May

Tuesday, May 27, 2025, during the first half hour, Noel Chávez worked on turn corner, partner, corner, parther with timing in both quicktime and strathspey time. In the regular class we did 4 dances with CPCP including one from the MSW Saturday Ball program. Later we danced 2 dances from each of the MSW Friday and Saturday programs and a new Sue dance.

Dances done:

1. Light and Airy 32J3

2. Miss Gibson’s Strathspey 32S3

3. The Wind that Shakes the Barley 32R3

4. Highland Mary 32J3

5. Gloria’s Wee Jig 32J2

6. Dargie Glebe 32S3 (Set)

7. Kelso Races 32R3

8. Peaches and Gold 32S3 (Set) new Sue dance

9. Summer Wooing 32R3

Tuesday, May 20, 2025, during the first half hour, Aileen Murphy worked on set to corners and partner (hello-goodbye setting) in both quicktime and strathspey tempos. In the regular class Noel Chávez worked on the various aspects of good ‘handing’ – proper taking of hands, proper arm position, providing strength from the shoulder not gripping too hard, and social interaction in passing or turning. For each of the dances done, she pointed out where we could think about proper handing. Most of the dances done were ‘interesting’ ones from the Spring Dance coming up this weekend, with a couple of extra dances for fun and illustration.

Dances done:

1. The Shetland Shepherdess 32J3

2. Hello-Goodbye 32S3 (done as a jig per Foundation Formations)

3. Adieu Mon Ami 32S3

4. Back to the Fireside 32R3

5. Culla Bay 32S4 (Square)

6. Midsummer Common 32S3

7. Mrs McLeod 32R3

Tuesday, May 13, 2025, during the first half hour, Carrie Dean worked on set and link and controlling the turns in the figure. She covered both set and link for 2 couples in quicktime and set and link for 3 couples in strathspey time. In the regular class we danced several dances with set and link in various tempos, plus some that also had crossover mirror reels. We did one dance from the Spring Dance with set and link then a couple of dances from the MSW Friday dance program and a dance from the MSW Saturday Ball.

Dances done:

1. The Rider Hall 32S3 (Set)

2. Sailing on Shawningan Lake 32R3 (Set)

3. Burns Night 32J2

4. Angel Bank 32R3

5. Two Old Ladies 32S3

6. Gaelforce Wind 32J3

7. The Swan and the Tay 32S3 (Set)

8. Sleepy Maggie 32R3

Tuesday, May 6, 2025, during the first half hour Mady Newfield worked on skip-change and strathspey traveling steps, then reviewed mirror reels of 3 in both tempos with emphasis on phrasing and knowing which way to move to start or on the ends of a reel. Then she introduced crossover mirror reels and the adjustments to timing for the pieces of the reel for the lead couple and the transition after each couple’s second time through. She had the class dance most of Maxwell’s Rant to practice this. In the regular class we danced a dance from the Spring Dance with crossover mirror reels, and a couple of the more complex dances on the Spring Dance program. We also danced a dance from the MSW Saturday Ball and two from the MSW Friday dance program.

Dances done:

1. The Shetland Shepherdess 32J3

2. Culla Bay 32S4 (Square)

3. Rollercoaster 32J3 (new Sue dance)

4. Midsummer Common 32S3

5. Rodney’s Rant 32J3

6. Gang the Same Gate 32S3

7. The Royal Yacht Britannia 40R3