Abbesses
Introduction
Author:
Alan Winston (1996/1997)
Source:
Alan Winston
Formation:
Longways 3-couple set
Music:
Specific tune - Slow French Waltzes (Thomas Wilson's Waltz Book, 1816; arranged by James Langdell)
Choreography
A1
1-4
1s cast one place while 2s move up on bars 3-4)
5-8
Right-hand star at each end (1st man down, 1st lady up)
A2
1-4
1s (in the center of the set, right shoulder to right shoulder, right hand around partner's left waist) rotate (using Wilson's regency Waltz if you know it)
5-8
1s continue, but with left hands joined overhead (end proper)
B
1-8
1s pass right shoulder, right-hand turn with right hand corner, 1s pass right shoulder, right-hand turn with left hand corner
9-12
1s pass right shoulder and cast to the bottom (3s moving up on bars 3-4)
© Alan Winston, 1997
Notes
Notes
1
B1 1-8 is a 'Trip To Tunbridge' style contra corners with hands
2
If you don't have a 28-bar tune available, Alan also offers a 32-bar (AABB) and a 48-bar (AABBCC) version of the dance.
- 48-bar version/
- A1/A2 as 28-bar version
- B1/B2 Circle six left and right
- C1 1-8: as B1 1-8 in 28-bar version
- C1 9-10: 1s (improper lead to top
- C1 11-14: 1s cast to the bottom (3s moving up)
- C1 15-16: 1s right-hand turn ½
- 32-bar version/
- Same as 32-bar version, but omit B1/B2
3
Alan says "Abbesses is the deepest Metro station in Paris, and there is a right-hand-thre ad spiral staircase at the base. This has a sign in French which says, approximately, "If you're not feeling this adventurous, the elevator is around the corner." I was in too big of a hurry to read that. The sense of spiraling right inspired the dance. Only the right hand is used except for the A2 5-8, when the free hands are joined overhead. The first eight bars of B are essentially "Trip to Tunbridge" contra corners in waltz time; it's easy for the dancers to get ahead, and care should be taken to emphasize that passes are curved and take six steps (especially the up-and-down pass from turning first corner to 2nd), while turns also take six steps. Credit due to James Langdell for selecting and notating the music."
Music
Slow French Waltzes (Thomas Wilson's Waltz Book, 1816)
Download
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MAB format:{jd_file file==240}
Original:{jd_file file==180}
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