OK - so as we are approaching the critical time I've been going through the marking criteria to see what we could lose marks on, and therefore the bits we need to watch out for. The good thing is that mainly I think we're in really good shape and just had lots of lovely ticks next to points I think we fulfill. I'm aware this looks like a lot but it's all really small points. If you could have a glance over I think it's all stuff we know, and there all tiny details to add in over the next couple of weeks.
Stepping:
* Clean, crisp stepping, in time with the music- I don't think we can magically improve doubles but they're sounding SO much better than before, just a case of remaining calm and not rushing so that they sound steady.
* Starting and stopping stepping at the same time, unless intended - not always consistent at when we stop before going into a movement - Hannah before sweeps sometimes, a variety of us before popcorn, there may be more. If it's something we've picked up on just really try and remember!
* Good, consistent stepping in spins- the spin sounds good but I want to go over how much flick we're putting in and remembering the slide rather than stamp in the middle
* Ensure dancers do not step or move out of time with the music - again, we just need to not rush. Square display probably a focus point! Try not to pre-empt getting into display positions with any of the locks.
Sword Handling:
* Swords kept high, above all heads (where necessary)
* Hands together wherever possible/ necessary
* All swords moving together where appropriate - All three of these are probably a weak point in needles/ getting the swords up and down in a line. Just remembering to do it all.
* Good sword shapes, including display figures and locks - As long as Laura and Hannah remember to put a bit of brute force in the 5 person locks these now seem a lot better. 6 sword lock is better since we went over it but only if we can get there without rushing. We'll go over this.
Dance technique:
* Set is always controlled, tight and balanced - careful at the end of the spin forming the line and tits (especially in small spaces)
Buzz factor:
* Buzz continues after dance, with audience talking about perfomance, interacting with performers etc. In particular I was interested with the last bit - audience interacting with performers?? I mean this happens all the time in pubs on normal crawls but not sure about DERT. Maybe worth getting back in pubs after we've run off in case this happens? Rather than the out of breath joy we normally share!
Presentation:
* Very smart, clean and tidy kit, including hair shoes etc. - Hair is probably the biggy as I think out kit is awesome. My plan is to straighten, I think everyone else has a better chance. Maybe just remember to point out on each other if it's falling out? I haven't managed to get feathers yet...not quite sure where to get them from but I will look!
* All performers appear confident and positive throughout the dance
* Consistent approach e.g. all smiling/enjoying dance or all serious - The main thing from this is to smile sometimes and look up. I don't want a manic forced smile but if we can think about it the points where we're displaying then we should smile!
* Dancers should not scowl, frown or look nervous etc - again I think this will naturally occur a little but counter with smiles when appropriate.
* No fidgeting at start or end of dance when people should be standing still - careful at the start when we're in an open ring as well as line before we walk on
Music:
* Don't play at the wond speed e.g. too fast or too slow for dancers - just being careful to be fast enough at the very start - otherwise we push, which i think is obvious, and then the whole thing whizzes along uncontrolled because we've gone crazy speed.
Characters:
* Actions skilfully tailored to the performance, audience and venue
* Not obstructing or interfering with dancers and/or musicians
* Good involvement in dance - I think all three of these are fine although we proved that we struggled in small spaces with the 6 sword lock entrance. We'll go over this but is definitely something to have in your head that you need to speed round, especially at the point of getting in the set. Careful not to worry so much about what you're saying that you're then in the way of the movement of the set, again in small spaces.
Have a lovely weekend all.
Becky xx
Morning all!
Thank you so much for those who came out on the crawl, I think we did some great dances and did some good dealing with bad floors and restricted spaces. Kate I hope you can feel we're listening more, I think just more practice at it and it'll only get better [😊]
Special thank you to the people who knew they wouldn't be dancing but came out in support anyway, it was lovely to have more people around and I look forward to hearing how much we collected.
Things that I think we need to work on is the very end, getting Sue in the set and round within the right beats, as that basically didn't work all night, and following that to breaking at the right point to be with the music in popcorn, I'm hoping we can figure out exactly what was going wrong as it felt odd!
Sue is it possible to practice a little with George on? If we end up in a rush to get round I then feel I'm going to rip him off as the swords come over to do the 6 sword lock. Don't bother this coming week as we don't have the full DERT set, but week after would be great.
My plan for this coming Monday, as we don't have Hannah or Laura S, is to have Ffion learn 5 in Westerhope (allowing us to do Westerhope at Cecil Sharp) and possibly for me to learn 3 if that's helpful? While that's going on I'd like Katherine to practice plaiting Laura Ws hair, AND stepping [😊]
If we have Jo and she's feeling better I'd like to run through the dance with her at 4, and similarly with Hannorah at 5.
Thanks again, you're all wonderful!!
Becky xx
Hello all,
Please see a few videos form Thursday which Simon took on his phone:
Having had a look at these I've found some tiny points which individuals could improve upon - some of them aren't always happening so if you know it was a fluke please don't take offence!
Windmills- Sword between Katherine and Ffion often ends up at a funny angle, potentially when in smaller spaces, I think if Ffion can bring it a tad lower it would be much more in line, as it's the front one it stands out as an error.
When I jump back as 3 here I get scared of doing a 2 footed jump when we don't have much room so end up doing a weird high knee movement which doesn't look great. On the video it looks like 2 footed would be possible and I just need to go for it, is this true Katherine and Ffion? I don't want to stamp on you obviously!
Choker - not sure if I've just forgotten, is this coming down on 4 or 8? I thought it came down on 4 for 4 steps, then we stepped for 2 sets of 4 before rotating. What seems to be happening is we end up actually coming down on 8 for 4 steps, then 1 set of 4 before rotating. I think this second version looks fine apart from I do a downward action on 4 which ruins it, do people need until the 8 to get there neatly?
Square display - be really careful not to rush this
Spin - we can be quite stampy still so we just really need to try and remember not to, also an emphasis of the flick at the back would be good (Jo W. mentioned it only half looks like a thing at the moment) we'll look at this when we're all together.
Needles - In small spaces we get a bit jammed as we don't end up using the full length of the space and the whole things becomes fat rather than long and thin. I think we just need to be a bit more confident at going up to the edges of the space, we're not going that fast so even if we hit a bar or something it shouldn't hurt - I hope that makes sense? Hannah your sword seems a tad low with the final line going down, I don't know if that's because you're a bit interlocked with Katherine - we'll have a look at this together, it might just be you need to make a point of pushing it up.
Triangle lock - EVERY time this was a bit rubbish as the top sword, which should be flat comes out as an angle, this is something at Hannah and Katherine's corner but, obviously, someone else could be pulling it out. We'll have a look, seems odd as hasn't really happened in practice.
Doubles - Hannah and Katherine both get a bit arm happy, although not every time, so this is definitely improving! I think that's just a moment for you two to try and relax/shoulders in or whatever was recommended [😊]
Arches - don't rush the start with stepping. Hannah remember to stop stepping and come down with us for the sweeps, I know it's muscle memory which you're trying to undo which is hard, and I also know it doesn't happen every time, just something to think about.
Double tumble - My sword is sometimes coming down faster than Laura's, I think I just need to chill out - it doesn't always happen so just something to remember. Hannah your sword was (maybe only once) a little high round my waist, but is definitely going round the body, so again a tiny thing.
6 sword lock - we know this is a problem and are going to work on it, including George! Think the main thing will be tight, speed and power going round.
Popcorn - remember to look up
The beats problem between 6 sword lock and popcorn I think comes from us now always managing to break on 4 out of the 6 sword lock. I think the neatest way would be to display step out as normal but do 2 sets of 4 rather than 1 in open facing ring, taking us to the 8, before forming glass. Katherine suggested that Sue could say something at this point to distract from the fact we're there a while.
I know that seems like a lot of comments but they are all really tiny things. Overall it is looking so good! The dancing is really accurate, the stepping sounds ace and the whole thing is SO much more controlled [😊] Lastly we all just need to remember to smile, we look a bit like robots that hate our lives atm, if we look like we're having fun then it'll come across in the old buzz factor.
If anyone spots anything else let me know! I am so proud of you guys and how much the hard work is paying off!
Becky xx
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Hello all,
Unless I hear otherwise I am expecting the DERT set, Sue, Kate, Rachel, Hannorah, and Rachel-Anne.
Hannorah I know you've said to go on without you if for any reason you're not at the first pub!
If for any reason the last 3 can't make it please text on 07988696321 so we're not waiting for you when you're not headed our way.
Thanks!
Becky
Hello all,
As you know Ken and I got engaged last summer and are finally getting round to celebrating that with everyone!
We're having a get together at the Crown in Farringdon (one of our last crawl pubs there) from 7.30 on the 15th April. I've managed to invite some but probably not all of you on facebook, but everyone is invited, along with partners etc.
Be lovely to see some of you there, it'll be a week after DERT and we don't have a practice that Monday so will be a good excuse for a get together :)
Becky xx
Hello all,
As Jo isn't very well, Reesha isn't available and Jo W. has gone to Oz we don't have a set to perform Westerhope tonight.
The focus will be very much dancing Piccadilly out as there isn't much point trying to do Jubilee as we know we can do that! It would be really appreciated if some people from Westerhope could come along anyway, we really need collectors and it's always more fun with a few more people. However, if you are struggling to fit the crawl in and are not in the DERT set you are free to do your own thing this evening. If people could send me a quick text to say if they're not coming I'll know when we can leave the first pub, I don't want to leave without someone if they are coming! 07988696321
Sorry this has come as rather late notice, obviously Jo couldn't predict she wouldn't be feeling well (hope you feel better soon btw!) and it's just unfortunate that it coincides with Jo W. leaving and Reesha being unavailable. We'll discuss doing another Westerhope outing, potentially the last Monday before DERT? to ensure you have more practice out.
See you later,
Becky
Meeting tomorrow at The York near Angel station at 7. They do food if you
need a spot of tea:
https://www.nicholsonspubs.co.uk/restaurants/london/theyorkislingtonlondon
Please please please be ready to dance in this pub dead on 7.30pm. Not only
do we want to get in loads of pubs so we can all dance lots, but this time
we also have a bit of a schedule we need to stick to as some pubs we need
to be there at a certain time to be able to dance. So drink fast and follow
me on a route march! Apologies in advance!
See you tomorrow xx
Hi All,
The following is what we all owe for trains and accomodation to Kathrine's
wedding. For those of us bringing a plus 1, their cost is included in
yours. Price per person varies because some people have a railcard of some
sort and some people were a little late to go into a group booking. If
anyone would like more detail on the figures let me know. (Accommodation is
£35.50 per person.) If anyone has any problems with paying this, please let
Sue know and she will see what we can arrange - we obviously don't want to
be causing problems for anyone.
If you could transfer the following amounts into the Ravens account with
the reference 'Wedding' at your earliest convenience that would be great.
Hannah & Martin 138.3
Laura W & Paul 146.5
Sue 69.15
Ffion & Patrick 138.3
Reesha 73.25
Jo 78.95
Laura S 78.95
Thanks,
Hannah
Hi everyone,
1. Crawl
2. Sign-ups
3. DERT Bake-Off!
4. Party / EGM
1. We will be crawling around Islington tomorrow - watch out for the final
details from Laura W. Please could we try to be ready to dance by 1915 so
that we will be able to make a nice prompt start at 1930.
2. Lots of lovely sign-ups info:
NEW!!
- Crawl on 27th April
- Beverley Folk Festival! Woop woop!
Still on there but needing some more responses:
- Belle's DoD 1st Oct
- Carshalton 14th Oct (though it's been so long that I'm guessing we
really aren't all that keen!)
I've taken the following off of the list as we just don't have the numbers:
- Tredegar House (Wales)
- Laura's Old Folks (maybe we can do something later in the year)
- St George's Day
3. As part of the alternative judging this year there will be a bake off on
the Friday night. Might be a bit of fun to enter. I don't know the exact
timings of any of it other than it being in the evening, but perhaps this
is something we should consider as a team. Am happy to bake (though am
getting there a bit later than some of you - could make something like the
one with the Raven on that I did last year for practice) - but any
volunteers welcome - or we could just make a ton of cake! Om nom nom...
4. I would like to call the EGM/Party for 24th April. This is slightly
later than usual, but if we take the Monday after DERT off, the next Monday
is then Easter Monday, so we think we'll need to push it onto the 24th
instead. This means there will be no proper practices in April, but we will
still have our crawl - see above!
Have a lovely week and see you all soon.
Hannah :)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/11XHQc6j0g7HQto7rhOs6k0bf
kw-XmFb8jmCeRa48IRI/edit
