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www.janeyeadon.co.uk
We're back from visiting Stuttgart after a time made memorable by our generous hosts of Stuttgarter Spielkreis e.V. It's a talented group of musicians, singers and dancers who specialise in keeping musical and dancing traditions alive. They'd made such a full programme of activities and sight-seeing, I'd trouble remembering the reason for our visit but waiting for a train to take us to the main event was a prompt.
An audience of surprised passengers watched as we practised on the platform. The players' fiddles had been left with our hosts, so in the absence of his, husband David sang several verses from that well known Scottish ballad, 'Deet deet deedle deedle deet deet deet.'
Suitably accompanied, we managed the Circassian Circle without going into orbit whilst the Virginia Reel took reluctant dancer but expert fiddler William James to such a level of levitation, surely, we reasoned, we could also inspire our new friends.
The January festival to which we'd been invited, was held in the old Kelterbeg 5 wine press. The plain wooden-beamed place came alive as the dancers took to the floor, hands clapping, coloured skirts swirling and polished shoes twinkling.
An audience of surprised passengers watched as we practised on the platform. The players' fiddles had been left with our hosts, so in the absence of his, husband David sang several verses from that well known Scottish ballad, 'Deet deet deedle deedle deet deet deet.'
Suitably accompanied, we managed the Circassian Circle without going into orbit whilst the Virginia Reel took reluctant dancer but expert fiddler William James to such a level of levitation, surely, we reasoned, we could also inspire our new friends.
The January festival to which we'd been invited, was held in the old Kelterbeg 5 wine press. The plain wooden-beamed place came alive as the dancers took to the floor, hands clapping, coloured skirts swirling and polished shoes twinkling.
The beautifully measured folk dance shown above, is unlike, our Orcadian Strip The Willow, unlikely to land the dancers anywhere, but on their feet. Their verve and style was matchless but dancing partner, Charlie and I with the help of German Ingrid, managed to demonstrate the Dashing White Sergeant without too much collateral damage.
As back up, Ena, the Fine Blend Music group leader of the Scottish fiddle contribution and accompaniment to our dances, talked everybody through the steps and by the time Sunday came with a follow up visit to an Old People's Home, that listening and clever German group had added the St Bernard's Waltz, Canadian Barn Dance and Virginian Reel to their repertoire,
Hopefully the group will visit us in Scotland and show us how to do some of their dances, tho' the fact that they know a huge number could be a little daunting to those with the concentration of a blancmange.
As back up, Ena, the Fine Blend Music group leader of the Scottish fiddle contribution and accompaniment to our dances, talked everybody through the steps and by the time Sunday came with a follow up visit to an Old People's Home, that listening and clever German group had added the St Bernard's Waltz, Canadian Barn Dance and Virginian Reel to their repertoire,
Hopefully the group will visit us in Scotland and show us how to do some of their dances, tho' the fact that they know a huge number could be a little daunting to those with the concentration of a blancmange.
