Hello,

I'll do whatever you think would be good/funny. I hadn't realised there were only two dancers in addition to the 5 in the set plus Sue though - I'd imagined there would be more. I don't think any miming being commuter stuff will be effective with just two. I also hadn't realised it was the same thing as the bird masks so commuters + birds might be too many messages anyway. I'm happy to learn some Tommy lines if that would ease the burden on Sue. Patrick and I should be getting there in time for the Tuesday evening crawl so might there be time to run through this before we do it for real?

Looking forward to seeing you all again soon, and to seeing the results of all this pre-Sidmouth creativity!

Ffion x

Please take a look at my blog on Welsh folk songs - caneuongwerin.wordpress.com
From: Becky Such <rebeccasuch@hotmail.com>
Sent: 29 July 2018 17:27:41
To: Hannah Norman
Cc: Ffion Mair; Tower Ravens team
Subject: Re: [Tower Ravens] Sidmouth fun stuff!
 

I think this completely depends how bothered those who aren't in the dance feel. Obviously it's simpler if it's just the 5 dancers, but happy to consider how to get the 2 who wouldn't be dancing involved. Although one will be Ffion who won't have opportunity to practice! I did discuss with Sue splitting up the tommy comments, so if people felt happy splitting that up that could be done? We do need someone to throw feathers (if we've managed to get some more!?)


Hoops  - I'd rather not just say the announcement, it's not funny and it's not ravens relevant. I'd be in favour of just scrapping this and just walk around into coach and horses ready for 4th corner.


My plan for this tomorrow is to run through the body of the dance with whoever wants to be doing it so we're happy. Then work on start and end, and any involvement by the extra two. Ffion as you won't be around beforehand how would you feel about this generally? I'd rather you weren't trying to be in the 5 set if I'm honest due to practice time but if you're super keen we can try and make it work??


TOMORROW

Last practice before Sidmouth. Focus will be this skit and Beadnell. If there is something you really want to run through please let me know.


Becky



From: Hannah Norman <hannahruthnorman@gmail.com>
Sent: 29 July 2018 10:39
To: Becky Such
Cc: Ffion Mair; Tower Ravens team
Subject: Re: [Tower Ravens] Sidmouth fun stuff!
 
Thinking we could elongate the start of the dance a bit - have us all stood randomly using swords as poles to hold on to (some could be horizontal) then do your braking thing. We could then post-brake move the 5 doing the dance closer together to do the walk around. Could suffer a couple more brakings on the way to that, people not in the set could be more dramatic about it and then maybe move out of the way a bit once the dance starts, but could have the option of them joining in "interpretative dance-style" during the dance - though I haven't thought about how this will go. Though I guess they can be used to get the feathers and throw them at the tumble? and could join in stepping at the lock display?

Hoops - I guess you could make the announcement for London Bridge? This is the northbound jubilee service to Stanmore, we are now approaching London Bridge, change here for the northern line and national rail services. (I can't quite remember what is actually said).

I don't know whether it would work having the people not in the set sort of pretending to be on a tube train behind the dance, and then maybe one person getting off at certain figures, getting on or whatever. Though making sure that everyone is "on the tube" for the final stop so that there is more hustle and bustle at the end of the dance.

Hannah


On 26 July 2018 at 15:24, Becky Such <rebeccasuch@hotmail.com> wrote:

Hi Ffion, 


Yes this is still with the birds, I figure that is just for costumes, although more puns re. birds could be inserted I'm sure! The themes are quite hard to bring together other than in costume, but do look rather fabulous so want to push with them. It also makes it very us rather than just London, which is nice!


I'm assuming we're leaving you out of this as you won't have time to practice. rest assured you'll get a mask and a thing to pin on re. ravens court park :)


Becky



From: Ffion Mair <ffion_coch@hotmail.com>
Sent: 26 July 2018 14:16
To: Becky Such; Tower Ravens team
Subject: Re: Sidmouth fun stuff!
 
This may be a good time to mention something I think I suggested years ago. We could dress up a bit like city workers in bowler hats and use umbrellas instead of swords, at least for some of the dance. Or people who aren't in the dance could walk on dressed like this first and busily walk around the edges of the dance or sit on chairs reading newspapers to simulate being on a tube. Is this the same dance that we're dressing as London tube birds for? If so it's probably too many different ideas. X
Please take a look at my blog on Welsh folk songs - caneuongwerin.wordpress.com
Archwilio ac arddangos caneuon Gwerin o Gymru / Exploring and showcasing folk songs from Wales


From: TowerRavensTeam <towerravensteam-bounces@lists.postman.org.uk> on behalf of Becky Such <rebeccasuch@hotmail.com>
Sent: 26 July 2018 13:49
To: Tower Ravens team
Subject: [Tower Ravens] Sidmouth fun stuff!
 

Hi all,


Being privy to the Camden Clog skit for the morris party has made me realise we maybe need to up our game (we have the fish dance to live up to after all). Still to do Jubilee but with some commentary and some vague drama?? These are the ideas I have, please comment or boo as you think. This was all conjured up on a bus at 8 in the morning so might be utter tripe!


Start: Hands up in air as if holding onto handles/pole (can't quite envisage this with swords but bear with me) Music for 8 then everyone "brakes suddenly" (musically could be good) i.e leaning back/stagger a little look shocked as music starts back up again and start to walk around the 8.


Single Guard:

As normal but with comments along the lines of: 'we're used to the hustle and bustle of travelling on the London tubes. We practice near bank where you have to take this many turns just to find your way out of the station!'


Back 8:

As normal: 'Or course we're some very polite ravens and always form an orderly queue'

--> one or all start to barge through 'apart from when we don't/ apart from this one, she's a bit rogue' etc.


Haymarket:

As normal: 'Some regard this as the traditional sword dancing figure, Haymarket. We perceive it as an artistic impression of the overground sign! Behold it's mediocre glory!'


Pixies:

As normal: introduce the team with the birds names with some explanation about how our dances are named after tubelines anyway? or this could have happened earlier


Tumble:

As normal, in stepping before tumble 'please stand back from the the closing doors'

--> feathers thrown hopefully on people?? 'I did tell you stand back!'


Display the lock:

As normal: 'all the way from...wherever to Cockfosters?? Ravens come to dance for you, whether you want us to or not/ ravens dance to all of London, whether they want us to or not'


Spin:

Slow down and stop?? including music 'Ladies and gentlemen, someone has triggered the passenger alarm in the train ahead so all trains are to remain in their stations until further notice'.

All dancers groan and look bored, all pause.

'We've now got the go ahead and will be proceeding shortly' music starts, spin starts again and finishes.


Hoops:

I have no amusing ideas


4th corner:

As normal 'Mind the gap'


End: 'Ladies and gentlemen we have reached the final destination. All change!' all walk/flap off in different directions


Ok. so feel free to tear this to bits, in reality it mainly means remembering what tommy would say, and a bit of effort on the dancers and musicians parts.  I don't want to spend too long on this, much like beadnell, but is worth looking at on Monday (or any suggestions anyone has!!)


I'm hoping there are no total disasters tonight, we know we can dance the positions we learnt, and can therefore focus on all this random crap!


Thanks :)


Becky


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