Folk dancing is fun

Subject: RE: Folk dancing is fun
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 14 Nov 06 - 03:01 AM

Captain Birdseye - I'm sure you've seen Leadfingers play... you can't have been around the folk circuit in the last 80 years and NOT come across Terry Silver.....

LTS

Subject: RE: Folk dancing is fun
From: Lester
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 04:54 PM

The Captain said:
"I'm with Leadfingers, how did you acquire your name [not stealing lead off church roofs]I hope."

He's obviously never heard Leadfingers play :-)

Subject: RE: Folk dancing is fun
From: The Sandman
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 04:25 PM

Im with lead fingers, how did you acquire your name [not stealing lead off church roofs]Ihope.

Subject: RE: Folk dancing is fun
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 08:34 AM

I'm part of a folk dance group who also play and sing. The trouble is, we're too honest. We dance well, and get it right , and enjoy it. We're rather good at that, so don't mind inflicting it upon others.

We know some very good musicians and singers, and know we're generally nowhere near as good, so don't show that off in public as much. We have a few people who can play or sing well enough for public performance, and we do give them solo slots where we can.

We also have occasional evening for our secondary skills ( baking, knitting, malicious gossip, music and song) but not in public. Neither we, nor the public are ready for that...

Subject: RE: Folk dancing is fun
From: Mitch the Bass
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 08:21 AM

I think a much better quotation comes from William Prynne in his "Histriomastix" of 1632 which is a 1006-page diatribe against the theatre, masques, dancing and entertainment generally.

"Dancing is for the most part attended with many amorous smiles, wanton compliments, unchaste kisses, scurrilous songs and sonnets, effeminate music, lust-provoking attire, ridiculous love pranks, all of which savour only of sensuality, of raging fleshly lusts. Therefore it is wholly to be abandoned of all good Christians. Dancing serves no necessary use, no profitable, laudable or pious end at all. It is used only from the inbred pravity, vanity, wantoness, incontinency, pride, profaneness or madness of men's depraved natures. Therefore it must needs be unlawful unto Christians. The way to Heaven is too steep, too narrow for men to dance in and keep revel rout. No way is large or smooth enough for capering roisters, for jumping, skipping, dancing dames but that broad, beaten, pleasant road that leads to Hell. The gate of Heaven is too narrow for whole rounds, whole troupes of dancers to march in together...men never went as yet by multitudes, much less by morrice dancing troopes, to heaven."

Never has there been a better incitement to enjoy dancing. (IMMHO).

Howard Mitchell
http://www.stradivarious.co.uk

Subject: RE: Folk dancing is fun
From: GUEST,fidjit
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 07:28 AM

Liz. Does that mean that you should try incest and folk dancing more than once?

Or not at all?

I've tried folk dancing and I like it.
Haven't tried incest. Don't think I'll bother with that one.

Chas

Subject: RE: Folk dancing is fun
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 06:16 AM

One should try everything once, except incest and folk dancing.

Attributed to Oscar Wilde but really Sir Arnold Bax...

"A sympathetic Scot summed it all up very neatly in the remark, "You should make a point of trying every experience once, excepting incest and folk dancing."
Sir Arnold Bax, Farewell my Youth (1943)"

LTS

Subject: RE: Folk dancing is fun
From: Hovering Bob
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 06:13 AM

My main activity has always ben on the folk song side but thanks to relationships with dancers I was introduced to an appreciation of folk dance and there is no denying the camaraderie that dance sides enjoy.

To be part of a dance side you have to part of a team, working with the other members of the team to achieve the required result.

You can participate in folk song as an individual, if you are lucky as a member of the group or even a choir but there isn't the driving need to work together that is demanded of dance group memebers.

I've been fortunate to be a member of a 'good' dance side and of several 'good' folk clubs and have life long friendships in both sectors. If you put in the effort there is fun to be found in both areas.

All the best,

BobH

Subject: RE: Folk dancing is fun
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 13 Nov 06 - 05:43 AM

I believe that for many years the 'English Folk Dance and Song Society' was really the 'English Folk Dance and Dance Society' and many opportunities to collect and record were missed. This rather prejudices me against dance - and it doesn't help that I've got two left feet, either!

Subject: RE: Folk dancing is fun
From: Mo the caller
Date: 12 Nov 06 - 03:05 PM

Song (shanty sessions and the like) provides a useful break from dancing at festivals like Chippenham when the mind is reeling and the dance hall too stuffy. And I've seen lots of the same people at the dances at Bromyard on Saturday, and the concerts on Sunday. I doubt if many think it a waste of time, just that our spare time is already full.
Dance has led us into the music session scene. They complement each other,trying to play the tunes we dance to is good,and when you recognise something the band is playing it adds to our enjoyment of dance.

Subject: RE: Folk dancing is fun
From: Leadfingers
Date: 12 Nov 06 - 12:14 PM

Mo - There are a small number of dancers who recognise the existence of Song , but sadly there a lot more who think Song is a waste of time . Wether this has any element of 'sour grapes' because The Folk Song Society was formed before the Folk Dance Society I am not going to speculate .

Subject: RE: Folk dancing is fun
From: Mo the caller
Date: 12 Nov 06 - 10:48 AM

Our dance club doesn't exactly organise a concert, but we do have a Christmas party, where everyone is encouraged to do their party piece (however badly, and however many times we've heard it before)

Subject: RE: Folk dancing is fun
From: The Vulgar Boatman
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 03:21 PM

Quite so, but has anybody else had the experience of volunteering to play for a dance club, to provide a break from recorded music, only to find that they're really not there to enjoy themselves but to get it right...?

Subject: RE: Folk dancing is fun
From: GUEST,Happy feet
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 10:21 AM

Not dancing is a waste of good music.

Subject: RE: Folk dancing is fun
From: Leadfingers
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 10:18 AM

I have known a lot of Song Clubs that have organised dances . but VERY rarely does a Dance Club organise a Concert !

Subject: RE: Folk dancing is fun
From: Snuffy
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 10:03 AM

Singers and dancers can get on with no problems. But the musicians keep forgetting that they are only there to serve the other two groups. :-)

Subject: RE: Folk dancing is fun
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 09:54 AM

Leadfingers, I'm sure like me you have been to ceilidhs (mixed singing and dancing), where the singers are just as won't-dance as the dancers can be won't-sing.

Subject: RE: Folk dancing is fun
From: Duke
Date: 11 Nov 06 - 07:36 AM

I have a friend in BC who, although we came up through the folk music scene in the 60's.loves his Folk Dancing. He is a Finn and also sings the songs of his country of origin. I don't think he would want to give up any of the three.

Subject: RE: Folk dancing is fun
From: Fidjit
Date: 10 Nov 06 - 05:17 PM

Yes dancing is fun. I'm off on a 500km round trip drive tomorrow (Sat) for some English dancing on Monday evening. I'll enjoy every minute of it. Rest of the weekend will be spent playing and singing with the gang. I'll enjoy that too.
Sore feet. Sore fingers. Sore throat.
All in all a fun weekend.

Next Sunday it's back to playing for the Swedish dance group.

I'll enjoy that too.

Chas

Subject: RE: Folk dancing is fun
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 10 Nov 06 - 08:34 AM

Why else would anybody do it?

For the big bucks?

Subject: RE: Folk dancing is fun
From: Paul Burke
Date: 10 Nov 06 - 07:33 AM

Dancing is a waste of good playing time. Playing is a waste of good singing time. Singing is a waste of good drinking time.

What a waste, what a waste- but I don't mind!

Subject: RE: Folk dancing is fun
From: Leadfingers
Date: 10 Nov 06 - 06:59 AM

Mo - In my experience , ALL singers are aware that Folk Dancing is fun - The problem always seems to be convincing the Dancers that Folk Song is worth giving some consideration to !
BorFolk's DEAFASS was too close to the truth !!

Subject: RE: Folk dancing is fun
From: Mo the caller
Date: 10 Nov 06 - 06:47 AM

sorry, I clicked the wrong button
Why not go and tell them what fun it all is, tell them about Mudcat too.

Subject: Folk dancing is fun
From: Mo the caller
Date: 10 Nov 06 - 06:45 AM

I've just put an article on another forum.