CD comes with booklet of words and dance instructions

Review by Sue Buchan

CONTENTS

Page

Dance
Country

1.

Kolo

Yugoslavian

2.

Heavy and Light (1)

Australian

3.

Heavy and Light (2)

Australian

4.

Cherkassia

Ukrainian

5.

Bashana Haba'ah

Israeli

6.

Ma Na'avu

Israeli

7.

Seno Slama

Macedonian

8.

Savila Se Bela Loza

Serbi an

9.

Kalamatianos

Greek

10.

Tsakonikos

Greek

11.

Debka Lahat

Israeli

12.

Polonaise

Polish

13.

Round the Barley

Australian

I 4.

Alewander

Swiss

15.

Woaf

Austrian

16.

Walking to the Left (1)

Australian

17.

Walking to the Left (2)

Australian

18.

Highway No. One (1)

Australian

19.

Highway No. One (2)

Australian

Link to Complete List of Dances on Shenanigans Resources

Shenanigans, A New Edition

- Review by Sue Buchan

Virtually all the previously recorded dance material from Shenanigans, one of Australia's most well-known educational troupes is now available on 3 CD's, and as such makes a wonderful and value packed addition to the resources of any music educator.

Shenanigans draw on the richness and diversity of dance traditions present in Australia to create a tapestry of rhythm and timbre played on French bombarde, Greek bouzouki, Hungarian hurdy gurdy, Macedonian bagpipes, Middle Eastern darrabukka, clarinet, piano accordion, and African drums.

Volume 1, contains 21 tracks for preschool and lower primary and includes the popular Shenanigans originals with an Australian flavour such as 'Highway Number One' and 'Koori Dreamtime'. Other traditional folk dances much enjoyed by young children include; 'Indo Eu' and 'Pinon Pinon'.

Volume 2 contains 22 tracks of material for primary aged children onwards and includes dances from a variety of styles and cultures such as the Cajun influenced 'Louisiana Saturday Night', the Serbian 'Scissor Dance' and the old English 'Sellenger's Round'. It also contains all the standards Australian Bush Dances taught in schools.

Volume 3 includes 19 items of material which can be adapted to virtually age group, such as 'Walking to the Left', 'Kolo', the very useful 'Polonaise', and 'Cherkassia'. It also includes three 'backing tracks' which enable participants to improvise their own sections.

A booklet of dance instructions for all dances is included in each CD cover and the instructions are clear and easily followed.

Such a wealth of dance repertoire on CD means an end now to the problem of having to cue tapes. I feel they are one resource that no music educator should be without.