Hi all,
Sorry this is a long email, you can skip to the numbered bit if you're short on time!
At the EGM we identified 3 priorities for the next few months - teach everyone the 'perfections' for the Julibee dance, get everyone doing different positions in the Jubilee dance, create a funky new dance. We've started on all of these but it's difficult to split our time evenly between these three things because we've only got 2 hours a week (less if we need to spend so much time on the sign up sheet, ahem) plus I never know who's going to be there until we start practising!
In addition, we discussed last night how it's embarrassing not having a second dance at festivals. This is why we created the circle dance last summer but that's fallen by the wayside in favour of creating a funkier, more difficult round dance. We've got some interesting ideas for the new dance but realistically it won't be ready to dance out until the end of the summer - maybe Rockingham could be a target date?
Jo is going to ask Ru at Camden clog whether she'd be able to come and teach some of us a clog dance, just so we have something extra for festival dance spots, but I think that's a long-term project too! We could therefore look at changing our summer priorities to learning a new second dance which is easier than the funky one we're creating. Options are 1) revive last year's circle dance - it will probably come flooding back to those who did it at Tenterden 2) create a new dance - probably a chorus dance with 5 simple figures inbetween 3) learn a trad dance. Beadnell is by far the easiest - I reckon we could learn it by Leigh if the same 5 people turned up both of the next weeks. Swalwell is also quite simple and is done at a laid back speed so a good contrast to the Jubilee dance. Thrales do Beadnell and Sallyport do Swalwell so we might look like we're copying, but I don't think we'll overlap at any bookings this summer. Or we could look at one of the trad dances that no other team does at the moment which would be good if we've got one eye on the trad competition at DERT, however would definitely take longer to learn as there will be no videos to learn from!
So could I ask you all to have a think about what you feel we should spend the next 3-4 months concentrating on? Here are the options including how many weeks I think it would take us to complete these tasks if we only worked on that task:
1) Perfecting Jubilee - I think we got to about pixies, so there's half the dance to go = 3-5 weeks.
2) Learning new Jubilee positions - according to the positions sheet there are 11 people who aren't yet dance-out-ready in their secondary position. I don't think we need to prioritise getting everyone sorted straight away. If we aimed to get 5 people confident in new positions that would take 3-5 weeks.
3) Creating the new funky dance. Approx 3 weeks to finish writing, 3 weeks to teach to everyone and 2 weeks to polish = 8 weeks
4) Learn an extra, simple-ish dance. Beadnell/old circle dance would take 2-4 weeks, Swalwell maybe 4-5 weeks.
In addition to these options we need to go over the procession stuff with Nic and Janet before Leigh. People have also requested that we do a session on dancing in small spaces, which I'll try and schedule in some time before the July crawl.
So... if you've got to this point in the email, please can you help me to plan the next 12-16 weeks by sending me your thoughts on which two things from the list of four you think we should prioritise? It doesn't need to be an essay like this has been, just 2 bullet points will suffice! Please send me your thoughts by FRIDAY if posssible so I can create a summer plan over the weekend.
Thanks very much,
Ffion x
Please take a look at my blog on Welsh folk songs - caneuongwerin.wordpress.com
Hi all,
We spent a long time going through the sheet again tonight. It's taking up lots of our collective time that we could be practising and I'd rather it took up your personal time that you could be watching TV/commuting/knitting etc. PLEASE LOOK AT THE SHEET AND TELL US YOUR AVAILABILITY https://docs.google.com/document/d/11XHQc6j0g7HQto7rhOs6k0bfkw-XmFb8jmCeRa4…. Rachel is frequently updating the sheet so why not set an alarm on your phone to make sure you update your availability once or twice a week? Even a maybe answer is better than no answer at all. Some people said they couldn't get the sheet on their phones. Have you tried downloading the new version of google docs from the app store/google play? I just have and it works fine on my phone now.
In general we discussed:
1) There are three potential events in 10 days - 21, 26 and 29 June. Perhaps it would be better to do just two of them. Some people felt it would be better to focus on the external events to raise our profile, some people felt crawls were important for the money. If you're signed up for any of these events and have an opinion about which, if any, we should drop please email ASAP.
2) 6 July with Greenwich - unless one maybe person becomes a yes person we can't do this. Please can the 'no replies' fill in their availability - we've got a good chance of getting a definitive answer on this one, even if it is 'no'.
3) Croydon on 19 August - there wasn't much enthusiasm for this. If you'd like to encourage people that it's an event worth attending, please speak now!
4) Faversham - if we go it might be nice to camp. Rachel, can you find out what the sleeping arrangements might be?
5) Several people said they'd like to prioritise Rockingham over Godalming or Norwich for the weekend of 13 Sept. It would be good to get info on timings. We haven't assumed that your answer for Rockingham would be the same as your answer for Godalming so please fill this is separately.
6) At some point in the future Jo will organise to have an extended business session to discuss what we should do with our money.
See you next week,
Ffion x
P.S. SIGN UP NOW!! https://docs.google.com/document/d/11XHQc6j0g7HQto7rhOs6k0bfkw-XmFb8jmCeRa4…
Hi all
I'm afraid I won't be either. Hope to see you all next week.
Nic x
Sent from my HTC One X on O2
----- Reply message -----
From: "Laura Smyth" <laura_marie_smyth(a)hotmail.com>
To: "Katherine Bates" <katherine_bates(a)hotmail.com>, "team" <team(a)towerravens.org.uk>
Subject: [Tower Ravens] Tonight
Date: Mon, Jun 9, 2014 11:59
Unfortunately I can't make it tonight either. Hope you have a great time and I hope to see you all next week.
Laura x
From: katherine_bates(a)hotmail.com
To: team(a)towerravens.org.uk
Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2014 10:59:05 +0100
Subject: [Tower Ravens] Tonight
Hi all,
As I feared I've been asked to stay late at work tonight as my boss is still away on honeymoon so can't cover. This shouldn't happen so often, if at all, from next week as we'll be back to being fully staffed (lots of people have inconsiderately had babies recently so lots away on leave!)
It was good to see some of you at St Neots, and to dance. Even if I did get soaked in the morning, sun burnt in the afternoon, went a bit wrong, hit you with my badge sash and got a cut finger! A great day all round apart from that (and thanks for the £1 loan for cake!)
See you all next week.
- Kat
Date: Sun, 8 Jun 2014 19:29:24 +0100
From: janetdilke(a)btinternet.com
To: team(a)towerravens.org.uk
Subject: [Tower Ravens] St Neots
A GOOD Day with Cake and Pub Visit at the finish.
I am unable to come on Monday but will bring some cake the following week.
Janet x
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Hey,
I remembered that I mentioned we'd been invited to Rockingham's 10th birthday in Peterborough on 13th of September but it never seems to have made it onto the sheet. It now clashes with one of the Godalming days.
I'm assuming we'd be a no for the rockingham day but if could know then I can tell Ken's Mum (fun!).
Cheers me dears,
Becky xx
Hi all,
Last night we experimented with how to get into tumbles in the new dance. We worked out who'd need to be where to make it possible to have the single tumbler and the double tumblers as different people, however, having looked at the possible combinations of dancers on paper, I think we should go with the single tumbler being one of the double tumblers tactic. We can review this further down the line when we know if we can squeeze some more tumblers out of the team :-) As number three gets the glory of breastplates and displaying locks I think it would be nice for number 2 to be the single tumbler who gets to show us their knickers twice!
With this in mind, plus trying to juggle everyone's tumbling/pillaring capabilities, and the preferences for positions you wrote on the sheets at the AGM, and people's general availability for practices and crawls, I've come up with a configuration of people and positions for the new dance. I've also written down everyone's positions in the Jubilee dance. P means primary position and S means secondary position. I've made it so that everyone has a primary and secondary position. I know not everyone has started learning a second position - this is more aspirational! I've made things bold where I think people are dance-out-ready in a certain position. Please let me know if anything unbold should be bold and vice versa!
The details are all in this google doc. Hopefully you can all see it using this link https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wP--H3QhDYfZPRlKkZpYvWnYQNWR4PeXFY_hhpS…. I've also shared it with towerravensrapper(a)gmail.com so it should be 'on file' for the future.
Ffion x
Hi all,
We had quite a long business tonight and discussed the following things:
1) Happy 21st Birthday Katherine!
2) Mmm, cake
3) Then things got serious and we talked through the potential bookings on the sign up sheet for the rest of the summer. We got some more people signed up to things. If you weren't there please sign up to things asap. We need to get back to organisers but we also need to arrange our own travel of we're going to go to far away places like York.
4) If we're going to go to far away places like York we shouldn't be afraid to spend some of the kitty money on transport costs - we don't want people to be put off taking part by costs.
5) We should revisit the idea of collecting partly for charity sometime.
6) Crawls - yes, we should keep crawling in summer as long as there are enough people available for them. At the moment there are enough people signed up to make June, July and August viable but concerns were raised about the fact that people don't always honour their commitment to crawls - we need to be as committed to crawls as we are to external bookings because someone puts time and effort into organising them. Becky and Janet will organise a crawl in Pimlico in July. Laura will organise September in Kentish Town. We still need someone to offer to organise June and August. Please have a think about whether you can organise something around where you work or live and put your name next to the crawl date on the sheet if you can organise one.
See you next week,
Ffion x
LINK TO THE SHEET - https://docs.google.com/document/d/11XHQc6j0g7HQto7rhOs6k0bfkw-XmFb8jmCeRa4…
Hey Rachel and all.. I definitely can't do St Neots as in the isle of Wight that weekend xxx
Sent from my HTC One X on O2
----- Reply message -----
From: "Rachel Sheridan" <rachel.sheridan(a)cantab.net>
To: "team(a)towerravens.org.uk" <team(a)towerravens.org.uk>
Subject: [Tower Ravens] Tonight
Date: Mon, Jun 2, 2014 19:08
I've had an absolutely horrific day at work and just need some time at home, so I won't be there either. Leaves you rather short - sorry.
Could somebody read out the upcoming events at https://docs.google.com/document/d/11XHQc6j0g7HQto7rhOs6k0bfkw-XmFb8jmCeRa4… - we particularly need dancers for St Neot's (7/6) and Leigh-on-Sea (29/6), as well as a few new invites.
Thanks,
Rachel
On Mon, Jun 2, 2014 at 6:26 PM, Joanna Smee <joannasmee(a)hotmail.com> wrote:
Sorry but won't be there tonight. Have a fab practice.
Joanna x
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OMG me neither!! Sorry folks xxx
Sent from my HTC One X on O2
----- Reply message -----
From: "Joanna Smee" <joannasmee(a)hotmail.com>
To: "Tower Ravens" <team(a)towerravens.org.uk>
Subject: [Tower Ravens] Tonight
Date: Mon, Jun 2, 2014 18:26
Sorry but won't be there tonight. Have a fab practice.
Joanna x
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Thanks Hannorah, that's so kind. Thanks for all your hard work organising the crawl and for making it a success. Glad you enjoyed the evening.
And thanks to everyone who came last night and for being so patient with me! I might learn an easier tune set for solo playing.
My guess is 93.17 and 5 euros :)
See you Monday. x
Sent from Samsung Mobile
-------- Original message --------
From: Hannorah Lee <hannorah.lee(a)hotmail.co.uk>
Date: 30/05/2014 00:22 (GMT+00:00)
To: team <team(a)towerravens.org.uk>
Subject: [Tower Ravens] Well done Ravens!
Lovely Team!
Thanks so much to those who made the crawl tonight:
Laura - what an amazing solo Quaver Raven debut!
Lindsey - what a champion tweeter, top-lender & navigator you are!
Rachel, Katherine & Becky - with input from 'Honorary Raven for the night' Simon you cracked the free drink strategy - nice one!
Janet - thanks as always for putting in the work beforehand helping to secure pubs!
Sue - thank you for battling a myriad challenges including falling trees, builders & very bruised vocal chords to bring buzz to proceedings.
I was feeling tired and sorry for myself earlier this evening - but I can honestly say tonight's crawl was the best possible remedy & the highlight of my week!
Can't wait to hear how much we raised. My guess is £82. :-)
Hx
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Yep I'll bring a petticoat to practice x
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Becky Such <rebeccasuch(a)hotmail.com> wrote:
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You should have got this! I just got it through this morning.
Here you go - in case no one from TR gets one!
It's very well organised. And we also have lunch at the same time and there's cake at the end so I'm sure I'll see you all a few times.
Date: Fri, 30 May 2014 04:28:49 -0700
From: stneotsdance(a)yahoo.com
Subject: St Neots day of dance on 7 June - timetable attached
To: rockinghamrapper(a)yahoo.co.uk; purcelle73(a)yahoo.com; jsdimascio(a)aol.com; hertshollydancers(a)yahoo.co.uk; info(a)towerravens.org.uk; manormillmorris(a)hotmail.com; owmolly(a)gmail.com; chas.redbornstoke(a)btinternet.com; pigdykesecretary(a)hotmail.co.uk; Lynda.swaine(a)btinternet.com; katherine_bates(a)hotmail.com; plury7(a)googlemail.com; PATTIPITT6(a)aol.com; tomsennett(a)rocketmail.com; h.m.barnard.98(a)cantab.net; pdwright(a)gmail.com; ssennett(a)theiet.org; bezx(a)hotmail.co.uk; mayfield198(a)hotmail.com; secretary.thrales(a)gmail.com; molly(a)cusu.cam.ac.uk
Dear
all Please
find attached the timetable for the St Neots Day of Dance. The first sheet has
the master timetable and the second a mini-programme for each side. Meeting point The
Priory Centre, Priory Lane, will be open from 9.45 for meeting and facilities. Further to earlier parking recommendations, there is a smallish car park here. Please note
though that we won’t be returning there, so please remember to take everything
with you when you leave. The location of the dance
spots are: Market
Square – the most prominent spot for your show dances! The last two spots of
the day are designated “showcase spots” where half the teams will be there at
any one time for a dance apiece. Riverside
Park – there will be an area taped off next to the café. Teams are requested to
stand on the café balcony or on the path when not dancing – not in the car park! The
Chequers (car park) – St Mary’s Street Coach
House (High Street) – patio area at the rear. The
Pig and Falcon – New Street. We can dance on the street at the side of the pub
and there is also a small indoor area for rapper or step. The landlord is
offering a CAMRA discount on real ales to all dancers in kit, and you can also
take packed lunches into the outdoor area provided you are drinking from the
bar! United
Reformed Church – raised patio area on Moore’s Walk (off the High Street).
Again, please be sure to keep the adjoining walkways clear for public right of
way. Tea and cake Ah
yes, this is the real reason you’re coming to St Neots! We’re pleased to offer
tea and cakes in the hall of the United Reformed Church on Moore’s Walk from
around 4.30. The delicious homemade spread is provided by members of the
festival committee – suggested donation £1 per person to cover our hall hire
costs. Finally,
don’t forget to book your tickets for the ceilidh with Time of Your Life on
Friday evening and the concert with Steve Knightley on Saturday evening. Call
Roger and Patti Pitt on 01234 376 278 to
book tickets for either of these. We
look forward to seeing you there! There will be stewards around the dance spots
in case of any queries; or you can find Sarah and Tom with Rockingham Rapper.
Phone number in case of any urgent queries is 07857 311 834.
You make a good point Sue.
Please could someone bring me a petticoat I can wear next Saturday please?
Thanks!xx
Subject: Re: [Tower Ravens] St Neot's - 7th June
From: connollysue(a)hotmail.com
Date: Sat, 31 May 2014 09:26:07 +0100
To: rebeccasuch(a)hotmail.com
Cheers Becky. But we both need one because it looks as if I'll be dancing. I'll see if I have time to finish the one I have half-made. Not holding my breath though
S x
Sent from my iPad
On 31 May 2014, at 00:41, "rebeccasuch" <rebeccasuch(a)hotmail.com> wrote:
I have it sue!
Will endeavour to remember it on monday or failing will definitely bring it on saturday!
Xx
Sent from Samsung Mobile
-------- Original message --------
From: Sue Connolly
Date:30/05/2014 17:39 (GMT+00:00)
To: Rachel Sheridan ,Tower Ravens
Subject: Re: [Tower Ravens] St Neot's - 7th June
Could someone commit to bringing a petticoat to Monday's practice please?
I have last night's collection but don't anticipate counting it any time soon. In the meantime, any further guesses? Mine is £104.50 plus 7 euros
S x
Sent from my iPad
> On 30 May 2014, at 10:40, "Rachel Sheridan" <rachel.sheridan(a)cantab.net> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> Lots of discussion about St Neot's last night, which is coming up soon on 7th June (a week tomorrow!). I don't actually have any confirmed timings to share, but I've poked Sarah, and since she put on facebook yesterday that she's finished the timetable,
I'm hoping we'll get to see it soon. I'll be sending it round as soon as it comes in.
>
> St Neot's is about 30 minutes by train from King's Cross and the station is fairly central (maybe 10 minutes walk?). I would imagine that we need to be there for 10ish - but that's just a guess!
>
> I'm expecting Janet, Rachel, Becky, Sue, Hannorah, Nikki. Please, if there's anybody else who's free next weekend and fancies some dancing out, do come along. As you can see we have an extremely skeleton side, so more people would be very much appreciated.
>
> Rachel x
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Hi all,
Lots of discussion about St Neot's last night, which is coming up soon on
7th June (a week tomorrow!). I don't actually have any confirmed timings
to share, but I've poked Sarah, and since she put on facebook yesterday
that she's finished the timetable, I'm hoping we'll get to see it soon.
I'll be sending it round as soon as it comes in.
St Neot's is about 30 minutes by train from King's Cross and the station is
fairly central (maybe 10 minutes walk?). I would imagine that we need to
be there for 10ish - but that's just a guess!
I'm expecting Janet, Rachel, Becky, Sue, Hannorah, Nikki. Please, if
there's anybody else who's free next weekend and fancies some dancing out,
do come along. As you can see we have an extremely skeleton side, so more
people would be very much appreciated.
Rachel x
Lovely Team!
Thanks so much to those who made the crawl tonight:
Laura - what an amazing solo Quaver Raven debut!
Lindsey - what a champion tweeter, top-lender & navigator you are!
Rachel, Katherine & Becky - with input from 'Honorary Raven for the night' Simon you cracked the free drink strategy - nice one!
Janet - thanks as always for putting in the work beforehand helping to secure pubs!
Sue - thank you for battling a myriad challenges including falling trees, builders & very bruised vocal chords to bring buzz to proceedings.
I was feeling tired and sorry for myself earlier this evening - but I can honestly say tonight's crawl was the best possible remedy & the highlight of my week!
Can't wait to hear how much we raised. My guess is £82. :-)
Hx
Sent from my iPhone
Sorry guys I won't be there tonight. I've had a stinker of a headache for the past couple of days. I also think I'm developing a temperature, I don't want to share this with you. I hope you have a really fun evening.
Sad to be missing out :-(
See you soon
xx
Sent from my iPhone
Sent from my iPhone
Hi
Sorry I won't be there tonight either. I can now make the crawl although I don't know how much use I'll be as I've not been to practice for a while. I could help with pubs but I'm out of London till the 28th and I'm not sure of that's leaving it a bit late?
I also can't make it to st neots sorry :(
Katherine x
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Ffion Mair <ffion_coch(a)hotmail.com> wrote:
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Hi all,
For those of you who weren't there last night we had a successful mini workshop from some Thrales guys and I'm pleased to report that Kat and Rhona can now tumble. Laura can also tumble 'the other way round' and Lindsey and Becky completed a few double tumbles in both directions :-)
We also played around with a figure which was in my head made up of breast plates and locks. Unfortunately I hadn't worked out exactly how it would work so we spent a lot of time fiddling with options - sorry about that. I think I've now figured out two options - one will definitely work, the other might. If any of you who were there have any brain waves, let me know!
The other figure I have in my head involves combining 2 or 3 of follower, tits and Mary Anne which are all figures you can do from three directions. They're all moving figures rather than lock figures so should be easier to try out. If anyone has anything else they'd like to try for the new dance please let me know sooner rather than later.
See you all next Monday,
Ffion x
Hi guys,
Because I'm an idiot who can't morning, I forgot to bring any instruments
into work. If I went home to fetch one, I wouldn't make it back until well
into the second half.
Does anyone have a violin or d whistle or flute (?) that'll be easy to
bring in that I might possibly borrow for tonight?
Sorry!!
N xx
