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Dance The House Keys of Lisbon 21149

Strathspey · 32 bars · 3 couples · Triangular   (Progression: 231)

Devised by
Murrough Landon (2020)
Intensity
666/666/888/888 = 88% (whole dance)
Formations
Steps
  • Strathspey setting, Strathspey travel
Online Sources
Recommended Music
Extra Info
The title was inspired by a BBC news article about a Portuguese law allowing descendants of Jews expelled in the …

The title was inspired by a BBC news article about a Portuguese law allowing descendants of Jews expelled in the 15th and 16th centuries to return and claim citizenship. Apparently a few families who took refuge in Istanbul still have keys to the houses in Lisbon that they were forced to leave centuries ago. These keys have been passed down as family heirlooms. For more details see https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/Turning_Portuguese.

Those keen on symbolism can imagine the six dancers starting at the points of a Star of David and that the hands across and turns represent keys in locks.

The tune, Da Slockit Light, was written by fiddler Tom Anderson as a lament for the lights of houses in Shetland being extinguished as people moved away. It seemed an appropriate choice.

This dance also provides an opportunity to thank several people that I know in Lisbon: firstly Adriana Duarte for organising the Curia weekends; also Isabel Monteiro and Isabel Neves for devising lovely dances; and Barbara Gray, Joana Ferreira, Roger Picken and Sue Willdig for running the Carcavelos, Lapa and Telheiras SCD groups.

NameArtistAlbumMediaTrkTypeTimePaceClip
Da Slockit Light Dewhurst, Chris, Julie & Nick Short & Sweet CD 12 S32 33:06 62.0
The House Keys of Lisbon 3T · S32
1–
M LHA ; all S&Link (1x,2x,3x)
9–
W LHA ; all S&Link (1,2,3) & end with W facing out
17–
4 bars of Schiehallion Reels, passing LSh in centre, W end facing out (2,3,1) ; turn cnr LH & face P | turn P BH & open out into a circle
25–
Circle6 & back (2,3,1)
The House Keys of Lisbon 3T · S32
1-8
Men dance LH across back to place; all Set+Link
9-16
Ladies dance LH across back to partner’s place; all Set+Link to original places, Ladies face out
17-20
All dance 4 bars of Schiehallion reels (pass LSh in centre). Ladies face out (all have progressed 1 place anticlockwise)
21-24
All turn corner LH , face partner & turn partner 2H once round, opening out ready to …
25-32
All circle 6H round & back. 2 3 1

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Watch on YouTube

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Dem at Iberian Weekend in Évora, 2024.

Added on: 2024-03-10 (Isabel Monteiro)
Quality: Demonstration quality

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Lisbon Lapa group, Évora Iberian weekend 2024.

Added on: 2024-04-08 (Murrough Landon)
Quality: Demonstration quality

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London Gay Gordons & Friends, 2022

Added on: 2022-10-24 (Murrough Landon)
Quality: Good

NameDateOwnerLast changed
Turnham Green - 18 December 2022 2022-12-18 Jacmel Dent Jan. 2, 2023, 8:40 p.m.
St Columba's Dancers 2023-11-06 2023-11-06 Murrough Landon Aug. 3, 2023, 8:01 p.m.
RSCDS Wirral Tuesday Class - 19 September 2023 2023-09-19 Anne MacDonald Sept. 17, 2023, 6:31 p.m.
Tustin Class 03-25-2024 2024-03-25 Connie Walker March 26, 2024, 10:46 p.m.
St Columba's Dancers 2023-01-09 2023-01-09 Murrough Landon Nov. 24, 2022, 12:51 a.m.
The More Unusual Dance Club 230717 2023-07-17 Peter Dixon June 30, 2023, 11:37 a.m.
Cumnor 1 February 2023 2023-02-01 Cumnor Scottish Jan. 11, 2023, 7:18 p.m.
Richmond Caledonian 08.02.23 2023-02-08 Simon Stewart Feb. 2, 2023, 11:54 a.m.
St Columba's Dancers 2023-02-13 2023-02-13 Murrough Landon Nov. 24, 2022, 12:52 a.m.
Turnham Green - 22 October 2023 2023-10-22 Jacmel Dent Dec. 7, 2023, 1:47 a.m.
Richmond Caledonian 2022-12-07 2022-12-07 Murrough Landon Jan. 12, 2023, 2:20 p.m.
ML Video Session 17 2022-10-16 Murrough Landon May 26, 2023, 1:17 a.m.
Lisbon February Weekend Ball - 25th February, 2023 2023-02-25 Roger Picken May 23, 2023, 1:34 a.m.
Richmond Caledonian 18.01.2023 2023-01-18 Andrew Osborne Jan. 12, 2023, 7:50 p.m.
23 09 30 SASS Newick 2023-09-30 Chris & Lee Pratt Sept. 5, 2023, 11:15 a.m.
Richmond Caledonian 3rd May 2023 2023-05-03 Annette Hughes May 1, 2023, 3:42 p.m.
Cardiff - Whitchurch Tuesday Class June Dance 2023 2023-06-03 Alison Jackson May 15, 2023, 10:29 p.m.
Richmond Caledonian 26.04.2023 2023-04-26 Andrew Osborne April 24, 2023, 7:13 p.m.
London Highland Club Summer Dance - Sat 15 June 2024 2024-06-15 Jacmel Dent March 13, 2024, 12:31 a.m.

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IdSubjectDateSubmitterAssigned toPriorityDisposition
3478 Video The House keys of Lisboa March 10, 2024, 11:17 p.m. Isabel Monteiro Murrough Landon Normal Fixed