Sample Country Dance Programmes

Last updated:  January 2025

Undemanding

Eclectic, circa 1½ hr per session (if accompanyment lasts c. 8 min).
Each session commences sedately and ends energetically/raucously.

Contra

Minimal contact  eg. no partner-progression; for ‘stars’ use wrist-grip (at chest height).
The New Mrs Arrowsmith:  39s hornpipe: Blazin' Fiddles - President Garfield’s;  16-bar polka in 21s: Nightingale - *Newmarket Polka/Trip to Dingle;  36s: The Old Swan Band - Mrs Ellen O'Dwyer's/Packie Russell’s.
T.A.G. (use wrist-grip):  see above.
Virginia Reel (40-bar, non-Strip-t-W. version):  Colin Dewar - V. R. Medley.
Four Around Four:  32s: "WttD", CD1, 07 The Ranchers - Jigs;  34s: Celtic Fiddle Festival - Stan Chapman’s/… ;  33s: Mark Arrington - *The Kesh:  30s: Brendan Block - *Kate’s/Mill… .
Thread the Needle:  jig, see above.
Boston Tea Party (single Dip 'n' Dive):  The Dunne Family - Strike the Gay Harp/Jimmy Ward’s/Doberman’s.
Bridge of Athlone:  Cheviot Ranters - The Frost is all Over/Pet of the Pipers/Smash the Windows.
The Heartbreaker (for ‘four ladies Chain’ use wrist-grip):  see above.
Bottoms Up (incl. Thread the Needle):  Tiger Moth - *Oats and Beans and Barley Grow.
Contras:  Oh, Hi Turtle and Coconut Cream (as neither have a ‘Swing neighbor’).



Kids’ Programme:  Cumberland Reel, Pat-a-Cake Polka, Farmers Jig, Muffin Man, Bridge of Athlone, Virginia Reel, OXO Reel, Clopton Bridge.


Cumberland Reel

Form:  4, 5, or 6 couple longways set (facing partners).
Music:  32-bar reel or jig.

A1:   Top two couples right hand star, left hand star back.

A2:   1st couple galop down the centre and back to the top; lead a single cast (boys to the left, girls to the right).


B1:   1st couple make an arch at the bottom, the rest promenade up through the arch to progressed places.

B2:   New top couple lead a promenade round to the left (double cast) and back to place, all follow.
Repeat for the remaining couples.
Source:  EFDSS Community Dances Manual.


Farmer’s Jig

Form:  4-couple longways set (facing partners).
Music:  32-bar jig.  34s: Oxford Nags (EFDSS) - Perfect Cure, Rig-a-Jig;  33s: Hetty Peglars Tump - Ball Pendean Dance/ … .

A1:   All four couples face up, hold inside hands and advance 7 steps up the set, turn (towards partner), facing back, return to place…  and give two hands to partner.

A2:   Couples galop up the set, then galop back to place.


B1:   In groups of four, right-hand star; back with the left.

B2:   First couple lead a single cast, boys to the left, girls to the right.  First couple make a two-handed arch at the bottom, others, holding inside hands, pass under the arch and up the centre.
N.B.  All couples remain facing up, ready to restart the dance.
Source:  Everybody Dance (EFDSS 1972).


Muffin Man

Form:  Circle (girls on boys’ right).
Music:  32-bar polka.  37s: The Old Swan Band - …/Seamo’s Polka;  35s: Cheviot Ranters - Call of the Pipes.

A1:   All to the centre and back twice.

A2:   Face partner, take both hands for four galop steps into the centre and back, repeat.


B1:   Promenade partners.

B2:   Swing partners.  (For a ‘mixer’:  boys finish on his partner’s right.)
Repeat - as desired.
Source:  Everybody Dance (EFDSS 1972).