Would like to know which dances have been current this year at the Tower. If the bpm could be added to each dance that would also be helpful.
Perhaps the 'Ballroom Dancer' and/or Chris H might like to answer.
Thanks.
OrganFax Community » General Discussions
DANCING AT THE TOWER
(15 posts)-
Posted 1 year ago #
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Apart from the standard ballroom and latin dances, there are a set of regular sequence dances which include :-
Ennerdale waltz, Lilac waltz, Melody foxtrot, Mayfair quickstep
Serida tango, Square tango, Rumba one, SallyAnn Chacha, Balmoral Blues, Saunter together, Veleta, Cindy swing, Bossa Nova, Carribean calypso, and my favorite the Gavotte (usually just announced as Gavotte, bust most dancers do the Wedgwood blue).Some newer ones are occasionally played including Alpine Stroll and Blue Angel rumba.
I may have missed one or two, but they do vary depending on who is playing.
I don't have the bpm to hand. I'll have to check my dance books unless Chris or any of the other organists reply.
If you use Facebook, you may like to know that there is a group dedicated to the Tower ballroom http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=6484712001
If you need any info that's a good place to get it.Posted 1 year ago # -
There's a list of standard tempo's for sequence dances here.
http://www.qbds.ca/Dancing/Tempo.htm
It's a Canadian site, but I guess they use the same tempo as we do.Posted 1 year ago # -
Thanks Geoff for the informative reply.
Is the GAVOTTE now back in fashion?
Last time one was aware that this was being danced at the Tower was in 1992 when Phil had it on his cd 'Come Dancing at The Tower Ballroom'.
Is the ALPINE STROLL and CARIBBEAN CALYPSO new dances?
One assumes that other names attached to say the (SallyAnn) Cha Cha, (Melody) Foxtrot, (Serida) Tango, (Blue Angel) Rumba etc are a sequence of new dance steps but still mainly a cha cha, foxtrot, tango, rumba and so on.
Something I do not understand is the music and style of playing for the Bossa Nova dance as it does not seem to be like the Jobim Bossa.
Comments would be welcome.Posted 1 year ago # -
The Gavotte has been quite popular at the Tower over the past few years, certainly as long as I can remember. Alpine stroll is a 2006 dance which seems to be popular at most dance venues I go to. Quite often danced to 'Stroll Along' by Dave Sheriff. Don't know the date for the Carribean calypso as all the web sites list it as 'unknown origin'.
I'm not sure if you are familiar with the concept of sequence dances, but they are dances which comprise a fixed set of figures and all dancers do the same steps at the same time rather than dancing freestyle. So a sequence rumba will consist of a set sequence of figures which are mainly based on freestyle rumba figures. Each dance is based upon a 16 bar repeating sequence of figures and the music must have a four bar intro before the dancing starts. There are currently more than 3000 sequence dances and new ones appear all the time. Most of them fall by the wayside and are quickly forgotten but occasionally some new ones become very popular.
Not really sure about the Bossa Nova. My Tyros 3 has several Bossa styles all 4/4 time arounf 124bpm. Quite a bouncy dance similar to Samba.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Strict tempo dancing is quite new, a concept developed by Victor Sylvestor.
Note Strict, not fixed. I have VS books published about twenty years apart, both give ranges of tempo for ballroom and latin dances, each dance with a max and min tempo. The books vary for most dances, min & max being adjusted according to the fashion of the time.
Out of interest the competition Rhumba tempo was reduced a couple of years ago but is still faster than social tempo.
Dance tempo is something you will never get right, there will always be someone who wants it faster or slower, I speak as a dancer who has also run dances with live players, always someone complains.
The only real guidance is how many people are on the floor, if the floor is full and one person complains you have got it right, if the floor is empty and one person compliments you you have got it wrong.Posted 1 year ago # -
Thanks John.
Would like to know the varying tempi as shown by your VS books.Posted 1 year ago # -
Have just noticed ....
is the carib calypso as played by PK on youtube a rhythm in beguine style?
when did the Wersi have a slide out platform covering the Wurli lift?Posted 1 year ago # -
Not.sure about the calypso music, but I think the Wersi has always slid out when the Wurli goes down, certainly as long as I can remember. Chris Hopkins has occasionally pointed out that his goes 'in and out' whilst Phils goes 'up and down'.
If you haven't already seen it, here's an interesting video of what goes on beneath the wurlitzer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSw6b7PVpDw
Posted 1 year ago # -
We have recently been to the Tower and here is an up to date list of dances, some of which were requests. Organists on the days we visited were Phil Kelsall, Chris Hopkins and John Bowdler. I see from one of the posts above that the Gavotte (which was done at least once a day) is apparently the Wedgewood Blue but does anyone know which Bossa Nova it is that is danced there? We learnt the Bossa Nova Blues but it isn't that one? There does, at present, seem to be an issue with some (sequence and ballroom) dances being repeated far too regularly during the day.
Anyway here is the list -
Ballroom Quicksteps, Waltzes, Foxtrots and Tangos
Latin Cha Cha, Rumba and Jive
Argentine Tango
Vienese Waltz
Sequence dances -
Waltz - Emmerdale & Kathryn
Quickstep - Mayfair (also done in Samba timing)
Swing - Sindy, Glengarry and Vienese
Saunter - Together
Blues - Balmoral
Foxtrot - Melody
Cha Cha - Sally Ann
Rumba - One
Old Time Waltz - Pride Of Erin, Veleta
Boston Two Step
Alpine Stroll
Tango - Square and Serida (Serida was also done in Vienese Waltz time)
Caribbean Calypso
Gavotte - Wedgewood Blue?
Bossa Nova - ?Out of interest we visited on a Wednesday, which was a busier day with a lot of 'regulars' and on a Friday which was quieter but unfortunately as the roof was leaking the dance space was more limited due to 'slippy floor' signs, cloths and buckets! Still had a good time though.
Posted 7 months ago #
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