Shropshire Bedlam Stick Dance

Tradition: Border

Set: 6 dancers (oriented horizontally to the music)

Props: Sticks

Stepping: Single then Double (alternating)

Structure:

(See below for explanation of figures.)

• Chorus

• U Haul Hey

• Chorus

• Double Hey

• Chorus

Chorus:

• R-L-M-M / R-L-M-M / R-M-M-L / 1-2-3-D

• REPEAT

Explanation:

• Dancers begin with a Backhand clash with the dancer on their Right, then a Forehand clash with the Dancer on their Left, then a Backhand and a Forehand clash with the Middle dancer (i.e., the one in front of them).

• This is repeated once. Then it is repeated going to the Middle dancer before the Left dancer.

• 1-2-3-Down means do three Backhand clashes, one each with the Left dancer, the Middle dancer, the Right dancer. Then a low Forehand clash with the Middle dancer.

Alternate Numerical Version:

If you have difficulty remembering Right and Left, you can use this alternate, numerical version. You just have to learn (somehow) that 1 is the dancer on your Left, 2 is the dancer in front of you, and 3 is the dancer on your Right:

• 3-1-2-2 / 3-1-2-2 / 3-2-2-1 / 1-2-3-D

• REPEAT

Notes:

• It helps not to move your head but only your eyes during the chorus.

• Travel more on the double steps than the singles (step-hop-step-hop-RUN-RUN-RUN-hop).

Figure Explanations:

• U Haul Hey:

  • Dancers at Head of the set turn to face the Foot. All other dancers turn to face the Head.

  • Beginning with Right shoulder, all do a U-shaped Hey, with the base of the U at the Foot of the set.

  • The Hey ends when all dancers are Home.

• Double Hey:

  • Using the first single step, each dancer moves to form a couple with the dancer Across.

  • The couple at Head of the set face the Foot. The other couples face the Head.

  • Beginning with Right shoulder, all do an As-Couples Hey for Three, TWICE (that is, passing Home position and then doing the Hey again), finishing at Home.