(Art by Janet McCrorie) It may yet be the dead of Winter, but surely music and dancing will lift your spirits! And what better way to welcome in the new year than with warm food, good drink, and pleasant company? We’re pleased to welcome you to Fairbanks for a winter’s cèilidh celebrating the warmth and light of what is often seen to be a cold and grey land. Rionna Declan will be leading the dancing, but others are also welcome to bring their dishes, dances, or party pieces to share from across the Northern lands. Activities include: Musical Performances - Musicians will prepare some songs to perform and encourage the attendees to join them in the choruses if applicable. Food Tasting - Volunteers will each bring a Northern dish, describe how it was made, and then allow everyone to sample their favorites. Dancing - A few dances will be selected for this event and then dancers will walk participants through them before gathering everyone together, with the musicians from earlier providing the music. Poetry/Storytelling/Riddles - To finish the evening, anyone with poetry, stories or legends, or riddles is encouraged to share them with everyone else. OOC Information: Who: Any law-abiding citizen. (Obvious Afflicted/Undead will be asked to leave, but disguises are welcome!) When: December 30th, 6pm Central/12am GMT Where: Fairbanks Community Center Why: Christmas/New Year's/Burns' Night in one! And dancing is fun! Interested in having your character perform, cook, or recite at this event? Please reply below with the following information: IGN: Character Name: Which activity are you interested in?: Other Information: (What instrument/song/dish/dance you have in mind, other activities you’d like to suggest, etc.) Spoiler: Reels I have three reels selected of varying origins and complexities, so feel free to watch them beforehand to get an idea for the movements. For the sake of brevity, I plan on only having each set go once, though of course, you can do more with your partners if you wish. If your character is completely unfamiliar with this style of dancing, you can even do a dice roll to see how well they pick it up! Chaos is to be expected, but that’s part of the fun. Siege of Ennis - Irish - Easy Dancers form two lines facing each other, holding hands with the person next to them. The lines advance towards each other four steps before retreating. Advance and retreat once more. Each couple will drop hands with the couple next to them while holding their partner’s hand. Each couple will circle around each other while still facing the opposite line, with the left couple passing behind and the right couple passing in front. The lines will dance in place, then repeat the above step to return to their original positions. End couples reach for each other’s hands and spin clockwise. Couples in the middle join hands with the couple opposite to spin clockwise in a star. (It’s easier to see in the video!) Repeat in the opposite direction. Dancers resume their original places, then go in and out twice. On the second go, the first line raises their arms for the second line to pass under. Couples spin back around to face the other line and the dance repeats. Virginia Reel - English-American - Medium Dancers form up in two lines with couples facing each other. Each person holds hands with the person next to them, then advances four steps to meet in the middle before returning to their original place. Advance and retreat once more. Link with your opposite partner’s right arm and spin with them clockwise until reaching your original position. Release and repeat for the left arm, spinning counter-clockwise. Reach for both hands and spin clockwise until reaching your original position. Step forward and circle your partner by passing at the right shoulders, still looking forward rather than turning to face them. Continue until you reach your original position. Lead couple joins hands and gallops down the line and back again while the rest of the line remains in place. Lead couple “reels” between the line - spinning first with each other, then with the person in the line opposite them, then with their original partner, then with the next person, and so on. (It’s easier to see in the video!) Lead couple dances back to the start of the line, then leads the other dancers to peel off towards the back. Lead couple raises their arms for the other dancers to pass under, then remains in the back. The second couple is now the new lead couple and the dance repeats. Eightsome Reel - Scottish - Hard Dancers form a circle of eight, couples standing next to each other. Each couple is numbered 1-4, with Couple 1 being the one with their back to the music. Circle holds hands and circles clockwise, then back counter-clockwise. Let go of hands and place your arm around your partner’s waist. The right partner will place their hand in the center of the circle to join hands and circle clockwise. Couples turn in place, then the other partner places their left hand in the center and circles counter-clockwise. Couples face each other and dance a few steps before spinning with linked arms. Right partners move clockwise while left partners move counter-clockwise. Each person links their left arm with the next person in the circle to spin for a half-turn until they have danced with all three of the other couples. (It’s easier to see in the video!) The right partner of the first couple enters the middle to dance solo while the rest circle clockwise, then counter-clockwise. The dancer in the center dances with their original partner, then with the person opposite them. The two dancers in the ring cross in a Figure 8 before returning to their original place. The dancer in the center turns to their right and repeats the process with the next two in front and behind them, before returning to their original place. The right partner of Couple 2 enters the center of the circle and the above process repeats. When all of the right partners have been in the center, all of the left partners take a turn. When all eight dancers have been in the center, the beginning of the dance repeats, then the couples hold each other and turn until the music stops.
