February

Tuesday, February 25, 2025, Mady Newfield taught the new dancer section. They covered QT traveling and setting, including turning while setting. They worked on the geography of the QT poussette and practiced down-the-middle and back into poussette. They also learned the mantra “out from the center, quarter turn, up or down, quarter turn, into the center, half way round, fall back, fall back” for the poussette geography and timing. The combined class did dances with the QT poussette and reviewed turn corners from 2 weeks ago. The regular class did several dances from the Madison Ball program and reviewed corners pass and turn, grand chain, set and rotate for 3 couples, and diagonal rights and lefts.

Dances done:

1. The Geestland Jig 32J3

2. The Flowers of Edinburgh 32R3

3. Blue Bonnets 32J2

4. The Blethering Ghillie 32S3

5. Black Mountain Reel 32R5 (Set)

6. The Marquis of Lorne 32S3

7. A Year of Weird 32J3 (new Sue dance)

8. Dr Windley’s Stilton Strathspey 32S3

9. The Royal Deeside Railway 32R3

Tuesday, February 18, 2025, Mady Newfield and Noel Chávez taught both sections of class. In the first half hour they covered skip-change then moved into pas-de-basque, adding in moving while setting and moving and turning while setting, working up to learning double triangles. The regular class did several dances from the Madison Ball and reviewed ladies’ chain from last week then worked through double triangles and interacting with corners, Schiehallion reels, men’s chain, set to and turn corners, corners pass and turn, and hello-goodbye setting.

Dances done:

1. A Swig of Jig 32J3

2. Beeswing 32R3

3. Lady Dumfries 32R3

4. The Bon Viveur 32M4 (Square)

5. The Braes of Tulliemet 32S3

6. Change Your Shoes Faster 32J3

7. General Stuart’s Reel 32R3

Tuesday, February 11, 2025, we started a combined class. The new dancers start at 7:00 p.m. for learning a new figure and reviewing some footwork or other technique, then they dance with the regular class for about 45 minutes, reviewing the figure they learned. This week started with the new dancers reviewing ladies’ chain and corners and turning corners RH and BH. The combined class did dances with ladies’ chain and several dances from the Madison Ball.

Dances done (early class – Noel Chávez):

1. Kendall’s Hornpipe (variant) 32J3

2. Granville Market 32S2

Dances done (combined class):

1. Beach Dancer 32J3

2. Delvine Side 32S3

3. Dancing in the Streets 32S2

4. Sunday Shenanigans 32R/J3 (Carrie’s dance – write up to follow)

5. Bob Campbell 32S3

6. A Perfect Silhouette 32J3 (new Sue dance)

7. Rest and Be Thankful 32R3

Tuesday, February 4, 2025, after a great Midwinter Ball, we danced several dances from the Madison Ball and a few other fun dances. And we got to try out Carrie’s new dance and will bring it back next week to do it again. No new dancer class this week as we are sorting out how we go forward; but there will be something for them next week.

Dances done:

1. Bonny Blue Bride 32J3

2. Foggy River Reel 40R3

3. The Braes of Breadalbane 32S3

4. Gaelforce Wind 32J3

5. Tennessee Polite 32H3 (new Sue dance)

6. The Lammermuir Hills 32S2

7. Joie de Vivre 32J3

8. Sunday Shenanigans 32R/J3 (Carrie’s dance – write up to follow)

9. The Montgomeries’ Rant 32R3