Nick Walden, our caller, has written these dance descriptions for the tune sets on Dancemusic. You can also read dance descriptions for the tunes on our second CD It's about time. You could try dancing to the CD, but it's a lot more fun coming to one of our ceilidhs!
Dance: Half hannekin
Set: Longways
A1: All balance 4 in line, half right and left through in 4's.
A2: The same back to place.
B1: 1st couples promenade or gallop down and back to place.
B2: All double cast left in 4's. 1st couples single cast to below 2nds, all swing.
Dance: The Quiet square
Set: Square
A1: Head couples half right and left through, half ladies chain.
A2: Side couples the same.
B1: All circle left half way round and swing corner (person on other side from partner).
B2: Promenade back to men's original position.
Dance: The Strip the willow square
Set: Square
A1: Head couples gallop across and back.
A2: Side couples the same.
B1 + 2: Head men strip the willow, i.e. right arm to each other, turn ¾ round, left arm turn with the woman
who was on the right at the start of the dance, ¾ turn with other man, then woman who was opposite at the
start, then other man, then woman who was on the left, other man, then partner*
C1: All circle left.
C2: All promenade back to place.
*2nd time through the dance, side men strip, then head women, then side women.
Dance: Clopton Bridge (John Chapman)
Set: 4 couples longways
A1: Top man and bottom woman right arm turn, left arm turn.
A2: Top woman and bottom man the same.
B1: Middle four right and left hand stars.
B2: Top couple step down to the bottom, all swing.
Dance: Boston Tea Party (Jean Butler)
Set: 5 couples longways
A1: Top couple gallop to the bottom, single handed arch up over the heads of the women.
A2: Top couple single handed arch down over the heads of the men, gallop back to the top.
B1+2:Top couple dip and dive to the bottom of the set, others cast out, under the arch made by the first
couple at the bottom, all swing.
Dance: The Ptomanian Embassy polka
Set: Square
A1: All circle left and right.
A2: Head couples 4 polka steps around each other, sides the same.
B1: 1st and 2nd couples, and 3rd and 4th couples right and left hand stars*
B2: All polka round the set.
* 2nd time through, 1st and 4th, 2nd and 3rd couples stars
3rd time through, windmill stars, i.e. arms round partners waist, women right hands in for a star as couples,
turn as a couple, and back with men's left hand star.
Dance: Tom Pate
Set: Double Sicilian Circle, ie lines of 4 (2 couples) facing each other round the room
A1: Lines of 4 forward and back twice.
A2: Middle 2 from each line right and left hand stars with opposite pair, while end people swing the person
opposite.
B1: All gallop with partner 8 steps round and back (in concentric circles!).
B2: All circle left half way round, swing partner, and face round the room in the same direction as at the
start of the dance, meeting a new line of 4.
Dance: Grand chain
Set: Square
A1: All join hands, into the middle and out twice.
A2: 1st couple single handed arch round the set, over everyone's heads.
B1: Grand Chain.
B2: All swing.
Dance: Rosza (Gordon Potts)
Set: Couples
A1: 2 hands with partner, sway to man's left and right, woman turns to left under man's arms,
chassé 4 left.
A2: chassé 4 right, sway left and right, woman turns back round.
B1: Right hands to each other, balance in and out, change places, woman twisting under man's arm, and the
same back to place
B2: Ballroom hold, chassé 4 to man's left and right, waltz 4.
Dance: Joe Taylor's hornpipe (Cathy Lesurf)
Set: Square
A1: 1st couple cross over the set, between 3rd couple, split up, weave back to place, and swing.
A2: Men right hand star. Halfway round grab opposite woman with left arm, take her to man's original
place and leave her there. Men back with left hand star, grab partner from opposite place, and take her
back.
B1: Grand chain.
B2: Head couples, and side couples (optionally) right and left through .
*2nd time through the dance, 2nd couple cross the set and weave back to place, side couples start right and
left through.
3rd time through, 3rd couple start, etc.
Dance: Bonny breast knot
Set: Longways
A1: 1st man reel of 3 with 2nd couple, while 1st woman dances around them.
A2: 1st woman reel of 3 with 2nd couple, while 1st man dances around them.
B1: 1st couple promenade down the set and back.
B2: 1st and 2nd couples poussette to change places, all swing.
Dance: Barley break
Set: 4 or 5 couples longways
A1: Join hands on each side of set, balance 4 and cross over.
A2: Same again, cross back.
B1&2: Top couple strip the willow to the bottom of the set.
C1&2: Top couple gallop back to the top, lead cast out, arches at the bottom, everyone else under the
arch, all swing.
If anyone has any problems with any of these dances, please email Nick Walden
Page created by Martin Nail. Last revised 18th January 2004