The mention of Sir Roger De Coverley in the West Briton 16 January 1857 brought back many memories of learning this dance in school in England. I had completely forgotten about Country Dancing. I went to UTube and lost myself for an hour or so watching the delightful dance also known as the Virginia Reel. Seeing it performed by children was pure delight. I n memory I was a child again trying to drag some reluctant boy through the moves and getting mixed up a lot as we moved on to the next pair of dancers down the line. The only comparable dance here in Canada is the Square Dance with a caller, not much performed here anymore. The ball written about in 1857 seemed to be for the very rich and/or privileged, a very posh affair. What other dances were enjoyed by the people of the time in Cornwall? Thanks again Julia for this fine report. Lorna May

Hi Lorna and Happy New Year everyone! I too enjoyed the Roger de Coverly dance at school and had forgotten all about it until I saw your post! Brought back memories of tripping around the school assembly hall with Miss Bayneham playing the piano. Those were the days, my friends! Best wishes from Joan in Colorado who has still not quite recovered from the wildest Cornish Christmas Party ever!!

There is an article about Cornish Dance on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornish_dance   Here you can see some of the dances: http://www.cornishdance.com/Cornish_Dance_Society/Videos.html   I also remember enjoying country dancing at school and I belonged to a Scottish dancing group when I was in my 20s (my mother has Scottish ancestry).  I wish there was a group near to me now, it is a much nicer way to shed those extra Christmas pounds than exercising at the gym.   My New Year's resolution would have a much better chance of surviving for more than a week!   Joy ________________________________ From: hlmw <hlmw1@telus.net> To: Cornish <Cornish@rootsweb.com> Sent: Tuesday, 1 January 2013, 17:43 Subject: [CORNISH] Country Dancing The mention of Sir Roger De Coverley in the West Briton 16 January 1857 brought back many memories of learning this dance in school  in England. I had completely forgotten about Country Dancing. I went to UTube and lost myself for an hour or so watching the delightful dance also known as the Virginia Reel. Seeing it performed by children was pure delight. I n memory I was a child again trying to drag some reluctant boy through the moves and getting mixed up a lot as we moved on to the next pair of dancers down the line. The only comparable dance here in Canada is the Square Dance with a caller, not much performed here anymore.  The ball written about in 1857 seemed to be for the very rich and/or privileged, a very posh affair. What other dances were enjoyed by the people of the time in Cornwall? Thanks again Julia for this fine report. Lorna May ------------------------------- Subscribe to digest by sending an email to CORNISH-D-request@rootsweb.com with the word SUBSCRIBE in the subject line and body text.  If you want, MIME digests, email CORNISH-admin@rootsweb.com. Unsubscribe from either by sending an email to CORNISH-request@rootsweb.com. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to CORNISH-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

A feature of The Dickens Christmas Faire in San Francisco was Fezziwigs Warehouse Ball, with dancing. Getting the spectators to join was not always easy, but they all enjoyed the Sir Roger deCoverley. And surprised themselves being able to waltz. I miss that and I miss having a pint with my mates at Mad Sal's Dockside Ale House. Miss singing on the streets as Bertie Steptoe. Albert Jenkin hag Howlek an Gath> From: hlmw1@telus.net > To: Cornish@rootsweb.com > Date: Tue, 1 Jan 2013 10:43:32 -0700 > Subject: [CORNISH] Country Dancing > > The mention of Sir Roger De Coverley in the West Briton 16 January 1857 > brought back many memories of learning this dance in school in England. I > had completely forgotten about Country Dancing. I went to UTube and lost > myself for an hour or so watching the delightful dance also known as the > Virginia Reel. Seeing it performed by children was pure delight. I n memory > I was a child again trying to drag some reluctant boy through the moves and > getting mixed up a lot as we moved on to the next pair of dancers down the > line. The only comparable dance here in Canada is the Square Dance with a > caller, not much performed here anymore. The ball written about in 1857 > seemed to be for the very rich and/or privileged, a very posh affair. What > other dances were enjoyed by the people of the time in Cornwall? > Thanks again Julia for this fine report. > Lorna May >