It's Saturday Night. Let's dance.

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: GUEST,Joe "The Missing Link" Lindquist
Date: 29 May 00 - 09:01 PM

Don't be ashamed of yourself if you can't learn Hambo. Hambo is, from a mechanical point of view, the world's most difficult couples' dance. On a difficulty scale of 1 to 10, with typical ballroom being a 2 or 3, competitive ballroom a 4, Argentine tango a 5, Hambo rates an 8. You are either born with the skills to do it or not. If you need a challenging social dance to prove your prowess, do what I and all other like myself, who were born without the skills for Hambo, do: take up Argentine tango. There is no end to the learning process: you have to learn more material, and at the same time more discipline and control, than for any other social dance form. Yet it is, unquestionably, the most fascinating of all dances. Once you are bitten by the Argentine tango bug, you will never recover. I personally guarantee it!! (Footnote: Salty Dog Rag, at least in its authentic version, rates a 6 or 7 on the difficulty scale!!)

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Mbo
Date: 23 Nov 99 - 09:25 PM

Ooohh...WW & Caitrin, can you do "Rolling Thunder" from Riverdance for us? We're gonna have some fun tonight before I brave the fog & rain & traffic to get home for Thanksgivig tomorrow. I gotta get my truckin' muscle in shape, it'll come in handy when I'm driving tomorrow--when yer car doesn't have cruise control, you gotta shift that truckin' muscle into overdrive! YAAAAAH! "We will not be beaten down like rain..."

--Mbo

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Caitrin
Date: 23 Nov 99 - 09:17 PM

I just loved the sound the shoes made, personally. :) Now I'd be old enough to wear the high-heeled ones,too! I used to think they were the coolest thing on earth.

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: WyoWoman
Date: 23 Nov 99 - 10:45 AM

Keep on truckin', mama
Truckin' my blues away
Keep on truckin' mama
Truckin' til the break of day

(there's more, but I can't remember. someone else will, I betcha...)

Yes, I took tap when I was about six. We had this one song, "Shake Your LIttle Foot, Dinah, Oh" and I remember my parents cracking up when they heard me singing it, "Shake Your LIttle Foot Down a Hole..." I also thought for years it was "Shuffle, ball, chain," instead of "Shuffle, ball, change..."

But hey, this is Cyberland. I can still tap if I darned well please. So let's get those tap shorts on and shake a leg, Caitrin...

ww

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 23 Nov 99 - 01:25 AM

Disclaimer

The above post represents a feeble attempt by Lonesome EJ to legitimize his otherwise totally bullshit "trucking muscle" comments by quoting a traditional blues song which he heard once on his roommate's Hot Tuna album.

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 23 Nov 99 - 01:18 AM

She's the best damn Trucker in this ol' town
But she only does her drivin' from the hips on down
Keep on Truckin' Mama
Truckin' them Blues away

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Mbo
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 08:00 PM

Or as the Three Tenors put it "Singin' In De Ron." This thread just keeps going, doesn't it? Like The Thread of 1000 Dances! Oohh! "Truckin'...Truckin'...What a bizarre ride it's been..."

--Mbo

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Caitrin
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 06:59 PM

This just becomes more and more interesting all the time...trucking muscle? My goodness. Wyo, did you ever take tap? I think I can still remember most of the routine from "Singin' in the Rain." :)

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 12:59 PM

If you'd quit talking and pay attention to the game you'd know

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: WyoWoman
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 12:41 PM

Where did they put the Novacaine and who did the massage? Inquiring minds insist on knowing...

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 12:33 PM

Al: Well, Boomer, it looks as though LEJ is out of the game. The failure to report to training camp on time is evidently playing havoc with the tone and conditionng of his trucking muscle!

Boomer:Well,Al,he's certainly been playing the game long enough to know that it's folly to even attempt the Tahitian Mating Ritual with anything less than a trucking muscle that is in mid-season condition.

Al:Boomer,I can't believe this, but they're calling for a waltz....and LEJ is begging to be put in!

Boomer:This is a big mistake, Al!

Al:Yes,Boomer,as you know all too well it was a ruptured Trucking Muscle that ended your career.

Boomer:Not to mention my marriage...

Al: Unbelievable! After a syringe of Novacaine and a brisk massage...he's going back in!

Boomer: Well, he's no quitter, Al. We've always known that.

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Mbo
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 08:47 AM

Well! As the weeks go by, we're experimenting with more and more dance styles! Ballet now! I can play you the Waltz from Tchaikovsky's Serenade For Strings! Oops, back to the violin for that one! Hmm...also let my warm up on all those great Leo Delibes pieces. Let's see if I can pull off the Czardas...

--Mbo

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Hick Bob
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 08:20 AM

Wul howdee fowks, iz yer ol fren Hik Bob. I saw this thred n thot it wud be fun too dans on the innernet. I kin hodown wit the besta them, speshlee if itz cotnigh jo. I see thers an ol boi lik me rown here namd CLETUS, n he sondz a lot lik I doo. I bin rown for 'mos ate yeer, I had mi own advies colum cald "Ax Hik Bob" an' I salvd lots o' fowks problums. I alser went to wuh, to save my preshis taters on my farm in ol' Misusip from getn stold by the enimee. I wuz so gud they cald me a bonyfeyd gollee wuh-o-conist. When I wun the wuh, fowks wuz so hapi, and sum taters sprowtd n corn gru. Yu fowks gotny tunz 'bout taters n corn? I sho nuff like to heerum!

Yer ol' fren, Hik Bob (Huh,Huh,Huh!)

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: lloyd61
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 01:40 AM

WOW, I never new a Hambo could be so dangerous. I'm always so concerned about my feet I never think about the rest of my body. Maybe I should pay a little more attention to my "trucking muscle" when I dance. After all we need to be concerned about the little things in life.

Good Nite folks.

Lloyd

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: WyoWoman
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 12:57 AM

You might whack it off...

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 12:50 AM

It's the muscle that enables you to stride forward in a purposeful but rather ridiculous manner, your lead foot head-high,your trailing foot planted firmly on terra-firma,your elbows thrust backward in a rather "cock-sure" pose.This is the preliminary movement in Phase 1 of the Tahitian Fertility Ritual, in which the displaying male (or Cahuna) figuratively says to the female (or Wahini)"See!My plumage is long and luxurious!Bring to me a ripe,juicy papaya!"

Would you use it during a Hambo? I think it would be allowable, but be careful not to whack it with your spoon.

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: lloyd61
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 12:36 AM

What is a trucking muscle?

Would I use that muscle during a Hambo?

Lloyd

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: WyoWoman
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 12:33 AM

Your volley proved irresistible.

Cletus, do I have to have the banana with the Blue Ribbon? I generally think Blue Ribbon goes better with the chocolate moon pie... But, I'll bow to your greater culinary wisdom, if that's your recommendation.

WW

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 12:30 AM

ahh..homina-homina-homina...grin! If I serve them up that easy,Wyo, you gotta stop smacking em back so hard!

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: WyoWoman
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 12:21 AM

What, precisely, do you stretch for a fertility ritual, LEJ?

WW

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 12:10 AM

Ouch. I think I pulled my trucking muscle doing the Tahitian Fertility Ritual. Gotta remember to do my stretching exercises first...

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: CLETUS
Date: 21 Nov 99 - 08:49 PM

Ide be plum happy ta take a "pair ta et" with me enny time. Mebbee Caitlin, you an WW cud join me fer a nice 7 course meal down ta Buford's Bean Palace. Ya see ya wuddent hav ta eat no beans ifn ya dint wantem. Me un Buford both kinda like tha gas an Paw iz a mitey fine fart liter an all. But seeunz az ta how yall ar ladies, we cud jez have the "7 Course No-Plate Special"...a Moon Pie and a six pack. Ide be goin fer the choklit pie with Iron City, but chall kin have banana an Blue Ribbon ifn ya want.

CLETUS

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Caitrin
Date: 21 Nov 99 - 08:25 PM

We might even be able to get a pirouette or two. But only one at the time. I never could do double turns. :)

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: WyoWoman
Date: 21 Nov 99 - 03:44 PM

Don't bet on it SpawBob. My turnout is a bit impaired, but I can ply a plie passably pfine.

WW Pansy

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: catspaw49
Date: 21 Nov 99 - 03:23 PM

Caitrin, considering your age and Pansy Rue Bob WW Twidgett's age....YOU may pull of a grand plie' but she's probably not going much past a grand pile.

Spaw

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Caitrin
Date: 20 Nov 99 - 11:58 PM

I'll do the ballet bit with you, Wyo...Even though I haven't taken a ballet class for about 5 years. I think I can still get a decent grand plie' going.

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: WyoWoman
Date: 20 Nov 99 - 10:18 PM

OK, I'm back. Looking for the heart of Saturday night. Just fluff up this little tutu and ...

Wait a minute. I thought we were going to dance... Why am I the only one on pointe? Come on, y'all. Belly up to the barre ....

Pansy Rue Bob WW Twidgett(MB)

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Mbo
Date: 20 Nov 99 - 09:35 PM

Oops! Make that "couldn't change to save my life."

--Mbo

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: catspaw49
Date: 20 Nov 99 - 09:24 PM

You mean you have 4 legs so you can dance on two threads lloyd? Like those horse and mules who may have 5, 6, or 8? Get a life man......

Spaw

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Mbo
Date: 20 Nov 99 - 06:28 PM

Riverdance is it now? Just my speciality! I can play "The Countess Cathleen"! I can play Turkey in The Straw! I can playo Khatchaturian's Sabre Dance...well, sort of. I don't know the Tahitian fertility rite, but I can fake a rhumba! Don't worry about the guitar Caitrin! I was in the same boat when I first started playing when I was fourteen. I hated chords with a passion, especially bar chords, and could change to save my life. But I didn't give up, and always told myself that one day it would be like nothing to play guitar. Well, here I almost six years later, and have fulfilled my goal, and am so glad to have stuck with it! Don't give up! "It'll come, it'll come, it'll come..."

--Mbo

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: lloyd61
Date: 20 Nov 99 - 06:07 PM

This great two dances going on at the same time.

Have to leave for a while but I'll be back and ready to dance.

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: catspaw49
Date: 20 Nov 99 - 01:07 PM

Well lloyd, I see you've extended it to Friday as well! Now that it is Saturday, I'm here waiting. But since you do this virtual dance nightly now, well....I can't help but suggest that you GET A LIFE MAN!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 19 Nov 99 - 09:54 PM

Squats,then leaps nearly 6 feet into the air, lands in full-fledge sashay mode,trucking round the perimeter of the frolicking Mudcateers,does about 4 seconds of Riverdance,3 seconds of Turkey in the Straw,2 seconds of "Famous Sabre dances of the Caucasus",3/4 seconds of an obscure Tahitian Fertility Rite, then shouts outLETS RHUMBA!!!!

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Caitrin
Date: 19 Nov 99 - 09:42 PM

*feels dreadfully inadequate because she only knows about 7 or 8 chords, can't change them very well, and can't bar* Eh, I'll just keep dancing. :)

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Mbo
Date: 19 Nov 99 - 06:25 PM

Ready when you are, Lloyd! I'll follow your bass with my guitar.

--Mbo

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: lloyd61
Date: 19 Nov 99 - 06:05 PM

I'm back on the Bass, with brand new Steel Strings which cost over $60.00.

When we get enouph people I'll call a Virginia Reel.

It's Friday night, Let's dance.

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Mbo
Date: 18 Nov 99 - 08:58 PM

Aaaaaaaaoooooooo! Can't have the Salty Dog wi' out the sound effects! Whoa! I'm playing fiddle and Salty Doggin' at the same time! Look out! Will a double stop do instead of a clap? Me hands are sorta' tied up!

--Mbo

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Caitrin
Date: 18 Nov 99 - 08:49 PM

Right, left, right, kick, turn, two, three, clap...we've got the Euphoria going and it's Still Saturday Night, even though it's almost Another Saturday Night. Keep on dancin'!

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: TheMuse
Date: 18 Nov 99 - 06:34 PM

Holy Salty Dog!! You guys are STILL dancing?? Doesn't anybody have to work anymore? Oh, Ok, I'm in . . . now what do I do with my left foot again? TheMuse

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Mbo
Date: 18 Nov 99 - 05:37 PM

Yee haw! Look, Ma! I'm Salty Dogging! I'm feeling the euphoria, Jacob! BTW anyone know the Silver Sand Rag?

--Mbo

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Jacob Bloom
Date: 18 Nov 99 - 05:30 PM

I've got to be careful about what I say I'll do - when Saturday night extends into Thursday, it can take up a lot of time!

However, since I volunteered - everyone find a partner, and form up in one big circle with your partner while I talk to the band.

(Here's what I have in mind for music. If you know Salty Dog Rag, that's great, but I noticed years ago that the dance would fit well to the Holy Modal Rounders song Euphoria. How about a medley of the two?)

Everyone have a partner? Facing the center of the room, and starting with your right foot, everyone take three steps to your own right, and give a small kick across with your left foot. Now, starting with your left foot, take three steps to your left, and clap your hands.

Now try that again, but this time, on the three steps to the left, we're going to turn once around to our own left. Starting with the right foot going to your own right, it's right, left, right, kick, turn, two, three, clap.

((I'm going to skip the rest of the description of how I would teach it. Sorry. I showed you a couple of parts of the dance in a big circle, then had you face your partner, and I put those parts together with the rest of the dance. You know how to do it now.))

That's the dance. Now, if we can have some music ...

Now way down south, in the state of Arkansas Where your great grandma met your great grandpa They got themselves in drag, and did the Salty Dog Rag to Euphoria

One foot out, drag it back Then you start to Ball the Jack Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag, and your in Euphoria

Euphoria ...

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: lloyd61
Date: 18 Nov 99 - 01:14 AM

Jacob Bloom

Salty Dog Rag? I would love to learn the Salty Dog Rag.

Please teach us.

lloyd61

Besides it's almost Saturday night.

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: WyoWoman
Date: 18 Nov 99 - 12:07 AM

Indeed, Caitrin, that is truly the joy of Cyberland. It can be Saturday night for as long as we say it's Saturday night!

Party on...

ww

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Susan A-R
Date: 17 Nov 99 - 11:34 PM

I can play some fiddle harmony on those waltzes, and can also play a nice schottish (sp as always :>)) or two. Lord Injuquin (more sp? is a nifty one (any of those O Carolan waltzes are pretty nice.) I know a pile of those New England tunes, St. Ann's Reel, Boys of Blue Hill. or some of the Irish goodies like Banish Misfortune, Drowsy Maggie, Coleraine (sp AGAIN) Well, I can play 'em, but I can't spell 'em. Oh, and I have a nice set of wooden catspaws for anyone who has a hankering to play a nice spoon equivelent.

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Mbo
Date: 17 Nov 99 - 10:33 PM

"All together, all as one, all together, relentlessly we're dancing on..." Yes we are dancing relentlessly! John Boy Walton and that 48 hour non-stop dance contest ain't got nothing on us!

--Mbo

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Caitrin
Date: 17 Nov 99 - 09:49 PM

We're just dancing our little feet off...this is most certainly the longest Saturday night ever. (Been going for 5 days now)

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Mbo
Date: 17 Nov 99 - 08:53 PM

If I had the money to go to Swannanoa, I'd go. Then again driving 86 miles every Friday and every Sunday from "Greenvull" to Jacksonville is about as much driving as I can take! When I saw Dougie MacLean and Fiona Ritchie's name on the board, I felt weak in the knees and started the ol' querulous Gollum voice. Dougie--I LOVE YOU, MAN! Hey, speaking of the Doug-ster, lets dance "All Together!" Yes! Jeri, you take the fiddle part, I'll sing! Whee! What fun!

--Mbo

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Caitrin
Date: 17 Nov 99 - 07:42 PM

I've never picked up the Hambo, I'm afraid. We probably ought to go with the reel or "The Salty Dog Rag." :) Mbo...I just finished reading Heart of Darkness for AP English. Yet more proof that cartoons are not really for children. Ever watch Animaniacs? Lots of great movie humor.

Kat, I had a look at the Swannanoa Gathering. It looks awesome! The only problems will be getting the money and convincing my parents that I can drive to the mountains without dying. If I'm further than an hour from my house or more than 10 miutes past curfew, they assume I'm "dead in a ditch somewhere."

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Jacob Bloom
Date: 17 Nov 99 - 02:12 PM

I make no claims to being a good instrumentalist, but I'll play you a danceable version of a Hambo on pennywhistle if we can't find anyone else. You're on your own about finding a partner, though. I can teach the Hambo, but it would take at least fifteen minutes, and I don't think we want to take the time for it at a Saturday night dance.

For those who aren't familiar with the Hambopolska, it is a Scandinavian turning couple dance, with a complicated turning step. The music is in 3/4, but slower and more strongly accented than a waltz.

Now, if you want to do the Salty Dog Rag, I'll be glad to teach that.

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Mbo
Date: 17 Nov 99 - 10:24 AM

What's a Hambo, and how do you play one? BTW I watching "Rugrats" one morning (I'm 20 and still not too old to be a Rugrats fan) Chuckie got bumped around by some Romanians doing the Hora. After getting bounced back and forth, he cried "The Hora! The Hora!" Ha Ha! Great "Heart of Darkness" allusion. More kids should watch this!

--Mbo

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: lloyd61
Date: 17 Nov 99 - 01:45 AM

I would love a Hambo, Do I have a partner and someone to play the music?

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Jeri
Date: 16 Nov 99 - 11:33 PM

Whoops - one more try:
Amelia, MIDI and GIF
and Margaret's Waltz, MIDI and GIF

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Jeri
Date: 16 Nov 99 - 11:26 PM

Bob McQuillen sure has written some beautiful tunes. If anyone's not familiar with the two Kathy mentioned, or you want to learn them so you can play with the band, here are some blue clickies.
Listen to a MIDI of Amelia here, or look at the dots (GIF of sheet music)http://trillian.mit.edu/~jc/cgi/abc/tune?F=GIF&X=3&U=/~jc/music/abc/Scotland/AGW5.abc&N=AGW5.gif>here and Margaret's Waltz, MIDI and GIF

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Nov 99 - 11:15 PM

Great story, Jacob. Didja hear that one on NPR a few years ago. As I remember it, loosely: A guide into the Grand Canyon was talking about memorable trips with *greenhorns* on mules. One guy's mule took off with him, ran down the slope, nobody could catch up with him and not enough room to pass. Finally, when they got to the guy, he was laying there with only one leg attached. They immediately went into shock mode, getting ready to treat him, and could see the mule down the trail a ways with the guy's boot still in the stirrup, leg attached. After they calmed down a bit and noticed the guy wasn't bleeding, he explained that the mule had only run off wiht his artificial leg and he had a spare in his car up top! Talk about an adrenalin rush!

Caitrin, here is a place on the net which lists available Scottish dance teachers in the US. I didn't see nay listed for S. Carolina, but it also has a place where you can leave a message of where you are looking for one and they may be able to find one. I also found a relaly neat site for a place in N. carolina which has a Celtic Week coming up in July. I will start a thread about it, so look for Swannanoa Gathering and check it out, gyrlfriend!

Sounds good, Mbo!

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Mbo
Date: 16 Nov 99 - 10:35 PM

Well folks, I can't dance any more than I can fly like a bat! I think I'll stay in the instrumental accompaniament section. Hmm...never heard Seven Nations' version Caitrin, but I love Jerry O'Sullivan's solo Uillean pipe rendition. It rocks all by it's lonesome! Let me get out my fiddle, it's easier to play Colonel Fraser on that than a guitar! If'n you REELY want to dance fast, I'll play my own "Pasture Storm." Now all we need is a really good bass player...

--Mbo

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Caitrin
Date: 16 Nov 99 - 08:07 PM

I'm a passable waltzer...swing is what I'm best at, but I can also shag, mambo, samba, cha-cha, and square dance a little bit. I want to learn some traditional Scots dancing, but I haven't found a place around here that teaches it.

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: KathWestra
Date: 16 Nov 99 - 06:31 PM

Next time we're dancin', I'll bring my cello and join Jeri on Southwind, and hope that some of Bob McQuillen's wonderful waltzes (Amelia, and maybe Margaret's Waltz) come up. Heck, why don't we just have a waltz evening sometime? Practice up guys! As Alice pointed out in another thread (What Kind of Dancing Do You Do), a guy who really knows how to waltz is a "Babe Magnet." Amen to that! Kath

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Caitrin
Date: 16 Nov 99 - 05:40 PM

I love Colonel Fraser! Ever heard the Seven Nations version of it? Very cool. *takes a swig of water and a deep breath and prepares to dance VERY fast*

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Mbo
Date: 16 Nov 99 - 05:32 PM

Here's a reel for you: "Colonel Fraser." Get ready to dance really fast. OK boys, 1 and a 2 and a 3...

--Mbo

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Jacob Bloom
Date: 16 Nov 99 - 04:55 PM

All right, I'll tell you about the mules, but first let's get the set formed up for the next dance. Find yourself a partner, and line up in a line of couples, starting right here in front of the band.

I spent a week on horseback in the High Sierras in 1982, riding from Mammoth to Rock Creek. After we came through Silver Pass, some of the other people on the trip asked me if I'd been scared while coming down the path. I told them no, I hadn't known there was anything to be scared about. I just let my horse worry about the trail, while I took pictures of the valley below, which looked like it was big enough to drop the entire state of Massachusetts into.

Well, it turned out there was some reason to be nervous about the trail. One of the mules that carried our gear lost its footing on the trail, and since the mules were roped together, the entire mule string fell down three switchbacks. The wranglers had to unfasten the gear, get the mules back on their feet, then get the gear back on them. Usually the mule strings passed us around lunch time, and the wranglers had the next camp set up before we got to it, but not that day.

And while we were waiting in the rain for the mules to arrive, I called a square for the other riders, to the music of a harmonica that someone had with him. The other riders referred to it later as "The Waiting For The Mules Mud Stomp."

It looks like you're all ready to dance. This is a dance I wrote based on a French-Canadian dance called "The Long Potato." I call it "Jacob's Potato."

Face your partner, and give hands to the people on either side of you, so that you've got long lines at the side of the set. At the ends of the set, give your free hand to your partner, so that the whole set is joined up in one big oval.

In that big oval circle left, following your left hand around.

Now circle back to the right, until you're across from your partner again.

All go forward to your partner, and then back away.

Everyone dosido with your partner - pass your partner by the right shoulder, slide back to back, and back up to your own line.

Now, just the top couple, the couple nearest the music, give both hands to your partner, and the top couple slide down the center of the set for about eight slides.

Slide back up to the top of the set.

Now the top couple is going to slide down the outside of the set to bottom of the set and stay there, while everyone else swing your partner!

End the swing back in your own line, and join hands at the sides of the set. The new end couples give your free hand to your partner to form up the big oval, but don't go anywhere yet. Wait for the music.

Now, if the band will play us a reel ...

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Nov 99 - 10:49 AM

Whew! Lloyd, that was wonderful! Sure would like to try that one in personw ith ya'll.

Hey! Jacob, c'mon in. I am sure Lloyd's voice could use a rest. Do some callin' for us and tell us about that mule train!

I am gonna sit down for a few minutesa nd cool off!

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: lloyd61
Date: 16 Nov 99 - 09:18 AM

OK, OK, take a break, after all we have been dancing since Saturday Night.

Some time I will post a few more "Party Game, Dances", if anyone is intetested.

See you at the next dance.

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Mbo
Date: 15 Nov 99 - 11:01 PM

Take it easy! "Lugs" are Scots dialect for ears, and tapping a jug is the same thing as tapping a keg (or the Rockies!)

--Mbo

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 15 Nov 99 - 10:50 PM

Sorry, is it time for a beer break yet? My legs are doing funny things and my poor asthmatic chest is confused.... it thinks it's Wednesday - oh and what's all this "move ye lugs and tap yer jugs? No-one is tapping MY jugs thank you very much...... not without being introduced first!

LTS, wheezing and gasping for a beer.....

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Caitrin
Date: 15 Nov 99 - 09:59 PM

Sounds like fun, lloyd!

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: lloyd61
Date: 15 Nov 99 - 09:31 PM

OLD JOE CLARK

Let me teach you this old Party Dance.

Old Joe Clerk was a Party Dance called a "Game Dance". During the mid 1800's many young people were not allow to dance so they invented Party Games to familiar tunes, like Old Joe Clerk.

This is a circle dance, so lets all get into a big circle with the Lady on the right side of the Gents. If we are short of Guys a few of the Lady's will have to play the part of a Guy. Now we need one Guy to be in the center, he is Old Joe Clerk.

As with most Old Time Dance Music the A and B parts both have 32 beats. To start the dance each couple should face each other. Put up your right hand palm to palm.

Let me walk you thru the dance first:

PART A Walk around your partner, right palm to right palm. You have 8 beats to walk all the way around. Now back by the left, 8 more beats. Doe-Se-Doe your partner, right shoulder to right shoulder, 8 beats Swing your partner for 8 beats. (During the full 32 beats Old Joe Clerk is in the center missing out on the dance.)

PART B Stop swinging and walk past your partner, right shoulder to right shoulder, men on the inside, lady's on the outside. Lady' walk clockwise and men counter clockwise. Walk for 32 beats. As you past each other, it would be proper to do a little flirting, but only a little. At this time Old Joe Clerk gets into the line with the men.

As the music finishes the Part B put up your right hand with your palm out, the next person coming toward you is your new partner. now start the A part over again. One man will be left without a partner, he is the new Old Joe Clerk.

OK, Lets dance. Do we have a band to play Old Joe Clerk? Not to fast please. Give us 4 Introduction Beats..

1,2,3,4 Right Hand Around………………….. Back by the left……………………… Doe-Se-Doe your partner…………… Swing your partner…………………..

Pass you partner on the right and march around the circle……….. Meet your new partner, Right Hand Around..

You are now on your own, the band will pay on and on. Enjoy the dance and the music!

Have fun!

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Mbo
Date: 15 Nov 99 - 08:56 PM

Here's everybody's favorite Highland caller, Buidhe Theamhdaigh!

Swing ye pairtner do sae do, man

Dinna get tae close tae the coals, man

Move ye lugs and tap ye jugs, man

The moves are ne'er sae unco pawky, man

Sae lift ye boots and we're a' awa', man

Doin the Mudcat bothy dance is braw, man!

Yeeeee!

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Caitrin
Date: 15 Nov 99 - 06:31 PM

Wheeee... This takes some serious energy! (Even by posts.)

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Jacob Bloom
Date: 15 Nov 99 - 05:54 PM

You wanted a caller? I've never called a dance by E-mail, but I have called while accompanying myself on pennywhistle, and I've called at a campsite in the High Sierras to a harmonica, while waiting for the mule string to arrive with our gear.

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: WyoWoman
Date: 15 Nov 99 - 04:31 PM

Hey, here in Cyberland, it's always Saturday night! Come on in...

ww

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Easy Rider
Date: 15 Nov 99 - 03:13 PM

Oooh! Did I miss the dance?

Let's do it again, next Saturday. I'll bring my guitar and play rhythm.

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Bert
Date: 15 Nov 99 - 02:57 PM

And for those of you who remember the four handed do si do


around that couple go take a peek
back to the middle and you shake your feet
Around that couple gonna peek once more
back right out and you circle four
circle four and around you go
break it all up with a do si do
do si high and you do si low
if you're doin' this figure it's more'n I know
'cos I never could figure out a do si do.

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 15 Nov 99 - 02:25 PM

Now alleman left your Lady Fair
Swing that Corner over there
Now star through
And pass through
Turn to the right and do-si-do
Bow to your Partner

or something like that. It's been a long time!

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Roger the skiffler
Date: 15 Nov 99 - 11:35 AM

I'd've been with you but the other inmates of the Neil Young Center are still tuning my kazoo in the waste disposal unit and they've hidden my blue suede shoes (both left feet).

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: lloyd61
Date: 14 Nov 99 - 10:39 PM

Sunday evening and we are still dancing, Does anyone know the "calls" to Old Joe Clark? It's been a long time but if needed I could teach it to you.

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: WyoWoman
Date: 14 Nov 99 - 10:28 PM

As usual, it's more women than men. We'll have to tie scarves ("gender-designation strips") around our arms and just party through it...

WW

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Mbo
Date: 14 Nov 99 - 10:10 PM

I got my guitar! Can anyone think up some dance moves for "Music For A Found Harmonium"?

--Mbo (strum,strum)

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Caitrin
Date: 14 Nov 99 - 09:19 PM

Hey, we could keep dancing anyway! :)

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 14 Nov 99 - 07:40 PM

Well, it's Sunday and it looks like I missed the dang dance. Hope y'all had a good time anyway!

LEJ(day late/dollar short)

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: doodlezak
Date: 14 Nov 99 - 02:24 PM

i'ld waltz across texas with you.

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Caitrin
Date: 14 Nov 99 - 01:05 PM

Yeeha! (getting only slightly dizzy)

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 14 Nov 99 - 10:19 AM

Grab your partner nice and quick, swing her round until she's sick!

Check the guy in front's behind, squeeze it slow now, he won't mind!!

See him swinging from the chandelier, happy with a hamster in his ear! Got you in the mood??

(Posted on a Sunday afternoon, in grey and grimy London, ah, I can almost smell the barnyard.....)

LTS

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: TheMuse
Date: 14 Nov 99 - 12:18 AM

Well, LLoyd, I'll "cut a rug" with you, too. You are going to be busy keeping us dancing. Isn't there anyone else out there in the mood tonite?!

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: lloyd61
Date: 14 Nov 99 - 12:10 AM

Kat you have the next waltz. You got in while I was typing. (I type very slow)

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: lloyd61
Date: 14 Nov 99 - 12:07 AM

You two have made my evening.

Thanks.

My children say "Dad dances through life", and I keep telling them "We have got to keep dancing". Some times thats easy to say, but hard to do.

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Nov 99 - 12:03 AM

Add the Missouri and the Tennessee and I'll join in with you, Jeri. But, Lloyd, ya got save a dance for me, at least one waltz and a square or two!

Swing your partner, dosee-do
Allemand left, don't step on her toes!

YeeHaw!

kat

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Caitrin
Date: 13 Nov 99 - 11:29 PM

Sounds lovely, Jeri!

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Jeri
Date: 13 Nov 99 - 11:28 PM

I have my fiddle right here. I don't play too much old-timey music, but if I can't figure out the tune, I'll just join you on the dance floor.

Might I suggest for waltzes, Southwind or Midnight on the Water?

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: lloyd61
Date: 13 Nov 99 - 11:20 PM

All we need now is the music!

Subject: RE: It's Saturday Night......Lets dance
From: Caitrin
Date: 13 Nov 99 - 11:18 PM

I'll be more than happy to dance with you, Lloyd! I know the basics of square dancing, and I'm a fairly proficient waltzer. I'm afraid that's all the barn dancing I'm capable of, though.

Subject: It's Saturday Night..Lets dance
From: lloyd61
Date: 13 Nov 99 - 10:34 PM

Saturday Night, lets dance

I'm home, board and alone. I desire tonight, an old time barn dance. A few circle dances , a contra , and maybe a square or two. During the break the band could play a waltz. In my younger days I could play my String Bass all night, but Corporal tunnel has take it's toll. I can still dance and I'm ready.

What instrument are you willing to play in our all Volunteer Cyber Band?

What Waltz will you honor us with?

We need a caller, so who will come forward? (I have done some calling if needed.)

Who will be my first partner.

Lets Dance!