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Charmer, The Print

Questions:

Question 1. in bars 3-4 and 11-12, does the 3rd couple set back to the 1st and 2nd couples respectively?

Question 2. Is there an 'approved' way to dance the transition between slip step and pas de basque, specifically in bars 2-3 and 10-12? The Manual (1992 version), page 5.6, states: "There are occasions when it is helpful to blend the last two slip steps of a movement into one step, in order to facilitate entry into the different step which follows (e.g. Book 29 The Charmer, bars 1-16, where four slip steps are followed by pas de basque or skip change of step)." What exactly is meant by the term "blending"?

The "step-together" which is also taught for the change of direction in circles/hands round? Or something different?

Answer: 

Question 1 Answer:  Yes.

 

Question 2

There is no one correct or 'approved' way to dance any transition, but no transition should “draw the eye” of the observer. It should be accomplished as elegantly as possible.

In bars 6 - 7 of The Charmer, the 1st woman’s transition from slip step with RF leading to skip change of step may be done by “blending”.  This means that effectively, instead of the woman dancing 4 slip steps in bars 5 – 6, she dances 6 slip steps in bars 5 – 7, then hops on the RF to start skip change of step on the LF for bar 8. This avoids the discontinuity created if 3 slips steps and a “close” are done (bars 5 – 6), then a hop on LF to start skip change of step for bars 7 – 8.  Of course the difficulty here is compounded by having to cast off one place in bars 7 – 8.  The 1st man, who has been dancing slip step with the LF leading, does not have the same problem of a transition of the feet, but has the LF free ready to hop for the start of skip change of step.

In The Charmer, the transition from slip step to pas de basque, after bars 1- 2, and the transition from pas de basque to slip step at the end of bar 4 should not be problematic as the appropriate feet should be free on both occasions if the 1st couple have started the setting in bars 3 - 4 on the foot nearest the top.

The more recent version of the Manual (2005), page 32, says,” There are occasions when it is helpful to blend the last two slip steps of a movement into one step, in order to facilitate entry into the different step which follows (e.g. Book 34 C’est L’Amour, bars 21-26, where slip step is followed by pas de basque)."  In this case, instead of doing, “7 and close together” to finish the slipping to the R and then preparing for pas de basque on the RF, “blending” would involve dancing 8 complete slip steps to the R and then directly into pas de basque on the RF.