As in “The Playford Ball”
Cecil Sharp, 1911
Square for 4 couples
Recordings: newcastle-bsbnd03.mp3.zip
newcastle-054-engech-07.mp3.zip
newcastle-ltbsa-02.mp3.zip
newcastle_reprise-054-engech-08.mp3.zip

Newcastle is a dance that somehow divides English Country dancers into novices and advanced. It appeared in the original 1651 edition of The Dancing Master. Although the town of Newcastle was an important source of coal for London, it is quite possible that this elegant dance was inspired by William, Duke of Newcastle, a royalist who remained in London and bent his interests towards the theatre during the interregnum.

In 2026 we became aware of a manuscript version of this dance in the British Library collection thanks to the website of Andrew Swayne (https://andrewswaine.uk). This version is discussed below.

In 1911 (with revision in 1922), Cecil Sharp reconstructed the original round dance for 8 into the square dance below.

   Part I
   A1 1-4 All take hands, forward a double and fall back a double.
      5-8 All set to partners, then to corners.
   A2 1-8 Repeat A1.
   B1 1-8 Partners arm right (1-2), men left hands-across once 
          around while women skip clockwise around outside of 
          set to places (3-8).
   B2 1-8 Repeat B1, arming left, women right hands-across while 
          men skip counter-clockwise. 
   Part II
   A1 1-8 Partners side once (1-4), slow set and honor right (5-6), 
          then pass each other by left shoulder to meet a new partner.
   A2 1-8 With new partner, repeat A1.
   B1 1-4 Present side couples lead to center (inside hands), change 
          hands and lead back, then make an arch.
      5-8 Present head couples cast off outside, go through nearest 
          arch and return to place, skipping.
   B2 1-8 Repeat B1, head couples leading in and out, side couples 
          casting off. 
   Part III
   A1 1-4 Present partners arm right.
      5-8 Present partners arm left once-and-a-half, then go forward
          to meet a new partner.
   A2 1-4 New partners arm right.
      5-8 New partners arm left once-and-a-half, ending in two lines 
          up and down the hall, women to their new partner's left.
   B1 1-4 Taking hands along the sides, all fall back a double (1-2) 
          and come forward a double (3-4).
      5-8 All turn single right (5-6), then pass through line changing 
          places with opposite and forming new lines across the hall. 
          {dancers on the inside of the old line go to the ends of 
          the new line.}
   B2 1-8 Repeat B1, passing through to original places in the set, 
          and honor partner.

See an animation of this dance.

Round for eight

   A1   16  Hands eight into center and fall back; partners set, corners set,
   A2   16  All that again.
   B1   16  Partners arm right (8); men left hands across to places as ladies
   B2   16  Partners arm left (8); ladies right hands across to places as men
            skip round (counter-clockwise) (8).
   A3   16  Partners side (8), set right and honor (4), go on to next (4).
   A4   16  Side with next (8), set right and honor (4), go on to next (4).
   B3    8  Original head couples (now at sides!) lead in a double, lead back
            and make arches facing out.
         8  Original side couples cast round, pass through arches, and skip back
   B4   16  Repeat (side couples make arches, head couples cast).
   A5   16  Arm right with THIS partner; arm left 1 1/2 and go on to next.
   A6   16  Repeat with next, fall into lines up and down room (close together;
            original heads at ends of line, lady left of current partner).
   B5    8  Join hands in lines, fall back, and forward a double.
         8  Turn single, cross over with opposite to form lines across room
            (Original sides at end of line).
   B6    8  Fall back in lines, come forward.
         8  Turn single and cross over with opposites to original places.