Issue 2048: Three-couple set OR four-couple set?
- Object
- The Three Bernadettes (Dance)
- Submitter
- Iain Boyd
- Assigned to
- Murrough Landon
- Priority
- Normal
- Disposition
- Fixed
- Description
-
As the entry for this dance is taken from a youtube video there is no way that one can be sure that the dance is for three couples in a three-couple set rather than in a four-couple set.
The last eight bears are -
First couple cross giving right hands, dance down behind second and third couples on opposite sides and turn with right arm grip one and a half times.
It could just as easily be -
First couple cross giving right hands, cast down round second couple on opposite sides and turn with right hands one and a half times.
Personally, I think the second option is more likely to be correct (despite third woman being required at the beginning of the third time through making the join between the second and third times through a little more awkward).
Without access to the original instructions there is no way of being sure.
Is there any way (rather than adding a note to Extra info) for the ‘set size’ and ‘progression’ to be tagged as either one OR the other?
Previous Actions
- Date April 10, 2020, 12:01 a.m.
- User Unknown
New issue submitted
- Date April 10, 2020, 1:18 a.m.
- User Murrough Landon (murrough)
Assigned changed to »murrough« (previously »None«)
Disposition changed to »Fixed« (previously »New«)
Its a good question. I can see two cases where one might like that:
(a) We do not know for sure when entering the dance;
(b) The deviser says the dance can be done in either.
But as far as I know there is no way of specifying this in SCDDB - apart from making a comment in extra info.
Sorry to disagree, but while its not certain my feeling is that a three couple set is more likely for this dance:
(1) The name of the dance indicates it was written for three people all called Bernadette and a 3 couple set seems quite appropriate.
(2) There is a tune by Muriel Johnstone with the same name (apart from 3/Three). She has made a 3x32 recording including that tune. It is not the lead tune but it still seems suggestive that it was intended the recording could be used for the dance.
(3) The youtube comment says it was done as part of a demo and gives the names of more than six dancers who participated in the event, so they were not short of couples if they had wanted a 4 couple set.
Given the video is the only evidence I propose to leave it as a 3C set, but have added a note saying this is not certain.
- Date April 10, 2020, 8:35 p.m.
- User Murrough Landon (murrough)
Thanks to Roland obtaining a copy of the instructions it is confirmed the dance is for a 3 couple set and was devised by Muriel Johnstone.