Three Dances-Two remarkable people

Peggy Spouse (2nd from right) cutting the cake at Duns and District Branch’s 50th anniversary in 2003

Peggy Spouse MBE-Book 46

John Wilkinson of Duns and District Branch in the Scottish Borders tells how his dance, Peggy Spouse MBE, came into being.

When Peggy Spouse in my branch was awarded the MBE in 2008, I decided I wanted to devise a dance in her honour. Even in her 80’s Peggy could dance strathspeys better than many half her age so I decided on a strathspey. Peggy Spouse MBE was published in Book 46.

I began thinking with 1st couple in 2nd place as this allowed some symmetry and balance, and I could worry about getting them there later. I prefer six bar reels of three in strathspey time, and so I decided on reels across, with 1st man dancing with 3rd couple and 1st woman dancing with 2nd couple. But what to do for the last two bars? Petronella turns? Corners? What about 2nd and 3rd couples? Then it came to me that 1st couple could dance a Petronella turn into the middle while 2nd and 3rd couple dance in to meet partners finishing with 2nd couple facing up and 3rd couple facing down. To get 1st couple back into 2nd place I decided on set and dance three hands halfway round, although that left 2nd and 3rd couples on opposite sides. Set and link seemed a good way to get 2nd and 3rd couples back to their own sides; 1st couple could simply set and dance out to the sidelines.

It seemed obvious to finish with six hands round and back. It didn’t matter if 2nd and 3rd couples didn’t quite get out to sidelines after set and link as they would already be in position to flow into the circle.

The next task was the first 8 bars. I wanted the start to be different. My thoughts then crystallised into 1st woman and 2nd man crossing and casting round partners to finish ready for a half poussette. I’ve been asked about that on several occasions as 1st woman and 2nd man should be back to back to begin the poussette. I find it is only in demonstrations with wide sets that it becomes an issue. Usually in the ballroom there is insufficient space for this to worry the dancers. The dance was completed. All that was needed was a tune, which Marian Anderson composed, as she had been in Peggy’s dancing class when she was young. The highlight for me was to come when I danced the dance with Peggy as my partner and Marian Anderson playing the tune. Peggy liked her dance and hoped that it would be danced and enjoyed.

The Festival Man – Book 48

Sheila Trafford of Newcastle Branch wrote The Festival Man for John Cass, founder of the Newcastle Festival. It is an 8 x 32 bar jig published in Book 48. The music for the dance was composed by Marian Anderson.

John Cass and his wife Patricia convened the Newcastle Festival for 30 years before ‘retiring’ from the job and handing over the running to three committee members. John, however, still attended to make sure things were done properly! Sadly, John died on 26 July this year aged 98. He is known to dancers throughout the world as ‘The Festival Man’. A fitting description due to his passion for dancing and getting people involved; he was a true ambassador for the RSCDS. The first 8 bars are fairly simple as the first few Festivals were quite small affairs when the adjudicator was asked to ‘say a lot’ to pad things out. However, as the Festival became more popular things got much busier, hence the reels of three, 1s changing reels half way through. Teams started coming from further afield and abroad, hence the wheel and 1s casting up or down. The last 8 bars, ‘set and rotate for 3 couples’, everyone dancing together progressing to meet new people and having fun. Latterly, adjudicators have had to be asked to ‘keep it brief’ because of lack of time. There are quite a few words in the instructions of this dance; John was never lost for words!

John Cass, Newcastle Branch

John Cass – Book 49

Peter Avery of Newcastle Branch wrote John Cass for John’s 90th birthday.

Ian Thow had written a 32-bar jig to mark John’s birthday and John and Patricia asked if I could write a dance to go with the music. John was still very active when 90 and still dancing regularly. Thus I wanted to write a fun dance he would enjoy. I put in expanded tandem reels of three as something innovative, which was what John was like, and finished with a spin turn, which John always enjoyed doing. In fact, he liked all 5 couples to spin for the last 4 bars after the 5th time through.