Playford's Progeny

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====== THE OPTIMIST ======


4-couple longways set, \\
men with partners i.e.                    W4 MA W3 K3\\
on their right, facing another couple.    HI V1 M2 W2\\
<code>
A1 1-4 ALL back to back ptn R.
   5-8 Ends back to back L, while middles backwards back to back
       on line, beginning R.
A2     Middles (W1 & M4, and M2 & W3) move behind ptn, found end of
       set, passing R, and, women turning R, men L, dance % fig 6
       through their nearest end, ending in position. (Ends act as posts.)
B1 1-4 Taking inside hand ptn, all set R & L, and chassay 2 steps R,
   5-8 Couples 1 & 3, who are now facing, 1/2 circle R and turn single R,
       while couples 2 & 4 courtesy turn. (Keeping inside hand, men
       bring their ptns round as they backtrack.)
B2 1-4 Taking inside hand ptn, all set L & R, and chassay 2 steps L.
   5-8 Couples 3 & 4, and couples 1 & 2, who are now facing, 3 circle L
       in their fours and tum single L.
AL have progressed one place anti-clockwise. 
Repeat 3 times.</code>


====== CIRCASSIAN SQUARE ======

Square set
<code>
A1 1-4 Head couples lead to center, 1/4 circle L, and fall back to side
       positions, while sides separate, move to nearest head position
       and 2 hand turn.
   5-8 Repeat from these positions. (Men are now in opposite places.)
A2     Four Ladies' Chain across and back.
B1 1-4 All R hand turn temporary ptns 1 1/2 times, and on to next.
       (Men moving anti-clockwise, women clock-wise.)
   5-8 L hand turn this one 1% times, and on to original ptn.
B2 1-4 Starting R hand ptn, Grand Chain, 4 changes, 1/2 way round.
   5-8 Back to back ptn R.
C1 1-4 Take hands in ring, into middle and out.
   5-8 Men swing corner woman, (This is new ptn.)
C2     Promenade to man's home position.
Repeat 3 times.</code>


====== BIGAMY ======


for one man and two women,                         W2\\
man with back to presence, women facing ur i.e. M  W1\\
<code>
1st figure
A1 1-4 Man turns W1 with the R hand, and they raise R hands to make an arch.
   5-8 W2 goes under the arch, behind W1, to place.
A2 1-4 Man turns W2 with the L hand, and again, they make an arch.
   5-8 W1 goes under the arch, behind W2, to place.
Bl 1-6 Keeping L hand, man does 1/2 L hand turn vith W2, both women 1/2 R hand
       turn, and man 1/2 L hand turn with W1,
   7-8 Han, keeping L hand, gives R hand to W2. All set R & L in line.
B2 1-6 Keeping R hand, man does 1/2 R hand turn with W2, both women 1/2 L hand
       turn, and man 1/2 R hand turn with W1,
   7-8 Man, keeping R hand, gives L hand to W2. All cet R & L in line.

2nd figure
Al 1-4 A11 slip 4 steps to own R and back. Man and W1 acknowledge in passing.
   5-8 All forward a double into line and fall back.
A2 1-4 All slip 4 steps to own L and back, man and W2 acknowledging. 
   5-8 As A1
B1 1-8 R hand star, about 1 1/2 times round (skipped), and all cast L to place.
B2 1-8 L hand star, as above, and all cast R to place.


 3rd figure
A1 1-6 All set forward R & L, turn single R to place, and 1/2 circle L.
   7-8 Man moves forward a double to place,                            W1
       while women cast away, W1 R, W2 L, and reform set i.e.        M W2      
A2 1-6 As A1. 
   7-8 As women cast away, W2 R, Wi L
       on to ends of line across hall, man turns R to face W2.
B1 1-4 All walk 1/2 a straight hey, begun by man passing W2 R. All face up.
   5-8 Taking bands, all up a double and fall back.
B2 1-4 Finish the hey, man turning L and passing W2 L. All face up.
   5-8 Taking hands, all up a double, step R, and honor the presence.</code>


====== NERVOUS BREAKDOWN ======

Three-couple longways set, \\
couple 1 improper, mixer 
<code>
A 1-4 All swing pin.
  5-8 Couples 2 & 3 end swing facing each other up and down, and they
      1/2 promenade to change places, while couple 1 carry on swinging.
  9-12 Couples 2 & 3 do Ladies' Chain, the middle pair doing an
       extra 1/2 turn, to end facing up.
  13-16 Couple 1 and the middle pair do 1/2 Ladies' Chain, and again,
        the middles do an extra 1/2 turn, to end facing down.
       All now have new ptns.
B 1-8 While top and bottom couples, facing up and down, do a whole
      R & IL through, with hands, starting on sides, the middle couple,
      looping fairly well out, do 1/2 fig 8 down through bottom couple's
      place, and 1/2 fig 8 up through top couple's place, all taking
      care to end this figure in the same place as they began.
  9-12 All 1/2 circle L and break into lines on sides.
  13-16 Lines go forward and back.
Position at end of first turn: M2 Wi W2 i.e. all have nev ptn
                               W3 M3 M1      and new position
Repeat twice.</code>


====== THE LIBERATED LADIES ======


Two-couple set 
<code>
1st figure
A1 1-4 Ptns lead forward a double, acknowledge opposite, and fall beck.
   5-8 Men move clockwise into each other's place, while women gipsy L.
A2 1-4 Opposites lead forward a double, acknowledge otn, and fall back.
   5-8 Women move anti-clockwise into each other's place, while men gypsy R.
B1 1-4 All turn in to ptn to face wall and give inside hand. Men bring
       ptns round so that the women change places.
   5-6 All turn single R. 
   7-10 All back to back ptn R.
B2 1-4 All turn in to opposite to face wall and give inside hand. 
       Women bring opposites round so that the men change places.
   5-6 All turn single L. 
   7-10 All back to back opposite L

2nd figure
A1 1-4 Side R into line with opposite and fall back.
   5-8 As 1st figure. 
A2 1-4 Side L gto line with ptn and fall back. 
   5-8 As 1st figure. 
B1 1-4 R hand star. 
   5-6 Women continue with 3 R hand turn while  men cast out L. 
   7-10 All L hand turn opposite.
B2 1-4 L hand star. (NB form star correctly) 
   5-6 Men continue with 
       1/2 L hand turn while women east out R. 
   7-10 All R hand turn ptn.

3rd figure
A1 1-4 Arm R opposite. 
   5-8 As 1st figure.
A2 1-4 Arm L ptn.
   5-8 As 1st figure.
Bl 1-4 Circle L. 
   5-6 Men cross R and turn R to face ptn.
   7-10 Pins give hands; 1/2 poussette to change places, men pushing. 
B2 1-4 Circle L. 
   5-6 Women cross R and turn R to face opposite. 
   7-10 Opposites give hands; 1/2 poussette to change places, women pushing.
        Keeping inside hand with opposite, face ptn and honor.</code>
As the women in this dance have absolute parity with the men, it
seems fitting that it should be an optional "ladies' Choice.


====== A TRIP TO MILL HILL ======


for the Circassian Circle Folk Dance Club, Mill Hill, NW7.\\
Three-couple round
<code>
A1 1-4 A11 R hand turn ptn (danced), then two skipping changes of a
       circular hey, with bands, L & R, beginning with cnr. (Men
       move o/w, women afc/v.)
   5-8 Meeting ptn improper on opposite side of set, Gipsy L.
A2 1-4 Still improper, all L hand turn ptn, and two changes, R&L,
       in opposite direction. (Men a/c/w, women c/w.)
   5-8 Meeting ptn proper in home position, Gipsy R.
B 1-4 All pass ptn R and set R.& 1 to next dancer. 
  5-8 Give R hand to this one and change places; give L hand and
      change back, men putting women into R hand star.
  9-12 Three ladies' Chain: men chain out next woman but ones
       who is original ptn. 
  13-16 Repeat 9-12, men chaining out original cnr who is new ptn.
  17-24 Keeping this hold, dance promenade round to man's home
        position, Man has kept new ptn's L hand, and he turns her
        under his L arm into a swing.
         Repeat twice.</code>


====== SIMPLE FOLK ======
Two couple set
<code>
1st figure
A1 1-4 Ptns lead forward a double, acknowledge opposite, and fall back.
   5-6 Men cast R, women L, to meet opposite (improper).
A2 1-4 Opposites lead forward a double, acknowledge ptn, and fall back.
   5-6 Men cast L, women R, to meet ptn.
B 1-4 Ptns R hand turn 1 1/2 times.
  5-6 All face opposite and set R & L.
  7-12 Circular hey, 3 changes, without hands, beginning opposite R.

2nd figure
A1 1-4 Ptns side. (Continuation of previous hey.) 
   5-6 As 1st figure.
A2 1-4 Opposites side. 
   5-6 As 1st figure.
B 1-4 Men pot hook R. (Men cross R into each other's places, and,
      without turning, fall straight back into ptn's place, women
      casting to ptn's place on 3-4.)
  5-6 All cross R opposite and immediately turn again to face.
  7-10 Women pot hook L. 
  11-12 All cross L opposite to place.

3rd figure
Al 1-4 Ptns arm R. 
   5-6 As 1st figure.
A2 1-4 Opposites arm L. 
   5-6 As 1st figure.
B 1-4 Opposites give hands; 1/2 poussette to pn places, men pushing.
  5-6 1/2 circle L. 
  7-10 Ptns give hands and 1/2 poussette.
  11-12 Drop hands and, still facing ptn, step R and honor.</code>


====== SILVER JIG ======

**or
Bring on the dancing Searles**

(for Olive and Denis's 25th Wedding Anniversary Dance)
Longways set
<code>
A1 1-4 2nd cnrs set R & L and cross L Men face up, women down.
   5-8 All Gipsy L sh on line with nbr.
A2 1-4 1st cnrs set, cross R and turn R to face ptn.
   5-8 All Gipsy R sh with ptn.
B 1-8 Circle L. Facing ptn, 1/2 R & L through.
  9-12 All 3/4 B band twrn ptm into line. While M2 & Wi (2nd cnrs)
       continue on the same track to their progressed places,
       M1 & W2 (1st cnrs) 1/4 L hand turn.
  13-16 All R hand turn ptn in progressed places.</code>


====== SUE'S FANCY ======

**or
The Real Needham**

Three-couple longways set
<code>
A1 1-4 1st couple 1/2 R hand turn, cast to middle place and face down,
       couple 3 facing up. Couple 2 lead to top and face ptn.
   5-8 A11 back to back R. (Couples 1 & 3 on line)
A2 1-4 3rd couple 1/2 R hand turn, cast up to middle place and
       face up. Top couple (2nd) face down. Middle couple (1st)
       lead to bottom and face ptn.
   5-8 All back to back R. (Couples 2 & 3 on line)
B1 1-4 Two top couples (2nd & 3rd) 1/2 poussette to change places,
       men pushing to begin.
   5-8 Two bottom couples (2nd & 1st) 1/2 L hand star and turn
       single R, casting out of the star, while couple 3 (at top)
       set R & L and turn single R.
A2 1-4 To bottom couples (1st & 2nd) 1/2 poussette to change places,
       men pushing to begin.
   5-8 To top couples (3rd & 2nd) % I hand star and turn single R,
       casting out of the star, while couple 1 (at bottom) set R & I,
       and turn single R.
          All progressed and proper. Repeat twice.</code>
HB The movements in Al are repeated in A2, but starting from the
bottom of the set: similarly in B1/B2,


====== SKIP SPRIGHTLY ======


for Marjorie (Skip) Ellacott\\
Longways set
<code>
A1 1-4 1st couple R hand turn 1 1/ times.
   5-8 Swing nbr on line, ending facing across, women on men's B.
A2 1-8 Circle L; back with a L hand star.
B  1-3 Turning R out of the star, 1st couple moving down and 2nd UP,
       Gipsy R sh on line with next couple.
   4-6 Gipsy L sh on line with original nbr.
   7-8 All face ptn and set R & L.
   9-12 Swing ptn, ending facing up, women on men's RB.
   13-16 20 couple cast & lead, 1st lead & cast to these places.</code>