Listen to the Mockingbird

Listen to the Mockingbird, by New England Dancing Masters, is a vibrant collection of 23 classic dances, including longways sets, circle, Sicilian circle, square, and contra-dances. The book includes tips on selecting dance tunes, calling a dance, and creating new dances.

The CD has dances played by some of New England's finest dance musicians. The tune medleys on this recording can be used with dances in the earlier book, Chimes of Dunkirk (item 839920, available separately), and vice versa.

Only the square dances include calls on the recording - the rest is music only. These dances are accessible to young people as well as to adults with little or no dance experience. The dances are performed primarily with an easy-going walking step that follows the beat; other steps are skipping and sashaying.

Contents:

• Introduction:
• How the Music & Dances Fit Together
• Dancing in the Classroom
• Building Community Through Traditional Dance
• Dances in longways sets:
• Jubilee Rag
• Kindergarten Reel
• The Flying Scotsman
• Polka Poussette
• Le Brandy (Un, Deux, Trois, Poussez)
• Sir Roger de Coverly
• The Bridge of Athlone
• The Boston Tea Party
• Circle dances:
• Circassian Circle Mixer
• Les Saluts
• The Vowel Dance
• Larry's Mixer
• Sicilian circle dances:
• Mariposa
• Roddy McCorley
• Zom Out
• Square dances:
• Listen to the Mockingbird
• Ocean Wave
• First Night Quadrille
• Butterfly Whirl
• Sheehan's Reel
• Shoot the Owl
• Contra dances:
• A-rovin'
• Ellen's Green Jig
• Aw Shucks
• Selection of Dance Tunes (melodies on the G clef staff with chord symbols)
• More Thoughts on Choosing Partners
• Tips on Calling a Dance
• Creating New Dances with Children
• Glossary, Other Resources
• Combined Dance & Tune Index (for Chimes of Dunkirk and Listen to the Mockingbird)