Technique Doctor

Bruce Frazer offers some helpful guidance on dancing the Ladies ' Chain.

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After teaching a ladies ’ chain I was once asked about the pattern of the formation. I realised the question had arisen because the dancer had been taught it originally as it had been written in “Won ’t You Join the Dance?” and so my first observation was to point out the description in the Manual had changed the floor pattern particularly for the women. Perhaps this is a timely reminder that some of our instructions have developed with subtle changes and it is incumbent on teachers to instruct their classes accordingly. For many, it is like passing your driving test – opening the Manual (Highway Code) after passing the test is something of a rarity. Depending on the dance, the ladies ’ chain may start with couples side by side with their partner eg Rudha Dubha (Book 23) although this is more common in square sets or round the room dances. More commonly in longwise sets, the first couple are on opposite sides of the dance in second place eg Kendall’ sHornpipe(Graded Book). The important thing to remember is that the men should have a woman on their right to start. For the purpose of this article I have adopted the positions used in the Manual ie first couple on the men ’ s side and second couple on the women ’ s side, both women on the right of their partner. WYJTD had the two women giving right hands to cross over and dance into the opposite man place whilst the men danced into their partner ’ s places before starting the left hand turn. I always felt this was not an attractive movement and certainly was not an easy one to teach. The Manual on the other hand has the women giving right hands to cross over whilst the men curve to the right and dance towards their partner ’ s place – a point to be emphasised. The diagram shows quite clearly the women then being in the middle of the set to start the left hand turn. This gives a much more pleasing appearance of a straight line on the diagonal between the right hand cross and left hand turn. As with all chain movements, there are excellent opportunities for good handing and eye contact. Hands are given at shoulder height in two bar phrases – right hands on bars 1-2 and 5-6 and left hands on bars 3-4 and 7-8. At no point should right and left hands be joined at the same time. The women, having acknowledged each other with right hands can look forward with anticipation at the men as they dance up on the sides (photo 1). As soon as they let go with the right hands, women then join left hands with the men in a straight line, centring the turns in 1st woman ’ s and 2nd man ’ s places (photo 2). An exciting element of dancing is light and shade – variation in the length of steps within a formation and so it is in a ladies ’ chain, especially for the men who have to lengthen their steps to complete the left hand turns. These comments also apply to a men ’ s chain of course and if you want to add an extra challenge by rotating the axis of the formation through 90 degrees try the Royal Albert Country Dance (Book 34) or Speirs Bruce, the Pole Star(Scotia Suite).

Footnote: When I congratulated Derek Haynes on matching the pattern of the targe in The Clansman (Book 32) with the real thing, he responded by telling me it was based on a ladies ’ chain danced badly!

Bars 1 and 2 Bar 3

Ladies ’ chain

Steps

This formation is danced by two couples. The starting position may vary, but the women always stand on the right of the men. 8 travelling steps No of bars 8 Hands The hands are given at shoulder height with a shake-hand hold.

Bars

1–2

3–4

5–6 7–8

Note

1st and 2nd women, giving right hands, cross over to pass each other. At the same time, curving out to their right, 1st and 2nd men dance towards the woman ’ s place. Giving left hands, 1st and 2nd women turn their partners. The women finish diagonally opposite their starting place and the men finish back where they started, facing out. Repeat bars 1 and 2. Giving left hands, 1st woman turns 2nd man and 2nd woman turns 1st man. All finish in their starting positions.

1st and 2nd men finish the final turn by pulling back the left shoulder (polite turn).