h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Machestrian vodka

Oh well, they say over here you should try anything at least once - except incest and folk dancing

I agree with that thought. Incest and folk dancing should definitely be tried more than once

one tends to go hand in hand with the other

Now, now...

I'm afraid I have been somewhat misunderstood

Now't wrong with Folk Dancing. Loads of , and welching!

Never tried incest.

Don't want to.

MMF

I'm from the Fens, folk dancing and incest are the norm out there

If only my sister was cuter, I did have a red-headed cousin that tempted me. Have you read my Entry A87802013 ?



F S

Indeed, FS. And both played and danced it on many an occasion

A fine folk (or barn dance) staple, along with Dashing White Sargeant and the Gay Gordons, showing the transition of popular upper class dancing to the working class.

it. Which is why I find it so hard to understand the English attitude of derision to Folk Dancing when it was taking something from the elite and giving it to the masses, or from dancing, in the likes of barn dances and either both or either dancing and begging, purely as a means of surviving no work.



MMF

I think the problem people see in folk dancing, is Morris Dancing.

Which in itself is weird as I quite like watching it

Some people tend to frown upon folk dancing at home, but once they come abroad they can't have enough of flamenco, samba, lambada and what have you

When flamenco dancers start skipping around waving hankies and walloping the audience with a pig's bladder on a stick, you'll understand.

I can't deny it, a good barn dance or ceilidh is brilliant fun. Last summer, my parents arranged one as part of their joint 60th birthday celebrations.

scottish dance was a required class at our school every christmas...
I think if I were to actually try it i probably could still dance most of the steps...

The best times I've had with Morris sides are at Ales.

These are where a number of Morris sides (the proper name for a team of Morris Dancers) are invited by a side for a day of Dance, often at local Public House, followed by a meal (or Ale), where the flows, as does the food, banter etc. This is usually followed by either demonstrations from the invited sides, or a Barn Dance.

Some do have Ceilidhs, but these are unusual, as it is often only dancing, and rarely singing. That usually follows after the official dance, usually spontaneously, and often bawdy.

If you get invited to one, go. You are almost guaranteed a good time.



And keep those sticks thwacking!

MMF

We had goth morris dancers, in Cambridge, back in the summer... that was a cnocept I really coudln't get my head round (err, may have been at cam beer fest, or strawberry fair, or both, or at... err something else... Guivder st party maybe... err, or soemthing)
I used to enjoy 'barn dancing' when I were a lad... the few times we did it anyhow
the few people I used to know, who were 'into' 'folk dancing', of, I think mainly the Moris kind, all claimed* to be 'in it' for the 'social' bits... by which they meant the drinking

It is one of the more enjoyable aspects, 2legs.

The songs aren't bad either.

Quite like 'Hunting the Bonny Black Hare', by Fairport Convention.

Caution. Lyrics are bawdy and may offend.

http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/f/fairport_convention/bonny_black_hare_lyrics.html

MMF

had a soft-spot for Fairport since my childhood, but .. really not listented to them in decades (over exposure to the likes of Tull and fairport in my youth perhaps, in one group of friends I was in)...

Mind, I am so as one of my best firends now, got to appear on a recent fairport album (no I can't recall which one), He's known em for years, and was asked to do some (I think) English horn, or trumpet, or some other brass bits on it

I saw them a handful of years ago in the small town of Nakskov not far from here. Quite nice. You could tell that they had practiced for many years but they did not seem tired of touring in any way, it was a very cozy event

Fairport Convention. My first ever gig. 1972 at the Corn Exchange in Cambridge.

By the way, I'm beginning to think I might not make it to Manchester after all. Don't hold your breaths.