Dancing Betty
Brooke Friendly and Chris Sackett 2007
Duple Minor Longways, Double Progression
Recording: dancing_betty_fast_-050-imp206.mp3.zip
dancing_betty_slow_-050-imp205.mp3.zip
Al 1-4 Partners lead up a double and back 5-8 Partners set and 2-hand turn halfway A2 1-4 Partners lead down a double and back 5-8 Partners set and 2-hand turn halfway to face neighbor (keeping inside hands) BI Zig Zag: 1-4 Partners, as a couple, change with neighbors to face next couple by moving forward to the left and back to the tight (and acknowledge new. neighbor) 5-8 Repeat with next neighbors moving forward to the sight and back to the left to face a new couple B2 1-8 1s full figure 8 crossing down between new neighbors
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGNMF3uRKNI
Music: A Health to Betty from Playford 1651 with added B phrase by Chris Sackett
Teaching Points:
Al and 2: As you face partner to set you may keep the inside hands you led up or down with
(especially at slower tempo).
Zig Zag at top and bottom of longways: After the first zig zag you end facing out the top or
bottom; turn individually toward partner to face back in (bars 5-6) and wait for the others to
complete their second zig zag (bars 7-8). If you are at the top, you may then do the figure of 8
We wrote this for Betty Shotliff, longtime member of Heather and Rose Country Dancers, on the
occasion of her 90“ birthday. She danced it — and many other dances that evening. We taught it
that evening at the slower tempo and keeping hands while setting; it works equally well at a
faster tempo.