Review of Book 52

Book 52

Twelve dances, ranging from straightforward to complex. It is interesting to see the repetition of formations with several occurrences of corners pass and turn, and set and link for 2 couples, as well as a focus on newer formations, and variations on some older ones. City Lights has a pleasing variation on corners pass and turn, incorporating an allemande turn. Finishing with a birl adds enjoyment for active dancers! The Ullapool Ferry features the lively hello goodbye poussette to Muriel Johnstone’s music – I love a dance where I can make a connection to Scottish history or legend to emphasise the Scottish element in SCD. The ferry, The Loch Seaforth, crosses the waters of the Minch to Stornoway, Isle of Lewis – a stormy stretch of water, with the legend of the Blue Men who inhabit The Minch and control the storms. However, if a ship’s captain can speak a verse in Gaelic, they are given safe passage. Slytherin House has a smooth entry from hands across into the Snake Pass formation, combined with the music, endearing this dance to fans of Harry Potter. Instant recognition from my classes! Forty and Counting has an interesting variation on the three-couple chain progression which is challenging and lively. The Scallywag is a flirtatious jig with the allemande turn. Ruby Wilkinson’s Farewell to Cranshaws has intriguing music. Dancers need very precise phrasing to travel those interweaving reels of 4 on the diagonal, but they are enjoyable when mastered. Farewell to Balfour Road is a deceptively simple five-couple dance, which becomes more complex when the next couple begin on bar 17 and the class realise it’s a canon. A fun dance! My classes loved it. Ysobel Stewart of Fish Hoek, is an elegant strathspey with a tourbillion. The Aviator contains a challenging combination of half tandem reels and full reels of 3, with the exhilaration of dancing down as far as you can in the first 4 bars of the dance. Triple Happiness is a strathspey with corners pass and turn from the knot, much appreciated by both my classes. The Bon Viveur medley is interesting with its men’s chain, into Schiehallion reels, an easily remembered dance to great music. Trip to Timber Ridge is an enjoyable reel with corners pass and turn flowing into double triangles. Not having a chance to dance any of the dances before teaching them, it was extraordinarily helpful to watch videos of these dances, from a variety of dancers, young and old. The devisers are to be congratulated on the multiple variations on formations; thanks also to Ian R Muir for his music arrangements. The accompanying CD by Jim Lindsay and his Scottish Dance Band, has an interesting selection of recordings, some far from traditional when using modern music themes. Deirdre MacCuish Bark, Toronto Association