We start with Song One again, to see if anyone has remembered how the song goes, what the steps are, etc. We've started rather promptly with not everyone here yet, so there's a little bit of people sidling into the hall and joining in halfway through a line. However, we seem to have remembered a surprisingly large proportion of it, if not necessarily in the right order. The spinning wheels almost spin out of control but stop before they hit the wall, so it's all good.
Now onto a new song, Song Seven, which Lauren has choreographed. This is the first dance she's choreographed for us, so her first step is very sensibly splitting the dancers into two groups and then sending half of them to sit down. Arguments ensue about the order in which they are standing, and a stand-in for Nairne is needed. Several people volunteer each other for this role but eventually someone is left standing and the teaching proceeds. Fortunately for the dancers, this number is a dance only, i.e. no singing involved, so at least they don't need to worry about trying to sing and dance at the same time. Lauren puts them into pairs and they are instructed in box steps and a variation of the grapevine. Then it's time to try it out to music! They reach a point where some punctuation might be appreciated and Martin suggests an 'oi!', which Giles then accompanies on the drums. A repetition of the routine so far has a few people remembering to 'oi!' if not all, but it's their first time so we'll be kind. And in fact, it's a deserved kindness, because the next time, they all remember to 'oi!'.
Now it's the turn of the second group, who all have to pretend they have scarves to wave like a local gymnastics team, with touches of flamenco dancing woven into it. One or two are waving their scarves as though they are whips, which may force Lauren into a change of plan, though it still may not involve whips. I'm pretty certain that as they rehearsed the steps at one point, Lauren prompted them with a "pas de bourree" or some similar technical term, the significance of which will have been lost on 90% of her pupils, but they were copying what she was doing, so who knows, perhaps they'll learn the name of the step at the same time. They seem to be doing almost what Lauren is demonstrating on the next run through though what Lauren will think when she turns round to watch them instead of standing with her back to them and doing the dance with them, who knows. There's a brief rethink of one step as the count changes once the music is added but Lauren quickly comes up with something entirely doable. Round of applause from the other half when they finish and then the dreaded words: let's put the two halves together, shall we?
Though actually, it's not as bad as you might have thought. Lauren has watched some of it, this time, so after the first time through, they have a slow step through before dancing it to the music again. Celia appears to leave her shoe behind and nearly gets trampled by the second half of the troupe but fortunately retrieves it in time. Everyone now forms a filled-in vee at which point a very unhelpful Rod calls for a bowling ball but we don't have one so the dancers are safe. The second part of the dance is learnt remarkably quickly - everyone must be in the zone now - so it's back to the top and the whole dance is run. Successfully.
On to song eight now. As when learning new songs last week, everyone sings it sitting down a couple of times first. It's pitched a little low initially so Steve transposes it and everyone sings it again. It sounds much brighter so Martin hands over again to Lauren and the whole chorus stands up ready to learn the dance. The principals who will have been involved in the scene before the song are placed centre stage once they've been identified and the rest are in a line. There is some debate over the speed of the steps, given the sentiment of the song and the ability of the dancers, but Martin has the final word, so they're slower. Though after a few bars, Martin also decides that the music needs to be a little faster, so it probably meets in the middle. Here is a picture of Lauren trying to instruct some of the chorus:
Clearly, they're all paying attention.
Some pivot steps are introduced that require the dancers to move back at the same time. One of the dancers asks if they're taking a step backwards but no one answers... A brief rethink as Lauren establishes that the ultimate stage is not as large as the parish hall but it's only a slight tweak. Arms are supposed to be raised in a high vee though Andy is achieving more of a w, with his head as the central stroke, though doubtless he'll improve (won't he?). For those who watched Third Rock from the Sun, think French Stewart channelling the Big Giant Head. But the steps continue to be issued and kneeling is involved as well as turning in time. The 'helpful' singing from the three people not on stage is of variable volume and accuracy but as they're not the ones who are going to have to sing it in the end, it probably doesn't matter much. At the next run-through, the chorus ask Lauren to watch them and see if they're doing it right. They're a brave bunch! It does mean she can see when they're not facing forward but plenty of time to sort out minor details like that. Round of applause for Lauren and it's time to sing through song twelve while the coffees are brought to fruition.
Technically song twelve is for the teen chorus, but several people who are trying to stay young are promoted to 'teenagers' so it's a very loose definition of 'teen'. Pretty much anyone with attitude and a deficiency of grey hair, I think! Eat your heart out, Mick Jagger. :-)
Time for coffee and cake. Or tea and biscuits. And congratulations to Scott and Amanda on the arrival of Alistair James. Much slurping and munching ensues, facilitated by Sandy and Kim, to whom many thanks.
Before we start again, Martin passes on a request from the sports and social club to park cars along the lane in such a way that other people can get round the bend without needing to invoke their insurance policies. Also, congratulations to those Village Players who are also in BCOS and were part of the very successful Guys and Dolls. A reminder about the carols, which will be rehearsed on 16th and 19th (private coaching for anyone who can't manage those dates). Next week, Song Twelve and Song Fourteen, and try not to be too heavy footed on stage.
Now on with Song Nine. There seems to be some impromptu harmonising on the chorus which Martin thought we would already know, but Martin actually encourages it so that's all right. It gets one sing through but it's very straight forward so it's on with dancing after that. Beauty decides to sit this number out so that she can take some photos on Kim's behalf, provided she can join in the chorus... It takes all sorts! Kim may not be thrilled with the results as there's one in which Kim appears to be counting the ceiling tiles.
But back to the dancing. More box steps and some nodding, which is supposed to be just your head rather than your entire top half. Pointing, which is all supposed to be in the same direction, in spite of Liz's suggestion that one night everyone should point in different directions. That may or may not be the plan (you'll just have to buy a ticket and find out what happens!). Jackie looks as though she may have done the kick step before, which could explain why Steve is sitting on the other side of the hall. No key change this time, Martin says, to save the Westlife moment for the reprise. There is discussion about going down and who feels comfortable about it, but the answers are fairly incoherent through the giggles. Some of us have our minds not so much in the gutter as lying a few feet under it. Anyway, they do the whole number reasonably successfully with Lauren leading the dancing, so now it's time to attempt the dancing while Lauren watches. Martin sings along but still finds time to remind people to smile while they try to remember the words, the tune and the steps.
Before we finish, since we've made such excellent time, Martin wants to sing through Song Three. Anyone who wants to do the actions is invited to do so, yet strangely everyone remains seated.
Then it's on to Song Seven again - remember that one? You did it this evening? Not many oi!s were remembered though the steps weren't too bad, but Martin is a stickler for oi!s so it's gone through again. Much better this time! Lauren's key tip - go home and practise. Shell bring a notebook next week to write down exactly who's doing what, even though she doesn't know any names, so it should be pretty easy to confuse her if you really want to.
Back to Song Eight again. People are in position surprisingly quickly. Some of them are even singing along in places. Dan gets to the end with a "boo-yar!" (or however it's spelled) of relief because, putting so much effort/passion into it, he's getting rather tired by now. [I found out as we were packing up that he'd been up since 4 this morning and did a 12-hour shift before coming to rehearsal, so frankly, he's done well!] Twice through but people seem to know it.
And before we finish, a final performance of Song Nine with a chorus that even I know by now. I don't know if it's meant to be an audience song, but they may find the audience joining in by accident in February. Some of the steps get forgotten but it's nearly 10 o'clock so maybe they're just exhausted after so much dancing.
Well done, everyone, you've survived another intense week of learning dances and songs together. Next week - more dances!
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