Who gets tired of watching love birds singing and dancing together to country music. There are various activities that attract love birds and one of them is dancing. Even though modern times have brought us many modern dances the old couple dances remain our favorite.
We like to see a woman madly deeply in love with her partners who has a red blush on both her cheeks because she is smiling and also blushing. Her partner is carrying her very lightly and swinging her with love from side to side. If only the images of such activities are making you excited to think how enchanting it will be to see these dances in real?
Dance Structure
Virginia reel is one such dance in which couples enjoy their time together. They walk, they slide, and they skip together. The formation of this dance is somewhat similar to contra dance but it has its notable differences. In this dance partners are couples while they face each other in long-form lines. These two parallel lines have six-eight couples. The partners who are closer to the music are known as head partners and partners at the other side of the line are known as foot partners.
The dance was performed only for entertainment purposes and had very basic steps. The steps include walking, skipping, sliding, elbow swing, change of hand-holding, and do-si-do. Virginia Reel is the most depictive dance in colonial period movies.
Fun fact that it was George Washington’s favorite dance.
Historical Background of Virginia Reel Dance
Virginia reel is named after the state of Virginia. It is not confirmed but Virginia Reel might be originated from a Scottish country dance known as Rinnce Fada. It was enjoyed by colonists in the 17th century. Although the origin of this dance is not documented the written document of the dance was first published by Sir Roger De Caverly hence it was named Sir Roger De Coverly. After being brought to Virginia its name was changed and it became Virginia Reel. Virginia reel has several versions that differentiate from 18th-century ball dance to present day dance.
Learn to Dance Virginia Reel With These Basic Steps
- Couples stand in front of each other while holding hands.
- They move 4 steps forward and 4 steps back and repeat it.
- Both partners grab each other’s right hand and then walk by the right arm and then return to their places.
- Then partners grab each other with the left arm and walk by the left hand and then return to their places.
- Now partners walk forward crossing the right shoulder then walk backward passing the left shoulder.
- Now only head partners dance moving 8 slides towards the foot side of the lines and then 8 slides back to the head side of the lines.
- Head partners do right elbow swing and then they do left elbow swing. The left elbow swing is done with a person who is standing in the other line and next to their partner. Head partner then come and meet in the middle of the lines to do the right elbow swing.
- Then next elbow swing with the person standing in the opposite line.
- The head partners meet in the middle of lines again and do elbow swing. Then they do a left elbow swing with every person standing on the opposite side. They come to meet in the middle to do a right elbow swing (this is called reel the set).
- After the reel is done head partners go back to their primary places.
- The head partner standing on the left side move towards the left side and all the other dancers follow, head partner standing on the right side turns right and walk towards the right, all dancers follow. The male head is followed by male dancers only and the female head is followed by female dancers only. This step is also called ‘peeling a banana’.
- Every couple comes back to their original place and joins hands in form of making a long arch. Head partners are the only ones who do not hold hands. The head couples join hands and take one step towards the foot of the line. Now head couples are second couples and second couples are head couples.
- Dance is repeated again with the new head couples. This is repeated till each couple has become a head couple.
Is There A Specific Costume For Virginia Reel?
Virginia Reel is a social party dance that all people used to enjoy in the 17th-19th century. So the common folks used to wear their normal party clothes which for us are now dance costumes.
Men used to wear dark pants, long-sleeved shirts, suspenders, and boots. While women wore blouses with skirts or long dresses. Women also decorated their hair with ribbons or bows.
The dance process is simple but also fun. Couples can try it at home at evening parties or during a small get together. This dance can also be performed by children. If you want to make it less complicated for them then leave the reel part behind.