| Peel the Banana CD and Companion Book present a popular sequence of dances from school residencies, family dances, and community celebrations (such as weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, family reunions, and good ol'-fashioned barn raisings). For each track on the CD, we note the number of times a dance pattern repeats and indicate formations for the dance. For most tracks, we include calls the first two times through. All tunes and dances are traditional unless otherwise specified.
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| Dance traditions are passed down through the generations to celebrate important occasions and to provide diversion from everyday life. The delight and exhilaration inherent in community dancing comes from the music, the spirit of cooperation, and simple, repeated patterns of movement.
In the "Peel the Banana" (or "casting off") pattern, pairs of dancers in two long lines walk towards the musicians; the head pair turns back to back and "peels" the lines to the far end of the hall.
To facilitate review and continued learning, teachers often ask me to write down the dances I teach, and the music that is played for them. I've done just that! Click here for more information about the book!
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| How To Purchase The CD And Book
On-line CD & Book Sales:
Country Dance & Song Society (CDSS)
Andy's Front Hall
West Music
Swinging Door Music
On-line CD Sales Only:
CD Baby
(this one has two-minute long audio clips of all 20 tracks! A really good site!)
Albany, NY Area Retail Stores:
Andy's Front Hall,
37 South Main Street, Voorheesville, NY;
Tel. (518) 765-4193
Celtic Treasures,
456 Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY;
Tel. (518) 583-9452; (800) 583-9452 www.celtictreasures.com/
Peel the Banana is also available at some area libraries
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| Click on CD covers to enlarge. | |
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This CD is dedicated to my grandma, Mary Sofer, who loved to dance in the last years of her life, and encouraged me to dance. We never danced together, but I am carrying on her joy of dancing wherever I go. Better late than never! |
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-Paul Rosenberg |
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