We’re dancing at the new Midsummer Dream festival in downtown Lowell tomorrow, complete with fairy wings and a beribboned lantern for a sound system. Since someone is bound to ask us where this dance or that one came from, or what the music was, here’s all the info up front (’cause I’ll be darned if I can remember it all on the fly!)
Childgrove
Traditional English tune and country dance, longways for as many as will. Adapted for one couple (w/skipping omitted for hot weather).
Music performed by Immigrant’s Daughter
Sellenger’s Round
Traditional English tune and circle dance. Adapted for one couple.
Music performed by Estampie
Parson’s Farewell
Traditional English tune and country dance for four dancers. Adapted for one couple and fairy wands.
Music performed by Henry Martin
Nineteenth-Century Waltz Medley
Danced to an excerpt from “Peri Waltzes” by Gary Freeman. Music performed by Eastman Wind Ensemble.
Slow French waltz (1815)
Sauteuse, aka “Hop Waltz” (1815)
Polka Mazurka (1860s)
Gitana, aka “La Carlowitzka” (1860s)
Varsouvienne (1860s)
Polka Mazurka (1860s)
Schottische
Traditional European (German?) country dance later adapted for mid-nineteenth century ballrooms and still popular in the American folk dance community.
Danced to “Schottische Fran Havero” (traditional/Swedish). Music performed by Lothlorien (piece has been shortened)
Abbots Bromley
“Abbots Bromley Horn Dance” is a traditional English tune and dance. Here it’s being used as a single line processional for as many as want to join.
Music performed by Jennifer Pratt-Walter and Valerie Blessley.
Skye Boat Waltz
“Skye Boat Song” is a traditional Scottish air (it’s also the theme from “Outlander”). Here it’s being used as the tune for a simple participatory circle waltz.
Music performed by Julie Murphey (tempo has been sped up).
Waltz sequence:
Circle left w/waltz step – 8 measures
Circle right w/waltz step – 8
Waltz into center – 4, turn single w/waltz step back to place – 4, REPEAT
Repeat entire sequence as needed.
Greenwood Kalamatianos
“Dans En Dro” is a traditional tune from the Brittany region of France. It’s used here for a participatory Greek line dance, the Kalamatianos.
Music performed by Lothlorien
One more Lothlorien tune may or may not be used for a Mid-Eastern-style taqsim (solo improvisation): “An Cat Dubh”