====== The Beauty in Tears, ======
Barry Moule 1972\\
Beauty in Tears, \\
Sicilian Circle\\
Al 1-4 1M turn 2W by the right hand;
5-8 1M turn 2W by the left hand.
A2 1-8 1W and 2M the same.
B1 1-4 Partners taking promenade hold, face opposite couple and in 4
slow chassee steps (RRLL), move round the opposite couple to
face a new couple;
5-8 Right hand star halfway with the new couple.
B2 1-4 Partners taking promenade hold, move in 4 slow chassee steps
(as above) around this couple (original couples are now facing
each other, but in the opposite line of direction);
5-8 Left hand star halfway to original place.
W 1-8 Waltz with partner around this couple once and a half to face a
new couple.
====== Compliments to the Whitfields ======
Dave Turner\\
Hugh O'Donnell and Miss MacMurray,\\
Triple minor, triple progression
Al 1-8 1s cross over and cast to second place (2s moving up), then two
hand turn once around, ending facing down.
A2 1-8 Symmetric whole heys for three, with the first couple passing inside
the third couple to start and the 2s turning in together at the top.
BI 1-8 1s right hand star with 3s below; then left hand star with the 2s above.
B2 1-4 1s half figure eight down through the 3s;
5-8 1s and 3s circle four to the left halfway; 1s and 3s cross the set
passing partners by the right shoulder; the 3s end on the proper
side of the dance while the 1s move down below the next 2s,
proper, to begin the dance again.
====== Contravention ======
Ted Sannella\\
Morgan Magan \\
Contra, triple minor proper
Al Actives and the next below go forward and back (8);
Same couples swing your own, ending facing up (8).
A2 Those couples separate, go single file down the outside below the
3s and come up the center (2s leading all the way) (16).
B1 Actives right hand star with the next below (the original 3s) (8);
Circle six to the left, halfway around (8);
B2 Actives left hand star with the couple now below (the original 2s) (8);
Circle six to the right, halfway around (8)
====== Hillingdon Heath ======
Charles Bolton \\
Morgan Magan, \\
Longways for 3 couples
Al 1-8 Partners lead up a double, wheel around (men moving
backwards and bringing their partners round to face down), lead
down a double and turn single down and away from partner.
A2 1-4 Partners right hand turn;
5-8 All join hands and circle left halfway to end facing partner. (The
set is now inverted and proper.)
B1 1-4 Partners back-to-back, with the following footwork:
beginning with the right foot, all step forward, R - L, passing
partner by right shoulder, chassé R one step, and close L foot; then
fall back R - L, passing partner backwards by the left shoulder,
chasse R one more step and close L. (The lines are now staggered, thus:
TOP 3W 2W 1W
3M 2M 1M
5-8 The pairs now in the middle lead their new partners away
(up or down the set) and turn single away while the 3W and 1M cast
to the middle (1M moving up, 3W down), acknowledge each other,
and turn single up the set.
B2 1-2 All move forward to new partner by stepping right and close,
step left and close,
3-4 All slow set to right and left;
5-6 All turn single right back to place;
7-8 New partners two-hand turn.
====== Loftus Jones ======
Barbara Luke\\
Loftus Jones, AABB\\
Square for 4 couples\\
Al 1-2 Joining hands, all into the center a double;
3-4 Fall back to place and partners face.
5-7 Partners right shoulder gypsy and end facing center again (6 steps);
8-9 Neighbors set to each other (men to the left and women to the
right) and join inside hand; then, keeping neighbor’s hand,
partners set (men to the right and to the women left) while
joining hands.
10-14 All circle to the right halfway round the set, drawing into
the center on bar 13 as joined hands are raised up; then release
hands high and open on bar 14.
15-17 All turn single to the right while moving out to open the
whole circle wide (all dancers have progressed halfway round the set).
A2 1-17 As Al, to original positions.
B1 1-8 Elegant Grand Chain, thus:
1-2 Corners give right hand, then left hand for a
crossed-hands turn halfway, turning clockwise into each
other’s place (the giving of hands occurs as the dancers move);
3-4 Release the joined hands and turn to the next
dancer (just behind you) and give left hand, then right
hand for another crossed-hands turn halfway, turning
counterclockwise to change places;
5-8 Repeat bars 1-4 to meet partner on the opposite
side of the set. (Head and foot couples are in place for
the next figure. The two side couples, on the last crossed-
hands half turn, move into the center to form a
longways set, the men Stepping to their right into the
center and drawing their partners counterclockwise in a
three-quarter turn to face the head of foot couple, side
women passing right shoulders as they wheel into place.
Partner’s hands are still Joined, now in “skaters’
position” (side-b y-side).)
9-20 Double Hey for four couples, thus: moving as a couple,
pass to the right of the facing couple to begin weaving a complet
hey for four. As the side couples pass each other to the left for the
second time in the center, they move out to the side positions of the
square set. All join hands. :
21-22 All balance in and out as joined hands swing forward and back.
23-24 Partners turn single towards each other. (All are now
opposite their original positions.)
B2 1-24 Repeat B1, bringing all dancers pack to place.
Barbara fell in love with the tune several years ago and felt that it really should have a
dance. “Its drive and phrasing make it tumble along like water over a rocky stream
bed,” she writes. “I worked out the figures to express a nice feeling of ‘meeting and
greeting.” Barbara also wanted the dance to be accessible to beginners as well as to
advanced dancers.
====== Morgan Magan ======
Dudley Laufman\\
Morgan Magan, \\
Contra, improper
Al 1-8 In long lines, forward and back
1-8 Circle left once around
A2 1-4 Facing up and down the hall, pass right shoulders with neighbor and
1-12 All swing partner in progressed place
B1 1-8 Actives down the center (not far), turn alone
1-8 Return, and cast off with original neighbor
B2 1-8 Right hand star
1-8 Left hand star
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbx4Xdpm3ec
====== 9 for The Nine Bright Shiners ======
Fried de Metz Herman\\
Miss Murphey, AABB\\
Duple minor, 1s improper or \\
Sicilian Circle, 1M on inside\\
Al 1-4 Partners right shoulder back-to-back, ending with a quick
half-turn single to the right on the spot, so all face out of the set;
5-8 Partners right shoulder face-en-face, thus:
5-6 All fall back across the set, passing partner by
right shoulder, veering slightly to the right as soon as possible;
7-8 All move forward back to places, passing partner
by left shoulder and all ending facing out.
A2 1-2 Neighbors join inside hands to lead out, taking 2 steps (1 per bar);
3-4 Neighbors change places, women going forward, men
backward, inside hands still joined;
5-8 Partners move back into the set for a two-hand turn once
around. End facing (same) neighbors.
B1 1-4 Neighbors right-shoulder side-by-side, forming lines of 4
across the set, fall back;
5-8 Partners left-shoulder side-by-side into a long line up and
down the hall, fall back.
B2 1-8 Partners join hands and full poussette around the other
couple, beginning with men moving forward.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrQDbFtTdXI&t=79s
====== O’Flinn ======
Ken Sheffield \\
O’Flinn, AABB \\
longways, duple minor
A1 1-2 First corners turn by the right hand halfway around to change places;
3-4 (Original) neighbors turn with left hand to change places across the set.
5-6 Second corners (from first corner positions) turn by the right hand
halfway to change places;
7-8 Partners turn by the left hand halfway across the set to change places.
(The set is now progressed and improper.)
A2 1-2 First corners turn by the right hand halfway around to change places;
3-4 Neighbors turn with left hand to change places across the set.
5-6 Second corners (from first corner positions) turn by the right hand
halfway to change places;
7-8 Partners turn by the left hand halfway to change places. (All are
now in original positions, proper.)
B1 1-4 Partners back to back;
5-8 Neighbors back to back;
9-12 Partners set and turn single.
B2 1-4 Right hand star;
5-8 Left hand star;
9-12 All set; then the 1s cast as the 2s move up.
====== Play to Win ======
Antony Heywood\\
Carolan’s Welcome, AABC\\
Five couples; a square numbered clockwise \\
With 5s in middle, man facing up, woman down
Al 1-8 Heads facing partners to begin, couples 1, 2, 3, and 4 dance a
grand square, while the 5s back away up and down, turn a quarter
and dance backwards to the 2s’ wall, turn a quarter to face each
other and come forward to meet, lead in and 5M turns in front of
partner to face her (2 bars for each side of the square).
A2 1-8 Reverse grand square: while 5s back away to the sides,
turn a quarter to face up and go backwards down to the bottom,
turn a quarter to face each other and meet, lead back to the middle
facing 1s.
B 1-4 5s and 1s left hand star while 3s left hand turn and side
couples right hand turn.
5-8 5s and 3s right hand star while 1s right hand turn and side
couples left hand turn. (5s end the star facing the first couple
position.)
C 1-8 Cloverleaf promenade, thus:
1-2 5s and 1s half promenade to change places:
3-4 1s and 2s half promenade;
5-6 2s and 3s half promenade;
7-8 3s and 4s half promenade; the 4s face in the
middle, with the man facing up and the woman facing
down, ready to be the new 5s.
Repeat 4 more times.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Bq6KswL32g\\
Antony wrote this dance for Gerrie de Win and subtitled it “The Lovely Lass from Leende.”
====== Powe House ======
Dave Turner\\
Nancy Vernon, AA + AABB x 3 \\
Square set
Introduction
Al 1-4 Partners facing, step right and honor, step left and honor;
5-8 Partners two-hand turn.
A2 1-8 Repeat with corner.
Part One
Al 1-4 Partners facing, set right and left, turn single right;
5-8 All eight circle left halfway.
A2 1-4 Corners facing, set left and right, turn single left;
5-8 All eight circle right halfway.
B1 1-2 Head couples move in, turn individually to their right, and form
a back ring while side couples take inside hands and lead out.
3-4 All set right and left.
5-8 Head couples move the back ring once round and return to
places, while side couples right shoulder gypsy (4 steps) and
return to places.
9-12 Partners two-hand turn.
B2 1-12 Repeat B1 with side couples forming the back ring and head
couples leading out.
Part Two
Al 1-4 Partners facing, set right and left, turn single right;
5-8 Partners side-by-side by the right shoulder, and cast left to face corner.
A2 1-4 Corners facing, set left and right, turn single left;
5-8 Corners side-by-side by the left shoulder, cast right to place.
B1 1-8 Women right hand star and left hands back to place, while
men fall back four steps, set right and left, turn single right and
return to place.
9-12 Partners two-hand turn.
B2 1-12 Repeat B1 with the men forming the stars and the women falling back.
Part Three
Al 1-4 Partners facing, set right and left, turn single right;
5-8 Partners arm right, ending facing corners.
A2 1-4 Corners facing, set left and right, turn single left;
5-8 Corners arm left, ending facing partners.
B1 1-8 Grand chain all the way (two steps per change), ending
with the women facing their partners and with their backs to center
in a cross formation.
9-12 Partners two-hand turn, again ending in a cross formation.
B2 1-8 Two simultaneous heys for four, in the cross formation,
partners giving right hands to begin, (dancers in the center dancing
left-hand stars halfway).
9-12 Partners two-hand turn and honor, remaining in the cross formation.
Dave wrote this dance in honor of the Stockton Club’s 1989 weekend in the Lake District;
Powe House is in Portinscale. Nancy Vernon (p. 96) is another tune that O'Neill attributed to
Carolan but that O'Sullivan believes is not his.
====== Quadriga ======
Dave Turner\\
Planxty O'Reilly, AABB \\
Two couple set, 2s with their backs to the Presence \\
Part One
Al 1-4 partners joining inside hands, forward a double and back.
5-8 Opposites gypsy (1M and 2W counterclockwise, 1W and
2M clockwise) to face partner (2s should complete the movement).
9-12 Set and turn single (men set right and left and turn right,
women do the opposite).
A2 1-4 Opposites joining inside hands, forward a double to
partner and back.
5-8 Partners gypsy (1s clockwise, 2s counter clockwise) to face
opposite.
9-12 Set and turn single (men set left and right and turn to the left,
women do the opposite).
BI 1-4 Opposites mirror back-to-back, 1s passing inside to
begin, and moving into ....
5-12 Double figure eight, 1s crossing, 2s casting.
B2 1-4 Partners mirror back-to-back, 1M and 2W passing
inside to begin, and moving into ....
5-12 Double figure eight, 1M and 2W crossing, 2M and 1W casting.
Part Two
Al 1-4 Opposites side-by-siding, right shoulder;
5-8 Opposites gypsy clockwise to end facing partner.
9-12 All set left and right and turn single left.
A2 1-4 Partners side-by-siding, left shoulder;
5-8 Partners gypsy counterclockwise to end facing opposite.
9-12 All set right and left and turn single right.
B1 1-4 Men go forward a double to meet and fall back, while women
fall back a double and come forward.
5-12 Men dance a whole figure eight around the women (men
pass right shoulders with each other and go counter clockwise
around opposite), while the women wait until the men have crossed
and then change places with each other, wait until the men cross
again and then return to places.
B2 1-12 Repeat B1 with the women doing as the men did before
and vice versa,
Part Three
Al 1-4 Opposites arm right.
5-8 All four circle left halfway without taking hands and face
the center of the set.
9-12 All set left and right and turn single left.
A2 1-4 Partners arm left.
5-8 All four circle right halfway without taking hands and face
the center of the set.
9-12 All set right and left and turn single right.
B1 1-4 Men right hand turn three-quarters to end facing each
other in the center of a line of four across the room, while the
women move to their right to stand behind their partners.
5-12 Whole hey for four giving hands, the two men starting with the
left hand, making the last right hand change with partner into a full
turn to lead into....
B2 1-4 Women left hand turn three-quarters to end facing each
other in the center of a line of four up and down the room while the
men loop to their right to stand behind their partners.
5-12 Whole hey for four giving hands, the two women starting by
giving right hands, and all ending in original places.
Finale
Al 1-4 Partners join inside hands, forward a double and back.
5-8 Opposites gypsy as in part 1 but finish in a line of four
facing the presence, 2s in the center.
9-12 Line move forward a double, step to the right and honor
the presence.
Mr. O'Reilly or Planxty O'Reilly is another tune attributed to Carolan but probably
by an even more famous composer—Anonymous.
====== Rational Reel ======
Gary Roodman \\
George Brabazon AABB\\
Contra, quadruple minor Calculated Figures\\
partners side by side, women on the right
Note: The top two couples in each minor set are the actives They will move down the set
together. Similarly, the bottom two couples are the inactives, and will move up the set
together
TOP
1M 3W
1W 3M
----------------------------------------------
2M 4W
2W 4M
Al Men allemande left with the woman on the left (8).
(At the ends of the set, turn the woman across.)
Partners swing (8).
A2 In fours, men form a left hand star and, holding on to their partners, dance a
star promenade. When back to place, turn out of the star as a couple, women
moving forward (16).
B1 Women grand chain over and back across the four couple set (16).
B2 1-2 Couples at the first corner positions of the four couple sets
pass through. (The first corners are the active couple in the “men’s”
line and the inactive couple in the “women’s” line, viz., the 1s and
the 4s as per the above diagram.)
3-4 Same couples courtesy turn while the couples at the
second corners of the set pass through and immediately...
5-8 All couples half promenade across the set in the usual way
(that is, with the couple that is the same type (active or inactive)
that you are).
Gary notes that the sub-title of this dance is the Star-Crossed Reel. He also adds that while
waiting out at the top and bottom of the set, the pairs of couples can continue dancing all
the figures in their two-couple sets, but they should end back in their own lines—don’t
cross over!
====== Susan ======
Tom Amesse\\
The Fairy Queen, \\
Longways for 3 couples.
A 1-8 All dance a crossover mirror hey so that all end improper (that is,,
I's initiate the hey by crossing to the other side, and as each couple
reaches the top, they cross over as well).
9-12 1s cast to the foot of the set while 3s cross up;
13-16 3s cast, 1s cross up, ending with the 1s facing down and
the 2s facing up, thus:
TOP
1M 1W
2W 2M
3M 3w
B 1-4 1s join right hands with the 2s: balance in and out and
turn the women under counterclockwise to change places;
5-8 1s and 2s face partner and join right hands: balance in and
out and turn the woman under counterclockwise to change places;
9-12 1s facing down and 3s facing up: join right hands and
balance in and out and turn the woman under counter-clockwise to
change places;
13-16 1s only (now at the foot of the set) face partner, join right
hands and balance in and out and turn the woman under
counterclockwise to change places. (All are now proper, in
2-3-1 order.)
A 1-8 2s (now at the top) cross by the left shoulder and cast to
3rd place, face up and take inside hands (4 waltz steps) while 3s
lead up, cross passing left shoulder and cast to either side of the
2s, facing up (Ist 6 measures) while 1s lead up, cross passing left
shoulder and cast to either side of the 3s, facing up (8 measures)
so that the line of six forms thus:
TOP
IW 3W 2W 2M 3M IM
9-10 Up a double, taking hands;
11-12 2s fall back a double, drawing 3s and 2s to reform set (all
ending improper);
13-16 Partners gypsy right shoulder.
B 1-4 Hands six to the left halfway;
5-8 1s (at the foot of the set) waltz up the center;
9-12 Is cast to foot of set;
13-14 Partners set: all moving up the set, then down;
15-16 All turn single up (men left, women right).
Repeat twice more to places,
====== The Tuesday Duple Minor ======
Fried de Metz Herman\\
Kean O'Hara, AABB \\
Longways, duple minor, 1s improper
Al 1-2 Hands four to the left, halfway;
3-4 Neighbors fall back, with inside hands joined, taking two
setting steps;
5-8 Gates: women moving forward as the men fall back.
A2 1-2 Hands four to the left, halfway;
3-4 Neighbors fall back, with inside hands joined, taking two
setting steps; |
5-8 Gates: men moving forward as the women fall back.
B1 1-2 Men (in second corner positions) cross passing left shoulder and
looping around to face;
3-4 Women (in first corner positions) cross passing right shoulder
and looping around to face;
5-6 Men cross back by right shoulder;
7-8 Women cross back by left shoulder. (These 8 bars are
equivalent to the men dancing a left shoulder gypsy and the women
a right shoulder gypsy. Use up all the time and space so that no
one stops moving.)
B2 1-2 All four set forward on the diagonal;
3-4 All turn single to the right back to place, moving into
5-6 2 changes of right and left, partners starting by right
shoulder, no hands (using one waltz Step per change);
7-8 Partners two-hand turn halfway with 2 waltz steps.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dccslEnkeo\\
Teaching Tip: Fried specializes in dances that have beautiful, flowing movements. She
notes that the two-hand turn at the end of B2 should “melt” into the circle four at the
beginning of the next round of the dance.
====== 12 for the Twelve Apostles ======
Fried de Metz Herman\\
Isabella Burke, AAB \\
Duple minor, 1s improper \\
or Sicilian Circle, 1M on the inside\\
Al 1-4 Is cast, go below and dance in to end between the 2s, facing up.
5-6 Line of 4, hands joined, lead up;
7-8 Line of 4 fall back, to end facing up.
A2 1-4 1s cast down and lead up back into first place while 2s lead up
behind 1s and cast back into second place;
5-6 Without taking hands, circle 4 clockwise halfway around;
7-8 Partners change places by the right shoulder (all are progressed).
B1 1-4 2s, with both hands joined, chasse through the same 1s with
2 chassé steps, cast back to place with 2 waltz steps;
5-8 Is do the same, going up through the same 2s, and ending
ready to flow into the Al movements.
Teaching Tip: In the circle four with no hands, dancers must use their eyes to maintain the
contact of the circle. Fried also notes that there is a nice swirl about the transition between
the last two bars of the B music where the 1s are casting down, and the beginning of the
next round of the dance, where they cast again.
====== Two Score and Ten ======
Dave Turner\\
Lady Blayney\\
Longways for 4 couples. 2s and 4s Improper
Past One
A 1-4 With top couples facing up. bottom couple facing down, and
middies facing out, all join inside hands (middles with neighbor)
and lead out a double turn and lead back
5-8 Joining hands in two circles of four set right and left,
circle halfway
9-12 Top two couples face up, bottom two couples face down, and
all join inside hand and lead forward a double, turn and lead back.
13-16 Middles join hands in a circle of four, set and circle left
halfway while ends set to partner and two hand turn halfway, to
end thus:
TOP
2W 2M
4W 4M
1M 1W
3M 3W
BI 1-4 In each group of fours the two men lead through the
women and cast back.
5-12 As the two men complete the cast they pass right shoulder
for a hey for four on the diagonal with the other two men.
B2 1-4 Women lead through men and cast back.
5-12 Women hey for four on the diagonal, passing right shoulder to begin.
c 1-4 Joining hands up and down the line, lines fall back a
double and come forward.
5-8 Middle couples cast to nearer end and lead back to places, while
end couples half figure eight.
9-12 Partners two-hand turn.
Part Two
A 1-4 Partners side by siding by the right shoulder;
5-8 Joining hands in two circles of four, set set right and left and
circle left halfway.
9-12 Partners side-by-siding by the left shoulders
13-16 Middles join hands in a circle of four, set and circle left
halfway while ends set to partner and two-hand turn halfway, to
end as at the end of Al in Part 1.
B1, B2 and C, as in Part 1
Part Three ;
A 1-4 Partners arm right;
5-8 Joining hands in two circles of four, set right and left and
circle left halfway.
9-12 Partners arm left;
13-16 Middles join hands in a circle of four, set and circle left
halfway while ends set to partner and two-hand turn halfway, to
end as at the end of Al in Part 1.
B1, B2 and C, as in Part 1
Part four As Part 1.
Dave wrote this dance in 2002 in celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Stockton Folk
Dance Group. The tune, Lady Blayney,