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Thread: Online percussive dance tutorials?

  1. #1
    Registered User Gunnar's Avatar
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    Default Online percussive dance tutorials?

    Anyone know where I can find online percussive dance tutorials? I’d prefer Celtic styles (e.g. Irish or Canadian step dancing) but I’m also open to clog or buck dance, I’d just prefer not big band or jazz tap dance styles. I’d obviously prefer free lessons or YouTube lessons, but I might be willing to pay a little if it’s not expensive. Any suggestions appreciated thx
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    Registered User Simon DS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Online percussive dance tutorials?

    Hey Gunnar,
    this isn’t so much a lesson, but the rhythm is something else -these guys are cookin’!
    I was wondering if the men and women dance differently to this music? Not sure what the dance would be, nor how you could use it to improvise some percussion to support your tune.


    Here’s a buck dance lesson, (again I’m not sure if I’d have any available thinking time for this, if I’m playing mando at the same time, but it might improve my rhythm just to practice it)


    You’re definitely looking for dance that’s percussive? I think a lot of the top mandolinists recommend minimal body movement...

  3. #3
    Registered User Gunnar's Avatar
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    Default Re: Online percussive dance tutorials?

    That first video is cool, I like that bow... that buck lesson assumed some prior knowledge of the dance, which I don't have. I'm definitely looking for a percussive dance form, but I did not intend to dance while playing mandolin, although there is a John Hartford appeal to that.... and I think Chris might debate your last point lol
    Mandolin: Kentucky KM150
    Other instruments: way too many, and yet, not nearly enough.

    My blog: https://theoffgridmusician.music.blog/
    My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChF...yWuaTrtB4YORAg
    My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/africanbanjogunnar/
    Free backing tracks:
    https://backingtrackers.wordpress.com/

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    Registered User Simon DS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Online percussive dance tutorials?

    Quote Originally Posted by Gunnar View Post
    That first video is cool, I like that bow... that buck lesson assumed some prior knowledge of the dance, which I don't have. I'm definitely looking for a percussive dance form, but I did not intend to dance while playing mandolin, although there is a John Hartford appeal to that.... and I think Chris might debate your last point lol
    Oh sorry, I mean, that isn’t my position.

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    Registered User Ranald's Avatar
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    Default Re: Online percussive dance tutorials?

    Gunnar,
    For Canadian stepdancing, google "Canadian, "Cape Breton," "Acadian," "Ottawa Valley," or "Metis" and "step dancing," you'll find plenty of starting material. These Canadian styles are differing blends of mainly Scottish, Irish, and French styles, with Metis including indigenous influences, and other styles picking up a step or two from whatever Hungarian or Armenian happened to settle in the region. Here's a link for a Cape Breton video, though I don't know if that's helpful to you in Mozambique. By the way, I enjoyed hearing you on fiddle after seeing the mandolin video that you posted. Good luck.

    http://www.cranfordpub.com/videos/MaryJanet.htm
    Robert Johnson's mother, describing blues musicians:
    "I never did have no trouble with him until he got big enough to be round with bigger boys and off from home. Then he used to follow all these harp blowers, mandoleen (sic) and guitar players."
    Lomax, Alan, The Land where The Blues Began, NY: Pantheon, 1993, p.14.

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    Registered User Gunnar's Avatar
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    Default Re: Online percussive dance tutorials?

    Quote Originally Posted by Ranald View Post
    Gunnar,
    For Canadian stepdancing, google "Canadian, "Cape Breton," "Acadian," "Ottawa Valley," or "Metis" and "step dancing," you'll find plenty of starting material. These Canadian styles are differing blends of mainly Scottish, Irish, and French styles, with Metis including indigenous influences, and other styles picking up a step or two from whatever Hungarian or Armenian happened to settle in the region. Here's a link for a Cape Breton video, though I don't know if that's helpful to you in Mozambique. By the way, I enjoyed hearing you on fiddle after seeing the mandolin video that you posted. Good luck.

    http://www.cranfordpub.com/videos/MaryJanet.htm
    Thanks Ranald! It would be helpful if you could point out a few very helpful videos for beginners, but I can also just wade through a bunch. DVDs are not what I'm looking for, online courses would be better. Thanks
    Mandolin: Kentucky KM150
    Other instruments: way too many, and yet, not nearly enough.

    My blog: https://theoffgridmusician.music.blog/
    My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChF...yWuaTrtB4YORAg
    My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/africanbanjogunnar/
    Free backing tracks:
    https://backingtrackers.wordpress.com/

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    Registered User Mike Buesseler's Avatar
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    Default Re: Online percussive dance tutorials?

    I agree about that “Squirrel Hunters” video. That thing ROCKS! Is it even possible to get that kind of a groove with a mandolin? That mandolin player didn’t take a break.

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  13. #8
    Registered User Ranald's Avatar
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    Default Re: Online percussive dance tutorials?

    Quote Originally Posted by Gunnar View Post
    Thanks Ranald! It would be helpful if you could point out a few very helpful videos for beginners, but I can also just wade through a bunch. DVDs are not what I'm looking for, online courses would be better. Thanks
    I'm afraid that I don't have much experience with these videos. You'll have to have a look and see what you think. Louise Arsenault (Acadian) from PEI is an exciting dancer, as is Natalie MacMaster from Cape Breton. They're both outstanding fiddlers too, but I don't know much about them as teachers except that my brother says that Natalie gives good fiddle workshops. Also, April Verch in Ottawa (dancer and fiddler too). There are plenty of others besides. My daughter took lessons from Gilles Roy in the Ottawa Valley, one of my favourites -- he has a much more traditional style (not influencesd by tap dancing) than most local step dancers. He doesn't have much online presence though. He's the old guy with the bodhran. Here he is with his troupe, for your entertainment. If you see any particular videos that interest you and want to ask my opinion, send me a personal message.

    Robert Johnson's mother, describing blues musicians:
    "I never did have no trouble with him until he got big enough to be round with bigger boys and off from home. Then he used to follow all these harp blowers, mandoleen (sic) and guitar players."
    Lomax, Alan, The Land where The Blues Began, NY: Pantheon, 1993, p.14.

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    Registered User Simon DS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Online percussive dance tutorials?

    Quote Originally Posted by Mike Buesseler View Post
    I agree about that “Squirrel Hunters” video. That thing ROCKS! Is it even possible to get that kind of a groove with a mandolin? That mandolin player didn’t take a break.
    Yes, but maybe not as smoothly. I’ve tried a bit on the octave mandolin, not easy(!) but easier on the small electric ukulele bass (in fifths). The problem is that the technique is close to doing yourself an injury if you don’t do it right -my finger joints were telling me something. I think it would be better to learn it with actual one on one lessons. The ukulele strings are sticky too, maybe a fretless would work...
    I guess it’s possible to play with percussive, dancing fingers.

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    Registered User Ranald's Avatar
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    Default Re: Online percussive dance tutorials?

    I didn't realize that Gilles wasn't actually dancing in the video in post #8 above (I thought it was another that I've seen of him with his group). Anyway, here he is in the 1960's (the fair-haired step-dancer):

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fz9jPPs6ZYQ. If the links don't work, search You Tube for "Dusty Miller Reel - Don Messer- Royal Dionne & Gilles Roy".





    and in the 70's:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0v42MxYSYr4 If the links don't work, search You Tube for "Groupe Éritage à 'Gentill' Alouette' en 1979 avec Donna Lowe et Gilles Roy".


    Robert Johnson's mother, describing blues musicians:
    "I never did have no trouble with him until he got big enough to be round with bigger boys and off from home. Then he used to follow all these harp blowers, mandoleen (sic) and guitar players."
    Lomax, Alan, The Land where The Blues Began, NY: Pantheon, 1993, p.14.

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    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Online percussive dance tutorials?

    This might be a good tutorial to start with for Québécois footwork that fiddlers often accompany themselves. Andre Brunet is a phenomenal musician. You can take that from there to more complex dance steps.
    Jim

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    Default Re: Online percussive dance tutorials?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    This might be a good tutorial to start with for Québécois footwork that fiddlers often accompany themselves. Andre Brunet is a phenomenal musician. You can take that from there to more complex dance steps.
    Agreed. Andre is outstanding. If you want to see more great footwork while fiddlers are playing, check out French-Canadian fiddlers generally. Louise Arsenault is another great one; her bandmates say that she's paid by the mile. By the way, many fiddlers do dance while playing (though I know that's not what you're looking for, Gunnar) -- Scott Skinner, Jerry Holland, Ashley Macisaac, Natalie MacMaster, and Louise Arsenault are a few who come to mind, and I've seen many others. Some regard it as a gimmick. In an interview, Natalie MacMaster said that when she danced while playing, it was always to a simple tune that she knew very well. She also said that this was something she did for shows and concerts, and wasn't something she'd do at a dance down home. Always impressive though, especially to those of us who never mastered walking and chewing gum at the same time.
    Robert Johnson's mother, describing blues musicians:
    "I never did have no trouble with him until he got big enough to be round with bigger boys and off from home. Then he used to follow all these harp blowers, mandoleen (sic) and guitar players."
    Lomax, Alan, The Land where The Blues Began, NY: Pantheon, 1993, p.14.

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    Registered User Gunnar's Avatar
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    Default Re: Online percussive dance tutorials?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    This might be a good tutorial to start with for Québécois footwork that fiddlers often accompany themselves. Andre Brunet is a phenomenal musician. You can take that from there to more complex dance steps.
    Thanks for posting that! It was very easy to follow, and I just might incorporate that into my fiddling. The only thing I failed to consider was that wearing shoes is kind of necessary for percussive dance..... lol
    Mandolin: Kentucky KM150
    Other instruments: way too many, and yet, not nearly enough.

    My blog: https://theoffgridmusician.music.blog/
    My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChF...yWuaTrtB4YORAg
    My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/africanbanjogunnar/
    Free backing tracks:
    https://backingtrackers.wordpress.com/

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    Registered User Gunnar's Avatar
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    Default Re: Online percussive dance tutorials?

    Well, Ranald, I was not specifically looking to add dance to my picking, but I did figure once I learned the dance it would be easier to put it together with my fiddling (and Hillary Klug was part of the reason I want to learn to dance in the first place) so I am happy to learn to multitask. I wonder if I could do that quebecois footwork while standing?
    Mandolin: Kentucky KM150
    Other instruments: way too many, and yet, not nearly enough.

    My blog: https://theoffgridmusician.music.blog/
    My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChF...yWuaTrtB4YORAg
    My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/africanbanjogunnar/
    Free backing tracks:
    https://backingtrackers.wordpress.com/

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    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Online percussive dance tutorials?

    Quote Originally Posted by Gunnar View Post
    Hillary Klug was part of the reason I want to learn to dance in the first place
    You will have to grow your hair really long and dye it blonde. Frankly her shtick annoys me. A little too Oprylandish for me. Just my dos centavos...
    Jim

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    Default Re: Online percussive dance tutorials?

    Quote Originally Posted by Gunnar View Post
    Thanks for posting that! It was very easy to follow, and I just might incorporate that into my fiddling. The only thing I failed to consider was that wearing shoes is kind of necessary for percussive dance..... lol
    I heard a guy play guitar in Brazil one time. He had bare feet and loads of different drum sounds, flat foot for the ‘slap’, curved foot for a definite ‘tok’ sound. The heel, he said wasn’t working so well on that floor -his wife said we couldn’t go to the back porch... can’t remember why.

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    Registered User Gunnar's Avatar
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    Default Re: Online percussive dance tutorials?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    You will have to grow your hair really long and dye it blonde. Frankly her shtick annoys me. A little too Oprylandish for me. Just my dos centavos...
    Well, my hair is on it's way already..... I don't know what shtick means? Or oprylandish? You've stepped out of my vocabulary range. I do understand dos centavos

    - - - Updated - - -

    Quote Originally Posted by Simon DS View Post
    I heard a guy play guitar in Brazil one time. He had bare feet and loads of different drum sounds, flat foot for the ‘slap’, curved foot for a definite ‘tok’ sound. The heel, he said wasn’t working so well on that floor -his wife said we couldn’t go to the back porch... can’t remember why.
    Well, it's possible to do it barefoot, but it's quite painful after a while
    Mandolin: Kentucky KM150
    Other instruments: way too many, and yet, not nearly enough.

    My blog: https://theoffgridmusician.music.blog/
    My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChF...yWuaTrtB4YORAg
    My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/africanbanjogunnar/
    Free backing tracks:
    https://backingtrackers.wordpress.com/

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    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Online percussive dance tutorials?

    Quote Originally Posted by Gunnar View Post
    Hillary Klug was part of the reason I want to learn to dance in the first place
    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    You will have to grow your hair really long and dye it blonde. Frankly her shtick annoys me. A little too Oprylandish for me. Just my dos centavos...
    Shtick: routine
    Opryland USA: Disney-fied country music theme park no longer in existence. More info: Opryland
    Jim

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    Registered User Gunnar's Avatar
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    Default Re: Online percussive dance tutorials?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    Shtick: routine
    Opryland USA: Disney-fied country music theme park no longer in existence. More info: Opryland
    Oh ok
    Mandolin: Kentucky KM150
    Other instruments: way too many, and yet, not nearly enough.

    My blog: https://theoffgridmusician.music.blog/
    My YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChF...yWuaTrtB4YORAg
    My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/africanbanjogunnar/
    Free backing tracks:
    https://backingtrackers.wordpress.com/

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