December

Tuesday, December 17, 2024, we danced the last time for 2024 and celebrated the season with themed-dances and music. People brought snacks and we all had great fun. We also had a new dancer show up who has danced before but not recently. Welcome, Jeff!

Dances done:

1. The Dancing Bells 32J3

2. Here Comes Santa Claus 32R3

3. Gifts 32S3 (Set)

4. Happy Christmas 32J3

5. Festival of Lights 32R3

6. Deep and Crisp and Even 32S3 (new Sue dance)

7. The Fruitcake 32J3

8. Snowdrops 32S3 (Set)

9. A Christmas Ceilidh 40R3

Tuesday, December 10, 2024, we started working on dances from the upcoming Midwinter Ball, including some that are also on the Milwaukee December dance and the Madison January dance. We also danced a dance with the basics class which completed their 8-week session this week.

Dances done:

1. Gloria’s Wee Jig 32J2

2. Sugar Candie 32S3

3. The Flowers of Edinburgh 32R3

4. Quarries’ Jig 32J3

5. Barbara’s Strathspey 32S3

6. The Loch Michigan Rant 40R3

7. My Happy Place 32S3 (new Sue dance)

8. The Highland Rambler 40R3

Tuesday, December 10, 2024, Noel Chávez taught the basics class and worked on skip-change and phrasing to the music, moving pas-de-basque as a prelude to learning the quicktime poussette, strathspey setting and the concept of corners. This was the last scheduled class of the Fall. We will have 3 sessions in January to prepare the basics dancers for the Midwinter Ball and are planning to have a second set of basics classes after the Midwinter Ball.

Dances done:

1. Pint o’ Ale Is Fain 32J3

2. Flowers of Edinburgh 32R3

3. The March Hare 32R3 (as a strathspey)

Tuesday, December 3, 2024, we danced dances from the Twin Cities Fàilte Ball, The Milwaukee December dance, and the Madison winter ball, plus a dance for Naughty Cat Day, a dance for St Andrews Day, a new dance from Carrie, and a new dance from Sue. And we danced a combined dance with the new dancer class. We worked on seeing how figures flow from one to the other in a dance.

Dances done:

1. Ecclefechan Feline 32J3

2. The Provost Wynd 32R3

3. Macdonald of the Isles 32S3 (Set)

4. The Royal Deeside Railway 32R3

5. Saint Andrews Fair 32J3

6. Missing Lightfoot 32S3 (new Sue dance)

7. Carrie’s new dance 32J3

8. Mairi’s Wedding 40R3

Tuesday, December 3, 2024, Noel Chávez taught the basics class and worked on the allemande, the strathspey traveling step, and parallel reels of 3 on the sides.

Dances done:

1. The Balleter Reel 32R3 (as a jig)

2. Lady Auckland’s Reel 32S2

3. The Provost Wynd 32R3