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Table of Contents
Newcastle
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
Overview
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 c. 1640 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.
Cecil Sharp reconstruction
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.
Newcastle -- recast for easier calling
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.
1640 Manuscript version
A 1640 manuscript version of Newcastle was called by Jamie Hargrove for our Ottawa group on October 16, 2026. See https://andrewswaine.uk/articles/stephens-transcript. An edited version of this is below.
On a personal level I find this version has a more natural rhythm and flow than the Sharp 1911/1922 reconstruction. — nashjc 2026/10/19 17:45