Circle, Square and Crossways Dances
Last updated: January 2026
Alabama Jubilee
Not the similarly named square dance.
Form: One big circle, all facing the centre.
* * *
A1: All join hands and move four steps into the middle - and four steps out, repeat.
A2: Corner Allemande left, partner do-si-do once-and-a-half… forward - holding out right hand to the next person. (5 + 10 + 1 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 Acw. around the circle.
B2: Promenade Acw. c. 10 steps round the circle. Men move-on to their new partner… all re-form the circle and face in. (16 steps)
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 return to place round the outside.
A2: All do-si-do corner, do-si-do partner.
B1: Corner Allemande left, give right hand to your partner to start a R-L Grand chain (men go Acw. round the circle, ladies 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; 34s: Dominique Dupuis - Reels des Naufragés; 33s: The Gothard Sisters - Celebration Reel, Corrina Rose Logston - Charleston No. 1, Natalie MacMaster - The Silver Spear, Alan McCartney & Paul Bradley - The Silver Spear/Gilbert Clancy's/Road to Ballymac set, Patrick Street - (double-jig set) *… Lough Gowna/Contentment is …/Have a Drink…; 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/… .
The New Mrs Arrowsmith
Author: Gordon Potts
Form: Square.
* * *
A1: Head couples take inside hand with partner and lead ‘forward & back’ four steps in to the middle of the set. (4 + 4 steps/beats)
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. (4 + 4)
A2: Sides ‘forward & back’. (4 + 4)
Side couples forward, separate and out, taking their ‘opposite’ between their adjacent head-couple (who’ll need to separate slightly)… and back to place. (4 + 4)
B1: The four ladies ‘right hand star/chain’, while men cast out (curling ¾ Acw.), to circulate Acw. one position round the outside. The ladies, after completing ¾ circle, ‘peel-off’ to meet their partner by the left hand (Cw. twirls) as he courtesy turns her. (5 + 3)
Repeat the ‘star/chain’ & ‘courtesy turn’ figures.
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 only star half-way round - to a new partner.
Music: hornpipe or polka (‘step-hop' to slower hornpipes). 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 … .
Polka: 21s (16 bars): Nightingale - *Newmarket Polka/Trip to Dingle; 38s: The Old Swan Band - Walter Bulwer’s; 36s: Diatonics (EFDSS) - Curly Headed …/Bulwer’s … , The Old Swan Band - Mrs Ellen O'Dwyer's/Packie Russell’s; 35s: Cheviot Ranters - Call of the Pipes/ … Rocks/ … Glendaruch/ … Mansfield; 34s: Craig Duncan - Grandfather/Clarinet Polka; 33s: Ghurt-Yo-ghurt - Sean Ryan's/Irish Polka set; 32s: 422 (EFDSS) - Huntsmen’s …/Grandfathers Polka/ … Kate.
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, Balance sideways (P. de B.) in & out twice, then turn the star around. (8 + 8)
A2: Repeat with left hands across. (8 + 8)
B1: Opposite Do-si-do… and 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. (8 + 8) Face partner.
B2: Partner Do-si-do… Gatepost turn (travelling) - joining crossed hands with partner, the ‘gate’ swings around her ‘post’ and they pass outside their ‘opposite’ couple (‘posts’ pass by the left shoulder) on to the next couple. (8 + 8)
Music: Polka (32-bar). 34s: Craig Duncan - Grandfather Polka/Clarinet Polka; 33s: Steamchicken - P & O Polka/Matthew’s March; 32s: Natalie MacMaster - The Beaumont Rag.
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 (Acw.), 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. (4 + 4)
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 hinge right (¼ around) your new partner, turn the right-person halfway with the left hand. Pass partner by the right hand to 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 - RoB (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 8 steps. (8 bars)
B: Taking inside hands, lead down the room (or 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 Acw.,
ditto down the room,
ditto up the room but ‘1’s, stationary, make an arch and ‘2’s pass under it - so progressing. On reaching 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 go under.
Music: 16-bar hornpipe. 27s: Wintergreen - Puddleglum’s … /Elsa’s …; 23s: 'Welcome to the Dance', ‘WttD’, CD 1 - 20 Woodley Yeomen - Belfast Duck (Puddleglum’s Miser, Walking Up Town); 24s: Bellowhead - Kafoozalum/Priests Miss;
32-bar: 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: In ballroom hold, double chassé in, double chassé out, 4 bars
two-turn, crossed-hands swing. 4 bars
B1: Promenade (skater’s handhold - man’s right arm crosses in front of lady’s left) eight steps. During the last few steps men move-on to the lady in front. 8 bars
B2: Balance & Kick: clasp partner’s hands, feet-together jump, then, skewing hips to the left, kick/swing the right foot to the left while hopping/bouncing on the left, feet-together jump, skewing hips right, kick the left foot to the right while bouncing on the right… repeat, 2 + 2 bars
Cross-hand swing, 4 bars
finish with 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 You Feet Still Geordie Hinny/Whenever Ye Can Yer Sure Tae Find a Geordie.
Borrowdale Exchange
Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFHBidfCyV0
Form: 3 couples (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 the 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, Penk, Curley & Susan Songer - Hommage à Edmond Parizeau, 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: feet-together jump, then, skewing the hips to the left, kick/swing the right foot across to the left while bouncing on the left… jump/bounce, skew the hips right, kick the left to the right while bouncing on the right… 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 swing the line Ccw. ½-around, (8)
men release elbows, couples individually 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 ≥20 couples.) 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 with them. 8 beats + 8 beats
A2: The middle four people, who were the outer four people, r. h. star in the middle of the set, then return to left arm turn their partners one and a half times to all finish back in their original place. 8 + 8
B1: ‘Balance & Kick’: feet-together jump, kick/swing the right foot to the left while hopping/bouncing on the left foot, two-footed jump/bounce, then kick the left foot to the right while bouncing on the right foot, 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; 47s: Erutan or The Elderberries (45s) - Banish Misfortune; 45s: Steeleye Span - The Mooncoin Jig, Kevin Burke - *Humours of Ennistymon/Old as the Hills; The Elderberries - Banish Misfortune/Swallowtail/… 44s: Eliza Carthy - Zycanthos Jig/Tommy’s Foot/… set; Wild Asparagus - Mooncoin Jig/Whelan’s; 42s: Threepenny Bit - *Coffee Zycanthos.
La Chapelloise /Champenoise
A simple, progressive (mixer), two-hand, circle dance.
Watch at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVEgrGl3UT0
Form: A circle comprising couples facing Acw. - man on the inside, i.e. each couple is a ‘spoke’ in a wheel. For more than five couples.
Prep: The man, beside - but a few inches behind - the lady, positions his right arm over her shoulders to hold her r. hand, left hands are held - in-front of man’s waist - sometimes termed the 'Varsovienne’ position. It's easier if couples commence promenading on the same foot (right).
* * *
A: The couple promenade forward, two, three, four (a pivot half-Cw. - still holding both hands), back-step, two, three, close. (4 + 4 beats)
{"Hommes à gauche/interieur. Dans le sens antihoraire: marche, marche, marche, marche/tourn, recule, recule, recule, touch/pause."}
Variation: the man faces Cw. round the circle slightly forward of the lady, holding her extended left hand with his right hand and extending his left arm to hold her right hand, he then walks backwards for three steps. They then both pivot half-Acw. - so they'll need to extend their right arms instead - so she reverses.
Promenade three steps forward, pivot half-Acw., three back - returning back to place - close. (4 + 4)
Variation continues: the man reverses back to place. The lady under-arm twirls her last few steps Acw. back to place.
{"Dans le sens horaire: marche, marche … " etc..}
B: Couples, spaced c. 0.5m apart, face Acw. around the circle holding adjacent hands. 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 + 4)
Couples pull together, spring apart… then make an arch with their ‘inside’ arms for the lady to duck Cw. under, giving her free, left hand to the following man who collects it with his l. hand. As her new partner slides back to the ‘inside’ position, the lady completes her Cw. rotation allowing him to place his r. arm over her shoulders. (4 + 4)
{Les couples s’approchment, 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 16-bar jig/gigue; 33s - 30s: Die Irrlichter, Duivelspack - *Chapelloise; 31s: Ensemble Tournevire - La Marmotte.
Circassian Circle
A simple, progressive (mixer), 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 (r. hand to r. hand, either skater-style [right over left] or man’s r. arm over lady’s shoulder [‘Gay Gordons’-style]) this lady Acw. Finally, raise r. hand to twirl the lady ¾ Cw. to face in.
Music: 32-bar jig. The Irish Washerwoman; 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 to roll across (two-handed) the lady on his left into his partner’s place to reform the circle.
Repeat three, further times.
B: Hold both hands with the fourth person (new 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: Waltz. 175bpm: ‘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 the room.
Prep: The 'Top' end is on the caller's right.
* * *
A1: Hold hands in lines of six and walk eight steps up,
two pairs of Balance & Kicks (jump, kick 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 - with hands, then the person heading towards you with your left, the next person with your right etc. - at ends turn Cw.).
C1: Partner Allemande right all the way… and back with the left.
C2: Two hand turn,
do-si-do.
D: Join hands with partner in a promenade hold facing along the set to the 'top' (to the caller’s right). The ‘top’ couple cast left and head down the set, where they arch (along the axis of the line - lady at bottom)… everyone following passes through.
Swing when back to place.
Music: 32/64-bar reel. 35s: Peter Miln and Daniel James - *Glasgow Reel (Tam Lin).
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 - men (in the inner circle) face Acw., their partners in the outer circle, face Cw..
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-slide-side’ - swapping hands whilst crossing in front of one’s partner. (2 bars)
With the left foot, stomp, stomp, chassé left - swapping hands. (2 bars)
Repeat. (4 bars)
B: Do-si-do one’s current partner, (4 bars)
swirly-slide to the left to right elbow-turn ¾ the next person (your new partner). (4 bars)
Facing around the circle, brace right palm with new partner 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: Head 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 back.
B2: Sides do the same.
C1: Heads make a basket: ladies join both hands - keeping their arms raised in arches - men join hands across (over ladies’ arms) and lower them behind the ladies’ backs, duck their heads under the ladies’ arms, and 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. 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 four outside peoplke take inside hands with neighbour, and lead between the others towards the middle of the room 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 circle right.
B3 and B4: Couples polka around their opposite couple two or three times, then go half-way round again to progress and form a new circle ready to restart. (16 bars)
Music: 64-bar 2/4 reel or polka. 33s: ‘WttD’, CD 2 - (4 bar intro.) 03 D. D. Q. (Jolly Coppersmith); 30s: Banter - Double Quadrille/Old Tom of Oxford Medley.
The Dashing White Sergeant
Form: one big circle of minor-sets of three people facing three people e.g. a man between two ladies or a 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 can then make an additional threesome with two surplus ladies.)
* * *
A1: Join hands in a circle of six and circle round to the left for 8 steps/beats and then back to the right. (8 bars)
A2: The person in the middle of the threesome turns to the person on their right (1st pair) and sets to them, then, by the right hand, turns them around Cw. once. The other partner stands still. (4)
Repeat with the other partner. (4)
B1: Dance a reel of three. Start by 1st pair passing right shoulders.
B2: In lines of three, advance two skip-steps and retire… (4)
alternative: forward, stomp, stomp, stomp… back, stomp, stomp, stomp.
‘Cw-facing’ line raise their hands in an arch, both lines dance forward, ‘2’s duck underneath - passing to the left of their opposites. (4)
Dance-on to meet and repeat with the next advancing set of three.
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 turn around as individuals, to face back towards the set, miss the circling (1–8), then carry-on as normal.
Music: 32-bar reels. c. 31s: Crowdie House or Shoestring - The Dashing White Sergeant, The Chieftans - *Ladies' Pantalettes (speeds-up from 34s to 30s per revolution).
A Different Way Forward
or 'Friday at the Fool'
by Seth Tepfer
Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-MBpPUUEqpU
Formation: Sicilian Circle (couple-facing-couple) - need ≥22 couples - and a wide enough area. Actually, a reconfigured Contra dance.
Progression: triple.
* * *
A1: Opposite, i.e. #1, Allemande left 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 (lady finishes on partner’s r. h. s.). (8)
B2: Facing opposites, holding hands around the big circle, forward & back (tap), (8)
in fours: circle left (Cw) three places, (6)
pass thru' (to the left of current opposite i.e. #3) around the big circle. (2)
Dorset Four Hand Reel
Since about the turn of the century, this dance is performed more for ‘displays’ than socially.
Form: 2-couple cross-ways 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.
A2: Men turn to their partner and ‘set’ to her.
B1: Hey (reel of four) again. Finish with ladies back in the middle. M-L l-m
B2: Ladies ‘set’ to each other - twice to each side.
B2: Ladies turn to partner and ‘set’ to him.
Final eight 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. Each reel ends-up with ‘inners’ having swapped with the previous ‘outers’.
Music: 2 x 64 + 8 bars, AABB + 8 final swing. 35s: ‘WttD’, CD 2 - 06 D.F.H.R.
Eightsome Reel
Formation: Square, lady on the man’s right. 1st couple have their backs to the stage/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 (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 partner 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, 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 1st lady with 2nd and 4th men - starting the reel by passing l. 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 + 8 x 48 + 40). The De’il Amang the Tailors (MacKay) 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 lady’s shoulders, lady holds man’s hand with her right, they hold left hands in front of the man's waist.
* * *
A1: Couples walk forwards for three steps then, still holding hands, 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.
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, ‘3’s arching, ‘1’s dipping under, (2)
‘2’s and ‘4’s cross, ‘4's arching, ‘2’s dipping under. (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 from the start…
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: http://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 Head couple - make a single-handed arch with their partner.
The Head couple ‘Split the Heart’: they individually weave their way round the set, in thru' their adjacent couple's arch, then out - to cross over at the bottom - where they: join hands, duck-thru' that arch and cross the set back to place (finishing with a California Twirl).
or: duck-thru', promenade across the set and finish with a double-handed, overhead half-turn (lady Cw., man steps back Ccw.) to face-in. (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 the lady around him preceded by a lady’s twirl Cw. (‘Swat the Flea’) - leading her back to… (4)
…continue the Star/Chain, back to her partner - who courtesy-turns her - gliding into… (4)
B2: …corner do-si-do, partner do-si-do. (8)
Repeat: Circle… 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 - Five Foot Two; 36s: French Charleston Orch. - Ain't She Sweet.
Hullichan’s (Hooligan) Jig
Form: Sets of two couples crossways, ladies in the middle standing back-to-back facing their partners. - M-L l-m
Preparation: Each set should have men of similar height and physique - as swinging can get rather boistrous - 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/turn 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/turn 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 link elbows and swing each other for 16 beats, but finish facing their original partners. - m-l L-M
Repeat - as desired.
* The secure ‘swing’ or ‘turning’ hold: facing in opposite directions, partners 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 Band - Hullighan’s Jig set; 30s: Jingbang Ceilidh Band - Hullichan’s/Curlew/Skyeman’s Jig/… set, James Keane – *The Geese in the Bog.
Kerry Polka
Form: square.
* * *
A1: Corner Allemande left, into…
Grand Chain halfway round.
A2: Partner Allemande right - once around,
promenade (hands in front) partner back to place.
or:
A1: ‘Head’ couples polka thru' the ‘side’ couples to opposite place… ‘sides’ polka thru' ‘heads’ to opposite place.
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. Repeat.
B2: Repeat another two times - back to place.
The precise figures in the ‘A’-half may vary at the caller’s whim.
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).
Difficulty: 1
* * *
A1: Promenade for 14 steps - undo the hold by raising both hands over the lady’s head for her to turn ¾ Cw.. (8 bars)
A2: All holding hands in a circle, three steps in, kick, four steps out, (4)
Do-si-do partner. (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 next person, count “Two” and go past, etc.. 8
B2: Cross-hands swing the seventh person, your new partner, clockwise 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 McD., La Famille Arsenault - *La Reel Mon Oncle Albert/Whiskey Before Breakfast; 33s: Abrams Brothers - Nashville Skyline Rag, Arty McGlynn - Walter Sammon’s Grandmother/Concertina Reel/Brendan … set; 32s: Cheviot Ranters - Davy Knick-Knack/Toland Dance/Aiken Drum; 31s: 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
Form: Sicilian Circle – couple facing couple.
Note: Use "folk step" (or "one-step waltz") throughout: one travelling step - leading with the right foot - followed by two steps virtually on-the-spot (concentrate on the first step [and turn shoulders] and let the other two just follow).
* * *
A1: Holding inside hands with partner, forward (two triple-steps) & back, ½ turn contrary Cw, by 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, repeat. (4)
Repeat to the left (l. foot leading) - so that couples pass and finish back-to-back; turn to the right and right hand star back to original place. (4)
B2: Do-si-do contrary, waltz-on with partner - passing to the right - to the next couple round. (8)
Music: Own tune.
Military Two-step
Formation: None. Couples facing anti-clockwise around the room, ladies on the right.
* * *
Bars 1-2: Lady with l. hand on man’s shoulder, man with arm around her waist, with outside foot (man’s left, lady’s right) “Heel, toe, heel, toe”.
Bars 3-4: Walk three steps forward then turn towards each other to face back.
Bars 5-8: Repeat in the opposite direction.
Bars 9-10: Facing partner and joining hands at arm’s-length, two-footed jump, then kick the right foot across to the left. (So, together, man and lady “bounce, and kick" in opposite directions).
Bars 11-12: Repeat - but kick the left foot to the right.
Bars 13-16: Polka around the room. (8 beats)
Music: Shetland-style two-step, 32s: Will Starr or 30s: Forth Bridge D.B. or 29s: Stuart Anderson - Shetland Two Step
or 6/8 Military marches: The President’s Own … - King Cotton.
More of a Mixer
A Contra dance - by Al Olson
Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llYCYpKNl9M
Form: Mixer. Two concentric circles. Men inside, facing out - ladies outside, facing in.
Prep: Nudge left around the circle. Hold raised hands in a wavy line/ circle.
* * *
A1: Balance the wavy circle (lean to the right, tap l. foot - then left, tap r.), slip (two chassés) right (or R. O'M. roll). (8 beats)
Holding raised hands, lean l., tap r. - then to the right, tap l. foot, then slip left (or R. O'M. roll). (8)
A2: Right-hand person (partner) Allemande by the r. hand - twice around, (8)
left-hand neighbor Allemande by the l. hand - twice around, … (8)
B1: …gliding into Do-si-do partner (r. h. person), (8)
swing. (8)
B2: Promenade (hands in front) Acw.. (15)
Lady advances slightly to re-form the circle. (1)
Music: jig. 35s: Rodney Miller and Airdance - October/Road to Lisdoonvarna; 34s: The Good Tune - Maids Of Selma/Lisnagun Jig; 32s: John Whelan - *Dr O'Neal/Killavel; 31s: Alasdair Fraser & P. Machlis - Calliope House/… , Tiger Moth - Oats & Beans; 30s: A & N VanNorstrand - Sage Creek/… Pirate … , Brendan Block - Kate’s/Mill Roof; 29s: The Great Bear Trio - The Godwit/McGowan’s.
Mouth of the (Welsh) Valleys
as conceived (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: first circle ½-Cw. around their facing lady (partner), then cross-over to ½-circle Acw. around the lady that was behind them when the figure was commenced. (16 beats)
A2: Ladies dance/walk a figure-of-eight around their adjacent men: first ½-Cw. around their partner, then cross-over to go Acw. around the man behind them. (16)
B1: Men ‘Arm': half-turn partner Cw. by either a ‘short’ right arm i.e. a forearm grip, or a ‘cupped’ elbow - but no thumbs, half-turn rear lady Acw. by the l. arm, then half-turn partner again by the r. arm. (6 + 5 + 5)
B2: Offer left hand to rear lady (new partner). As the lady walks forward, the man curls ½-Acw. to position himself on her left beside her, placing his right arm over her shoulders - so they face Acw. around the circle. (4)
(From the "Varsovienne" position) New couples promenade for eight or nine steps… raising lefts allows lady to curl-out, two-handed ½-Cw. to face their (new) partner in a re-formed circle. (12)
Music: 32-bar, reel. 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, The Gothard Sisters - *The Bandit, Clayfoot Strutters - Kotu, Countercurrent - That's Right Too/Wissahickon …/… ; 32s: Rodney Miller - *Gypsy Stomp/In Walked Bud, Wake Up Robin - *Rainy Night. 35s jig: Kathleen & Jim Fownes - The Old Favorite/The !Orphan; 33s: Airdance & R. M. - *Fred Bartell/Jigjazz,
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 polka: Cheviot Ranters - Call of the Pipes/Barren Rocks of Aden/… set; 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: Couples in a circle, the men face Acw., ladies face Cw. … or, where space is limited, two concentric circles - ladies on the outside facing in, men facing out. Mixer.
* * *
With both arms out-stretched to the side, hold hands with partner.
A: ‘Heel-Toe’: With inside foot, ‘Heel’ into the circle (or, depending on space, Acw. around the circle) ‘toe’ - heel adjacent to the ball of the outer foot, … twice, 4 beats, 2 bars
Two slldes (4 steps) to the man’s left - either into the circle or Acw. around the circle. 4 beats
With outside foot, ‘heel-toe’ twice towards the outside (or Cw.), 4 beats
Slide back 4 steps - to place. 4 beats
B: Clap right hand to partner’s right hand three times (fast-ish), clap left hand to partner’s left hand three times. 4 beats
Clap both hands three times, clap own thighs/knees three times. 4 beats
Right elbow turn once… continue-on, passing to the left of partner (men go Acw.) to the next person round. 6 + 2 beats
or merely polka around with the same partner. 8 beats
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. 8 beats.
Repeat to return to place.
Music: 16-bar polka. 19s: Lissa Schneck - Jamie Allen; 17s: ‘WttD’, CD 1 - The Blue Mountain Band - 19 Nick Nack Paddywack/Little Brown Jug/Polly Wolly Doodle/So-so Polka; 16s: Van Morrison and The Chieftains - I Tell Me Ma.
La Russe Quadrille
Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3wQ1eQ2f54
Form: 4-couple square.
* * *
A1: All pass their partner by the left shoulder i.e. men cast to pass outside 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’ & swing. (2 bars + 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 - ‘3’s arch, ‘1’s dip. (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 - start on the right foot).
B4: Promenade (Acw.) back to place. Linger holding left hands to half-turn the lady ready for her to meet, balance and swing with the adjacent man.
Repeat for ‘2’s, ‘3’s, and then ‘4’s. Finally, both ‘heads’ (‘1’s & ‘3’s) dance B1, B2 and A3 simultaneously (‘1’s cross first again)… , then both ‘side’ couples do B1, B2 and A3 together.
Music: 32-bar: 35s: Cheviot Ranters - Call of the Pipes/Barren Rocks of Aden/… set, Tiger Moth - Larousse; 32s: Cheviot Ranters - La Russe/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….
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 down/up the room… and back. (8 bars)
A2: Sides cross the room… and back. (8)
B1: Two-handed Balance & Kick - twice, (4)
Swing your partner. Finish with men forming an inner circle facing out, women form an outer circle facing in. (4)
B2: All circle to their left. (6)
Face a new partner and take ballroom hold. (2) '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: The Climax Ceilidh Band - *Spike (! 'swing' from 3m02 for 16s), Floating Crowbar - The Doberman’s Wallet/The Mouse …/Orphan/McHugh’s/Stan Chapman’s, 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, John Whelan - Francis O'Neill’s/… Miracle/… set; 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 be performed as a 'proper', longways line.
* * *
A1: Walk four steps in to the centre of the circle, and retire (four steps back out), walk four steps in again, then the lady retires, while the man half-turns and retires two/three steps backwards. (4 + 4 bars)
A2: Do-Si-Do partner. (4 bars)
Chassé ('side-slip') left twice (or, for enthusiastic participants, four galop steps i.e. a ‘Side-close’ per beat - for four beats) - or R.O'M., (2)
Chassé right twice (or four galop steps to return, (2) end with your partner slightly to your left.
B1: Taking left hands with your partner and right hands with the person on your right diagonal, form a wavy line,
Balance F. & B. (four beats: pull/step forward, tap/kick… step back, tap), (2)
half-turn partner by the left to swap places. (2)
Balance F. & B. the new line, (2)
half-turn neighbor #1 by the right to swap places. (2)
B2: Left-hand turn neighbour #2 all the way to return to neighbour #1 (new partner). (3)
Crossed-hands Swing (buzz step) this new partner. (4).
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: Trinculo - *Drummond Castle/Shorty’s Revenge, Craig Duncan - *Drummond Castle/Lads of Dunse/The Stool of Repentance, John Whelan - *Dr O'Neal/Killavel; 31s: Kevin Burke & Cal Scott - *The Green Fields of Woodford/Seanamhac … (or 114bpm Charleston: Randy Spendlove/Piccadilly … - Happy Feet).
The Wizard’s Walk
By Ruth Ungar
Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uXPD443yuPA
Form: Sicilian circle (if ≥18 couples)… otherwise a longways line.
Preparation: Couples facing Cw. are ‘1’s… or otherwise hands four from the top, ‘1’s are improper.
* * *
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 to get back to place… balance and release hands.
A2: In fours - starting with neighbour - grand chain (r. hand first - men go Cw.) four places, (8)
after chaining right round, smoothly gypsy Cw. 1¼ (by right shoulders) around neighbour. (8)
B1: Partner balance (pull & step forward, tap, step-back, tap) and swing (in ballroom hold). Finish with ‘1’s facing Cw. and ‘2’s facing Acw. - men on their partner’s left. If reached an end, turn back, swap designation and places, and wait-out a turn.
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 circle): everyone walks forward, ‘1’s separate outside the ‘2’s (twirling outwards - if there’s enough space), who'll be moving forward, together and up towards them, meet (with an optional inward twirl) and continue down to split the next ‘2’s (who'll be moving apart and up). ‘1’s separate (with a twirl again - if desired) and back up outside those ‘2’s (who’ll be backing down), meet and back-up between their new ‘2’s (whom they encounted in ‘B2’ during the previous 'revolution').
Re-form a new, two-couple circle, to restart the dance.
Music: 32-bar. Own tune: Wizard’s Walk by Jay Ungar. 33s: Celtic Spring - Dancing Bear/W. W, Folk Godalkanje - W. W./Snowflake Reel.
Wring Out the Dishrag / Dive for the Oyster
Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6lqj9B13mk with a slightly ‘busier’ B1 than below.
Form: Sicilian circle (if ≥14 couples).
Difficulty: 3
* * *
A1: In fours (two-couples) holding hands, circle to the left eight steps, (4 bars)
swap to star left (grip right wrists at chest height) eight steps. (4 bars)
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 bars)
…the ‘1’s, now facing Acw., turn towards each other - without releasing hands - and raise an arch, ‘2’s pass under it and turn outwards to unwind i.e. ‘wring out the dishrag’. (4)
or (‘rolling’ version): ‘2’s duck under ‘1’s raised, joined hands and turn outwards to unwind… (4)
…then change direction to reverse the figure: ‘2’s duck under ‘1’s raised, joined hands and turn outwards… and ‘1’s duck under ‘2’s joined, raised hands and unwind. (4)
B2: For the Sicilian Circle form: retreat four steps back, four steps forward, (4 bars)
‘2’s arch their joined hands for ‘1’s to duck under and move forward (Cw.) to the next couple. (c. 4 bars)
or, for the ‘scatter’ version: polka-off to find a new couple (so, need to re-designate ‘2’s v. ‘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 {Grandparent’s Polka}; 32s: Art Stamper - Barndance Polka.
Zig Zag
Form: Sicilian Circle (need ≥18 couples). Couple-facing-couple. Double-progression.
* * *
A1: Men cross the set diagonally by pulling l. h. thru' with the opposite man, they then rotate ¼ left (c. 90º Acw.) to cross diagonally again - but pulling r. h. thru' to their adjacent minor set. (4 bars)
New sets i.e. original females with two, new, male neighbors l. hand star. (4 bars)
A2: Ladies follow their men - but they pull r. h. thru' to cross with the opposite lady, followed by l. h. pull-thru' to the next set. (4)
All r. h. star in new (double-progressed) sets. (4)
B1: Ladies’ chain across to ‘opposite’. (4)
…and back again. (4)
B2: ‘Opposite’ Allemande left, (2)
…into a two-couple, Grand Chain (starting with ‘right’ to partner), pass four hands back to place. (6)
Music: 32-bar jig or reel.
Jig: 35s: Rodney Miller and Airdance - *October Road to Lisdoonvarna; 31s: Arty McGlynn - The Humors of Kilclogher.
Reel: 40s-34s: Natalie MacMaster - The Golden Eagle; 37s: The String Sisters - *The Crow’s Visit; 36s: Jim Hendricks - Ballad of Casey Jones, We Banjo 3 - … Eirogee/… Garfield → 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, Tidal Wave - **Reel a Bruce/Terrebonne/du Nord set, Wake Up Robin - *Rainy Night; Monster Ceilidh - Parmogeddon.