King of The Fairies
Associations---Irland Earth Four Elements Children
Tapes Found On---DC I DC Little DC I DC Little
Origin---modern
Choreographer---Bernard
Notes
modern choreography to a traditional Irish tune.
The dance celebrates the four elements, earth, water, fire air.
The story that Bernard used in imparting the depth of the dance was;
walking by a lake in the hours of the wolf in predawn, we feel
the EARTH beneath our feet. Gradually, as light becomes, we become aware
of the waves of the lake WATER. Soon, further in or ambling, we come to
the white and tumbling WATERS of a stream coming from the high forest to
the lake. We pause to inhale the fragrance of the dawning post dawn gentle
AIR which stirs the wings of a family of swans who take to flight. Their
hearts beauty draws us upwards with them---up into the now blooming golden
dawn, the FIRE of life.
The first sixteen steps are EARTH, the 32 winding steps in the
middle is the flight of the swans. During these steps the leader will break
the circle and fly swooping along the hoop of dancers, passing under the
joined arms rainbow bridge of the last two dancers in the open spiraling
circle and then back to full circle again before the fire parts begin.
(Itís wise to tell the last two dancers about this so that they can be
prepared.)
Alternatively, during the ëswaní part, the circle can break open
and fly like seagulls upon an high and open wind fro and hither, reforming
the circle at the last moment to dance full circle in the FIRE of the Sun.
Words in English
KING OF THE FAERIES
Up the airy mountain, through the rushy glen
We daren't go a-hunting for fear of little men.
Wee folk, good folk, trooping all together
Green jacket, red cap and white owl's feather.
By the craggy hillside, through the mosses bare
They've planted thorn trees for pleasure here and there.
Is any man so daring as to dig them up in spite
He'll find the sharpest thorns in his bed at night.
High up on the hill top the old king sits
He's now so old and grey he's nearly lost his wits
He's rising with the music on the cold starry night
To sup with the queen of the gay north light.
Trad. Irish
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