Contra dance in a sarong

[Charlie]

I've just returned from a very pleasant week at http://www.halswaymanor.co.uk/ (I make no apologies for plugging this fabulous place), American contra dancing with Cis Hinkle calling.
By way of legwear, I took some modern kilts and a number of sarongs - no two legged garments at all
I'd tried dancing in a heavy sarong a couple of years ago, but found it wrapped around my legs and inhibited free movement. However, as there were workshops in the mornings, I thought I'd try the sarong again. This time I wore a lightweight one (be careful not to stand in front of a window or bright light unless you want to give the girls a thrill ) It worked perfectly. I was able to do the fastest contra with no problems, and wore light sarongs for all the remaining dance sessions.
Cis mentioned to the general assembly that in the USA men often wore skirts while dancing because they were cooler, and she was generally supportive - a great lady
To all the ladies' delight, there were more gentlemen than ladies, so they were all able to dance as ladies without having to gender swap. It also gave the men a rare opportunity to dance as ladies. I'll admit that I did use the excuse of wearing a 'skirt' to assume a ladies role. As I worked my way up the set, each lady asked "Are you dancing as a lady?". I found dancing the opposite role great fun and more energetic that the gent's role.
We'er off to the Chippenham Folk Festival tomorrow. I'll be wearing a lightweight corduroy Union kilt. This is a compromise between having fun in the dances, and coping with the windy weather while walking between venues.

Charlie

[JRMILLER]

Charlie,
Are you using "beach" sarongs, or a traditional South Pacific type? Where do you get your sarongs?

[Kirbstone]

The last time I danced as a'lady' was during ballroom dancing classes at our all boys boarding school in the '50s. These classes were run by a visiting lady 'Miss Penny' who needless to say was in high demand, being the only lady present.
Her old grammaphone with 78 rpm dance records frequently broke down and two of us who could shared playing the piano while the others danced with each other, so I was spared most of it.
Needless to say none of us ventured to wear a skirt!!

The nearest thing nowadays to that here is Irish country set dancing, where male and female roles interchange. I HATE it, as does a close friend, so when they start that sort of thing we allow our spouses take the floor with all and sundry and we sit firmly through it, sipping our pints. That sort of music is tolerable enough in small doses. At least it doesn't blow your ears out.

Tom K.

[Charlie]

My sarongs are approximately 3'6" x 5' (not the flimsy girly things!) some of which I bought from sarongsontheweb.com in Noo Mexico, but that company seems to have disappeared. Others I've bought from beach shops while on holiday . There's http://www.1worldsarongs.com/menssarongs.html which has a good selection, plus an interesting piece about why men should wear sarongs

Tom, we also did some Irish set dancing last week (County Clare style). It's energetic but most of us found it repetitive and didn't like it too much. And it made me dizzy, constantly going round and round in the same direction. We only did the basic figures though, so perhaps other bits are more interesting. My partner for that particular dance (not the wife) reckoned it was better to hold each other closer than normal - she was quite attractive so who am I to complain? Perhaps it was the sarong...

Charlie

[Kirbstone]

Well done, Charlie, Sarong and all! When I lived in England I suffered through a number of barn dances, where the caller guided dancers through each sequence of movements, and one had a different lass at the end of one's arms every few seconds....not my cup of tea at all, but my wife, being a true blue Anglo-Saxon likes that sort of thing. She also took to the Irish set dancing when we migrated over here.

I avoid 'Paul Jones's for the same reason.

Tom K

[couyalair]

As it happens, Halsway Manor is the only place I have met another man in a skirt.
Oh! my memory is getting bad, I'm mixing two events. I enjoyed English country dancing, kilted, in Halsway (super place, except so difficult to reach on foot), and it was at another week of mixed English and American dancing in Regents Park, London, where I saw another young fellow dance some days in a long skirt, encouraged undoubtedly by my own unbifurcated oufits. This was the only time I have seen a an in skirt and being serious.
I'm not counting Scottish country dance venues, where of course, nearly all the men are in formal kilts, nor of course pantomimes which along with drag shows, are imho the the greatest way to discourage any sensible male skirting.

I used to enjoy lively Irish ceili dancing in the days before the repetitive 19c quadrilles took over. That was exercise for the brain and the body! All the men were in trousers, but there was always someone who gave us an intricate solo dance, for which he donned a saffron kilt. That was before Riverdance fnally sent the Irish kit into oblivion. And before all-girl teams took over the competitions.

I've sometimes danced on the "ladies" side (which has nothing to do with what I wear), and enjoy the more vigorous swings and turns with a male partner. Unfortunately, although women frequently dance together, they often obect loudly to men teaming up.

Martin

[Charlie]

... one had a different lass at the end of one's arms every few seconds....

Which is why I enjoy this type of dance. You meet lots of different people and can get yer 'ands on lots of lovely ladies

I've sometimes danced on the "ladies" side (which has nothing to do with what I wear), and enjoy the more vigorous swings and turns with a male partner. Unfortunately, although women frequently dance together, they often obect loudly to men teaming up.

Women often dance together because there's a shortage of men and men dance together because there's a shortage of women. I suppose it would be bad form for two men (or two women) to dance together if partners of the opposite sex are available.
Last night at the Chippenham Festival, I'd gone to the bar. When I returned, my wife was about to dance with another woman. The 'other woman' offered to stand aside so I could dance with my wife, but I wanted a rest so they carried on.

Charlie