A FREE ACCESS MODERN SEQUENCE DANCING ONLINE SCRIPT LIBRARY

CONTACT US BY E-MAIL bestofsequence@googlemail.com

ABOUT THE BLOG – Hello, and welcome to my Blog. I have started the Blog as a way of providing free access to scripts for a selection of Modern Sequence dances. The script library I am developing here represents a personal selection of what I consider to be the best of the Modern Sequence dances.

The selected dances come mainly from the period 1970 – 1985, which generated so many excellent arrangements offering considerable variety and challenge. However, with the exception of a few easy club-dances, these older dances have now been displaced by the onslaught of new sequences from the ongoing  inventive dance competitions, and thence consigned to the archives.  Coupled to this, there is a growing dissatisfaction with the new dances now emerging (not to mention the abundance of script errors). Although the lost dances from the past might be considered to offer an alternative, the teaching associations do little to promote them.  In creating this library, I aim to address this issue by giving relative newcomers to sequence the chance to browse the archives and so judge the callibre of these older dances for themselves. It would be nice to think that some of these dances could even enjoy a new lease of life. I hope that the facility will be enlightening and useful at that it will help ensure sequence dancing has a healthy future.

For those requiring more general information on Modern Sequence Dancing, I recommend visiting some of the sites listed in the Blogroll (links) on the right of this page.

Dances for the archive are selected primarily on the basis of my own personal preference, although requests are welcome.  Links to downloadable scripts will be placed on the Script Library page (and the nested pages within). Commentary on the dances and other relevant information can also be found within these pages in seperate Editorial sections. A good number of scripts (200 or so) have already been archived, and I will continue to add to the library on a regular basis – so keep an eye on the Script Library page for new additions and news of what’s in the pipeline ! For a full list of scripts currently available in the library see the Dance List Page. Plus there is now a News page to alert people to recent updates/uploads/entries/changes to the blog/announcement of future plans for the blog etc (useful to get a quick overview of recent changes).

I have also included a New dances page to report on results from the current inventive dance competitions, although I cannot provide scripts for these.

The individual pages of the blog can be opened by clicking the appropriate tab on the toolbar at the top of this page and/or in the Pages Widget (side-bar) on the left. Scripts can be downloaded (as pdf files) by clicking on the relevant links, which are shown in blue when they are active (more details on the Script Library page).

Correspondance is welcome.  The best way to correspond is probably to E-mail me directly at bestofsequence@googlemail.com.

Enjoy  !

sequenceblogger – 18/03/2009

FEATURED DANCES - A few favourites selected from dances that can be found the Library, as a taster for the front page – to be updated periodically. The current selection:

TANGO RICO Origin unknown: Exceptionally good modern tango, well worth a look – a bit similar to DALLAS TANGO (see below). The Fallaway Promenade movement on Bar 7 followed by close & tap, then an appel, extended point & quick fallaway chasse on Bars 8 & 9 is dramattic and effectively phrased. Remainder is a good mix of cleverly blended standard tango figures. Quite advanced !

JUKE BOX JIVE Ted & Sue Burroughs, 1982: Easy but appealing jive sequence with unusual turn behind man’s back for lady on bar 8. Second half is an attractive same foot variation with effective use of arms on Bars 13 to 16. One of the best ever.

TUESDAY BLUES Patricia Jay, 1979: Another simple but appealing classical sequence. The outside checks with R to R then L to L hand hold on Bars 7 & 8 are particularly attractive.

PLUS SOMETHING FOR THE PARTY SEASON:

TAMMY TWO STEP Dorothy Moxon, 1981. Christmas is coming !

LAST MONTH’S FAVOURITES (for any new readers):

SHARON SAUNTER Roger & Yvonne Corkery, 1978: A well phrased & attractively styled sequence, with a neat amalgamation of swivels & locks in shadow position subsequently repeated in open promenade – includes the now rarely used high double-hand shadow hold.

CANBERRA CHA-CHA-CHA Derek Tonks & Beryl Bates, 1979: An enjoyable, attractive and very inventive sequence, with a lot of same foot shadow and tandem work, including split cuban breaks, and some unusual figures, including a spin turn. Rocks & compact locks on Bars 9 & 10 are particularly effective. Circling walks changing places on Bars 15 & 16 give a novel way of changing to shadow hold.

DALLAS TANGO Jeff & Muriel Aldren 1980: Cleverly arranged modern tango, with a straight rather than diagonal feel. Unusual start of a whisk. Highlights include double chasse and extended points on bars 3 and 4 and the lady’s twist turn with man’s circling walks on bars 10 and 11. Another hit for Jeff & Muriel Aldren, who also invented the Ragtime Swing.

The previous few months’ favourites: SHERRIE TANGO, INTERNATIONAL FOXTROT, BALI HI CHA-CHA-CHA, PASO DEL SOL, TANGO SUHALI, WALTZ LEHAR, RUMBA DUET, ALJULAY FOXTROT, CRYSTAL SAUNTER, CHICORY CHA-CHA-CHA, TUCAN TANGO, DEE-JAY QUICKSTEP, plus hundreds more, can be accessed via the Script Library Pages.

RECENTLY ADDED TO THE SCRIPT LIBRARY: PRESIDENT’S WALTZ, TAMMY TWO STEP, JASMIN SAUNTER, BLANDFORD RUMBA, SUNRIDGE JIVE, TANGO CAPRINA, RUMBA AMOUR, QUEENSWAY QUICKSTEP, WALTZ DIANA, ROYAL GAVOTTE, GEORGIA JIVE, ASHLEA QUICKSTEP, TENNESSEE WALTZ ‘80, BLUE BAYOU RUMBA, TANGO RICO, SAUNTER NIRVARNA, WALTZ GABRIELLE, ROYAL PARK TANGO, RED RUMBA, GRAND PRIX CHA-CHA-CHA, SAUNTER ROYALE.