Belle of Amherst
Gary Roodman
Recording: belle_of_amherst-071_bn15ff06.mp3.zip
3C set, C2 improper
A1 1-2 Side R with Ptnr 3-6 Turn S L to place, then change with Ptnr LS A2 Same figure but Side L, etc. B1 1-4 Lines fall back and come fwd into 5-8 Back to Back Ptnr 9-12 LHT once B2 1-2 Face diagonally R, change with person there RS if possible, (possible TS R for others) 3-4 Cross RS across set, 5-8 Circle 6 L half way 9-12 2HT with new partner once round.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNKcT-OqVRU Above is from video. — nashjc 2019/08/06 16:30 music of Erasmus Widemann (1631).
THE BELLE OF AMHERST
Gary Roodman 2008 Odd Calculated Figures
Three couple longways mixer, 2nd couple improper, G Minor, 2/2
Al 1-2 Partners move forward to stand right shoulder to right shoulder. 3-6 All turn single left, back to place, and change with partner, passing left. A2 1-2 Partners move forward to stand left shoulder to left. 3-6 All turn single right, back to place, and change with partner, passing right. Bl 1-4 Lines of three fall back and come forward. 5-8 Partners back-to-back. 9-12 Partners left-hand turn. B2 1-2 All face diagonally to the right and change places by the right if there is someone there to change with 3-4 All face straight across and change places again by the right. 5-8 Circle six left halfway. 9-12 With (new) partner, two-hand turn once around.
Tune “Sophia” Musicalischey Tugendtspiegel by Erasmus Widmann, 1631.
NOTES:
Al 3-6 It helps to have dancers think of this as all one flowing unit, not three
separate moves. The same is true in A2 3-6.
B2 1-4 Where all the movements in B1 are in 4 bars, the two changes here are 2
bars for each change, and should flow smoothly into the circle.
The dance and music have a formal regal feeling.
This dance is for Robin Hayden, who bas helped create a thriving dance
community in the Amberst/Northampton area.