On 25/09/2007 Patricia Long wrote: > The difference between Scottish Country Dancing and the Orkney > version is illustrated by the local name for the Cumberland Reel. In > my home parish of Stenness it is known as the Stenness War Dance but > I've also heard it referred to as the Wyre War Dance. It isn't danced > very often nowadays but Strip The Willow is still very common. In > Orkney it isn't danced in small genteel groups; couples swing their > way down the entire length of the hall, usually at a pretty high > speed. The most common dances are still the St Bernard's Waltz, the > Eva Three Step, Military Two Step and Gay Gordons. No Boston Two Step in Stenness, Pat? -- Mike Clouston

I remember the name from school dancing lessons but have no recollection of the steps. Traditional dancing is having a renaissance in Orkney just now, with several parishes holding regular get-togethers where some of the old dances are revived but I'm afraid I haven't been to one. The Westray One Step is becoming quite popular. Four dances I forgot to mention, that are often danced at weddings and Harvest Homes are the Highland Scottische, the Quickstep, the Eightsome Reel and my favourite, The Pride of Aaron (I have no idea how that last word is spelt, as I've never seen it written down.) -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Mike Clouston Sent: 25 September 2007 10:26 To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Wind on Loch Fyne Re: a muckle confusing? On 25/09/2007 Patricia Long wrote: > The difference between Scottish Country Dancing and the Orkney > version is illustrated by the local name for the Cumberland Reel. In > my home parish of Stenness it is known as the Stenness War Dance but > I've also heard it referred to as the Wyre War Dance. It isn't danced > very often nowadays but Strip The Willow is still very common. In > Orkney it isn't danced in small genteel groups; couples swing their > way down the entire length of the hall, usually at a pretty high > speed. The most common dances are still the St Bernard's Waltz, the > Eva Three Step, Military Two Step and Gay Gordons. No Boston Two Step in Stenness, Pat? -- Mike Clouston _______________________________________ Orcadia Group Photo Album http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

The dance is "The pride of Erin" and here in Orkney they normally play Irish tunes to dance it. For those of you that know the steps try dancing them to " When Irish eyes are smiling" I am surprised that we have not had a comment from Peggy Bainton as I am sure she can dance "The Pride of Erin" It was only a few weeks ago that Peggy tried to do "The Postie's Jig" with us at a ceilidh in Finstown. George Gray, Orkney ----- Original Message ----- From: "Patricia Long" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:45 AM Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Wind on Loch Fyne Re: a muckle confusing? >I remember the name from school dancing lessons but have no recollection of > the steps. Traditional dancing is having a renaissance in Orkney just now, > with several parishes holding regular get-togethers where some of the old > dances are revived but I'm afraid I haven't been to one. The Westray One > Step is becoming quite popular. > Four dances I forgot to mention, that are often danced at weddings and > Harvest Homes are the Highland Scottische, the Quickstep, the Eightsome > Reel > and my favourite, The Pride of Aaron (I have no idea how that last word is > spelt, as I've never seen it written down.) > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] > On > Behalf Of Mike Clouston > Sent: 25 September 2007 10:26 > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [ORCADIA] Wind on Loch Fyne Re: a muckle confusing? > > On 25/09/2007 Patricia Long wrote: >> The difference between Scottish Country Dancing and the Orkney >> version is illustrated by the local name for the Cumberland Reel. In >> my home parish of Stenness it is known as the Stenness War Dance but >> I've also heard it referred to as the Wyre War Dance. It isn't danced >> very often nowadays but Strip The Willow is still very common. In >> Orkney it isn't danced in small genteel groups; couples swing their >> way down the entire length of the hall, usually at a pretty high >> speed. The most common dances are still the St Bernard's Waltz, the >> Eva Three Step, Military Two Step and Gay Gordons. > > No Boston Two Step in Stenness, Pat? > > -- > Mike Clouston > > > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes > in the subject and the body of the message > > _______________________________________ > Orcadia Group Photo Album > http://tinyurl.com/28bx9x > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >