May You Be Dancing On Air
Scottish Country Dance Instruction
MAY YOU BE DANCING ON AIR (R8x32) 3C (4C set) Marie Boemer Ness House 11- 4 1M+2L also 2M+3L set (do not give hands on sides), change places RH to face out on opposite sides
5- 8 1M+2M also 2L+3L chase round 3rd/1st place clockwise to change places (on own sides)
9-16 1L+1M also 3M+3L set, change places LH and chase round 1st/3rd place anticlockwise changing places on own sides
17-24 3s+1s advance, retire diagonally with partner and turn partner RH to face up
25-32 3s+1s dance Allemande while 2L dances up to top on bars 27-28. 213
(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)
Dance Information
The concept of "Dancing on Air" generally refers to the sensation of lightness, freedom, and joy experienced while dancing, often characterised by seemingly effortless or graceful movement.The phrase evokes an image of floating or being weightless, where the dancer feels liberated from gravity or physical constraints, giving the impression that they are gliding or floating above the ground. This concept can be seen in various dance forms and performances, particularly those that require highly skilled technique and precise, flowing movements.
In the context of performance or artistry, "Dancing on Air" often conveys the idea of a dancer reaching a state of perfect harmony and fluidity, where the usual limitations of the body seem to vanish. This can happen in both classical and modern dance, where the dancers might appear to leap or glide through the air with such grace that they give the impression of being lifted by an invisible force. This illusion is achieved through a combination of physical strength, control, and the art of illusion in choreography.
The term also carries metaphorical meaning, often used to describe a state of pure joy or elation. When someone says they are "dancing on air", it can imply that they are experiencing extreme happiness, lightness of spirit, or a feeling of being in an elevated emotional state. This figurative expression is used to describe moments when a person feels as if they are floating, buoyed by their emotions or by the exhilaration of a particular event, much like the way a dancer might feel in an especially euphoric performance.
Fanny Elssler Dancing In La Volière, Turning In The Air With Her Skirts Swirling Around Her
Drawn On Stone By M. Gauci, From A Drawing By J. Deffett Francis, c. 1838
Image from (cropped) Drawn on stone by M. Gauci, from a drawing by J. Deffett Francis. Printed by P. Gauci., public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
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