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Roche, Francis - Collection of Irish Airs, Marches and Dance Tunes, Volume 2, Issue 1, Page 69

Roche, Francis - Collection of Irish Airs, Marches and Dance Tunes, Volume 2, Issue 1, Page 69
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periodical Publisher
Pigott & Co. 1927
periodical Editor
Roche, Francis
periodical Title
Roche, Francis - Collection of Irish Airs, Marches and Dance Tunes
volume Number
2
issue Content
NOTE ON IRISH DANCINGcontinued.Rinnci Fada are simple social dances in which any number of couples may take part. There are about ten ofthese Long or Contre Dances, five of which call for no special reference, or comment, as they are regularly danced atCeilidhthe, and sometimes at other reunions also. Details regarding An Rinnce Mor, and, the Fairy Reel wobid beof little use here, for they are more elaborate than the others, and an adequate knowledge of them can only beacquired where they are taught, or practiced. The Cotillion was formerly well known in the south, but it is now,apparently, quite forgotten; the tune is inserted in this volume not so much in the expectation of its revival as in thehope that a new dance may be supplied to replace it. The Limerick Lasses is a quiet easy dance in quadrille, or reeltime. The dancers stand in two lines opposite their partnersgents with left shoulders to top. First couple joinhands and lead down the middle, and return (8 bars) ; change sides, balence, or set to 2nd lady and gent respectivelyand turn. (8 bars); face partners, set and turn (8 bars); lead down, and return as before; change sides, and dancewith 3rd lady and gent. When the 3rd couple has been danced with, the znd joins in after the 1st and so on untilall are engaged. When the leading couples reach the end, having danced with all in succession, they fall back totheir respective sides, remain in line and keep moving gradually up until reaching their original position. To finish,advance, retire and turn partners. Should a very large number be engaged, and the dance considered too long, itmay be brought to a close whenever desired, or by the dancers falling out as they reach the end until only two couplesremain, who may wind up by dancing some reel steps. Haste to the Wedding is a lively dance in jig time. Thedancers range themselves in two lines as in the Limerick Lasess. First couple step forward to about a pace fromeach other before commencing. Change places, balance twice (heel, toe and grind for gents), and turn partner(8 bars) ; lead down and return (8 bars) ; hands three around with 2nd lady, gallopade by left (4 bars), form an archallowing her to pass through during accented notes, and change hands ( bars); repeat figure with 2nd, gent, andresume starting position (8 bars) ; next time hands round with 3rd couple, after which 2nd couple join in, .nd so onto the end. This dance may be concluded in a similar manner to the previous one, the steps, of course, in this casebeing of the jig variety. Sir Roger, though not of Irish origin, has, like the Fling, been danced here for generations.It is a simple lively dance in 9/8 or slip time, and is uncommon on that account. A description of it may be foundin a Ballroom Guide.Hop Jig tunes lend themselves admirably to contre dances like Sir Roger, as the Double Jig tunes do to theKerry Dance, Haste to the Wedding, etc., while the Single Time has always been a great favourite for some figuresof the old sets.The habit of dancing too fast and accelerating the speed, so prevalent of late years, should be checked anddiscouraged ; it tends to spoil the effect of both dance and tune and is at variance with the traditional style in which thepace was moderate and steady. This undesirable practice is particularly notiseable in the Single Reel, which is usuallydanced nowadays ar ns an sidhe gaoithe.Childrens deportment should be attended to during the course of their training so that they may not dancewith their toes turned in, or with shoulders stooped or contracted.Irish Dancing is cultural, graceful and diversified, it is also manly and athletic,and, as stated oil high authority,it does not make degenerates. The difficulty of step dancing has often been made to serve as an excuse for theapathy and indifference of many towards Irish Dancing altogether, but we have a number of interesting figure andother dances, some so simple that all may take part in them.Pernicious and degrading foreign influences must be combated and suppressed if our dancing and music are tobe restored to their rightful place in the social life of our people.P. de R.- Nodlag, 1927.
issue Number
1
page Number
69
periodical Author
Roche, Francis
issue Publication Date
1982-01-01T00:00:00
allowedRoles
anonymous,guest,friend,member

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