File: sigsworthcosmas-oh-houseparties_dances_M.mp3
Speakers
CS – Cosmas Sigsworth
KP – Curator Ken Perlman
KP: Could you give us an idea of what a typical house party would be like from start to finish?
CS: Well, not any different that any other I suppose. People were keener on dancing then. When one set would be finishing, there'd be another bunch standing up waiting to get in. If you didn't get in quick, you were out of it. The same in the halls. When the sets would be finishing up, there'd be another bunch standing behind them waiting to get in for another set. You didn't have to sit down and play all night waiting for somebody to get up and dance. There's quite a difference that way. But of course, they didn't have the Achy Breaky Heart dance then .
KP: So basically at these parties, people danced all night.
CS: Yeah, pretty well.
KP: What room of the house were they in?
CS: Oh, sometimes it would be two rooms: always in the kitchen, and if there's another room handy outside the kitchen, two rooms going.
KP: So they would have a set in each and the fiddler would sit in between?
CS: Yeah, start together, stop together.
KP: What kind of dances did they do?
CS: Good (?) reels.
KP: Did they have different figures in the dance?
CS: Yeah.
KP: How many figures?
CS: The old-time sets? Four wasn't it, I'd say. Four figures.
KP: Do you remember what they were, what the steps were?
CS: Well, right and left on the corners, and swing your partner, grand chain, swing all around, swing the lady on the left, keep going till you come back to the one you started with, and so on and so forth.
