many years ago. We had seven men plus me, and the steward showed me where the procession finished. I thought if I could see the end point, it was a short enough procession to dance and play (I was calling figures etc. anyway).

So we set off towards the end point, and turned sharp left!

Three miles of processing (various, starting and ending with Winster, some Fieldtown etc. in the middle, but without stopping) while wearing and playing a piano accordion!!

Subject: RE: Dancin' AND Playin'
From: gnomad
Date: 26 Nov 04 - 10:35 AM

Then there's Pete Coe, who has been known to play melodeon (2 row?) dance a jig, and sing, all at the same time. No I don't know how he does it, looked seriously exhausting to me, but very good.