Do you like set dancing? contra, English country, folk dancing or whatever you call it? I do, and one particular style, Playford, from the 17th century is very enjoyable to watch. The dancers seem to move in and out like waves in water. It's good to watch and even better to perform - a sort of rythmically "springy" walking.
Some friends joined a group called Regency Rejigged last year and set out to do it properly with period dress. Here is their first public outing in Southport on Sunday 27th.
Clare tells me that authentic dresses were pastel coloured for the young ladies and dark colours for the older (or was it married?) ones.
The second part of their exhibition was on the plaza outside the Arts Centre on Lord Street. Here's half a minute or so dancing "Hyde Park":
Denise is playing the recorder. I'm standing there holding an umbrella over her because of the rain - I wish I could play well enough to join in.Some friends joined a group called Regency Rejigged last year and set out to do it properly with period dress. Here is their first public outing in Southport on Sunday 27th.
Clare tells me that authentic dresses were pastel coloured for the young ladies and dark colours for the older (or was it married?) ones.
The second part of their exhibition was on the plaza outside the Arts Centre on Lord Street. Here's half a minute or so dancing "Hyde Park":
Here's another short piece dancing "Sellenger's Round": this time Denise is playing the accordion - as she does at the Aughton Folk Dance Club that she and Norman run. I'm still umbrella man - that accounts for the shaky one handed camera work. At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it!
One wonderful thing about Playford dancing, or even modern Playford style dances, is the ravishing music. In my limited experience of dancing Playford as a beginner there is a strong risk of drifting off on it and losing one's place! Read about and listen to some recordings with samples at Country Dance Society. One of Sunday's dances was Lady William's Delight
On Friday its off to Lemmings Reprieve I go - for some social English country dancing of my own. Does that make sense? I mean dancing as opposed to watching dancing.
