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CUPID'S GARDEN
Square for 4 couples
3
2 4
1
Part I
A1 Bar 1 1s and 3s lead forward and meet, while sides
face and fall back 3 steps
Bar 2 M1 leads W3 into 2nd place, while M3 leads W1
to 4th place; meanwhile M2 and W4 meet in 3rd
place and M4 and W2 meet in 1st place.
Bar 3 New pairs turn RH 1/2 way, changing places
Bar 4 Pairs at top and bottom lead forward to meet
while others face and fall back 3 steps
Bar 5 1st couple meet at bottom (3rd place), 3rd couple
at top, 2nd couple lead out to 4th place, 4s lead
out to 2nd place.
Bar 6 Partners turn each other RH 1/2 way, changing
places.
A2 1-6 Repeat movement from opposite places bringing
everyone home.
B1 1-2 Men advance to center and turn R to face partners
3-4 Partners change by the R and turn R to face.
5-8 (Duple time) Partners give R hands and lead out
and back a double to man's left (4s up, 2s down,
1s to RH wall, 3s to LH wall)
9-10 Women RH across 3/4, while men cast off left and
move round 1 place counter-clockwise
11-12 Partners give L hand and turn once round to new
places (1s in 4, 2s in 1, etc.)
B2 1-2 Women advance to center and turn L to face partners
3-4 Partners change by the L and turn L to face.
5-8 (Duple time) Partners give R hands and lead out
and back a double to man's left (3s up, 1s down,
4s to RH wall, 2s to LH wall)
9-10 Men LH across 3/4, while women cast off R and
move round 1 place clockwise
11-12 Partners give R hand and turn once round to
places
Part II
A1 & A2 As in Part I
B1 Bar 1 Parners give both hands and change places (clockwise)
Bar 2 Partners drop hands and continue turn to face next dancer
Bar 3 M1 and W4 give both hands and change places counter-clockwise
While M2 and W1, M2 with W2, M4 with W3
Bar 4 These pairs drop hands and continue counter clockwise to
next dancer.
??JN Where is everyone ??
5-8 (Duple time) M1 sides with W4, M2 & W4, M3 & W1, M4 & W2
9-10 M1 and W3 change places with their partners across the dance
passing by the right while rest turn single (?? to the R)
11-12 M2 and W4 change places with their partners across the dance
passing by the R, while others turn single.
B2 1-4 Repeat movement of B1 bars 1-4, bringing partners together in
opposite places, improper.
5-8 (duple time) Parners side.
9-10 1s and 3s change places across the dance while others turn
single
11-12 2s and 4s change places across the dance while others turn
single
Part III
A1 & A2 As in Part I
B1 1-2 Partners gypsy clockwise, (ending??) facing outward.
3-4 Partners gypsy counter-clockwise, facing inward.
5-8 (Duple time) Neighbours meet, arm R, and stand side
by side, facing centre.
9-10 M1 and W2 change places with W4 and M3 respectively,
passing by the R diagonally across the dance, while
others turn single.
11-12 Same manner, W1 and M4 change with M2 and W3 while
others turn single.
B2 1-2 M1 with W3, M2 with W4, M3 with W1, M4 with W2
gypsy counter-clockwise, facing outward.
3-4 Same pairs gypsy clockwise, facing in.
5-8 (Duple time) Men arm L with women they armed in B1.
9-12 As in B1 to places.
Notes from Colin Hume:
Cupid's Garden — Marjorie Heffer and William Porter, Maggot Pie, 1932
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yuj5Nj8-sfI
Here's one of my favourite Maggot Pie dances. They took an old tune and fitted a new dance to it brilliantly — without having any tradition of composing new dances to fall back on. The tune is mainly in three-time, but it switches to four-time in the
In the Grand Square introduction, try not to blur the edges — I don't want to see you just drifting vaguely about. Three steps to lead in or fall back and turn a quarter, three steps to lead out and face or move in to meet, three steps to turn half-way
In the first figure, on the other hand, there's really too much music. Six steps for the men to move in and face back; six steps to cross with your partner — you're in great danger of getting there too soon and waiting for the music. You can't even mo
You finish B1 with the left-hand turn ¾ into a square, and then the ladies move in and turn left to face. If you're not careful, they've already started moving in by the end of the turn. It takes a bit of skill, and attention to the music, but I certai
In the second figure there's no music to spare, and some people get disoriented. Three steps to turn half-way and stay facing, then three steps to turn single half-way and face the next. I know these days if we do a clockwise turn we expect to follow it
The third figure is just very disorienting, and it feels very odd to honour your partner whom you haven't seen for ages.
