Anonymous Morris on Video!

[watervole]

Steve, from the Morris Dancers of England, DVD series was at Weymouth when Anonymous were dancing on Saturday, so we have some good quality footage on You-Tube.

I'm particularly pleased with 'Tinners Rabbits' which the side had only learnt two days before, and is already starting to look polished. 

Henry's a good caller, and I'm particularly impressed with the timing on the turns (if you listen carefully, you can hear him calling the turn on the spot so that everyone does it together).

We  haven't got our final kit yet, but our chosen combination of red tops and black bottoms makes the dancers look like a team.

Here's 'Valiant Soldier'  -- again, looking damn good for a side that's only been in existence for two weeks.  (and cu_sith has to cope with a bad ankle as well)

See if you can spot me playing concertina in the background

Comments

[cu-sith.livejournal.com]

I can guess roughly at what point in the day this was because of how ridiculously careful I was being with my right leg. Later I threw caution to the winds, since it only resulted in a mildly excruciatingly (yet ignorable) blowout once a dance.

(And holy hell, that skirt is nonexistent. Eek.)

[rockwell-666.livejournal.com]

That doesn't look bad at all :-)

[watervole.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[rockwell-666.livejournal.com]

Here's an interesting thing, I just decided to watch the performances again, but forgot to switch on my speakers.

You might like to try looking at the dances without the music to give your brain the timing of the moves.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

Interesting thought. I might do that.

[katlinel.livejournal.com]

There was lots of energy in those performances and I agree that the red and black make you look like a team even if they're not fully matching outfits.

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

That's coming together well, it looks good. And almost as important, they looked as if they were enjoying the experience.

This is meant as a constructive comment. They've obviously been concentrating on getting the arms working in time (so as not to brain each other) but have paid less attention to the legs. The person in the head scarf sometimes missed the beat of the steps because they haven't yet developed the exaggerated "step-hop" of the one with the bells. This isn't a criticism as they haven't had time to learn everything and it will come. And it wouldn't have been noticeable live.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

You're quite right, the stepping does need a fair bit of work yet. They're not always in synch. It's improving, but it has a way to go.

It's much easier to do Border Morris (which this is) with limited experience. In Cotswold Morris, the footwork is a lot more complex.

I'm hoping we can all sit down and watch the video together on a practice night.

[(Anonymous)]

Actually, you are right for completely the wrong reasons. It was off, and I know why it was off, but you are being far too charitable in excusing it as lack of experience, because it isn't.

I actually think I started to do better when I stopped worrying about my feet later on in the day.

Still, thanks for the ConCrit. I was getting worried about all the positive comments. One of the good things about dancing out is that it gives you a chance to up your game, and we managed that throughout the day (with the amount of practice we'd had prior, how could we not?). But there is still so much room for improvement, and people telling us where we went wrong helps us figure out where to focus our efforts.

Alex

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

Glad you're not upset by the ConCrit, it can be difficult deciding whether to say anything or keep quiet. I decided to speak up because watervole has given the impression that you all want to improve as much as you can.

[watervole.livejournal.com]

Absolutely. I can see all kinds of things that we will tweak over time. The hey still needs work (though is a lot better than it was even a week ago). The stepping needs work and the sticking, while good, isn't yet ideal.

[ssirienna.livejournal.com]

That was great!

On a purely curious note though - are you and Henry related?
Or is it coicidence about the last names?

[watervole.livejournal.com]

He's my youngest son.

The beard tends to hide the family resemblance.

[ssirienna.livejournal.com]

Ahha! In which case, please accept my thanks as the mum of the nice person who looked after me so well on Friday morning, after my accident at the Con, and went to A&E with me :-))

He was very good company and didn't bat an eye when he was asked to hold the ice pack on my lower leg while I ate my full english breakfast in Ops :-)

Wonderful man!

[ssirienna.livejournal.com]

Although I have to say, you don't look old enough to have 2 strapping boys! As I understand there's another brother?

[watervole.livejournal.com]

My older son wasn't at Discworld this year. He often runs tech at Eastercons, so tends to be invisible.

I shall bask happily in my fountain of youth and happy thoughts about people saying complimentary things about Henry.

[ssirienna.livejournal.com]

Well deservedly so ;-))

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

Now you have made my day! Vivant the Anonymous!!!!
You managed all this after such a short time? Glorious! I especially enjoyed that obvious eagerness and high spirit and fire!
Also the Valiant Soldier - the tune raised me from my chair - it´s Sharpe!
The tune I know from Sharpe - Over the Hills!:-)
I did spot you there, and a good band you have!!!
Congratulations again.
So... that long legged boy is your son? Mmmm:-)Congratulations too!!!

[watervole.livejournal.com]

"Viva Anonymous!"

I knew you'd recognise the tune!

The band wasn't our regular one, apart from me, but they've said they'll help out anytime we dance in public. (The group the others play for also practice on a Thursday.)