more dates

Jan 19th
Feb 16th
Mar 15th

No meeting in December

I've looked at the number of people who can't come and think it better to start afresh in the new year. I'll confirm the dates with the Deaf Centre, watch this space.

Time for a review

We had another good meeting on Thursday but I need to decide whether numbers will stay high enough to give us enjoyable evenings. I have not yet booked to room for future meetings.
December is a busy time for many people, shall we meet on the 15th?
How often do people think they will come next year?

To help me decide could all those interested fill in EITHER this survey OR the short survey (if you didn't fill it in on Thursday, or get it from an email).

Then watch this space for future dates

Next week

We meet again on Thursday (Nov 17th).
We will play Curly headed Ploughboy, you can print the dots from http://www.blackcatband.co.uk/Tunes/ and/or email me for a midi to play.

Music for Thursday

We have added another tune to the list on the Music page, as we will need 48 bars if we dance the Willow Tree. So we'll play Oats, Beans and Barley.

As some people learn tunes by ear Marilyn has made midi files of all our tunes but I don't know how to put them on here, so you'll have to email me mjw@mowaddington.plus.com

Next Meeting

See you all on Oct 20th.
We have a few new tunes, see the Music page

See you tomorrow

Bring your friends

Next Thursday

I am waiting for the callers to let me have their choice of dances.
We will be playing -
Oyster Girl, Moon and Seven Stars, Bear Dance, Worcestershire Hornpipe, South Wind and Chinese Breakdown from the tunes you already have
Maggie in the Wood and We Will Down with the French from http://www.blackcatband.co.uk/Tunes/

More to follow, soon I hope.

See you all at the Deaf centre at 8pm

Future Meetings

We decided not to meet in July.
Next meeting Sep 15th.

It would help if callers could tell me their dances before we all get into holiday mood.

Please bring a friend,

Last night's tunes and dances

Joan started by repeating Circle Waltz to the tune South Wind.
Marilyn taught us Nottingham swing to the tunes Kafoozalum and Keel Row.
Peter got almost everyone up to dance Oxo reel, leaving just 4 musicians to play Oyster Girl.
We learnt the tune Duke of Kent's Waltz and Pam called the dance.
Ron called a Scottish dance, Spiffin. We played Moon and Seven Stars for it.
Jenny revised Grimstock, last time we learnt a simplified version, this time we danced the full dance.
Helen called Three Around Three. As I hadn't handed out the music for it's own tune we played Bear Dance.
Mo finished with the dance Chinese Circle to the tune Chinese Breakdown

June meeting

We met last night. Some of the people who were there last time were away, but we had 17, which was enough to dance and play.
The musicians are very versatile at getting up to dance when needed. The dancers will have to learn to play a portable instrument in time for September.

Dates of future meetings

I have booked the Deaf Centre for
June 23rd.
Sep 15th
Oct 29th
Nov 17th

If you want a meeting on the third Thurs in July please let me know at the June meeting, or before then if you can't come in June.

A spanner in the works

Just found out that the Deaf Centre is already booked on the 16th June. Have to think again. Maybe June 23rd.

Future Plans

Meetings will be the Third Thursday of the month  8 - 10pm.
Next meeting June 16th.
A decision will be made then about whether to meet in July but unless someone else wants to run it there will be no meeting in August.

At the first meeting we tried to pick some tunes that people might know, (depending where you usually play). Next time we will repeat some of these, and new tunes will be introduced a few at a time.

A good start

We made a good start at our first meeting. 27 members, drawn from 4 dance clubs and various music sessions. The floor was just about big enough to fit 9 couples when some of the musicians stood up to dance.
Elaine called the first dance. Circassian circle, to the tune Oyster girl.
Then Mo and Jenny called Playford dances from 1650. Sellenger's Round and Grimstock, with their own tunes.
Peter called Whale Bones, to the tune Bear Dance.
Joan called a modern reworking of an eighteenth century dance with it's own tune; Twas O'er the Hills and Far Away.
Pam called a Scottish dance, Domino 5; to the tune the Moon an Seven Stars.
Marilyn left her bandleader's seat to call Clopton Bridge. We played Worcestershire Hornpipe.
Ann taught us a Cornish dance to the tune Falmouth Polka
We finished by playing South Wind and dancing Circle Waltz with Ron calling.

We decided to meet again on the third Thursday of the month.

A good evening giving some of us plenty to think about.

Have a Go Tomorrow

We have lots of tunes to play, and callers ready to teach us dances.
Hope there's time to fit everything in.

Preparing for first meeting on May 19th

I've heard from several people who are planning to come and play, dance and call.
We may dance,
Sellenger's Round
Grimstock
Domino Five
and whatever the other callers decide to call.