COBALT

BAG THE BISON

The key move comes from Running Set

Longways Duple Improper

32 bar American reels (RECKLESS RAMBLERS: judge)

A1 Circle left & right

A2 Shoot the Buffalo*; Balance the ring twice

B1 Do-si-do neighbour, then partner

B2 Swing & progress

*1st couple go under arch of 2nd couple, then 1st man leads around 2nd man until all back to place. NB nobody lets go hands during this move.

CAJOLERY

The key move comes from Running Set

Square set

48 bar jig (AARDVARK CEILIDH BAND: blarney pilgrim)

https://youtu.be/UNYTJhDaT2o

A1 1st couple move to centre & face & set, then gypsy ¾ & step forward to nearer side couple

A2 In 3s (with the side couples) circle left WHILE rotating anti-clockwise around the other threesome

B1 1s (still facing nearer side couple) dance between that couple & down to opposite (head) position & star through WHILE other head couple cross the set and california twirl; these couples circle left halfway & fall back to original places.

B2 All 8 circle left & right

C1 All in to centre & back twice (3 steps in, pause, 4 steps back)

C2 All balance & swing with partner

All couples lead in turn (when a side couple leads, circle the heads etc)

CASTLE POINT

A set of dancers meet monthly for Running Set at a venue in Castle Point

Longways – 4 couples (progression: 1342)

32 bar reel (STOMP: mockfjard)

https://youtu.be/em8gDbp2oJs

A1 Snake-Figure-Eights*

A2 --- complete this move; then top 4 dancers right-hand star WHILE bottom 4 dancers left-hand star

B1 Moving in same direction as in star, orbit (in same fours) halfway; then couples now in middle places dance half-figure-eight across (men cross between ladies to start)

B2 All set to partner & cross; Long lines fall back, then forward a double

* Top 4 dancers led by 2nd lady & bottom 4 dancers led by 3rd lady follow path of figure eight, crossing between dancers from other foursome. 2nd & 3rd lady start with 3rd lady crossing up & 2nd lady crossing down. In all crossings, dancer coming up the room has precedence.

A variation on “Devil’s Dream” for 45th anniversary of Chelmsford Folk Dancers

Longways Duple Improper

32 bar American reels (AIRDANCE: ronde des voyageurs; reel de montebello)

https://youtu.be/uSPs9bIQaJg

A1 1st couple half-figure-eight through 2nd couple, then handy-hand turn same-sex neighbour 1½ (i.e. men right-hand & ladies left-hand)

A2 1st couple half-figure-eight through 2nd couple, start by moving UP outside; then handy-hand turn opposite-sex neighbour 1¾

B1 1st couple lead down centre WHILE 2nd couple up outside, all turn individually; 1st couple lead up WHILE 2nd couple down outside, handy-turn neighbour ½

B2 Repeat but 1st couple start down outside & 2nd couple up the centre.

The key figure is a variation on the Western Square “chain the glade”

Square set

48 bar American reel (FOUR LEAF CLOVER: arkansas traveller)

A1 Gypsy Corner; Left-hand turn Partner

A2 Head ladies pass giving right hand & turn opposite man ½ with left hand

WHILE sides gypsy left; then head men right arm turn 1½ WHILE head ladies right-hand turn nearer side man

B1 All left-hand turn Partner; then Side ladies lead the figure (as in A2)

B2 …complete the figure (ending with left-hand turn Partner)

C1 Four ladies star chain ¾ to original Corner (progression); Promenade to man’s home

C2 Balance & swing

Sequence: Heads twice; Sides twice

OVERUNDEROVERUNDEROVERUNDER

Variation on “Stepping Stone Rag” (from Thomas Green)

Longways – 3 couples (progression: 132) 32 bar polka

32 bar polka ¯miller&mcquillen: butterfly whirl

A1/2 Top couple arch over 2nd couple then pop under their arch (backwards) then over again; then continue with bottom couple (going under their arch to begin) i.e. over-under-over-under-over-under; then cast back to top and all do-si-do partners

B1 Top couple poussette to bottom

B2 All swing

PAVILION WALTZ

Intended as a gender-neutral dance, especially for young children (who often wish to dance with their ‘bestest friend’). Written for Anne Skinner’s music students at Engayne School, Upminster, Essex. Anne wrote the tune.

Couple dance

32 bar waltz (ANNE SKINNER: pavilion waltz)

https://youtu.be/DbKaQER1KGI

A1 With two-hand hold, slide twice along, twice back, once along, once back & turn single away;

A2 Repeat starting in other direction

B1 Holding right hands, balance forward & back, then roll past to change places (in the roll, turn anti-clockwise); Left-hand turn

B2 Repeat B1

PRITTLEWELL SQUARE

The key figure comes from Running Set

Square set

32 bar jig (GEIRGE RENNIE: ian powrie's farewell to auchterarder)

A1 All promenade; when home, 1st couple move to centre & turn away from partner to face nearer side couple

A2 1st couple in 3s (with the side couples) circle left WHILE rotating anti-clockwise around the other threesome

B1 All do-si-do partner and swing tom home places

B2 All circle left & right

All couples lead in turn (when a side couple leads, circle the heads etc)

SILENIUM POLKA

The key figure comes from Running Set

Square set

32 bar reel (BUSHWACKERS: waves of bondi)

A1 Facing Partrner: Clap own hands, right with partner, own hands, left with partner, own hands, slap right foor, own hands, slap left foot; 1st couple lead in to centre & acknowledge & turn to face nearer side couple WHILE other couples repeat clapping sequence

A2 1st couple in 3s (with the side couples) circle left WHILE rotating anti-clockwise around the other threesome

B1 All do-si-do partner and swing

B2 All promenade

All couples lead in turn (when a side couple leads, circle the heads etc)

SUZI RUMBA

For her first dance at her wedding, Suzi asked me to choreograph a simple routine to Bob Dylan’s “The Man In Me”. The rhythm is a rumba.

Couple dance Rumba

The moves are:

Basic
New York
Spot Turn
Underarm turn
Hand to hand
Fencing
Sweetheart
Spiral
Finale

WAVE REACTION

This includes a variation on a Western Dance figure called “Chain Reaction”

It’s a difficult figure.

Square set

48 bar reel (STEAMCHICKEN: woodland frolics)

A1 Sides pass the ocean and balance the wave; then “Chain Reaction”*

A2 ---; balance the wave, mid trailers trade

B1 Swing (with original opposites); promenade to man’s home

B2 4 ladies star-chain ¾ (progression); all in to centre & back

C1 (new) Corner allemande left; right-hand to (new) partner for Grand Chain

C2 continue Grand Chain; swing

<sequence> Sides twice; Heads twice

*CHAIN REACTION: very centres pass through with facing dancer & hinge with neighbour WHILE ends of the wave orbit ¼ outside; middle 4 star right ¼ while outsides trade; those who now meet cast off ¾ (i.e. gypsy left ¾) to parallel waves WHILE others move forward to the ends of those waves

WIDFORD WANDERER

Chelmsford Folk Dancers meet at Widford Village Hall

Longways Duple Proper

32 bar jigs (AARDVARK: morning after; house calliope; donegal lassies)

A1 1st couple half-figure-eight through 2nd couple into line of 4 between 2nd couple; then lead down, and turn as couples

A2 Line leads up, bend the line; 1st couple half-figure-eight through 2nd couple

B1 1st corners set & cross; 2nd corners set & cross

B2 Long lines forward & back; Swing partner