Review of A Collection of Dances to Celebrate the Diamond Jubilee

A Collection of Dances to Celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Published in 2012, this collection of dances and accompanying CD by Frank Thomson and his Scottish Dance Band is a fitting tribute to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Dancing in Brisbane is in recess from the end of November until the middle of February as it is a time of extreme heat and humidity. A big thank you must go to the class of keen, mixed-level dancers who attended the morning (35C degree heat, 90% humidity and no rain) in the middle of January to review this book and CD.

The choice of one three-couple only dance, one four-couple square set, and the other four dances for three couples in a fourcouple set is a good balance.

The accompanying CD by Frank Thomson and his SDB was appreciated. The strathspeys were strong and the tempo and choice of tunes for all the dances were enjoyed. It was good to identify familiar tunes from many of our well-known composers.

The three strathspeys were considered to be suitable for the more experienced dancers. Mist o’er the Loch is a dance with interesting movements such as the half turn and twirl with two hands by the corners, whilst the dancing couple dance round the corner positions.

Commencing with the knot followed by half diagonal reels of four, into the movement petronella turn while the corners cast, Orwell Lodge Strathspey had an unusual

quality and was enjoyed by the dancers.Burnaby at Forty is a square-set strathspey. The dance commences with the Glasgow Highlanders Setting with a half turn, bars 1-4. This movement is shorter for the men on bar 4 to enable them to face out while the ladies face in. The remainder of the dance flowed well. A combination of diagonal rights and lefts followed by set and link for three, along with other aspects of the jig Rodney’s Rant, required the dancing couple to keep their wits about them throughout this very busy dance, which was thought to be suitable for the more experienced. It could be a challenge for an intermediate class. The reel The Royal Patron was considered to be for advanced/very advanced dancers as the phrasing, transitions and covering had to be carefully maintained and the dancers had some difficulty with this. Lastly, the reel The Castle of Mey was the dancers’ favourite as the arrangement of the straightforward formations created a very pleasurable dance for a social programme, one which would not be difficult for any level of dancer. Carol Aitken, Queensland Branch Available from RSCDS Shop rscds.org