Our aim with English Country Dancing is to provide a wholesome evening of edifying recreation for all to enjoy.
Anyone wanting to dance is encouraged to participate, though younger dancers may be asked to sit out for a dance with more complicated steps. Several of the dances swap around through multiple parters, so be prepared to dance with everyone else in the room.
Dress: some folk enjoy historical costumes and that's great, but here are our modesty guidelines:
Anyone wanting to dance is encouraged to participate, though younger dancers may be asked to sit out for a dance with more complicated steps. Several of the dances swap around through multiple parters, so be prepared to dance with everyone else in the room.
Dress: some folk enjoy historical costumes and that's great, but here are our modesty guidelines:
- Men: tidy pants (rather than shorts) and shirt buttoned up and tucked in.
- Women: skirts/dresses knee length or longer. Respectful necklines - (No bare backs or clevage showing.)
Instructions for some of our favourite dances:
Juice of Barley
Playford 1690
Longways Partners back to back. Partners 2 hand turn. Men cross between women, 1st man leading, and cast back into each other's places all clap once, join hands in square, turn HALF WAY round. (Video shown a full turn) Women cross between men, 1st woman leading, and cast back into each other's places all clap once, join hands in square, turn HALF WAY round. (Video shown a full turn) Repeat in new square progressing through the line. |
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Selenger's Round - Circle Mixer
In a large circle - Men with their Left shoulder to centre of circle, Women at Men's Right hand.
A Counts 1-4 Holing inside hands, 4 steps forward 5-8 all turn 180 degrees, change hands, 4 steps backward 9-16 repeat counts 1-8 B 1-4 Step towards partner then away 5-8 Men swing women inwards to other hand 9-12 Step together then apart 13-16 Men swing women under his arm, across his back to the outside (woman turning clockwise) to go to a new partner and start again. Sometimes called the Carolina Promenade or the Gay Gordon's Dance. We use the tune Sellenger's Round. |
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Duke of Kent's Waltz
Cahusac 1801
Longways in sets of four A Bars 1-4 Right hand Star 5-8 Left hand Star 9-12First couple join hands and sashay down centre and back to their place 13-16 First couple cast down outside while Second couple move up to space (Progression) B 1-2 All take partner's Right hand, balance forward and back 3-4 Change place with partner, lady turning clockwise under joined hands 5-8 Repeat balance and change with Left hand 9-12 Right hand turn with neighbor 13-16 Left hand turn with Partner Start over in New Square |
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Virginia Reel
Longways for as many as will
Bars 1-2 Partners Right arm turn 3-4 Partners Left arm turn 5-6 Partners Two hand Turn 7-8 Partners pass Right shoulder Back to Back 9-10 Partners pass Left shoulder Back to Back - Top couple swing R arm with each other then L arm with neighbor in opposite line. Repeat down the line. - Top couple skip back up centre, turn outwards at the top and lead their respective line down the outside to the bottom of the dance. - Top couple make an arch for other couples to go through. 'Top couple' are now the bottom couple. |
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Comical Fellow
Thompson 1776
Longways A1 1st Corners set forward, fall back and then turn two hands A2 2nd corners the same B1 1-4 1st Couple lead down middle, dance back, then cast down as 2nd Couple moves up 9-12 all clap 4 times and turn two hands (partner) half way B2 1-8 Circle Left, Circle R 9-12 all clap 4 times and turn two hands (partner) halfway Start again in NEW SQUARE |
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Hole In The Wall
Playford 1698
Longways
1-4 1st Couple cast down, lead up to place
5-8 2nd Couple cast up, lead down to place
9-10 1st Corners change places
11-12 2nd Corners change places
13-14 Take hands four in square, circle Left halfway around
15-16 1st Couple cast to 2nd place while 2nd Couple leads up to emptied space
Repeat in new square
Longways
1-4 1st Couple cast down, lead up to place
5-8 2nd Couple cast up, lead down to place
9-10 1st Corners change places
11-12 2nd Corners change places
13-14 Take hands four in square, circle Left halfway around
15-16 1st Couple cast to 2nd place while 2nd Couple leads up to emptied space
Repeat in new square
Indian Queen
Playford 1701
Longways in sets of four A Bar 1-2 First corners set and back to place 3-4 First corners Two hand turn and back to place 5-8 Second corners repeat B 1-2 Right hand Star 3-4 Left hand Star 5-6 Partners Back to Back 7-8 Three changes of Circular Hey (change Right hand with partner, Left with Neighbour, Right with Partner) to progress. Start over in new square |
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Mr Beveridge's MaggotA1 1st couple cross, acknowledge each other;
back to back with 2s on the sides A2 1st couple turn single, right hand turn with 2s on the sides, left hand turn each other half way to get home B 1st couple cross and cast down around the 2s to end in the center of a line of four facing up WHILE 2s back to back and fall back onto the ends of the line of four Lead up 3 steps, then fall back; 1s cross leading up then down around 2s to cast into progressed places |
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Farewell Marion - Circle Mixer
In a large circle - Women facing outwards, men on outside of circle facing partner, hold two hands.
A 1-2 two sashay steps sideways clockwise (men L, women R)
3-4 two steps back to place
5-6 partners step together and apart
7-8 two hand turn halfway to swap places
AA as for part A but counterclockwise (men L, women R)
B (partners still facing but drop hands)
1-2 Right shoulder siding (step shoulder-to-shoulder, fwd and back)
3-4 Left shoulder siding
5-8 partners two hand turn all the way around
BB 1-4 Right shoulder do se do (back-to-back)
5-8 look to right diagonal (to a new partner) and two hand spin
(End facing new partner you have just finished spinning, men back on outside of circle, women inside)
A 1-2 two sashay steps sideways clockwise (men L, women R)
3-4 two steps back to place
5-6 partners step together and apart
7-8 two hand turn halfway to swap places
AA as for part A but counterclockwise (men L, women R)
B (partners still facing but drop hands)
1-2 Right shoulder siding (step shoulder-to-shoulder, fwd and back)
3-4 Left shoulder siding
5-8 partners two hand turn all the way around
BB 1-4 Right shoulder do se do (back-to-back)
5-8 look to right diagonal (to a new partner) and two hand spin
(End facing new partner you have just finished spinning, men back on outside of circle, women inside)
farewell_marion_again.mp3 | |
File Size: | 6338 kb |
File Type: | mp3 |
This may be a helpful list of short clips showing individual parts/movements from the dances.
Some other favourite tunes:
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