Longsword dancing and tempo

[watervole]

 I've just had a longsword group add me to their circle on google+, which is rather nice.

I went to look at Ring of Cold Steel's dancing  and found them performing the Ampleforth sword dance (a traditional longsword dance).  I'm glad I did as this dance has a 'third man  under' figure which finally allowed me to know how the figure should be done.  Anonymous are learning the Helmsley II dance from Allsop's book and the notation for the 'third man under' figure in that dance simply does not work.  But his notation for the Ampleforth dance matches what Ring of Cold Steel were dancing, so I can use the Ampleforth notation for Helmsley.  (Seeing the move, I thought it looked like a likely candidate for a 'third man under' (the third dancer to go under the sword turns in a different direction to the others, so I went and checked the book)   See if you can spot which move  I was looking at...

"" (Watch on YouTube)

However, they do share a problem that I've noticed with many longsword sides, especially in America.  They dance far too slowly.  You can see the audience aren't really engaged in what they're doing.

Compare with this dance by North British Sword.

"" (Watch on YouTube)

Older dancers, but the dance has far more energy and although the square is fairly empty, you can see passers by stopping to watch.

The problem stems from the fact that the dances were originally recorded from old dancers. Sharp's notes often say 'at least as fast as', and that had often been taken as 'do at this speed' rather than 'this is the minimum speed.

I think there may be  a case for varying the tempo at time as some move show clearer at a slower tempo, but the dance overall is far more fun for both dancers and audience when done fast.

Comments

[pensnest]

Wow! Having had a little go myself, at your workshop, I'm very ipressed with the speed those British chaps are managing!

[xenaclone.livejournal.com]

Sword dancing?

Here are the two Chen style Sword forms:-



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_E4Zi1aPj4




Philippa

[watervole.livejournal.com]

I like the slow-motion feel of it.

[alex-holden.livejournal.com]

Yes, the North British Sword one was much more fun to watch.

[katlinel.livejournal.com]

I think you're right about the speed. There's a time and a place for dances to be performed to a slow and stately measure, but I think it's a lot harder to engage your audience at slow speed and keep them engaged. The last thing you want to do as a performer is bore your audience, and varying the tempo would help. I can see how you might want to perform some of those longsword moves slowly at first so the audience knows what you're doing and then do it at speed to impress them, or even vice versa, doing it at speed first, then slowing down so the audience can see how it works. In the first video, at about 3:50m, there's a change in the music that sounds to me like a place where increasing the tempo would fit.

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

I agree, the swift tempo is more enjoyable and the older dancers bring more life in the dance although that slow version has also a great choreography.
I hope we will seen the Anonymous preformance.
Well, I am always deeply impressed with your talent both as a teacher and a musician and much more!!!!