Longways Dances
Last updated: October 2025
Alderley Edge
Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vk4Py1JMlk
Formation: Four-couple, proper
* * *
A1: In fours - as two, two-couple sets - right hand Star, (4 bars)
and back. (4 bars)
A2: Circle left,
and back. (8)
B1: ‘4’s up the outside, ‘1’s two-handed galop down the inside.
‘1’s up the outside, ‘4’s galop down the inside. (8)
B2: ‘1’s galop down the inside to the bottom place. (4)
When passed, all swing. (4)
Music: Jig. 32s: The Occasionals - …/Teviot Bridge/Major Mackie's/… ; Captain Lanoe’s Quick Step. Stepping for the A-half: ‘1’, ‘2’-‘3’, hop.
Arkansas Traveller
Music: traditional, 48-bar reel: 49s: Contrasaurus - Arkansas Traveller; ‘Welcome to the Dance’, ‘WttD’, CD 1 - 15 The Four Leaf Clover - Arkansas Traveler set (The Flop-eared Mule/Turkey in the Straw); 53s: Noel Hill - Duke of Leinster.
Form: Longways, proper, “as many as will” - best with an even number of couples (but not essential).
Preparation: Take hands in fours from the top. In long lines, join hands.
40-bar Main Figure:
* * *
A1: Lines balance (forward & back), (2 bars)
Forward, release hands, turn (Cw.), back-out to cross-over with partner. (2 bars)
Repeat to return home. (4 bars)
A2: In fours, r. hand star, l. hand star. (8)
B1: ‘1’s swing. (8)
B2: ‘1’s (having swapped sides) lead down, turn as a couple, lead back and cast down a place. (8)
C1: Full ‘right and left thru'’. (4+4)
or a 48-bar alternative:
A1: Join hands along the line, lead forward and back. (4 bars)
Release hands, change places (passing right shoulders) with your partner - and turn 180º. (4 bars)
A2: Repeat - back to home place. (8)
B1: In fours, make a right hand Star, (4)
left hand Star. (4)
B2: ‘1’s swing in the centre. (8)
A3: ‘1’s (crossing-over sides) lead down, turn as a couple (Cw.), lead home and cast down a place to the next ‘2’s. (8)
B3: Full ‘right and left thru'’ with a new couple. (4+4)
The Bonny Breastknot
Music: 32-bar reel. 37s: Diatonics (EFDSS) - Bonny Breastknot/Reel de Ti Jean; 40s: The Old Swan Band - Devon B. B./Getting Upstairs; 36s: Country Fiddle Band - Miller’s Reel; Liz Carroll & Doyle - *Ricky’s White Face/Boys … ; 35s: Corrina Rose Logston - *Highlander’s Farewell, The Elderberries - *Torn Jacket/Boy in the Boat/Toss … set; 34s: Sharon Shannon - *Miss Thompson’s/The Derry Reel, Máiréad Nesbitt - The Butterfly.
Form: Three-couple, longways set.
* * *
A1: ‘1’s lead down between the two ladies, separate (man down/lady up), cast round one person. They meet in the middle, without taking hands, go between the men, separate, cast round one person to lines of three across (‘2’s facing down and ‘3’s facing up). (8)
A2: In those lines, Balance & Kick (‘jump and kick’: feet-together jump, skew the hips to the left, kick the right foot to the left while bouncing on the left, two-footed jump/bounce, skew the hips right, kick the left to the right while hopping on the right). Repeat. (4)
On the start of the next phrase, the first couple leap back to the middle of their line. This leap/jump counts as the first jump of another pair of Balance & Kicks. (4)
B1: ‘1’s right-elbow turn their partner, then left half-turn their first ‘corner’ (their left diagonal, opposite person), right three-quarters turn partner, left half-turn their other ‘corner’. ‘1’s meet (it doesn’t matter on which side they end-up).
B2: ‘1’s swing down to third place (‘progressing’); all swing partners.
Boston Tea Party
Author: Jean Butler
Music: 32-bar jig; 35s: Lissa Schneckenburger - Jefferson and Liberty/Bert Ferguson; 34s: Sláinte - Celtic Jig/Leitrim Fancy Jig; 33s: Crowdie House - *Blue Bonnets; 32s: Trinculo - Drummond Castle/Shortys Revenge; 31s: Sláinte Mhath - *The Scrutch Blanket Set, The Dunne Family - Strike the Gay Harp/Jimmy Ward’s/Doberman’s; 30s: Adam Agee & Jon Sousa - An Giorra… (The Hare in the Corn)/… set; 28s: The House Band - Zakynthos Jig.
Form: 5 or 6-couple longways.
* * *
A1: The top couple galop down, two-handed, between the lines to the bottom of the set.
They arch up over the ladies’ line - man in the centre.
A2: At the top of the set they arch down over the men - man stays in the centre.
They return, two-handed, up the middle to the top and, still holding inside hands, face down the set.
B1: All couples, except the ‘1’s, face up the set. The second couple ‘arch’ and the top couple ‘dip and dive’ (alternately duck and arch) down the set.
B2: The top couple, now at the bottom, make an arch… the new top couple, followed by the rest as they're passed, cast-out, go through the arch and back to place.
Swing.
Bottoms Up
Music: 32-bar jig. 34s: Kevin Burke & Cal Scott - *The Green Fields of Woodford/Seanamhac … , The Good Tune - *Maids Of Selma/Lisnagun Jig; 34s double-jig: Patrick Street - *The Shores of Lough Gowna/Contentment is … set, 34s reel: Whapweasel - Crisps; 32s: Tiger Moth - Oats and Beans and Barley Grow, Trinculo - *Drummond Castle/Shorty’s … , Sean Mcguire - *Erin’s my Home/Larry O’Gaff; 31s: Fara - *Billy’s Short Leg; 30s jig: Blazin’ Fiddles - *Thursday Night in the Caley.
Form: 5-couple longways set.
Prep.: Both lines hold hands. Bottom couple join free hands to make a horseshoe-shaped set.
* * *
A1: Top two men make an arch.
Ladies ‘thread the needle’ (see lower down). The top two men should ‘unwind’ their arch together.
A2: Top two ladies make an arch. Men ‘thread the needle’. The top two ladies should ‘unwind’ their arch together.
B1: Heads join hands to make a circle of ten, circle left & right.
B2: Bottom couple galop (c. seven side-close steps) up to the top, where the top couple place their hands on the waists of the bottom couple, and the foursome galop to the bottom - the original top couple go to the very bottom place.
Enhancement: If spry enough, the ‘eye’ of the needle could move forward - towards the ‘tip’ - allowing the needle to be ‘thread’ twice in eight bars. The top two people nned to ‘unwind’ their arch together twice.
Bridge of Athlone
Music: 48-bar jig. 48s: 'Welcome to the Dance', ‘WttD’, CD 2 - 07 Greensleeves Country Band - B. of A. (Rakes of Kildare/… Pipers set); 53s: Greg Joy and various artists (faster) - *Blarney Pilgrim; 48s: Cheviot Ranters - B. of A.: The Frost is all Over/Pet of the Pipers/Smash the Windows; 46s: Jon Boden et al. - *Bridge of Athlone - Morgan Rattler; 42s: The House Band - The Zakynthos Jig.
Form: longways, four or five-couple sets. Standing opposite partner, men have their left shoulder to caller, ladies with right shoulder to caller.
* * *
Bars 1-8
Everyone joins hands in their lines and dances four steps forward-and-back (4 bars). The men, keeping their hands joined and raising their arms above head-height, pass to the left of their partners, to cross to the ladies’ side while the ladies duck under the men’s arch to cross to the men’s side. All half-turn to the right.
Bars 9-16
Repeat - back to places.
Bars 17-24
1st couple galop (side-close step) down the set, two-handed, for 8 steps and back for 8 steps.
Bars 25-32
1st couple followed by the other three couples cast down the back of their own sides and make an arch at the bottom. The other couples pass through the arch and lead to new places where they make a tunnel (two-handed arches).
Bars 33-40
The 1st lady (at the bottom) goes up through the tunnel and down the outside to the bottom while the 1st man goes up the outside and tunnels down the middle.
Bars 41-48
Everybody swing.
Repeat for the other three/four couples.
Broken Sixpence
Author: Don Armstrong
Music: reel. 39s: Sam Bartlett - Rumblestrip; 36s: Sam Bartlett - *Mary Devlin’s, We Banjo 3 - Good Time Old Time; 35s: Caladh nua - *By Heck, Countercurrent - *Tunes in Seattle; Celtic Fiddle Festival - Twilight in Portroe/… set, Trip to Durrow/… set (34s); 34s: Sharon Shannon - Woodchoppers; 33s: Altan - The Triple T, Monster Ceilidh Band - *Messis, *Reasoning; 32s: Airdance - Cloud Nine/Broken Heart/….
Form: Longways, duple minor.
Prep.: Take hands in fours from the top. ‘1’s (couples with their backs to the stage) improper.
* * *
A1: Do-si-do neighbour. (4)
Men do-si-do. (4)
A2: Ladies do-si-do. (4)
‘1’s two-handed swing down the set between the ‘2’s. (4)
B1: Line of four walk down the set, turn alone, hold hands and, as they come back, the outside man (‘2’) curls round - dragging the line to a circle of four.
B2: Circle left. (4)
Star by the left hand, peeling-off to face a new neighbour. (4)
End couples swap designation, sides, and wait-out a ‘go’.
Clopton Bridge
Devised by John Chapman
Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EohpgkE3ulY
Music: hornpipe. 52s: Steamchicken - Some Say the Devil's Dead/… ; 45s: Patrick Street - Down by the Old Fairy Fort/The Whistler … .
Form: 4-couple longways, proper. The dance is done with a step-hop ( ‘change, hop’) throughout (or, if proficient, B1 could be ‘1, 2, 3, hop’).
* * *
A1: Top man and bottom lady right arm turn (eight ‘change, hops’) followed by left arm turn.
A2: Top lady and bottom man right arm turn followed by left arm turn.
B1: Middles star: 2nd and 3rd couples right hand star, then left hand star. Optionally, end couples cross by the right and walk a big square around the outside (passing by l., r., l.)
B2: 1st couple swing down the middle (others move up to progressed places), all swing.
Country Bumpkin
Author: Michael Barraclough
Music: 32-bar, versatile.
40s reel: Fiddler's Dram - Wills Way; 38s: Tom Doherty - The Three Sisters Reel; 36s: Trinculo - Touchstone/London’s Glory; 35s: Sláinte Mhath - *The White Crow, Countercurrent - Tunes in Seattle, Fiddlers3 - Billy Thom’s/Rannie Maclellan/Growling Old Man & Woman; 34s: Contrasaurus - Tipsy Parson/The Breakdown, Patrick Street - Devanney’s Goat/Leitrim …/… , Dulan - Reel of Rio/Fox Hunter; 33s: Celtic Fiddle Festival - *Le Printemps, The Four Star Trio - Reel of Rio/The Belles of Tipperary, Monster Ceilidh Band - *Reasoning, Brendan Carey Block - *Wing Commander Donald MacKenzie; 32s: The Green Lads - Valley Greens.
36s jig: Lester Bailey - Will’s Way; 35s: Lissa Schneckenburger - Jefferson and Liberty/… ; 33s: Mark Arrington - Kesh Jig/Haymakers, Monster Ceilidh Band - *Reasoning.
Formation: Longways, 5 or 4 couples.
* * *
A1: Holding hands, lines forward & back. (4 bars)
Men arch, couples cross over - passing by the right shoulder. (4 bars)
A2: ‘1’s two-handed galop (side-close step) down, to the bottom of the set, turn out individually and back up the outside - straight into… (8)
B1: …the ‘1’s, facing each other (the rest facing ‘up’), start a Grand Chain - initially passing by the right hand, then carrying on (passing by alternate hands) down the opposite line - the others follow. When they meet at the bottom, the ‘1’s make a two-handed arch. (8)
B2: The 2nd couple lead their remaining line round the outside of the arch, up through it and back to progressed places… swing - if there’s time. (8)
The Devil’s Dream
Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgA20Q1Iqfg
Music: 32-bar American reel. 31s: ‘WttD’, CD 1 - 05 - Orange and Blue - (2-bar intro.) Devil’s Dream (Up Jumped the Devil/Fred Radem’s/The Flop-Eared Mule); 35s: Bucketboy Bluegrass Band - *Kitchen Girl; 34.5s: Caladh Nua - *By Heck; 34s: Govannen - *Billy in the Low Ground/Blackberry Blossom; 33s: Bryan Sutton - Kitchen Girl.
Form: Longways, ‘1’s improper - “As many as will”. ‘1, 2 (drag-close), 3, hop’ step (step ‘3’ follows closely after ‘2’) for A1 & A2.
Prep.: "From the top, take hands in fours down the line". ‘1’s face down the centre, ‘2’s face up the outside.
* * *
A1: Memorize your neighbour. ‘1’s lead down (all the way) while the ‘2’s go up the outside. 4 bars
All half-turn alone and lead back to give neighbour e.g. ‘1’ man with ‘2’ lady, a nearest short-arm/cupped-elbow half-turn. 4 bars
A2: ‘1’s, facing down, go down the outside, while ‘2’s go up the middle. 4 bars
All half-turn alone and lead back - to left arm turn neighbour ¾ (awkward at men’s line) into… 4 bars
B1: …Ladies’ Chain across the set… and back. 4 + 4 bars
B2: (Half-) Promenade (r. h. to r. h.) that neighbour across the set - passing to the right of the oncoming couple. (Ladies could add a flourish by twirling Cw. under the man’s l. arm as she half-circles around him.) Half- ‘right and left through’ (into a ‘progressed’ place) - facing along the set - ready to restart. ‘End’ couples need to turn around (as a pair) and change their designation. 4 + 4 bars
Double-Cross
By Marjorie Hendy
Form: Four-couple sets. ‘1’s improper works well.
* * *
A1: Top two people on men’s line cross places with bottom two on ladies line (to the left - right shoulder leading), (4 bars)
all r. h. star. (4 bars)
A2: Top two people on ladies’s line cross with bottom two on men’s line (to the right), (4)
all l. h. star. (4)
B1: The bottom two couples circle left half-way. (2)
The couple that were originally ‘2’s peel-off to swap places with a Swat the Flea (by the l.-hand) or two-hand half-turn - to face up the set. (2)
The middle two couples circle left half-way, (2)
‘2’s peel-off to Swat the Flea or a two-hand half-turn. (2)
B2: (As two, two-couple sets…) The top two couples pull-by right (swapping places with partner), along the line pull-by left. (3)
All pull-by right, pull-by left along the line. Repeat - back to place. (5)
or, for the last 5 bars:
swing partner. (5)
Repeat 3 times.
Music: Jig. 35s: Airdance - October/Road to Lisdoonvarna; 34s: The Good Tune - Da Lounge Bar
Drops of Brandy
Form: Four or five couples. Use ‘step-hop’ - or skip - with a short-arm (forearm, w/o thumb!) grip. (‘Passives’ can do the stepping too.)
* * *
The first couple Strip the Willow: the lady Strips the Willow (single - so man disregards the ladies’ line) down the men’s line,
the man Strips the Willow (single) up the ladies’ line,
they then simultaneously Strip the Willow (double) down the set.
New top couple restart once the previous couple are out the way.
Music: Hornpipe or Slip-jig. 49s: Katherine Liley - The Peacock’s Feathers; 45s: Tulla Ceili Band - The Peacock’s Feather,
Slip-jig. 49s: Katie Grennan - Don't Stick to the Floor/Knock on the Door/Ellen’s Dance. Slip-jig.; 115Bpm: Altan - Tommy Potts; 120Bpm: Craig Duncan - Drops Of Brandy/Brose And Butter/ … ; 130Bpm: Mark & Holly - The Peacock Followed the Hen/Foxhunters/Drops of Brandy.
Falling Masonry
John Kirkpatrick
Form: 4-couple longways.
* * *
A1: Lines forward and back. (4 bars)
Men arch, lines cross over. (4 bars)
A2: Facing out, lines reverse (i.e. towards the centre) and forward (out again). (4)
Ladies arch, men duck - so lines can reverse all the way across - back home. (4)
B1: Top couple galop down to the bottom. The other three couples (move-up to…) follow them down. (8)
B2: After the top couple (only) have galoped down for the second time, swing. (8)
Music: 32-bar jig. 31-28s: Banter - Jump at the Sun.
The Fandango
A 32-bar version of a 64-bar English Regency Playford dance.
Form: three-couple (proper) minor.
* * *
A1: Top couple (‘1’s) right-hand turn, (4 bars)
facing up, ‘1’s cast around the ‘2’s into the middle place - allowing the ‘2’s to move up. (4 bars)
A2: All circle to the left (with a 'side-slip' step), (4)
and back. (4)
B1: ‘1’s each two-hand turn their right-hand diagonal… (4)
‘1’s two-hand turn each other… (4)
B2: ‘1’s two-hand turn their left-hand diagonal… (4)
‘1’s, two-handed turning, travel down to bottom place. (4)
Music: double-jig. 33s: The Hoghton Band - Fandango Jig; 30s: Wilcil McDowell - Rosewood Jig.
The Foula Reel - pronounced ‘Fooler’
Music: 32-bar jig: 37s: Spælimenninir - Da Shaalds o Foula; 34s: The Kilfenora Ceili Band - Jig It/Patsy Geary's/… set; 32s: ‘WttD’, CD 1 - 17 The Falconers - Foula Reel (Shaalds of Foula); 31s: ‘WttD’, CD 1 - 07 The Ranchers - Jigs (Lady Mary Douglas/Jump at the Sun/There Came a Young Man).
Form: longways, 4-couple.
Difficulty: 2 - the poussette can be unfamiliar.
* * *
A1 and A2: The top couple cross and lead down the middle of the set. At the bottom they ½ turn with a right short-arm or cupped-elbow to ‘Strip the Willow’ back up (“right arm to your partner, left arm to the [opposite gender] line”). The top man could turn the lady completely once around… (and duck) ready for:
B1: The top couple make an arch (the man goes inside) and carry it down over the men’s heads, then back up over the ladies.
B2: They then poussette to the bottom of the set: all couples take two hands, the top man pushes his partner (4 steps) while all the other men initially pull their lady (4 steps). The top couple pass behind the second couple to weave their way down the set - alternately pushing and pulling, weaving in and out, passing each other couple in turn as they go to and fro’ down the set.
Four around Four
Music: 32-bar jig. 31s: ‘WttD’, CD 1 - 07 The Ranchers - Jigs (Lady Mary Douglas/Jump at the Sun/There Came a Young Man); 33s: Patrick Street - *The Shores of Lough Gowna/Contentment is … set, Mark Arrington - Kesh/Haymakers Jig set; 31s: Fara - Billy’s Short Leg, The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra - *Jake's Jig/Going to the Well for Water/… set, Séamus Egan - Garrett Barry’s/The Hag at the Churn, Alasdair Fraser & Paul Machlis - Calliope House/Cowboy Jig; 30s: The Bothy Band - The Kesh Jig/Give Us a Drink/… set, Danú - Brown Eyed Bridget, Lissa Schneckenburger - *Jimmy Boyles/The Roaring Bar Maid/… , B Block - Kates/Mill … ; 29s: Blazin’ Fiddles - Braehead Cottage.
Form: Four-couple longways. Easy.
* * *
1-8: Lines hold hands. First woman pulls her line around the outside of the men.
9-16: First man pulls his line around the ladies.
17-24: Top couple side-close (galop) to the bottom and back.
25-32: Top couple cast out, form an arch at the bottom, all pass under, and swing.
Repeat: New top woman pulls her line around a new line of men.
Jack’s Maggot
Music: 32-bar reel. Own tune: 33s: Tasker’s Chance - Newcastle/Jack’s Maggot.
or: 40s (then 32s): Adam Agee & Jon Sousa - *John Brennan’s/Man of the House; 34s: Sharon Shannon - Bonnie Mulligan, Séamus Egan - Poultry in the Parlour/Rolling in the Ryegrass.
Form: longways, duple, proper. “As many as will”.
Prep.: take hands in fours from the top. Couples with their backs to the stage are ‘1’s.
* * *
A1: 1st man crosses down between the two ladies, passing second woman by the right shoulder. The top lady faces down the line and they hey - ending with the man back in his place.
A2: 1st lady goes down between the two men, passing second man by the left shoulder. They hey (so the top man needs to face down the line).
B1: (In pairs of couples) right hand star, left hand star back.
B2: 1st corners cross (with right shoulder leading), 2nd corners cross.
Hands-four, circle left half-way round, 1st couple cast outside ‘2’s, into ‘2’s place as 2nd couple lead up.
Maid of the Mill
Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHwzPCC8DI0
Music: 32-bar reel. 38s: Tom Doherty - The Three Sisters Reel, Celtic Fiddle Festival - Loch Leven Castle/Mary Macdonalds/… /… ; 35s: Adam Agee & Jon Sousa - *The Maids of Holywell/Cor Pheait/… Reel set; 34s: Patrick Street - Devanney's Goat/Leitrim …/… , Wild Asparagus - Fahey’s/Woman of the House/… set, Máiréad Nesbitt - *The Butterfly, Kevin Burke - The Doon Reel/… set; 33s: The Tune Makers - The Bucks of Oranmore, Celtic Fiddle Festival - *Le Printemps, Brendan Block - Wing Commander Donald MacKenzie’s; 32s: Malachy Doris - *Bonnie Kate, Natalie MacMaster - Three Reels, Catharsis, Kilfenora Ceili Band - Sheehan’s/Merry Blacksmith/… , Blazin’ Fiddles - **Fashion, Leahy - *Seamus Coynes.
Form: longways, duple, proper, ‘As many as will’.or, for the last 6 bars, the bottom couple lead (by right hand) a Grand Chain. (6)
Prep.: Take hands in fours from the top. Couples with their backs to the stage are ‘1’s.
* * *
A1: ‘1’s r. h. turn (palm-inward Allemande) twice around.
They then cast around ‘2’s to stand between them - to make a line of four, all facing up.
A2: Holding hands four abreast, walk three steps forward (‘up’ the set), kick, still facing up - three reverse steps, kick, three steps forward, kick, three steps back, kick.
B1: ‘2’s curl round to make a circle of four (effectively progressing), circle left (Cw.) eight steps, right eight steps.
B2: R. h. star, then l. h. star back.
Restart the dance from the progressed place.
Couples ejected at either end swap their designation e.g. from a ‘2’ to a ‘1’… and ‘wait out’ a ‘go’.
Nottingham Swing
Music: 16-bar hornpipe, e.g. a 32-bar hornpipe played without the usual repeats. 26s: Steamchicken - *… Devil's Dead/In Party Mood; 25s: Cooper, Bulwer, Hawkins - Washing Day/Old Mrs Huddledee (Kafoozalum)/The Keel Row, Bellowhead - *Kafoozalum/Priest's Miss, Martin Simpson - *The Keel Row; 24s: ‘WttD’, CD 1 - 16 - Greensleeves Country Band - Nottingham Swing (Philebelula All the Way/Paddy McGinty’s Goat/Country Garden); 23s: Steamchicken - Gobby’s Christmas… , John Carmichael Band - Canadian Barn Dance.
32-bar: 56s: Déanta - (0m22) *King of the Blues; 52s: Steamchicken - *… Devil's Dead/… ; 50s: Ardan - *The Boys of Bluehill/Off to California, Altan - *Dance of the Honeybees; 46s: Tulla Ceili Band - The Peacock’s Feather.
Formation: longways, duple, proper. ‘As many as will’.
Prep.: take hands in fours from the top. Demonstrate a ‘Step-hop’.
Difficulty: moderate.
* * *
A bars 1-4: 1st man and 2nd lady meet to turn by right elbow.
A bars 5-8: 1st lady and 2nd man meet to turn by right elbow.
B bars 9-12: ‘1’s take two hands, take two steps down the set, then two steps back up (‘2’s, outside, can do the converse) and cast around the ‘2’s. Everyone's progressed.
B bars 13-16: All swing (cross-hand hold).
End couples sit-out a turn and change their designation.
Orcadian ‘Strip the Willow’
Music: Often 6/8 double or 9/8 slip jig. 49s for 48 bars: Trinculo - *Any Jig Will Do/Tall for a Night; 32s: Waxies Dargle - Fat her O’Flynn/Irish Washerwoman/Blackberry Blossom; 30s: Leahy - Wedding Day Jig (skip-step).
Slip Jigs: 50s: Altan - A Fig for a Kiss; 49s: The McNamara Family - The Barony Jig/The Leitrim Quickstep/Moll Roe; 48s: Anne Marie Hildebrandt - Sixpenny Money/The Creel of Turf; 46s: Fiddlers Dram - Peel the Tatties/The Pig in the Kitchen/The Barony Jig; 44s: Maire Breatnach Band (or Street Fiddlers) - Nead Na Lachan/Moll Roe; 43s: Spinach for Norman - Road to Dublin (The Foxhunters Jig/Drops of Brandy) set; 42s: Alban Fuam - Rocky Road to Dublin.
Form: longways.
* * *
The Orcadian Strip the Willow dance is simply a continuous, rolling, double Strip the Willow figure for ‘as many as will’: the top couple turn, by the right, cupped-elbow/short-arm completely around - to cross-over, then progress down the opposite gender line with left cupped-elbow/short-arm ½-turns alternating with right elbow/arm ½-turns down the centre with one’s partner.
At the bottom they cross back to their own line with a complete turn.
Each new, top couple commence their right elbow/arm turn a bar-or-two after the previous top couple start swinging down the set.
Couples can join, or leave, the dance as desired, at the bottom of the line.
OXO Reel
Author: John Tether
Music: 32-bar jig/reel. 36s: Jon Boden et al. - 11, OXO Reel (FSCD 002, 2005); 35s: unidentified - (0m04) OXO Reel; 33s: Dominique Dupuis - *Jack Daniels’.
Formation: 6-couple longways, duple, proper.
Difficulty: 1
Two versions.
* * *
A1: Lines go forward and back. Tops galop (slip-step) down the set.
A2: Lines go forward and back. New top couple galop to bottom.
B1: Top two couples circle left; middle two right hand star; bottom two couples circle right - OXO!
Then back the other way.
B2: The bottom couple galop back to the top.
All swing.
or:
A1: Lines forward and back, right shoulder do-si-do.
A2: Lines forward and back, left shoulder do-si-do.
B1: as above.
B2: Top couple galop/swing to bottom, others swing as soon as the top couple is clear.
Petronella
Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91iEhbX5eEI - shows 'proper' lines - but better with ‘2’s improper.
Music: Own 32-bar tune. 36s: Lissa Schneckenburger - Petronella.
Form: longways, ‘2’s improper, ‘as many as will’.
Prep.: take hands four from the top.
* * *
A1: ‘1’s Petronella twirl/turn: rotate ¾ Cw. while also moving Acw. into position (putting the man at the bottom of the foursome - facing up, lady at the top - facing down), (2 bars)
All join hands and ‘balance’ (four steps: small step in [right], close with a tap, step back left, close). Release hands. (2 bars)
All Petronella twirl into the next position Acw.. Join hands, balance. Release hands. (4 bars)
A2: All Petronella turn. Join hands, balance and release hands… repeat one more time (so ‘1’s twirl 4 times in total). (8 bars)
B1: ‘2’s retire (to clear the way) as ‘1’s lead down (first noting the identity of the ‘2’s) six steps, turn alone, and come on back… where, with arms around waists, ‘1’s turn the ‘2’s (¾ around) into a progressed place. (8 bars)
B2: ‘Right and left thru'’ across the set, i.e. cross the set - giving right hand to your partner, then giving left hand along the (new?) set - to swap places with your (new?) neighbour. (4 bars)
Repeat (returning to progressed place). (4 bars) Couples left at an end will need to turn back - as a pair, swap their designation… and ‘wait out’ a ‘go’.
Ping
Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Megrtuueh5Y
Form: four-couple longways.
* * *
A1: Top man leads his line, holding hands, around the women’s line. (16 beats)
A2: Top lady pulls her line around the men’s line. (16)
B1: Top couple take two hands (or [cross-over for] a ballroom hold), and Heel-Toe, Heel-Toe and galop down to the bottom of the set. (8) Finishing on either side.
Next top couple, Heel-Toe, Heel-Toe, galop down. (8)
B2: The third couple Heel-Toe, Heel-Toe, and galop down. (8)
All arm right (if beginners) or Swing. (8)
Music: 32-bar jig. 34s: Celtic Fiddle … - Stan Chapman’s/… ; 33s: Patrick Street - *The Shores of Lough Gowna/Contentment is … set, Mark Arrington - Kesh/Haymakers Jig set; 32s: Trinculo - Drummond Castle/Shorty’s Revenge; 28s: Banter - Jump at the Sun.
Sir Roger de Coverley
Music: (in 9/8) AABBCC Slip jig (or Triple jig). 36s: unspecified Flautist, or 34s: Feast of Fiddles, or 32s: Blowzabella or 31s: The Seven Dials Band - Sir Roger de Coverley; 50s: Mark Arrington - *Foxhunter’s Slip Jig set; 48s: The Good Tune - The Yorkshire Trip, Rún - Hardiman the Fiddler; 43s: Alban Fuam - *Farewell to Whalley Range; 42s: Street Fiddlers - Nead Na Lachan (The Foxhunter’s Jig).
Form: five-couple longways - can employ a running step.
Prep.: explain that ‘calling’ will be curtailed as different sets lose synchrony.
* * *
First corners (top man, bottom lady) skip (or run) towards each other and turn by a right arm hold e.g. linked-elbow or short forearm or cupped-elbow - no thumbs!… then they retire. The finishing couple can make a slow, wide cast to clear the way for the following couple, until returning through their own place.
As soon as the first corners have vacated the centre, the second corners (top woman and bottom man) advance and turn by a right arm hold.
Then the first, followed by second corners, turn by:
the left arm,
two, crossed hands,
do-si-do (pass Cw., back-to-back, round each other).
Top couple ‘Strip the Willow’ to the bottom: they turn 1¼ times by right cupped-elbow/short-arm to cross lines, then progress down the set with left cupped-elbow/short-arm swings (½-turn) down the opposite line alternating with right elbow/arm swings (½-turn) with partner down the middle. At the bottom, the couple finish with a complete turn. Lines can assist by proffering their left hands to the couple at the appropriate time.
Top couple dance (running step) up the middle to the top, cast-out, dance to the bottom - followed by the rest - meet, arch and the rest pass through it.
Leisurely variation: the top couple walk up the set. As each couple in the set is passed (beginning with the bottom couple and working up the set), they fall into line behind the other couples. The lead couple casts down behind the lines - everyone follows them. They all stop when the lead couple reaches the bottom. The other couples are now back in their original order.
Stoke Golding
Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=incobjf8FWc
Music: Slip jig. 51s: Sean Softley - Open Slip Jigs; 49s: Trinculo - Any Jig Will Do/Tall for a Night; 48s: The Good Tune - The Yorkshire Trip, 48s: Natalie MacMaster - *Patricia Kelso’s; 46s: Fiddlers Dram - Peel the Tatties/The Pig in the Kitchen/The Barony Jig, Noreia - The Butterfly; 42s: Alban Fuam - *Rocky Road to Dublin.
Form: longways, 4 or 5 couples.
Prep.: explain that figure-timings are ad-hoc, so calling will be curtailed as different sets lose their synchrony.
* * *
1: First corners (top man and bottom lady) swing (crossed hands).
2: Top lady and bottom man swing.
3: Top couple Strip the Willow (double) to the bottom. (“Right to your partner, left to the line”.)
4: Where, with the lady outside the set, they take a single-handed arch up over the ladies, at the top, under-arm twirl while leading the lady across and back down over the men.
At the bottom, the man pivots the lady to continue-up to swing the new top man.
T. A. G. (Terry Armstrong Graham - not a bloke)
Roger Whynott
Music: jig. 35s: Kathleen & Jim Fownes - The Old Favorite/The Orphan; 34s: Sláinte - Celtic Jig/Leitrim Fancy Jig; 33s: Donegore Tradition - Off She Goes/Sgt Cahill’s Favourite/The Fair Night; 32s: Craig Duncan - *Drummond Castle/…Dunse/…Repentance, Malachy Doris Céilí Band - Cock o’ the North; 31s: Kevin Burke & Cal Scott - *The Green Fields of Woodford/Seanamhac … , Climax Ceilidh Band - *Spike, The Blue Rock Boys - Doctor O’Neill’s set, Mandolin - Shandon Bells/Parson in Boots/Donegal Lasses, Thingumajigs - Medley of Jigs.
Form: 4-couple longways.
Prep.: it helps if the lines/stars are close together as swapping between them is easier… and dancers stay in their stars as long as possible before swapping-over.
Difficulty: 2
* * *
A1: The top couple cross-over, lead down the set, turn round as a pair and come back up their own side and cast out (the second couple don’t ‘assist’).
A2: As the top couple cast, all the men raise their left arms and follow the top man into a left-hand star while all the ladies follow the top lady into a right-hand star. As each couple meet each other at the bottom, they cross, individually, to the other star - the lady crosses in front of her partner to join the men’s (left-hand) star… while men join the right-hand star.
B1: As partners meet at the bottom again, they swap stars back into ladies doing the right-hand star while men left-hand star.
B2: As tops meet yet again at the bottom, they join hands to lead everyone (holding hands) up to the top and cast… others follow. The tops make an arch at the bottom and the others duck thru' it - back to place. Swing - if there’s time.
Thady You Gander (Irish Trot)
Watch at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2yShd85X3U
Music: hornpipe, 40-bar own tune: 39s: Oxford Nags (EFDSS) - There's Nae …/With My Basket on My Arm … ; 34s: Candleford Ceilidh Band - T. Y. G.
Form: Four-couple longways, step-hop or skipping-step if jig.
* * *
A1: The top couple cross over, join inside hands and dance to the bottom. They each return on the outside (to the top of the 'opposite’ line)… (8 bars)
A2: …where the top lady drags the line of men around her partner, down the outside of the ladies’ line and back to place. (8)
A3: Top man leads the ladies around his partner and down the back of the men’s line. (8)
B1&2: Top couple ‘Strip the Willow’: they Allemande right then each swing down their opposite-gender line with cupped-elbow/short-arm ½-turns alternating with right elbow/arm ½-turns down the centre with their partner (“Right to your partner, left to the line”). (c. 14)
New top couple restart with music (as the previous couple finish - on their own side).
Thread the Needle
Music: 32-bar jig. 34s reel Whapweasel - *Crisps; 33s jig: Crowdie House - *Blue Bonnets, Mark Arrington - *Kesh/Haymaker’s Jig; 32s: Old School Band - Shearer’s Gem/Whittle Springs; 31s: Kevin Burke & Cal Scott - *The Green Fields of Woodford/Seanamhac … , Old School Band - Sarsaparilla Jig; (16-bar) 15.5s: Alasdair Fraser & Paul Machlis - Calliope House/Cowboy Jig → Patrick Street - *Mrs O Sullivan's Jig/Calliope House; 30s: Open House - Devil’s Jig/The Trip to Bantry/… set, Natalie MacMaster - Jig Party.
Form: three or four-couple (5?) longways.
Prep.: join hands along the lines. Bottom couple also hold their partner’s hand - to form a horseshoe-shaped set.
* * *
1-8: Ladies Thread the Needle: the top two men (1st and 2nd) raise their joined hands to make an arch; the top lady drags everyone through the arch - curving left, down the back of the men’s line, round the set and back to place. The top men should ‘unwind’ under their arch together.
9-16: Top two ladies arch… men Thread the Needle (the the top man dragging the line down the back of the ladies’ line).
17-24: All circle left (men just continue their movement). All circle right.
25-32: First couple, side-close step, two-handed, down the middle (four steps) and back, then, followed by the others, cast to the bottom of the set and make an arch for the others to lead up the set to their advanced places.
Wilder variant: for bars 1-8, when confident, men could also walk their arch round clockwise - so actually, ladies encounter and duck through the men’s arch twice (two sections of their line are going through the arch simultaneously). The top two men (1st and 2nd) will need to ‘unwind’ their arch together twice. Ladies can do the same for bars 9-16.
Three Around Three
Music: polka. 36s: The Old Swan Band - Mrs Ellen O'Dwyer's/Packie Russell's; 35s: Diatonics - … Dance and Sing/… Phil, Cheviot Ranters - Call of the Pipes/Barren Rocks of Aden/… set; Brian Roe - Sean Ryan’s; 34s: Mary Duff (dulcimer) - Jenny Lind/Three Around Three, Craig Duncan - Grandfather/Clarinet Polka set; 32s: Art Stamper - Barndance Polka.
Form: three couples, longways.
* * *
A1: Top lady pulls the line of ladies (skipping) upwards and around the back of the men’s line. (8)
A2: Top man pulls his line around the ladies’ line. (8)
B1: Top couple cast to middle place, & swing. (8)
B2: Old tops right-hand star with couple above. (No left-hand star back.) (4)
Old tops dive under an arch made by the 3rd couple. (4)
The new top lady needs to be ready to re-start.
Virginia Reel
This is an adapted version (for Americans) of the English dance, Sir Roger de Coverley.
Music: reel. 40-bar (5 x 16 beats) reel: 43s: Kenny Thomson - High Society, Colin Dewar Scottish Band - Virginia Reel Medley (Mairie’s).
32-bar: 33s: The Dam Beavers - *Hayward Medley (Mairi’s Wedding/… ); 32s: Melodian Band - Virginia Reel Medley (>9 mins long), Geslison & Groberg - V. R. or Black Rose - V. R. (lively, 2 second intro., then 8 x 31s).
64-bar: 63s: ‘WttD’, CD 1 - 12 Blue Mountain Band - Virginia Reel (Turkey in the Straw/Lord Alexander’s Reel/Hell Broke Loose in Georgia/Billy in the Low Ground) set.
Form: Longways, proper, four or five couples.
* * *
A1 bars 1-4: Only 2nd corner couple (top lady and bottom man) advance four steps. On the 4th beat, all ‘clap-clap’. Repeat by 1st corner couple i.e., 2nd in, ‘clap-clap’, 1st in, ‘clap-clap’.
A1 bars 5-8: 2nd corner couple reverse out. On the 4th beat, all ‘clap-clap’. Repeat by 1st corners i.e., 2nd out, ‘clap-clap’, 1st out, ‘clap-clap’.
Alternative for A1 (involving all couples i.e., no ‘passive’ couples):
A1: all advance 3 steps, all ‘clap-clap’ and retire 3 steps, ‘clap-clap’.
A1: Repeat.
A2: All advance, single turn partner with hooked right-elbow. (4) If the music is Black Rose, all can kick-up heels!
A2: All hook left-elbow to turn back. (4)
B1: All turn partner Cw. - with both hands. (4)
B1: All do-si-do (passing by the right shoulder). (4)
B2: Head couple join hands and side-close eight steps down the set… and back. (8)
B3: Head couple cast-off to the bottom where they make an arch, others follow through the arch and return up the set (having progressed a place). (8)
Alternative for A1-B2:
A1: Head lady and foot man (2nd corners) hook by right-elbow and turn while remainder 1, 2, 3, ‘clap-clap’ (8 beats) … followed by the 1st corners turning… and the remainder 1, 2, 3, ‘clap-clap’.
A2: Head lady and foot man left-elbow turn… then 1st corners.
B1: Head lady and foot man do-si-do - passing right shoulders… then 1st corners.
B2: Head lady and foot man do-si-do - passing left shoulders… then 1st corners.
A 64-bar alternative:
From bar 24 (B2) - i.e., a 40-bar alternative B2… so, okay for five couples:
Head couple join hands and do eight side-close steps down the set, the couple then Strip the Willow up the set, cast, & arch at the bottom for the rest of the set to duck under and return to a progressed place… & swing.
Waves of Tory
Music: polka/jig. 48-bar for 5 couples or 64-bar for 7 couples. (Often AAB AAB [48 bars] - for 5 couples; AAB AABBB [64 bars] - for 7 couples). (For C1 & C2, B music phrase is repeated twice more - or, for 7 couples, phrases A1-B2 are repeated en bloc for bars 33-64.)
(5 x) 48-bar jig: ‘WttD’, CD 1 - 11 The Blue Mountain Band - WoT (Shandon Bells, The Devil in Dublin, The Coleraine); 54s: Damien O'Kane - Morgan Rattler; 50s: Mark & Holly etc. - Morgan Rattler/Zakynthos Jig; 48s: Steeleye Span - Mooncoin Jig; 46s: Jon Boden et al. - *Bridge of Athlone… ; 45s: 422 - *Zycanthos Jig set.
32-bar jig (twice through - for 7 couples): 32s: Michael O’Donoghue - Haymaker’s Jig, Sean McGuire - *Erin’s …/Larry O’Gaff set (3 x 64); 31s: Olive Hurley - Shandon Bells.
Form: Longways set of 5 or 7 couples (odd number needed for the ‘waves’).
Prep: "Dip under" when commencing from an end. Memorize one’s position relative to neighbours.
Stepping: walk.
* * *
A1: Hold hands in lines, four steps forward and four steps back, (4-bars).
Couples 1 & 2 and couples 3 & 4 r. h. star, 5 r. h. turn. (4-bars)
A2: Lines forward and back, (4).
Couples 1 & 2 and couples 3 & 4 l. h. star, couple 5 l. h. turn (4).
B1: Top couple take eight, two-handed side-close steps (galop) down and eight steps back. (8)
B2: At the top, they cast out, the remainder follow. At the bottom of the set, the top couple make an arch for the rest to hold hands and pass under. (8)
C1 & C2: There’s now a new top couple. Everyone, except the original top couple, faces down and hold hands. Noting their new position in the set - so they can return to the correct place. The original bottom couple ‘arch’, the original ‘tops’ start a ‘dive & arch’ i.e., alternately ‘duck under’ and ‘arch over’ approaching couples. Other couples either push apart to ‘arch’ or pull together to ‘dive’, moving forwards until they join in (by following the couple in front). When they reach the ends, couples can either turn about individually… or, since their inside arms are already raised (into an arch), they could swap places using a California Twirl (an embellishment). They then continue the wave by ‘diving’ under the arch made by the oncoming couple - back to place. (16)
Repeat as required until everyone has been the top couple.
Alternative Waves of Tory
(Dip N Dive from the top)
Form: Longways set of 5 couples.
* * *
A1: Each line join hands and advance four steps & retire. (4)
Lines advance & pass through by the right shoulder (8 steps). (4)
A2: Advance & retire. (4)
Advance & pass left shoulder. (4)
B1: Swing partner. (8)
B2: Top couple cast out: men follow the man, ladies follow the lady. At the bottom of the set the top couple form a two-handed arch and the others, following, pass through and back up the set. (8)
The top couple finish as the bottom couple.
C1-C2: Holding inside hands, new top couple California Twirl (turn) to, face down the set and ‘dip and dive’ with the set. (16)
Wait for everyone to complete i.e. back to where they started the ‘waves’.
Repeat as required until everyone has been the top couple.
Weaver’s Galopede
Written by Mike Barraclough
Music: 32-bar polka: 33s: Fred Hanna Ceili Band - Siege of Ennis (Banks of Inverness); 32s: Art Stamper - Barndance Polka; 31s: Notorious - Jolly Jacks Polka, The Old Swan Band - Going to the Well for Water/Kings of Kerry.
Form: 5-couple longways.
Prep.: Both lines hold hands. The bottom couple join free hands to make a horseshoe-shaped set.
* * *
A1: In a horseshoe, the top and second men make an arch and the ladies ‘Thread the Needle’.
A2: Still holding hands, the top man leads a ‘Thread the Needle’ (the top two ladies make the arch).
B1: The top couple side-close (galop) down… as they pass, the rest cross by the right hand; top couple galop back up, the rest cross back with left hand.
B2: Top couple galop down again and the rest cross by the right hand; all swing - ending-up back on their own side.
The Willow Tree
Author: Hugh Rippon
Music: 48-bar jig four or eight times through. 54s: Damien O’Kane & David Kosky - Morgan Rattler; 50s: ITMA Staff - Humours of Ennistymon/Cliffs of Moher/Out on Ocean, Mark, Holly & Bruce - Morgan Rattler/Zakynthos Jig; 47s: Spiers & Jon Boden - Oswestry Wake/Morgan Rattler; 45s: 422 - Zycanthos Jig Set.
Form: 8-couple longways, crossways set.
Difficulty: 2
* * *
A1 (1-8): Top couple take two hands and slip-step (galop) to the bottom of the set; 1st man takes bottom lady with two hands and both slip back to the top, leaving 1st lady behind. (8 bars)
A2 (9-16): 1st lady and bottom man slip up the set; bottom man returns with his own lady. (8 bars)
B1 and B2 (17-32): End couples right elbow turn once and ‘Strip the Willow’: left cupped-elbow/short-arm swings [½-turn] down the opposite line, alternating with right arm/elbow swings [½-turn] with partner down the centre. Then, when the two end-couples meet in the middle of the set (having passed three couples), they join raised hands in a circle (the 4th and 5th couples will need to leave space between them to allow the end couples… ) to form four arches. (16 bars)
C1 and C2 (33-48): Lines cast (top six people cast down, bottom six cast up) and go back in to the set through the side arches - out through the end-arches, back to place; swing. (16 bars)
Unidentified dance
Music: reel. 33s: John Whelan - The Bradstone Inn/Big Snugs/Beth Patterson’s.
Form: 3-couple longways set.
Prep.: middle couple acknowledge their ‘diagonal’ people.
* * *
A1: Middle man right-arm (or elbow) half-turns his right diagonal (bottom) lady.
Middle man left-arm half-turns his left diagonal (top) lady.
A2: Middle lady right-arm half-turns her right diagonal (top) man.
Middle lady left-arm half-turns her left diagonal man.
B1: The lines walk a hey (reel of three - ‘figures of 8’. Start with the top couple facing down).
B2: Top couple continue their hey - down to the bottom, ending with others having moved up a place.
or:
B2: The top couple dance (galop/swing) to the bottom. Other couples swing when the top couple has passed.