Bush Dance Instructions

History of Bush Dances

Bush dance is a form of traditional folk dancing that has been brought to Australia by its European settlers. The dances are a majority mix of circle, couple, longways and quadrilles formations.

The music that accompanies the dances again has European origins although there are quite a number of Australianised tunes now in the tradition from bush fiddlers and other musicians.

During the 1950s there had been a revival of folk music in Australia following a similar revival in America. Collectors travelled the countryside looking for old tunes, songs and dance before they died out with their bearers.

Bush dances were revived based on these collected dances, introduced dances from Europe and newly composed dances.

Bush Dance Instructions

Dancing, singing and music have been essential to the party spirit as long as we can remember and the European settlers of Australia were no exception. Dancing, singing, reciting and music for the white settlers became an integral part of the lives, whether it was in a grand Colonial Ball in the city, a celebratory end of sheep shearing season Woolshed Dance or simply a gathering of friends and family for an evening's entertainment in a kitchen or round a campfire.

For additional resource for music and dance, refer to the Bendigo Bush Dance and Music Club web page: https://www.bendigobushdance.org.au Click here

Here are a few dance instructions suitable for the tune sets compiled in Wongawilli's Australian Dance Tunes Volumes 1 and 2,.

They have been danced at ‘bush dances’ and are from traditional and collected sources and some are composed in the traditional style.

Thanks to Peter Ellis, Shirley Andrews and Gwen Burke from Wongawilli Colonial Dance Club, Ashley Oates and the contributants to the Monaro Folk Music Society website for the text.

Publications available with more bush dance instructions.

Glossary and Abbreviations

Sicilian Circle = One couple facing another couple in a circle around the room.

Double Sicilian = Two couples in a line, facing two couples in a line, arranged in a circle around room.

Abbreviations used:

R = right

L = left

F = foot

H = hand

M = man

W = woman

L.O.D. = line of dance (anticlockwise)

ACW = anticlockwise

CW = clockwise

Fwd = forward

Sh = shoulder

A sample of dances that are presented at Australian Bush Dances follows:

Blackwattle Reel, Blaydon Races, Boston Two-Step, Bullockies Ball, Circassian Circle No. 5, Circassian Circle No. 2 (The Big Circle), Circle Waltz (Spanish Waltz),

Colonials Quadrille (NSW version), Country Bumpkin, Evening Three Step, Flying Pieman, Frangipani Waltz, Four Sisters Barn Dance, Gypsy Tap,

Heel and Toe Polka (Brown Jug Polka), Highland Reel, Jubilee Jig, Kings Waltz, La Galopade, Love ‘Em and Leave ‘Em, Maxina (Canberra version),

Merry Widow Waltz, Polka Quadrille (1882 Maitland Version), Pride Of Erin (South Australian/Victorian Version), Prince of Wales Schottische,

Soldiers Joy, Swing Waltz, Tempest, Varsoviana.

Dance Instructions:

Blackwattle Reel

Formation: Large single circle

Bars Description

4 Advance & retire — (4 steps each way).

4 Advance & retire

2 Right hand turn — (Turn partner by the right hand).

2 Left hand turn — (Turn corner by the left hand).

4 Advance & retire.

4 Do-si-do right — (Do-si-do with partner).

4 Do-si-do left — (Do-si-do left shoulders with partner).

2 Step & Honour — (Face partner, each person steps to their right and bows or curtsies to partner).

2 Walk on — (Each person walks 4 small steps to meet their new partner).

4 Swing — ( Swing new partner using a longarm hold and finish ready to start again).

32 Bars

Music: Use 6/8 or Polka or Reel + 4 Bars Introduction.

Variations:

1. In the second 8 bars take 4 bars each for the turns and have no advance & retire.

2. Instead of the third advance & retire, repeat the RH & LH turns.

Source: Six New Dances, published by Bush Music Club 1979.

Notes : This dance was written by Amnon and Sheryn Doernberg for the Bush Music Clubs Silver Jubilee in 1979. It has been commonly danced in Canberra during the 1980s with the variation 1. given above, not the original instructions.

Blaydon Races

Formation: Large single circle.

Bars Description

4 Advance & retire — (4 steps each way). 4 Advance & retire.

4 Chassez — (2 Chassez steps to the centre, in a ballroom hold then 2 steps back).

4 Chassez.

8 Promenade — (All promenade anticlockwise for 16 steps. Then release the promenade hold and women stop).

2 Men on — (Men move forward to a new partner).

6 Swing new partner — ( Swing new partner using a longarm hold and finish in circle, with woman on the right of her new partner ready to start again).

32 Bars

Music: 6/8 or Polka or Reel + 4 Bars Introduction.

Variation: Promenade for 6 bars, Men promenade onto new partner in 2 bars, Set once to new partner and then swing.

Source: Dances in Sydney 1982-1984 and Canberra in 1985-1986. English origin

Boston Two-Step

Position: Partners stand side by side facing L.O.D., lady on right of man, and holding inside hands.

Bars Description

2 Man starting with left, lady with right foot, both pas-de-basque outwards, then inwards.

2 Both take 3 steps forward, turning on the 4th count to face in the opposite direction, changing hands at the same time.

4 Repeat pas-de-basque outwards and inwards and 3 steps against L.O.D. On the 4th count, turn a quarter turn to face partner, closing feet to a parallel position and joining both hands.

2 Man starting with left, lady with right, both dance one pas-de-basque step each way.

2 Step along L.O.D., man with left, lady with right and close the other foot up.

Repeat in same direction.

4 Take ballroom hold and dance waltz or rotary chasse turns, opening out to the commencing position on last bar.

16 Bars

Music: 6/8 tunes

Notes: This is one of the most popular of the Old Time dances from the Edwardian era set to march tunes. The American composer John Philip Sousa started this trend to march music with his ‘Washington Post March’ which quickly became popular in 1891, and in 1894 a dance, the Washington Post, to this music was all the rage. It was the fore-runner of the Two-step and many other dances in march tempo. Composed in 1902, the Boston Two-Step was still popular in Australia in the 1930s.

Source: Take Your Partners, Shirley Andrews, p.163

Bullockies Ball

Formation: Longways set, 4 couples

Bars Description

4 Face partner; (side) lines advance and retire

4 Right arm turn partner

4 Left Shoulder do si do partner

4 Two hand open turn partner

8 End couples two hand swing, while middles RH star for 4 bars, LH star back to place

8 Top couple swing to bottom of set; all swing as tops pass by.

Repeat 3 times

32 Bars

Music: 2/4 or 4/4 tunes

Circassian Circle No. 5

Formation: Progressive Sicilian (couple facing couple)

Bars Description

8 Right hand star, left hand star.

8 Set and turn (quadrille setting).

8 With ballroom hold couples galop past opposite couple and back to place, men back to back each way.

4 Half ladies chain, remain with this new partner.

4 Pass through to face new couple.

32 Bars

Music: 2/4 or reel tunes.

Source: from Ithaca School of Arts Dance Manual.

Circassian Circle No. 2 (The Big Circle)

Formation: Big circle - all hands joined in a large circle, facing into centre, ladies on right of partner.

Bars Description

4 All take 4 steps in and out.

4 Repeat in and out.

4 Ladies take 4 steps in - clap hands once above head whilst in centre, take 4 steps out.

4 Men 4 steps in and out

8 Swing lady on left.

8 Promenade with her.

Reform circle with this lady on your right. In this way you swing a new lady each time.

32 Bars

Music: 6/8 tunes

Notes: Part 1 of this dance was popular in Australia last century. There were several versions using different steps and figures from quadrilles such as right and left stars, circling round and back, etc.

Further Selection of Dance