Circle, Square and Crossways Dances
Last updated: January 2025
Alabama Jubilee
Not the square dance
Form: Couples in a big circle, lady on man’s right - all facing the centre.
A1: All join hands and move four steps into the middle… and back four steps out, repeat.
A2: Allemande left with neighbour, do-si-do partner once-and-a-half… forward to the next person - holding out right hand. c. 4 + 10 + 2 steps
B1: Allemande right with the hand coming towards you, who’ll be your new partner. End facing back towards your original partner, swing original partner. Both end-up facing anticlockwise (Acw.) around the circle.
B2: Promenade Acw. c. 10 steps round the circle. Men move-on to their new partner… face in and re-form the circle.
Music: 32-bar reel (Bluegrass). 35s: Matt & Tom Turino - Cuivre River Shiver, The Gilded Bats - Sals Got Mud …; 34s: The Faux Paws - Fourth Decade, Matt & Tom Turino - Scavenger’s Delight; 33s: Empty Bottle String Band - Booth Shot Lincoln.
Apple Tree Square
Form: Four couples in a square.
A1: Head couples (‘1’s and ‘3’s) go forward & back;
‘1’s cross-trail: ‘1’s cross the set to pass between ‘3’s - changing places with each other as they go (lady in front), separate and go back to place round the outside.
A2: All do-si-do corner, do-si-do partner.
B1: Allemande left your corner, give right hand to your partner and start a R-L Grand Chain (men go Acw. round the circle, ladies go Cw., by pulling past with alternate hands).
B2: When you meet your partner, do-si-do and promenade home.
Repeat – but with sides leading.
Music: 32-bar jig/reel. 37s: Tiger Moth - La Bastringue; 35s: Adam Agee & Jon Sousa - *The Maids of Holywell/Cor Pheait/… Reel set;
33s: The Gothard Sisters - Celebration Reel, Patrick Street - The Shores of Lough Gowna/Contentment is… (jig) set, Corrina Rose Logston - Charleston No. 1, (reel) Alan McCartney & Paul Bradley - The Silver Spear/Gilbert Clancy’s/Road to Ballymac set;
32s: Liz Carroll - *The Silver Spear/The Earl’s Chair/The Musical Priest, Ghurt-Yo-ghurt - The Musical Priest, Jenna Reid, Aly Bain and Friends - *Fiddle Blast, Patrick Street - Killanin’s Fancy/… Portobello/… (reel) set.
The New Mrs Arrowsmith
Author: Gordon Potts
Form: Square.
A1: Head couples take inside hand with partner and lead ‘forward and back’ four steps in to the middle of the set. (4 + 4 four steps)
Head couples forward, then separate and out - taking their ‘opposite’ by the hand and passing between their adjacent side couple (who’ll need to separate slightly)… then each return to place.
A2: Sides ‘forward & back’.
Side couples forward, separate and out, taking their ‘opposite’ between their adjacent head couple… and back to place.
B1: The four ladies ‘right hand star’. Men cast out (curling ¾ Acw.), to circulate one position Acw. round the outside. T The ladies, after completing ¾ circle, ‘peel-off’ to meet their partner by the left hand and he courtesy turns (with a Cw. twirl) her (5 + 3 beats)
Repeat the star’ & ‘courtesy turn’ figure.
B2: Repeat the ‘star’ & courtesy turn, then either:
repeat it one last time (by which time, the couple should have returned to place),
or, to ‘progress’: men circulate normally, but ladies star all-the-way round - to a new partner.
Music: hornpipe (‘Step-hop’ to slower hornpipes) or polka. 26s (16 bars): Steamchicken - *… … Devil's Dead/In Party Mood; 49s: Clannad - Fairies’ Hornpipe/Off to California; 23s: Steamchicken - *Gobby's Christmas … ; 45s: Patrick Street - Down by the Old Fairy Fort/The Whistler… ; 34s (rant): 422 (EFDSS) - Soldiers Joy/The Great North Run/Dunstanburgh Castle.
Polka: 21s (16 bars): Nightingale - *Newmarket Polka/Trip to Dingle; 38s: The Old Swan Band - Walter Bulwer’s; 36s: - Diatonics (EFDSS) - Curly Headed …/Bulwers … , The Old Swan Band - Mrs Ellen O'Dwyer's/Packie Russell’s; 35s: Cheviot Ranters - … Pipes/… Rocks/ … Glendaruch/ … ; 34s: Craig Duncan - Grandfather/Clarinet Polka; 33s: Steamchicken - P & O Polka/Matthew’s March; 32s: 422 (EFDSS) - Huntsmen’s …/Grandfathers Polka/… .
Balance the Star
by R & B McLain
Form: Sicilian circle.
Prep.: In circles of four, identify ‘posts’ (males) and ‘gates’.
A1: Holding right hands across, facing Cw., Balance (P. de B.) in & out twice, then turn the star around. (4 + 4)
A2: Repeat with left hands across.
B1: Do-si-do opposite. Gatepost turn: join crossed hands with opposite and, turning away from the other pair, the ‘gate’ swings ¾ Acw. around the ‘post’ - who pivots on the spot - into his partner’s vacated place. (4 + 4) All face partner.
B2: Do-si-do partner. Gatepost turn (travelling): join crossed hands with partner, the ‘gate’ swings around her ‘post’ as the couple pass outside their ‘opposite’ couple (‘posts’ pass by the left shoulder) and on to the next couple.
Music: Polka (32-bar). 34s: Craig Duncan - Grandfather Polka/Clarinet Polka; 33s: Steamchicken - P & O Polka/Matthew’s March.
Reel of Ballymore
Leslie Haworth
Form: Big circle, mixer.
Difficulty: 2
A1: All take four steps into the middle… and back out. (4 bars)
Repeat. (4 bars)
A2: Promenade partner (‘Gay Gordons’-style) eight steps anti-clockwise, then, remaining in-hold, all turn back. Men move-on to…
promenade the lady in front eight steps clockwise - she's his new partner (ladies have moved-on one place… or men have moved-back one place). End the promenade with partners facing - men facing out, ladies facing in. (8 + 6 beats)
B1: Facing your new partner, the person beside him/her on your left diagonal, is your left-person (who was your previous partner), the person on the other diagonal is your right-person.
You’re now going to Allemande these three people. Give right hand to pass (¼ around) your new partner, turn the right-person halfway with the left hand. Pass partner by the right hand, turn the left-person halfway by the left hand to return to partner again.
B2: Long swing with partner alternatively ‘Balance & Kick’ twice and then swing.
Music: 32-bar jig. Welcome to the Dance, ‘WttD’, CD 2 - 01 The Ranchers - Reel of Barrymore (John of Paris, Lanigan’s Ball); 33s: Angelina Carberry - *Dermot Grogan’s/Hardiman’s; 32s: Trinculo - Drummond Castle/Shorty’s Revenge and Any Jig Will Do; 31s: Natalie MacMaster - Mahone Bay Jig.
Belfast Duck
Form: duple minor, comprising a large circle of couples - men form an inner circle facing out… or longways, proper. Stepping: Step-hop (vigorous) or slow walk (gentle).
Prep.: From the top, hold hands in fours. There's a tendency for the whole set to move down the room.
A: In fours, circle left, 8 steps; circle right, eight steps. (8 bars)
B: Taking inside hands, lead down the room (or clockwise, Cw.) with two, slow walking steps (easiest to start on the outside foot - "outside, inside… "),
take both hands and chassé ("side-close-side") down,
ditto up the room - or anticlockwise (Acw.),
ditto down the room,
ditto up the room but ‘1’s, stationary, make an arch and ‘2’s pass under it - so progressing. If having reached an end, swap designation and ‘wait-out’ a turn.
Summary of B:
Down 2, chassé down 2, up 2, chassé up 2.
Down 2, chassé down 2, ‘1’s arch and ‘2’s pass under - so progressing.
Repeat.
Music: hornpipe. 16-bar:
27s: Wintergreen - Puddleglum’s Miser/Elsa’s …; 23s: ‘Welcome to the Dance’, ‘WttD’, CD 1 - 20 Woodley Yeomen - Belfast Duck (Puddleglum’s …, Walking Up Town);
24s: Bellowhead - Kafoozalum/Priest’s Miss;
32-bar: Hornpipe 49s: Altan - *Dance of the Honeybees; 41s: Stömp - Scan Tester’s.
Blaydon Races
Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfJGEhRWmM4
Form: Circassian circle or concentric circles.
A1: Join hands, go into the middle - four steps - and back, 4 bars
repeat. 4 bars
A2: Double-handed or ballroom hold: double chassé in (side, close; side, close), double chassé out, 4 bars
two-turn, crossed-hands swing. 4 bars
B1: Promenade (skater’s handhold - hands in front, right over left) Acw. eight steps. During the last few steps, men move-on to the lady in front. 8 bars
B2: Balance & Kick… repeat, 2 + 2 bars
Cross-hand swing, 4 bars
finish with the new lady on the right… ready to restart.
Music: 32-bar march. 30s: ‘Welcome to the Dance’, ‘WttD’, CD 2 - 20 Greensleeves County Dance Band - Blaydon Races/Tramp, Tramp, Tramp/Home Boys Home (.wma), Woodley Yeomen - 13 B. R. (mp3); 33s: 2nd South Carolina String Band - *Cripple Creek/Old Joe Clark/… ; 30s: Cheviot Ranters - Blaydon Races/Keep Your Feet Still Geordie Hinny/Whenever Ye Can Yer Sure Tae Find a Geordie.
Borrowdale Exchange
Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFHBidfCyV0
Formation: 3-couple (with the lady on the man’s right) in a circle. Scatter mixer - so changes of partner.
Difficulty: 1
A1: All circle left eight steps… and back.
A2: All advance into the middle four steps… and back,
do-si-do partner.
B1: Hold right-hands across, with person opposite and nobody else. Circle left eight steps… and back. Finish by raising hands into an arch.
Undo the star: keep holding hands - the lady whose hand is lowest goes under the arches (made by the other two couples) first, then the next lady.
B2: Promenade (or polka) around the room for four bars… then form new, 3-couple sets. ‘Lost & Found’ couples to the centre and raise an arm.
Music: 32-bar reel: 36s: Sláinte - Scully’s Reel, Deanta - Scarta Glen Road set; 34s: Liz Carroll - Ronan Boys, Boden et al - 13 B. E. (mp3 is lo-res); 33s: Crannog - Red-Haired Lass/… Blacksmith/… Tulla, The Gothard Sisters - both *The Bandit and Celebration Reel; Chieftans - *Ladies’ Pantalettes (speeds from 34s to 30s per 32-bars).
Polka: 35s: Cheviot Ranters - Call of the Pipes/… Rocks …/… ; 34s: Craig Duncan - Grandfather Polka/Clarinet … .
The Carousel
Author: Bill Wolding
Form: Sicilian Circle (couple facing couple).
A1: Do-si-do person opposite,
do-si-do partner.
A2: Holding hands in circles of four, Balance & Kick… repeat,
circle left eight steps.
B1: Balance & Kick… repeat,
circle right.
B2: With arm around one’s partner’s waist (or linked-elbows), Balance & Kick, (4)
men link left elbows to form a line and wheel the line Ccw. ½-around, (8)
men release elbows, individual couples continue rotating a further ½-turn to face the next couple. (4)
or:
B2: Circle left eight steps, ‘crash thru’ (going to the left of one’s ‘opposite’) to the next couple.
Music: reel. 36s: Country Fiddle Band - Miller’s Reel, Cróga - Road to Errogie; 35s: Dominique Dupuis - *Reels des Naufragés, The Elderberries - Torn Jacket/Boy …/Toss …; 34s: Toss the Possum & Noah VanNorstrand - *Apple Blossom; 33s: Wild Asparagus - The Big Reel/Rare; 32s: The Lost and Nameless Orchestra - Dizzy Molly/Julia Delaney/… McNeil, Hotpoint Stringband - Irish Reel/… Laxdale; 31s: Mean Lids - Waterbound.
Chain Double Quadrille
Form: Double Sicilian. (Need a wide room… and at least 32 dancers.)
Two adjacent couples face another pair of couples to form a pair of extended spokes of a wheel. The first 32 beats can be danced with a travelling step, the remainder are ‘walked’.
Note: The degree of ‘courtesy-turn’ in the ‘Ladies Chain’ differs (¼ or ¾) between couples - affecting timing.
A1: The middle four people r. h. star, then return to left arm turn their partners 1½ times so they end-up changing places. 8 beats + 8 beats
A2: The middle four people, who were the outer four people, r. h. star, then return to left arm turn their partners one-and-a-half times to all finish back in their original place. 8 beats + 8 beats
B1: Balance & Kick, repeat… and swing. 8 + 8
B2: Ladies’ Chain across the set, 8
Ladies’ Chain along the line. 8
C1: Ladies’ Chain across the set, 8
Ladies’ Chain along the line. 8
C2: Holding hands down the line, forward and back. 8
Forward and cross through (couples part and each pass thru’ to the left of the facing person) to the next set. 8
Music: 48-bar jig.
53s: Natalie MacMaster - Father John MacLeod's Jig;
50s: ITMA Staff - Humours of Ennistymon/… Moher/… Ocean;
47s: Erutan - Banish Misfortune;
45s: Steeleye Span - The Mooncoin Jig, Kevin Burke - *The Humours of Ennistymon/Old as the Hills, Junor Davy and Friends - Strike the Gay Harp/The Hag’s Purse, The Elderberries - Banish Misfortune/Swallowtail/…;
44s: Eliza Carthy - Zycanthos Jig/Tommy’s Foot/… set;
42s: Threepenny Bit - *Coffee Zycanthos.
La Champenoise/Chapelloise
A simple, progressive (‘mixer’), two-hand, circle dance.
Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVEgrGl3UT0
Form: A circle comprising couples - man on the inside - facing Acw., so that each couple is a ‘spoke’ in a wheel. For more than six couples.
Prep: In promenade hold ('Varsovienne’-style i.e. man places his right arm over his partner's shoulders to hold her r. hand - left hands are also held, but in front)
A: The couple walk forward (start on r. f.), two, three, still holding both hands, half-turn Cw. to back-step, two, three, close. (4 bars)
{"Hommes à gauche/interieur. Dans le sens antihoraire: marche, marche, marche, tourn, recule, recule, recule, touche/pause."}
Variation: the man faces Cw. round the circle - holding the lady’s extended l. hand with his right hand, and extending his left arm to hold her right hand, he then walks backwards (starting on l.f.) for three steps. They then both half-turn Acw. - so they’ll need to extend their r. arms instead - and he walks forward.
Promenade three steps forward (start on l.f.), ½-turn Acw., three back - returning back to place - close. (4 bars)
{"Dans le sens horaire: marche, marche… " etc..}
(Variation continues: the man’s first few steps are backwards. Then, as he turns ½ Cw., the lady under-arm twirls her last few steps back to place.)
B: Everyone faces Acw. around the circle - still holding adjacent hands only. Couples pull together with either a Pas de Basque step or a little leap & ‘tap’, then spring apart - again with a P. de B.. The man then feeds his partner across (she rotates Acw.) in front of him to his left-hand side, as he slides right (across to the outside) - so they swap places. (4)
Couples pull together, spring apart… then make an arch with their ‘inside’ arms for the lady to duck Cw. under, offering her free, left hand to the following man. He collects it with his left hand as he slides back to the ‘inside’ position and she completes her Cw. rotation allowing him to place his r. arm over her shoulders. (4)
{Les couples s’approchent, s’écartent, s’échange de place. "Tirer près ensemble, se séparer (side/côté), touche, Change de place - mais la fille passe devant le garçon, face-à-face", "En sa proche", "La fille passe en sous."}
Music: Own jig/gigue. 33s-27s: Die Irrlichter, Duivelspack, Les Genoux - *Chapelloise; 31s: Ensemble Tournevire - La Marmotte.
Circassian Circle
A simple, progressive, two-hand, circle dance.
Form: Circassian Circle. Couples, lady on the right, face the centre.
A1: Forward four steps & back, repeat.
A2: Ladies three steps in, clap, and back; men three steps in and kick. Return to the next lady round (Acw.).
B1: Swing.
B2: Promenade (either skater-style [right over left] or Varsouviennes-style - man’s r. arm over lady’s shoulder - ‘Gay Gordons’-style) this lady Acw. Finally, raise hands to twirl the lady ¾ Cw. to face in.
Music: 32-bar jig. 30s: Pa’s Fiddle Band - The Irish Washerwoman, Evergreen - Irish Washerwoman/Swallowtail Jig/The Blackthorn Stick, (Cheviot Ranters - The Three Sea Captains/Lannigan’s Ball/Ellingham Hall).
Circle/Oslo Waltz (mixer)
Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWJqqreLG7A
Form: Circassian circle. Take hands round the circle.
A: Balance in, balance out; the man, steps back slightly for his neighbour to roll across (two-handed) into partner’s place to reform the circle.
Repeat three, further times.
B: Hold both hands with the fourth person (partner). Sway in, sway out, sway in and turn away from partner (man Acw., lady Cw.) to finish facing out. Take hands and repeat outwards - sway out, sway in, sway out and turn.
Take ballroom hold: two chassé steps in and two out. Waltz around the circle, then reform the circle to restart.
Music: 170 bpm: ‘WttD’, CD 2 - 13, Greensleeves County Dance Band - I Belong to Glasgow/ … /Two Lovely Black Eyes/ … ; 40Bpm: London Barndance Co. - Donna’s Waltz; 45Bpm: Nova - Golden Gate Waltz/Little Sky; 60Bpm: Foster & Allen - Oslo Waltz.
Cornish Six Hand Reel
Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtcp0lB_sX8
Form: Three couples in a line across the room, all facing up.
A1: Hold hands in lines of six and walk eight steps up,
two pairs of Balance & Kicks (jump, right foot to the left etc.).
A2: Turn around (Cw.) to hold hands in line again for seven steps down,
two more pairs of Balance & Kicks.
B: Turning to face partner, skip/walk a reel of six people (start by passing your partner by the right shoulder, then the person heading towards you with your left, the next person with your right etc.).
C1: Raised (to shoulder height) right hand turn and back with the left.
C2: Two hand turn,
do-si-do.
D: Everybody join hands with their partner in a promenade hold and face along the set (to the caller’s right). The couple at the ‘top’ (caller’s right-hand end) cast left and head down the set, where they arch… everyone following passes through,
swing when back to place.
Music: 32/64-bar reel.
Cotton-Eye Joe (Circle mixer)
Watch at: https://youtu.be/2JHCh7qdyDY
Sounds impressive on suspended, wooden floors.
Form: Not a ‘line dance’. Two, adjacent, concentric circles - all the men, in the inner circle, face Acw., their partners face Cw. in the outer circle.
Prep.: Brace/link right palms (vertically, at chest height, palm-to-palm) with one’s partner.
A: With the right foot, stomp, stomp, chassé right, i.e. ‘side-close-side’ - swapping hands whilst crossing in front of one’s current partner. (2 bars)
With the left foot, stomp, stomp, chassé left - swapping hands. (2 bars)
Repeat. (4 bars)
For the last 8 bars, either:
B: Do-si-do one’s current partner, then swirly-slide to the left to right elbow-turn the next person (your new partner) once. (8 bars)
or: Right elbow-turn one’s previous partner once Cw.,
left elbow-turn one’s current partner ½ Ccw.,
Right elbow-turn the next person [your next partner] once around.
or: Allemande right one’s partner, (4 bars)
advance eight steps to partner the next-but-one person. (4 bars)
Facing around the circle, brace right palms to restart.
Music: 16-bar, Bluegrass polka.
17s: Geslison & Groberg - Cotton-Eye Joe;
15s: Bruce Molsky, Rednex (14.5s) - C.-E. J.
Cumberland Square Eight
Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wy3PHPC1ZHk
Form: Square set.
Prep.: Ensure opposite men have similar height/physique.
A1: Heads (couples ‘1’ and ‘3’) galop across the set in a ballroom hold (men back-to-back)… and return (women back-to-back).
A2: Sides do the same.
B1: Heads right hand star, left hand star.
B2: Sides do the same.
C1: Heads make a basket. All four circle left.
C2: Sides do the same.
D1: All circle left for 16 steps.
D2: Promenade back to place.
Repeat - but with ‘side’ couples leading.
Music: 64-bar reel/march/polka.
35s: Boden et al. - C. S. E.;
33s: Jim Macleod Band - My Love She's But a Lassie Yet/Rae Horrick’s Reel/…, Alisa Jones, Howard & Wall - Miller’s Reel; 32s: ‘WttD’, CD 2 - 17/18 Greensleeves Country Band - My Love She's But a Lassie Yet/Cock o' North, The Cheviot Ranters - My Love She's But a Lassie Yet/Caddam Woods/Rose Tree.
Danish Double Quadrille
Form: Double Sicilian - two, side-by-side couples face two couples.
Difficulty: 2
A1: All four couples, in their set, circle left for sixteen steps (twice as long as you’d expect).
A2: Circle right for sixteen steps - back to place.
B1: The outside two couples take inside hands, and lead between the others towards the middle of the big circle and back. (4 + 4 bars)
B2: The inside two couples likewise lead to the outside of the circle and back.
A3: In fours: Right and left thru'… (8 steps), twice. (4 + 4 bars)
A4: In fours: circle left eight steps and then right.
B3 & B4: Each couple polka around their opposite couple two or three times, then go half-way round again to progress and form a new line ready to restart. (16 bars)
Music: 64-bar fast reel or polka.
33s: ‘WttD’, CD 2, Greensleeves Country Dance Band - 03 D. D. Q. (Jolly Coppersmith), Cheviot Ranters - Danish Double Quadrille.
The Dashing White Sergeant
Form: One big circle of sets each comprising three people facing three people eg. a man between two ladies or lady between two men. (If there are more than two surplus ladies, one of them could replace one of the men in a two-man ‘threesome’. The ousted man could then make an additional ‘threesome’ with two other surplus ladies.)
A1: Join hands in a circle of six and circle round to the left for eight steps (4 bars) and then back to the right. (8 bars)
A2: The person in the middle of the threesome turns to the person on their right and sets to them, then, by the right hand (variation: both hands), turns them around Cw. once. The other partner stands still. (4)
A2: Repeat with the other partner. (4)
B1: Dance a reel of three, passing right shoulder with 1st partner to start. (Variation: cup r. elbows to half-turn 1st partner, then l. elbow with 2nd partner, then 1st partner, then 2nd partner.)
B2: In lines of three, advance two skip-steps and retire… alternative: forward, stomp, stomp, stomp… back, stomp, stomp, stomp. (4)
B2: One line (say ‘2’s) raise their hands in an arch, both lines dance forward, ‘1’s duck underneath - passing to the left of their opposites. (4)
Dance-on to meet and repeat with the next, advancing threesome.
If the room's not wide enough for a large circle, the dance can be done in lines. On alternate ‘goes’, a threesome will be left spare at each end… they just turn around, as individuals, to face back to the set, miss the circling (1–8), then carry-on as normal.
Music: 32-bar reels. 32s: The Jingbang Ceilidh Band - The Dashing White Sergeant/Kate Dalrymple/Barrowburn;
31s: Crowdie House or Shoestring - The D. W. S., The Chieftans - *Ladies Pantalettes (speeds-up from 34s to 30s per revolution).
A Different Way Forward (Original version)
or 'Friday at the Fool'
by Seth Tepfer
Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MBpPUUEqpU
Formation: Sicilian Circle (couple-facing-couple) - actually a reconfigured Contra dance - needing at least 18 couples - and a wide enough area.
Progression: triple.
A1: Allemande left opposite, i.e. #1, completely around… (8 beats)
…and on to gypsy opposite #2 by the right 1½. (8)
A2: Balance & swing opposite #3. (4 + 12)
B1: Ladies Allemande right completely around, to cross to partner… (8)
where they swing. (8) (lady finishes on partner’s r.h.s.)
B2: Facing opposites, holding hands around the big circle, forward & back (tap), (8)
circles-of-four, walk Cw. three places round, (6)
pass thru' (to the left of current opposite i.e. #3) around the big circle. (2)
Dorset Four Hand Reel
Since the turn of the century, this dance tends to be performed more for ‘displays’ than socially.
Form: cross-ways 2-couple set, ladies back-to-back in the middle facing out towards their partner i.e. M-L l-m.
A1: Hey (reel of four), all start by passing right shoulders with partner. Finish after 1¾ circuits (10 places) with men in the middle (facing each other). l-m M-L
A2: Men ‘set’ to each other i.e. pas de basque (3 steps) - twice to each side.
Men turn to their partner and ‘set’ to her.
B1: Hey again. Finish with ladies back in the middle. M-L l-m
B2: Ladies ‘set’ to each other - twice to each side.
Ladies turn to their partner and ‘set’ to him.
Final 8 bars: swing partner.
So, first time through, walking reel… then walking reel with hands, (or: step-hop reel, then step-hop reel with hands), ranting reel (“heel” stepping), ranting reel with hands. Reels end-up with ‘inners’ having swapped with the previous ‘outers’.
Music: 2 x 64 + 8 bars, AABB + 8 final swing; rant, ‘WttD’, CD 2 - 06 Dorset Four Hand Reel; 35s per 32 bars: Blowzabella - D. F. H. R. set.
Eightsome Reel
Formation: Square, lady on the man’s right. 1st couple have their backs to the band.
Chorus
1-8: All join hands to circle round to the left for eight steps (4 bars)… and back.
9-12: Ladies join right hands in the middle, partners join-in putting right hands around their partner’s waist, and all wheel in a big star.
13-16: Couples Swing round (men-backing, still holding around the waist) so the men join left hands in the centre, and dance back with a left-hand star.
17-20: Face partners and set twice.
21-24: Turn (two, crossed hands) partner.
25-40: Giving right hand to partner, dance a grand chain around the set, i.e. keep going in the same direction giving left hand, right, left… until you get back to place. If you get back early, swing until the end of the phrase.
Main Figure - performed eight times
1-8: 1st lady goes into the centre of the set and ‘set’s i.e. pas de bas (3 steps), while the other seven circle round to the left… and back.
9-16: 1st lady sets to partner, turns him two-handed, sets to opposite man and turns him.
17-24: 1st lady dances a reel of three with partner and opposite man, starting with left shoulder to partner. Variation: lady turns partner, opposite man, partner, opposite man.
25-32: Repeat bars 1-8.
33-48: Repeat bars 9-24, but with 2nd and 4th men - start the reel by passing left shoulder. 1st lady retires.
Repeat figure with, in the centre, 2nd lady, 3rd lady, 4th lady, 1st man, 2nd man, 3rd man, 4th man.
Final Chorus
Repeat the 40 bars at the start of the dance.
Music: Lively reel, played 40 bars for the first time through, plus 8 lots of 48-bar repetitions (phrased 24 + 24), plus a final 40 bars (464 bars: 40 + 8x48 + 40). The De’il Amang the Tailors is commonly used for the first and last 40 bars.
52s (for 48 bars): Jim McCloud Band - Eightsome Reel; 50s: Gordon Pattullo Band - Eightsome Reel.
Gay Gordons
Traditional, Scottish.
Form: Couples are arranged in a circle - facing Acw.
Prep.: Man stands slightly behind lady with his right arm over her shoulders, lady holds man’s hand with her right, they hold left hands in front of the man’s right hip.
A1: Couples walk forwards for three steps then, keeping hands held, swivel ½ Cw. to face back. Walk backwards for three steps… and close.
A2: Walk forwards for three, swivel ½ Acw., walk backwards for three steps… and close.
B1: The lady twirls Cw. under the man’s right arm as he slowly walks forward.
B2: In ballroom hold, polka-step round.
Music: march. 33s: The Glencastle Sound - Scotland the Brave/Kelvingrove; 32s: ‘WttD’ CD2 Greensleeves Country Band - Meeting of the Waters/… .
Goathland Square Eight
Form: 4-couple square set, rant step throughout except for A2 and swing.
Sing (during A1):
“Old Mrs Wilson how d'you do?
Very well thank you - how about you?
Some folk laugh and some folk cry
But you’ll never do the dance if you never try”
A1: Holding hands, circle left, (4 bars)
Circle right. (4 bars)
A2: ‘1’s and ‘3’s cross, ‘1’s dipping, ‘3’s arching, (2)
‘2’s and ‘4’s cross, ‘2’s dipping, ‘4’s arching, (2)
‘1’s and ‘3’s return, ‘1’s arch, (2)
‘2’s and ‘4’s return, ‘2’s arch. (2)
B1: Grand chain (start with right hand to partner), (4)
halfway round - swing partner. (4)
B2: Continue grand chain (passing partner, but offering one’s left hand to the next dancer), (4)
meet partner and swing. (4)
Repeat…
At the end of ‘WttD’, CD 1 - 03 G. S. E., there's an extra A1 for a final swing and an A2 for a promenade.
Music: 32-bar rant.
35s:‘WttD’, CD 1 - 03 - Orange and Blue - G. S. E.;
38s: Trinculo - Old Mrs Wilson.
The Heartbreaker
Author: Peter Coe
Watch us doing it at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9MwKtVrZKs
- video by SHOCC organiser, Ian Nichols.
Form: Four-couple square.
A1: All holding hands, circle left for eight steps (ranting - if proficient), (4 bars)
Circle right for eight steps (back to place). (4 bars)
A2: Three couples - not the Top couple - make a single-handed arch with their partner.
The Top couple ‘Split the Heart’: they dance in to the middle of the set, then, as individuals, leave the set - each through their adjacent arch - round the outside to cross over at the bottom, join hands, duck under that arch and cross the set back to place (finish with a California Twirl). (8)
B1: The four ladies Star/Chain: ladies right hand star half-way round, peeling-off to meet the opposite man by the left hand. The man then courtesy turns her (or, as a flourish, the lady first underarm twirls Cw. - ‘Swat the Flea’) - leading her back to… (4)
…continue the Four-Ladies’ Chain, back to her partner - who courtesy-turns her (with a ‘Swat the Flea’ - if inclined) - gliding into… (4)
B2: …corner do-si-do, partner do-si-do. (8)
Repeat: Circling, then the next couple Acw. ‘Split the Heart’ etc.
To progress occasionally: for the ‘returning’ Ladies’ Chain, call “Ladies continue circling to the third man round”.
Music: 32-bar jig/reel or Charleston.
Reel: 36s: Jim Hendricks - Ballad of Casey Jones; 35s: Natalie MacMaster - *Stoney Lake Reels; 33s: Banter - *Corn Rigs/Seneca… .
Jig: 32s: Craig Duncan - *Drummond Castle/Lads of Dunse/The Stool of Repentance; 31s: Trio - *Snug in the Blanket/Drummond Castle/Stool of Repentance.
Charleston (Goodman/Steamchicken-style): 39s: Mrs Mills → Viscounts - Five Foot Two; 36s: French Charleston Orch. - Ain't She Sweet.
Hullichan’s (Hooligans) Jig
Form: Sets of two couples crossways, ladies in the middle standing back-to-back facing their partners, i.e. M-L l-m
Preparation: Each set should have men of similar height and physique - as swinging can get rather enthusiastic - so needs care. Practise a Pas-de-Basque step and ensure that all dancers are proficient at the turn/swing hold described below.
1-8: Pas-de-bas (P-d-b) partner for 16 beats. i.e. 8 bars
9-16*: Turn partner for 16 beats, but men finish facing each other in the centre of the set. - L-M m-l
17-24: Men P-d-b each other 16 beats, ladies admire.
25-32: Men link elbows and swing each other for 16 beats, but finish facing their opposite lady. - L-m M-l
33-40: P-d-b new partner for 16 beats.
41-48: Swing new partner for 16 beats, but finish with ladies facing each other in the centre of the set. - m-L l-M
49-56: Ladies P-d-b to each other for 16 beats, men admire.
56-64: Ladies swing each other for 16 beats, finish facing their original partners. - m-l L-M
Repeat - as desired.
* The secure ‘back swing’ or ‘turning’ hold: couples facing each other, they link right elbows, both put their left hand behind their back (palm facing outwards – as is natural). With their right hand, they grip their partner’s left hand i.e. the one behind their partner’s back.
Music: 6/8 or 9/8 jig – but 64 bars in total.
33s: Dave Swarbrick - Hullichan’s Jig/!Chorus Jig (both are very short, Chorus is too fast); 62s: Gordon Pattullo’s Band - Hullighan’s Jig; 30s: The Jingbang Ceilidh Band - Hullichan’s/The Curlew/Skyeman’s/Troy’s …; James Keane - *The Geese in the Bog.
Kerry Polka
Form: square.
A1: Left hand Allemande corner, into… (3 bars)
Grand Chain halfway round. (5)
A2: Partner Allemande right - once around, (4)
partner promenade (hands in front) back to place. (4)
or:A1: ‘Head’ couples polka thru' the ‘side’ couples to opposite place… (4)
‘sides’ polka thru' ‘heads’ to opposite place. (4)
A2: Repeat - back to place.
B1: In ballroom hold, pointy arms to the centre, triple-step in, emphasizing the last step by dipping pointy arms downward, triple-step back, polka round (one turn) to next Acw. place round. (4)
Repeat. (4)
B2: Repeat another two times - back to place.
The actual figures in the ‘A’-half are at the whim of caller.
Music: 36s: The Old Swan Band - Mrs Ellen O'Dwyer’s/… , Diatonics - Come Dance and Sing/… ; 34s: The Old Swan Band - Little Diamond/… /… ; 31s: Notorious - *Jolly Jack’s Polka, Ronan Hardiman - Irish Polka.
Lucky Seven
Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr2E-gpQdIg
Form: circle mixer. Avoid having multiples of six couples.
Prep: Facing Acw. round the circle, start in promenade (hands in front) hold (lady on the right).
A1: Promenade for 14 steps. 8 bars undo the hold by raising both hands over the lady’s head for her to turn ¾ Cw..
A2: All holding hands in a circle, three steps in, kick, four steps out, 4
partner Do-si-do. 4
B1: Grand chain: all the men face anticlockwise (Acw.) round the circle, all the ladies face clockwise. Take right hands, count “One” and pass partner, hold out left hand to the next person, count “Two” and go past, etc. 8
B2: Swing (crossed-hands) the seventh person - your new partner - for 8 bars. (One person crosses their arms and the other takes their hands).
When dancers are proficient, call “Now swing the eighth person”.
Music: 32-bar jig/reel, 33s: ‘WttD’, CD 2 - Greensleeves Country Dance Band - 11 Lucky Seven (The Happy Cavalier/Three Scamping Rogues); 34s reel: Sharon Shannon - *The Woodchoppers, *Bag of Cats or *Bonnie Mulligan, Gerry O’Connor - *Mountain Road/Ash Plant/Josie McDermott’s, La Famille Arsenault - *La Reel Mon Oncle Albert/Whiskey Before Breakfast; 33s: Kristin Scott Benson - The Woodchoppers Reel, Abrams Brothers - Nashville Skyline Rag, Arty McGlynn - Walter Sammon’s Grandmother/Concertina Reel/Brendan McMahon’s; 32s: Cheviot Ranters - Davy Knick-Knack/Toland Dance/Aiken Drum; 30s: Blazin’ Fiddles - *Thursday Night in the Caley; 31s reel: Rún - *Road to Lisdoonvarna, Ceilidh Minogue - King’s Reel/… Laoish/Janine’s … /… set, The Demon Barbers - *Kiss Me Quick My Mammy's … .
Margaret’s Waltz
composed by: Pat Shuldham-Shaw
Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpUvqPyIDv0
Form: Sicilian Circle – couple facing couple.
Note: Use "folk step" (or “one-step waltz" step) throughout: one travelling step - leading with the right foot - followed by two steps virtually on-the-spot. (Concentrate on the first step [turning shoulders] and let the other two just follow.)
A1: Holding inside hands with partner, forward (two triple-steps) & back.
½ turn contrary Cw. by the right hand (& retire). Repeat the ½ turn. 4 + 2 + 2 bars
A2: ½ turn partner Ccw. by left hand. Repeat.
Ladies chain across. 2 + 2 + 4 bars
B1: With contrary adjacent, slide (chassé) diagonally right with the r. foot leading, followed by a triple-step diagonally right.
Repeat to the left (l. foot leading) - so that couples pass and then finish back-to-back; all turn to the right and right hand star back to original place. 8 bars
B2: Do-si-do contrary, waltz-on with partner - passing to the right - to the next couple round. 8 bars
Music: Own tune.
More of a Mixer
(A variation of the Contra dance)
By Al Olson
Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llYCYpKNl9M
Form: Two concentric circles. Men inside, facing out - ladies outside, facing in. Nudge one step right around the circle. Hold raised hands in a wavy line/circle.
A1: Balance r., tap, balance l., tap, slip (two chassés) right. (8 beats)
Holding raised hands, bal. l., bal. r., slip left. (8)
A2: Allemande opposite on the right by the r. hand - twice around, Allemande current opposite (on the left) by the left - twice around… (8 + 8)
B1: …gliding into Do-si-do r. hand opposite (new partner), (7)
swing that opposite. (9)
B2: Promenade (hands in front) opposite Acw.. (16)
Music: jig, 31s: Alasdair Fraser & P.M. - Calliope House/… ; 31s: Tiger Moth - Oats & Beans, 30s: The Faux Paws - Sage Creek/… Pirate … , Brendan Block - Kates/Mill Roof, The Fretless - Bixies, The Great Bear Trio - The Godwit/McGowan's.
The Mouth of the Valleys
as written (and called) by Gordon Potts
Form: Five or more-couple Circassian circle, everyone facing their partner (men face Acw., ladies face Cw.). Mixer.
A1: Men dance/walk a figure-of-eight around their adjacent ladies. (8 bars)
A2: Ladies dance/walk a figure-of-eight around their adjacent men. (8)
B1: Arming: men half-turn their partner Cw. by either a ‘short’ right arm, i.e. a forearm grip, or a ‘cupped’ elbow - but no thumbs, half-turn their neighbour Acw. by the left arm, and then half-turn their partner again by the r. arm. (8)
Note - B1 needs to be danced quite ‘tightly’ (only 5 steps per half-turn) to be able to fit into 8 bars.
B2: Offer left hand to neighbour (now new partner). As the lady walks forward, the man curls ½-Acw. to stand beside her, placing his r. arm over her shoulders - so couples face Acw. around the circle. (2)
New couples promenade (‘Varsouvienne’-style) for nine or ten steps. Ladies can twirl forward, Cw., to face their new partner in a re-formed circle. (6)
Music: 32-bar, versatile. 40s (“Plenty of time for some creative twirling.”): Natalie MacMaster - Barndances; 35s: Countercurrent - *Sunshower/Lindsey… ; 34s: The Brock McGuire Band - *The Moving Cloud, The Faux Paws - Birdy Thirty; 34-32s: Solas - *Sproggies, 33s: The Gothard Sisters - *The Bandit, Countercurrent - That's Right Too/…/… ; 32s: Airdance - *Fred Bartell/Jigjazz, Wake Up Robin - *Rainy Night; 35s jig: Kathleen & Jim Fownes - *The Old Favorite/The !Orphan.
Panshanger Sicilian Circle
by Barry Goodman
Form: Sicilian Circle.
In circles of four, holding hands. Cw.-facing couples are ‘1’s.
A1: Circle left eight quick-ish steps,
Still holding hands, circle right.
A2: Do-si-do partner,
Do-si-do opposite.
B1: Ladies’ chain,
B2: ‘1’s arch and ‘2’s duck under,
‘2’s arch and ‘1’s back under,
‘1’s arch and ‘2’s duck under to progress-on to the next couple.
Music: 32-bar jig or polka. 32s jig: Tiger Moth - Oats and Beans and Barley Grow, Alban Fuam - The Wishing Well/Apples in Winter/… set;
Polka 38s: Lissa Schneckenburger - Jamie Allen; 35s: Cheviot Ranters - Call of the Pipes/Barren Rocks of Aden/… ; 32s: Art Stamper - Barndance Polka, Ronan Hardiman - *Irish Polka; 31s: Sláinte - Britches full of Stitches/Munster Bank/Bill Sullivan’s set.
Pat-a-Cake Polka
Form: (Mixer) Couples in a circle: the men face Acw., ladies face Cw. - or, if space is limited, two concentric circles - ladies on the outside facing in, men facing out. Mixer.
A: With both arms out-stretched to the side, hold hands with partner.
‘Heel-toe’: ‘Heel’ into the circle (or, depending on space, Acw. around the circle) ‘toe’ - heel adjacent to the ball of the outer foot, … twice; 2 bars, 4 beats
Four slide steps (eight steps) to man’s left - either into the circle or Acw. round the circle, 2 bars
With outside foot, ‘heel-toe’ twice towards the outside (or Cw.), 2 bars
Slide four steps - back to place. 2 bars
B: Clap right hands with partner three times (fast-ish), clap left hands with partner three times, 2 bars
Clap both partner’s hands three times, clap own thighs/knees three times. 2 bars
Either: polka around with the same partner. 4 bars
or progress: Right elbow turn once… continue-on, passing to left of partner (men go Acw.) to the next person round. 2 + 2 bars
Optional addition to B: Change Places - cross to the left of partner while also half-turning Acw. (so pass back-to-back - using about five steps), then march on-the-spot - hands on hips. 4 bars.
Repeat to return to place.
Music: 16-bar polka at c. 110bpm. 21s: Nightingale - Newmarket …/… Dingle; 19s: Lissa Schneck - Jamie Allen; 17s: ‘WttD’, CD 1 - 19, The Blue Mountain Band - Nick Nack Paddywack/Little Brown Jug/Polly Wolly Doodle/So-so Polka.
La Russe Quadrille
Watch at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3wQ1eQ2f54
Form: square.
A1: All pass their partner by the left shoulder i.e. men pass outside the ladies, to meet the next person of the opposite gender - who should be coming towards them, balance (‘set’ to the right, then left) (4 bars)… & swing. (4 bars)
A2: Return back to place with a Cw. twirl - passing to the left of partner. (2 bars)
Face partner, Balance & Kick (2 bars)… & swing. (4 bars)
B1: The leading couple (‘1’s) keep swinging, others drop-back to place.
B2: ‘1’s promenade inside the set, successively greeting (nodding/bowing) ‘2’s, ‘3’s and ‘4’s, ending back in place.
A3: Head couples cross - say, ‘1’s, dip, ‘3’s arch. (At the far side, couples could ‘California Twirl’ to change place and direction.) (If everyone's nifty, ‘2’s and ‘4’s could follow immediately.)
A4: Repeat A3 i.e. the ‘dip and arch’ to cross back (‘1’s arching).
B3: All join hands, circle left all the way (eight triple-steps - lead on the right foot).
B4: Promenade (anticlockwise) back to place. Linger holding left hands to half-turn the lady ready for her to advance for the ‘balance’ with the adjacent man.
Repeat for ‘2’s, ‘3’s, and ‘4’s. Finally both heads (‘1’s & ‘3’s) dance B1, B2 and A3 simutaneously (‘1’s cross first again)… , then both ‘side’ couples do B1, B2 and A3 together.
Music: 64-bar polka.
32-bar: 36s: Diatonics (EFDSS) - Come Dance and Sing/One for Phil; 35s: Cheviot Ranters - Call of the Pipes/Barren Rocks of Aden/… set; 34s: Tiger Moth - Larousse; 32s: Cheviot Ranters - Original/Good Humour/Come Let Us Dance and Sing, Greensleeves Country Dance Band ‘WTTD’, CD 2 - 15 - Original/Jane’s Fancy/I'll Gang Nae Mair… .
Suffolkation
by Ron Coxall (with Goodman variations - verbatim)
Form: Double circle (men inside). Hands four, ‘1’s are facing Cw.. Double progression.
A1: Star r., star l., (8)
A2: Balance & swing partner. (8)
B1: Ladies dance between the men and cast back to place; repeat with men dancing between the ladies. (8)
Alternatives for B1: 1st corner do-si-do, 2nd corner do-si-do.
or: 1st corner cross, 2nd corner cross, circle left halfway.
B2: Face neighbours, holding inside hand with partner, forward and back, (4)
‘1’s arch, ‘2’s dive under. Continuing round, ‘2’s arch over subsequent diving ‘1’s. (4)
Music: 32-bar jig. 34s: Celtic Fiddle Festival - Stan Chapman’s/… Daley’s; 33s: Countercurrent - *The Legacy/Tumbledown/… .
Suicide Square
Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRMHMXqFYEs (a relatively 'relaxed' execution.)
Form: A ‘squared’ circle. Mixer.
A1: Everyone in ballroom hold - the 'head' ends of the room galop eight steps across the room and back. (8 bars)
A2: 'Sides' do the same. (8)
B1: Two-handed Balance & Kick twice, (4)
Swing your partner. (4) Finish with men forming an inner circle facing out, women form an outer circle facing in.
B2: All circle to their left. (7)
Face a new partner and take ballroom hold. (1) ‘Lost’ dancers raise their hand & head for a 'side'.
Music: 32-bar double-jig (for the galop). 33s: Jim Macleod - Rory O'More/The Lynmore Jig/…, Amelia Parker - Irishman’s Heart to the Ladies/Cape Breton Dream/Stan Chapman’s Jig; 32s: Celtic Fiddle Festival - *Maureen’s Fancy/The Ceili Jig/The Swinging Jig, Dave Swarbrick - The Swallow’s Tail/Rakes Of Kildare/Blackthorn Stick, Altan - The Gap of Dreams/Nias …/… set, Olive Hurley - Shandon Bells/Nova Scotia/Cherish The Lady; 31s: Floating Crowbar - The Doberman’s Wallet/The Mouse …/Orphan/McHugh’s/Stan Chapman’s, The Climax Ceilidh Band - *Spike (! 'swing' from 3m02 for 16s), The Scottish Fiddle Orch. - Jakes Jig/Well for Water, John Whelan - *Humours Of Glendart/Leitrim Fancy/Paddy In London, 422 - Joe Fosters; 30s: FullSet - The Lost & Found, Dominique Dupuis - *Mom’s Jig/Cape Breton Dream, Wild Asparagus - Mooncoin Jig/Whelan’s, John Whelan - Francis O'Neill’s/… Miracle/… , Peter Miln - Athol Highlanders; 29s (so slow them by c. 10%): Beòlach - Annie’s New Heart, Whapweasel - *Badunga.
Sybil’s Roundabout
Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PI2n1bDRP7s and: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcd1Pgw9M0Y
Form: Couples in a large circle - men on their partner’s left. All hold hands, facing in. Mixer. Can also, with minor modification, be performed as a Contra.
A1: Walk four steps in to the center of the circle, and retire (four steps back-out),
walk four steps in again, then the lady retires while the man half-turns (2 beats) and retires two steps backwards. (4 + 4 bars)
A2: Do-si-do partner, (4 bars)
Chassé left twice (or, for enthusiastic participants, four galop steps i.e. a ‘Side-close’ per beat - for four beats), (2)
Chassé right twice (or four galop steps) to return; (2) end with your partner slightly diagonally to your left.
B1: Taking left hands with your partner and right hands with the person diagonally to your right form a wavy circle/line, F. & B. Balance (four beats: pull and step forward, tap/kick… lean/step back, tap), (2 bars)
Allemande left your partner to swap places, (2 bars)
F. & B. Balance the new line, (2)
Allemande right your neighbor #1 to change places. (2)
B2: Allemande left your neighbor #2 ¾-turn to return to neighbor #1,
Crossed-hands swing (or buzz step) this new partner.
Fall-back into a circle to restart.
Music: 32-bar jig. 35s: Sláinte - Celtic Jig/Leitrim Fancy; 34s: The Good Tune - *Maids Of Selma/Lisnagun Jig; 32s: Kevin Burke & Cal Scott - *The Green Fields of Woodford/Seanamhac … (or 114 bpm Charleston: Randy Spendlove/Piccadilly Dance Orchestra - Happy Feet).
The Wizard’s Walk
By Ruth Ungar
Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXPD443yuPA
Form: longways line (1’s improper)
Preparation: Hands four from the top, ‘1’s are improper. Couples facing down are ‘1’s, ‘2’s face up.
A1: In circles of four holding hands, circle left half-way (4 steps/beats),
balance the ring: step forward into the ring while pulling together, forward with the other foot with a ‘stomp’, back-step out on that foot, close and ‘stomp’ with the other foot. (4 beats).
Repeat the circle left back to place… balance and release hands.
A2: In fours - starting with neighbour - grand chain r. hand first (men go Cw.) four places, i.e. chain right round, then smoothly gypsy Cw. (by right shoulders) 1¼ times round your neighbour - progressing-on to a new neighbour.
B1: In circles of four, holding hands, balance the ring and partner swing (in a ballroom hold). Finish with ‘1’s facing down and ‘2’s facing up - men on their partner’s left. If reached an end, swap designation, turn back and wait-out a turn (or, if already waiting-out, re-join).
B2: Wizard’s Walk (a bit like a ‘reel of three’ - but where, throughout the ‘Walk’, participants generally keep facing only one way round the large circle).
Re-form new, two-couple circles to restart the dance.
Music: 32-bar. Own tune: Wizard’s Walk by Jay Ungar. 35s-30s: Highland Way - W. W.; 33s: Celtic Spring - Dancing Bear/W. W.; 29s: Crossing Borders - W. W..
Wring Out the Dishrag/Dishcloth / Dive for the Oyster
Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6lqj9B13mk
Form: ‘Scatter’ version: two-couple (improper) sets - for ‘as many as will’… or, if 12 couples or more, a Sicilian circle.
Difficulty: 3
A1: In fours (two-couples) holding hands, circle to the left eight steps… (4 bars)
Swap to a star left (grip right wrists at waist height). (4)
A2: Star right eight steps, (4)
Circle right eight steps. (4)
B1: Still holding hands, ‘2’s (couples facing anti-clockwise) make an arch and ‘1’s pass under it, turn away from each other, raise (and twist) their still joined hands over their own heads.
Either: both couples (now facing into the minor set again) lower their crossed-hands in front of themselves - making a ‘four-leaf clover’. Admire! … (4)
…the ‘1’s, now facing Acw., turn towards each other - without releasing hands - and raise an arch, ‘2’s pass under it and turn away from each other to unwind i.e. ‘wring out the dishrag’. (4)
or: ‘2’s duck under the ‘1’s raised, joined hands and turn outwards to unwind… (4)
…then reverse the figure: ‘2’s duck back under the ‘1’s raised joined hands and turn out… and ‘1’s duck under the ‘2’s joined, raised hands. (4 bars) Both couples, facing into the minor set, lower their crossed-hands in front of themselves - making a ‘four-leaf clover’. Admire! (4)
B2: For the Sicilian Circle form: take four steps forward, four steps back, (4) ‘2’s arch for ‘1’s to pass under and move-on Cw.; (4)
or, for ‘scatter’ version: polka-off to find a new couple (so, need to re-identify ‘2’s from ‘1’s).
Music: 32-bar polka. 16 bars in 21s: Nightingale - Newmarket Polka/Trip to Dingle; 35s: Brian Roe - Sean Ryan’s Polka; 34s: Craig Duncan - Grandfather/Clarinet Polka set {Grandparents Polka}; 32s: Art Stamper - Barndance Polka.
Zig Zag
Form: For forteen couples or more. Sicilian Circle - couple-facing-couple. Double-progression.
A1: Men cross the set diagonally - pulling l. h. thru' with their opposite man, they then rotate Ccw. (c. 110º) to cross diagonally again - but pulling r. h. thru' to their adjacent minor set. (4 bars)
New sets l. hand star. (4 bars)
A2: Ladies cross the set diagonally to follow their men to the adjacent set - but use their r. h. to pull-thru' the diagonally opposite lady, followed by l. h. pull-thru'. (4)
All r. h. star in new sets. (4)
B1: Ladies chain across. (4)
…and back again. (4)
B2: Allemande left your ‘opposite’, dance a two-couple, Grand Chain (starting with ‘right’ to your partner, pass four hands) back to place. (6)
When back to place, swing your partner. (2)
Music: 32-bar jig or reel.
Jig: 34s: Celtic Fiddle Festival - Old Apples in Winter/Knocknagow Jig.
Reel: 40s-34s: Natalie MacMaster - The Golden Eagle; 37s: The String Sisters - *The Crow’s Visit; 36s: Jim Hendricks - Ballad of Casey Jones; 35s: We Banjo 3 - … Eirogee/… Garfield → 36s: Cróga - Road to Errogie; 37s: Border Collies - MacArthur Road set; 33s: Airdance - *MacArthur Road/Gravel Walk → Natalie MacMaster - *Three Reels → 32s: The Green Lads - *Grand Scapes; 34s: Fiddlestyles - Spootiskerry/…/… → 33s: Syncopaths - Spootiskerry/… Haggis; 32s: Monster Ceilidh - Parmogeddon.
unknown title
Form: Square.
Music: jig.
A1: Head couple (men inside) arch (Acw.) over the other 3 couples. 8 bars
A2: Non-active couples face Cw. and make arches with inside hands to create a tunnel for heads to duck thru'. 8.
B1: Ladies Star-chain across (men courtesy turn them)… and back. 8
B2: Grand Chain - skipping around, 5
partner swing. 3
Then couple 2 arch around etc. Then both head couples, then both side couples.