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Petronella
By Dudley Laufman
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Dudley Laufman, calling in Nelson, NH |
In the 1950's, Petronella was always done at dances in Nelson, New Hampshire. Hands were Never, ever used. What people did with their hands and feet, was quite varied. Bob Robinson, wearing his white suit, red shirt and yellow tie, black shiny shoes, always folded his arms akimbo in front of himself, like some dancers do when they do si do, and would execute the most relaxed turns and balances. His wife Hallie, always in evening gown, did the same. They were a sight to behold. Their kids did the same. Bob was retired, but did some logging. On the other hand, Barney Quigley, Frank Upton and Renn Tolman, all dressed in their preppy nines, even though they had been in the woods all day, flailed their arms about and clomped and stomped as loud as they could. Allan Williams kept his hands by his sides. His twin brother Art, held his arms elbows bent, hands up to the sides, and did his shuffle clog. Both boys wore suits and ties. Both of them worked in the woolen mills in Jaffery, NH. Walter Hall danced Petronella the same way Bob Robinson did, but usually had his suit coat off and sleeves rolled up. He would do a fancy pigeon wing from time to time. Walter worked for the highway dept.
One winter dance in Nelson, Larry Collins came up from Boston. During Petronella he pas de opaqued his way down the whole set while the Warner and Curtis boys looked on stoically. At the foot of the set by the wood stove, Larry did a Boston stamp balance, slipped on some melted snow and all 250 pounds of him came crashing down, shaking loose the stovepipe and bringing it, ashes and all, down on top of him, and smiles to the woodchoppers.
When the back-to-the-landers started coming to the dances in the early '70's, they started taking two hands on Petronella, and turning under each other. Or one would turn under and the other just move to the four corners, balancing at each one. Then came the inactives joining in. I remember the night clearly. Glenn Towle was dancing with Tara Garland, and Donny Parkhurst with Inga Thompson. The week before they had learned Roxborough Castle, an English dance that has everyone turning around to the right at once. Glen and Donny etc. decided to introduce that figure into Petronella, and Citronella was born. Ted Sannella said I shouldn't have allowed it. I said Ted, you just didn't tell those kids what to do. If I had, I would have been out of business.
We didn't use the tune much in those days. The Canterbury Country Dance Orchestra, or various members, played for many of the dances then, so I had someone to mind the store while I tended to the calling, thus making medleys possible. Bill Miskoe didn't like it when we switched out of the tune. One time when he got to the top of the set we switched into Red River Valley and I sang the call. Before he quit in disgust, we went into the Star Spangled banner, then quickly into The Girl I left Between Me, Finnegan's Wake, Galopede, and back to Petronella.
My daughter Heidi composed the dance Simple Gifts. Duple Proper. All forward & back twice/ Active couples down the center and come back on the other side/ Cast off improper, ladies chain over & back/ Petronella turn to right & balance, turn to right, balance again. Given the nature of the tune Simple Gifts, probably clapping would be out of place.
We seldom do the dance now. Never have heard the clapping business. Probably wouldn't like it, but who knows. All part of what makes things stay alive. We dance it here at our house from time to time. Four or five couples in a set. Only the actives doing the figure while those on the side step it out in place. Clapping is done at the end for the musicians and for the dancers for such a good job.
Dudley Laufman, Canterbury, NH December 12, 1998
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