There are so many variations of the Virginia Reel-as many as there are callers. It does resemble Sir Roger De Coverley, with the ends do the first part while the rest just stand.
I love this dance! The only thing my friends and I do different is we immediately grab the right hand and turn all the way around, we don't step in and bow twice. We also dance to a song that's like Yankee Doodle but super sped up and the dance is VERY fast, it's a blast.
So happy you appreciate my culture! Though the reel may have its origins in Scottish country dance and the Highland reel, and perhaps have an even earlier origin from an Irish dance called the Rinnce Fada, it is generally considered to be an English country dance.
Well done! My husband and I attend civil war balls regularly, and I love the precision in this video. Your movements are clear and I was able to set up my call sheet for an upcoming trek dancing mini class using y'all as an example. Now if y'all could just demonstrate a grand march, carolina promenade, the 1st quadrille (windmill dance), and the german waltz- it would be SO helpful!
I suggest you buy my book on Amazon, Mormon Pioneer Dances, 31 Authentic Dances of the Early Saints. The dances you've mention are not in the book, but many like them are. It has a DVD (including recorded music) and dance descriptions and historical background. There are two complete Quadrilles, the Plain Quadrille and Caledonian Quadrille, with 5 parts each reconstructed and brought to life in ballroom dress. Music is included on the DVD. There is also a lively Cotillion.
Popular with Mormon pioneers? Well that explains something. When I was in elementary school in CA (1970s), we learned square dancing and the Virginina Reel. It always seemed a little out of place for an east-coast dance to be taught like that on the west coast, but it makes sense that it would have been brought by LDS folks, since there was a Mormon Batallion that spent time out here (plus, of course, plenty of LDS migrated here over time). FWIW, I always liked this dance a lot better than square dancing. It was a hoot to see it again tonight after all these years.
He really looks classic doesn’t he? Like right out of Dickens. He usually is a blacksmith in our Mormon Pioneer re-enactments. Civil War era coincided with Mormon Pioneer era. And Dickens.
scLife asaWife No, but you are welcome to buy my book/DVD Mormon Pioneer Dances, 31 Authentic Dances of the Early Saints on Amazon & B&N. All dances featured on the DVD
@@laraineminer4812 I got your book and I love it! I have been doing historic dances for 6 years and was worried there wouldn't be anything new I found lots of new stuff, and 6 dances I can already tell I want to call right away! I also loved the history, as a descent of pioneer ancestors I learned a lot about my heritage. I think this product is great! the written instructions, the music I could give a live musician, the dvd that helped me visualize all of it! WOW WOW WOW
@@cher24mj Thank you! I'm glad to hear it is so helpful for you.. I wish I knew how to sell more books, just because I feel the history is so valuable. Would you be willing to put a review like this on Amazon, that is if you bought it there??
If you live in Utah you can contact the Pioneer Heritage Company through their website of the same name. They are a Mormon Pioneer re-enactment group, some of whom are in this video.
