For the benefit of the new recruits we started with a little stepping practice, which Harry later said was a useful warm-up and recommended should become a regular feature of our practise sessions. Then we took our time over teaching Salmon Slapping. I would like to say a big thankyou to those dancers who did quite a lot of patient sitting and waiting at this point; I know that I take my time over these teaching sessions but I think it really is for the best in the long term. All five new dancers picked up their first dance really well and were able to dance it again at the end of the night without any reminders.
Then it was the turn of the new recruits to put their feet up while the rest of us did a quick Ally Pally before getting stuck into Bedlam. The first six up all knew the dance reasonably well but were just a little rusty as we haven't danced it for a while. But the six that I bullied into having a go afterwards were pretty much Bedlam novices, for some it was their first attempt. On reflection they should have mixed in with the dancers in the first set; maybe that will teach them not to be Bedlam cowards in future.
Finally we finished off with a Grim Reaper before heading either home or up the road to the Ship for a welcome post practise pint!