Rod Downey devised the 32 bar strathspey Aileen Logie on 6 October 2022 as a teaching dance as part of a sequence for the first 16 bars of Ian Simmonds’ TheFive Row Reel.
It was also a teaching night for chain progression, and this dance allows for easy entry into the formation.
Aileen Logie is one of our local musicians in Wellington. She plays monthly with the Johnsonville Club.
Devised by Rod Downey on 20 March 2022. Tairāwhiti Wedding commemorates Rod and Kristin’s younger son Alex marrying Lana Phillips in a wonderful wedding in February 2022 in Gisborne.
As Lana has Maori heritage, there were a lot of Māori elements in the beautiful wedding, including a lovely Korowai (cloak) from Lana’s grandparents, as well as a Waiata and a spirited Haka.
For the wedding dance Lana and Alex were first couple dancing Mairi’s Wedding in a “family and friends” set, the men all in kilts and ladies with sashes to celebrate Alex’s Scottish (Macdonald) heritage.
Rod, Kristin and Carlton Downey joined Lana and Alex to dance Mairi’s Wedding along with Loralee Hyde and Philippa Pointon
Tairāwhiti is the Maori name for Gisborne (or, at least, the Gisborne Region). This dance contains a new version of the Rose Progression around a couple in the spirit of New Park from book 19, which has an all round poussette for 1C and 3C.
A special feature of the Johnsonville Tartan Night on 27 June 2022 was the public premiere of Tairāwhiti Wedding. Johnsonville dancers are shown enjoying this special dance below.
Devised by Rod Downey on 29 March 2014 as a teaching dance for grand chain.
The name is a tribute to a group of highly energetic 2013 new dancers who organised a ‘bunting bee’ to produce tartan bunting for Johnsonville Club’s hosting of the Wellington Region New Dancers’ Celebration in October 2013.
Click the arrows at the bottom of the photo gallery below to see the ‘bunting bee’ in action and the bunting in use at various Johnsonville Club events since 2013.
Shelley, Debbie and Lee sewing bunting in 2013. Photo: Pat Reesby
Members of the Johnsonville ‘bunting bee’ group who made the lovely club bunting in 2013 – Debbie, Deborah, Lee, Joan and Allison. Photo: Pat Reesby
The club bunting in use for the first time at the New Dancers’ Celebration in October 2013, with bunting bee members Debbie, Lee and Shelley dancing in the top set. Photo: Loralee Hyde
At Johnsonville Club’s first summer ceilidh in February 2014, John Markham gave a humorous recitation of the The Lion and Albert, with the bunting on display behind him. Photo: Loralee Hyde
The club bunting on display at Sarah and Josh’s wedding in January 2015
The bunting on display at Johnsonville’s 50 Golden Years Celebration at Karori Recreation Centre on 20 August 2016. Photo: Loralee Hyde
Volunteers setting-up the bunting at the 2019 Johnsonville & Capital City Shared Annual Dance at Ngaio Town Hall. Photo: Loralee Hyde
The club bunting adorns the Johnsonville School hall at the club’s last night of dancing at this venue on 15 November 2019. The dance is Jim Dougal of Eyemouth. Photo: Loralee Hyde
Members and guests enjoy the dance Texas Progressive Threesome at our 2020 summer ceilidh at the Johnsonville Bowling Club, with the bright tartan bunting to the fore! Photo: Loralee Hyde
First Tartan Night at Khandallah Town Hall in April 2021 – with the club’s bunting setting the scene for dancing Rosnor Abbey. Photo: Loralee Hyde
John and Aline Homes, the Club’s stargazers, dancing Rod Downey’s dance Stargazers on the right at the Johnsonville July Tartan Night in 2021. Photo: Robert Vale
A (simple) 16 bar waltz sequence suitable for beginning a ceilidh style night devised by Rod Downey for Johnsonville’s Spring Flingceilidh on 28 November 2020.
Download the instructions to Spring Chick Waltz Mixer below
On 15 June, the first Monday of dancing after the lockdown, Johnsonville Club danced the world premiere of Pieces of Eight. As a special treat, Aileen Logie had brought her accordion along to club and played Pieces of Eight – the jig version of Peter Elmes’ 1984 hornpipe tune
Aileen Logie played the jig version of Pieces of Eight at Johnsonville’s first night of dancing following the Covid-19 lockdown
Devised by Rod Downey on 26 April 2020 for John Markham, a longstanding member of Johnsonville Club.
World premiere of John Markham’s Rant
On 15 June 2020, the first Monday back dancing after the Covid-19 lockdown, Johnsonville Club danced the world premiere of John Markham’s Rant.
Club tutor Rod Downey wrote this dance in lockdown in recognition of John’s long commitment to Johnsonville Scottish Country Dance Club – it’s a busy dance with lots going on, reflecting John’s enthusiasm for physical activity.
Dancing One For All at Johnsonville Club 1 April 2019
Devised by Rod Downey on 21 September 2018 as a simple teaching dance for corners pass and turn.
Suitable for use after teaching the figure in Strathspey time using Miss Leslie Cunningham.
Note that there are no figures aside from completely straightforward ones.
The name suggests this is one all can do and also for Muriel Johnstone’s tune of the same name, played ABAB.
An excellent recording to use is ‘Clydeside Lassies’ as recorded by
Luke Brady in Part 5 of Dances from the Miscellany, where Muriel’s
tune appears as the second tune.
