Virginia reel
Definition
Noun: 1. An American folk dance: The Virginia reel is a traditional American country dance, specifically a type of contra dance or longways dance. It is characterized by its formation, where couples begin by facing each other in two parallel lines, one line of men and one line of women.
Usage
The term is used to name this specific, historically significant folk dance. - The community center is offering a class on traditional dances, including the Virginia reel. - At the heritage festival, the performers demonstrated a lively Virginia reel.
Advanced Usage
- The Virginia reel is often associated with early American social gatherings, barn dances, and Appalachian culture.
- It is danced to lively fiddle or folk music, often in a 4/4 or 2/4 time signature.
- The dance involves a series of repeating figures, such as a forward-and-back, a do-si-do, and a reel (a weaving figure) down the line.
Variants and Related Words
- Reel (noun): A lively folk dance of Scottish or Irish origin, or the music for such a dance. The "reel" in "Virginia reel" refers to the specific weaving figure within the dance.
- Contra dance (noun): A genre of American folk dance to which the Virginia reel belongs, where dancers form two parallel lines.
- Country dance (noun): A broad term for traditional social dances; the Virginia reel is a type of American country dance.
Synonyms
- Folk dance
- Country dance
- Contra dance (specific type)
Related Phrases
- To dance a reel: To perform a reel dance.
- They learned to dance a reel at the cultural workshop.
- Reel music: The type of music suitable for dancing a reel.
- The band played fast-paced reel music all evening.
Noun
-
an American country dance which starts with the couples facing each other in two lines
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