Country Dance ‘Calling’ Notes

This site, comprising a web-based copy of my country dance ‘calling’ aide-mémoire, is intended as a reference resource for when I don't have a hard copy to-hand - but I am able to access the web (usually via a ‘tablet’).

The choreography for a number of country dances (English, American, Gaelic) is documented.  They're the sort of dances that could feature at barn dances, ceilidhs and Contra-dance events.

Dances are presented by formation e.g. longways, circle etc., then by title - roughly alphabetically.

Dance descriptions originate from a number of different sources, but they're usually just documented after actually doing the dance.  However, not only do dances evolve, but their precise interpretation can ‘flex’ to accommodate local conditions.

For ease of interpretation, terminology used on this site is consistent with heteronormative convention.  Boundless confusion and disruption to a dance event can be caused by a caller’s use of unfamiliar, gender-neutral terminology in an attempt to satisfy the ‘woke’ community.

Your (minor) ‘set’ refers to the particular group of people with whom you’re dancing.  Formations can be:  longways (either ‘proper’, ‘improper’ or ‘Becket’), crossways, circular or square.  Square dance sets comprise four couples.  In Contra, a minor ‘set’ normally has two couples.

One’s ‘partner’ is the person - usually of the opposite gender - with whom a figure was commenced.  When a couple are side-by-side, the lady is on the right.  Also explain:  ‘corner’, ‘opposite’ and ‘neighbour’…   and ‘galop’ (a lively ‘side-close') v. ‘gallop’.

This handy, document (courtesy of Martin Sutton, Stokesley ) and these videos are valuable terminology references.

Country dance accompaniment can be:  reel (say "double-decker" - supports a smooth walk), jig (‘bumpier’ than a reel - say “didily-dee” - encourages a bouncy, skipping step…  or, for a double jig, say "didily-didily"), hornpipe (step-hop)…  occasionally polka (step-close-step-hop/pause), or double-reel (rant step).

Normally, dances are structured to have a ‘revolution’ (repeat period) of 32 bars (usually equating to 64 beats - or steps) - comprising four, 8-bar figures (aligning with four, 8-bar musical phrases), designated A1, A2, B1 and B2, i.e. four phrases (usually) of 16 beats.  Slip jigs are unusual, their bars comprise three beats ("didily-didily-didily" - 9/8 metre) and encourage three running steps to the bar.  A few dances have revolutions that are other multiples of 8 bars long - say, 16 or 48 bars.

Dance tempos are roughly 120 beats per minute (bpm) (except for ‘step-hop’ hornpipes), so a single revolution of a 32-bar dance could last about 32 seconds (except for hornpipes and slip-jigs).

Suitable, recorded tunes for each category of accompaniment are suggested, but for an event, the flexibility and atmosphere afforded by live music can't be matched.