Core Dances 2024

Since 2012 we have had a set of 10 to 12 dances which we call our "core" dances. The dances change each year. Club callers will include them in their programmes so that members can learn them and be able to dance them well.

The dances are chosen to allow the callers to teach particular figures, styles and formations. Also, they are chosen to emphasise dancing to the music and letting it guide our movements. Some of the dances are a bit of a challenge, so we won't get them right until we've done some practising. Others have been chosen because they are often danced at public dances, and some more practice will help us to enjoy them more.

We are still experimenting with the best way to approach core dances so please keep passing on feedback to any member of the committee.

Where possible, links to the notation for the dance have been included. No guarantees as to the content of other sites can be given! Note that we may be teaching a slight variant of what is published on the external web site. See also our links page for web sites which provide hints on dance (and calling) technique.

We might even become good enough to publish our own videos as a reference for others!

But, most important of all : Happy Dancing!

From	To	Dance Name	Formation	Source	Music
08-Oct-24	05-Nov-24	The Bonny Cuckoo Dance Animation Dance Video Dance Instructions	4 copule longways	Gail Ticknor, 1986	Waltz time "Si Beag, Si Mohr" by Turlough O'Calloran Recorded on "Playford from the New World" by the Assembly Players (track 14) with 4 bar introduction.
01-Sep-24	01-Oct-24	The Astonished Archeologist Dance animation and instructions Dance Video Dance Record Card	3cpl L/W	Philippe Callens (Continental Capers)	Goff Hall, by Dan Lanier, recorded on "At Home" by Bare Necessities and "Red Star Line" by A Joyful Noise and Hold The Mustard.
09-Jul-24	23-Jul-24	Caller's Choice Callers will choose from the Core Dances we have done this year and in prior years.
28-May-24	02-Jul-24	Charlene's Celebration Dance Instructions Animation Video Demonstration	4 cpl L/W	Gary Roodman, Calculated Figures, 2005	Elizabethan Tango Man, Charlene Thompson Band of Friends or Stradivarious Celebrates
16-Apr-24	21-May-24	Felicity Dance Instructions Dance Animation YouTube Video One of the dancers in the video is Orly Krasner, who has called at our club.	4 cpl L/W	Colin Hume	Felicity by Dave Brown CD: Connections
05-Mar-24	09-Apr-24	Fandango This dance was published in Twenty Four Country Dances for the Year 1774 by Thompson and is now danced as a three couple set, with each couple taking the "active" role in turn. Dance animation The dance has a delightful mix of stately figures and more energetic figures. Try to dance each figure appropriately. The circle left and right figure should be done with a slip-step and hands held at shoulder level. Also, at the start of the heys/reels across, the 3rd man and 1st lady should cast over their right shoulder so that everyone starts the figure together.	3cpl L/W	Thompson 1774	Own Tune
02-Jan-24	20-Feb-24	Devil's Dream Dance Animation Dance video There are 3 points in this dance where people tend to go wrong: The first turn with your neighbour is only 1/2 way. This means that you will go the same direction as in the first part - 1s down, 2s up. The only difference is that 1s are on the outside of the set and the 2s are going up the middle. The second turn with your neighbour must be with your LEFT hand. for 1st man and 2nd lady this is easy, but 1st lady and 2nd man have to reach across and make a tight turn together. After the last figure (right & left through) there is zero time to position the 1s in the centre of the set and 2s on the outside. You just have to fudge it!	Longways Improper	CDM Book 6 Dance instructions	EFDSS Community Dances CD1 Track 10 Welcome to the Dance Track 5

Core dance pages from previous years

Core Dances 2024

The Bonny Cuckoo

The Astonished Archeologist

Caller's Choice

Charlene's Celebration

Felicity

Fandango

Devil's Dream

Core dance pages from previous years