Cecilian Dance Moves

Cecilian 'Disco' In-jokes.

There is a long running in-joke that Cecilians just can't dance, and are in fact, terrified of anything vaguely choreographical. Now, this may have been true in the occasional show, and we aren't entirely blind to the fact that some of our members (not mentioning any particular gender of the male persuasion) have two left feet. But we definitely leave any dancing inhibitions on stage, because we certainly know how to cut a rug on the dancefloor! Through the course of various club, pub and party nights, quite a solid catalogue of extremely cheesy dance moves has been built up, which old members strut with gusto, while newer members look on perplexed (and perhaps slightly concerned). Covered here, rather sadly, are the most oft-used moves that stem from tech-related activities, coined by Mark Ridyard, Tony Smith et others. Also covered, for good measure, is the much hallowed Cecilian Box Step.

1)Move the Set.

Bend both elbows with your hands held in front of you, fingers pointing upwards, with palms facing outwards (as if you were about to push a bit of set, funnily enough).
Walk forward for four beats. For the brave, try shrugging your shoulders whilst strutting for added effect.
Walk backward for four beats
Repeat until someone breaks into the next move.

2)Sweep the Stage.

Mime holding a broom, except pointed to your direct left, rather than in front of you. The standard broom mime for this move involves both elbows bent with both hands clenched into a slight fist. At the start of the move, the right hand should be knuckles upward, the left wrist (at the brush end of the broom) knuckles downward.
Mime 'sweeping' to your left for two beats.
Next, skillfully reverse your knuckle position so that the right knuckles are now downward (i.e at the brush end), and the left knuckles are upward. Then, gracefully and swiftly, change so you are sweeping to your right for two beats. Make sure the knuckle position is changed BEFORE you start to sweep to your right, otherwise the dust doesn't shift and your disco mates get an imaginary brush in the face.
Alternate sweeping directions until bored. This move is often directly followed by

3)Dealing cards.

Start with your right arm bent at the elbow, right palm facing upwards with index finger and thumb touching, as if holding a playing card. The remaining fingers should be allowed to relax and naturally curl.
Gently extend right arm to the right for four beats.
Whilst doing step 2. quickly flick your wrist to the right in time with each beat. The effect should be that of a slick casino croupier dealing cards, and NOT suspiciously like the international hand gesture for something quite different. Please practice thoroughly to ensure that no members of the public are harmed.
Drop the right arm and repeat steps 1 - 3 for the left arm.
Alternate until next move.

4) Sound/Lighting Effects.

Simple yet effective, this move requires no step by step walk through. Just pretend to be a demented monkey at a typewriter with silly grin and staring eyes for however many beats you like. This more often than not creates the desired effect.

5) Trapdoor.

This is getting on to more complex territory. This move is often deployed to accompany a crescendo in the music, and is meant to signify someone emerging from (suprisingly enough) a trapdoor. Nevertheless;

You'll know when someone initiates the Trapdoor sequence when they suddenly drop into a crouch with their arms covering their head. Do likewise.
Wait for the obligatory swell in the music. At the point of climax, uncurl yourself and leap gracefully into the air while flinging your arms straight up and shouting "Trapdoor!"
Try very hard not to spill anyone's drink.

6) Change the lights.

Innocent bystanders would be forgiven for thinking that this was a simple rip-off of the well known "Travolta Diagonal Point" (TDP), but afficionadoes will recognise the subtle hand gestures that have been worked into the move to make it distinctly Cecilian.

Adopt the stance of the "Travolta Diagonal Point", starting with your right arm in the air.
Cup your right hand as if you were holding a lightbulb.
It is at this point that the move differs quite dramatically from the Travolta original. In the TDP the right hand points in the air for only one beat before moving down. In our version, the arm remains in the air for TWO beats, and on each beat, the right hand executes a swift "screwing" motion, in a clockwise direction.
Quickly and cleanly, bring the right arm down and across to the left in a swift diagonal, again executing the "screwing" motion for beats three and four.
Repeat for the left arm. Please note that the "screwing" motion is still performed in a clockwise direction.

And finally...

7) The Cecilian Boxstep.

Such an old chesnut that it's surely a 150-year old oak. The simple boxstep has become such a staple of Cecilian dance routines, and indeed Cecilian history, that it's hard to believe that there is anyone left who doesn't know how to do it. But just in case;

Step forward with your right foot.
Cross over your right foot with your left.
Step back with your right foot.
Bring your left foot back to the side of your right.
Repeat until a) you get dizzy b) the bar shuts or c) you become a Cecilian choreographer.

Other moves that you may often see on the Cecilian-packed dance floor include the "Oklahoma Heel-kick", the "Anything Goes Time Step" and indeed the entire routine of "Grease", should Curlers be imprudent enough to put the Grease Megamix on, again. Sadly, I feel unable to describe these through the medium of prose, but new members can be rest assured that it won't take long for the moves that they are currently rehearsing to end up on the dance floor as part of the extensive Cecilian Disco Repertoire.

Courtesy of Nicola Coffield. Who has too much free time