Below are a list of Dances. By clicking on a particular
dance, you will get a MSWord
document file that you can read or download. Most dances
are based on John Playford's
The English Dancing Master. The book was written in
1651 and has many interpretations. The interpretations I have below
are from Newcastle English Country Dancers and are based on the teachings
of Richard Chase, a student of Cecil Sharp who collected and cataloged many
English Country dances and Morris dances at the turn of the century.
Richard Chase visited America on many occasions and one of those visits took
him to Southern California where he taught many fine folk
that would eventually form a dance ensemble.
Some words for those who have never danced English Country
Dance:
(Those of you who have may skip this)
A LONGWISE set is when all the dancers are
lined up abreast with the men on one side and the women on the other.
A SQUARE set is when you have 4 couples making
a square all facing the center.
A CIRCLE dance is a large circle of as many
dancers as wish to dance as long as everyone has a partner.
All dances start with an "A FOR NAUGHT". Which is the A music played once through to give the dancers a tempo and a good clue as to what dance they are doing. (starts up their muscle memory)
Men will always have the woman's left hand in his right
hand.
Always start on the RIGHT foot unless told not
to. (rare)
A DOUBLE is four steps forward or back.
A SINGLE is turning once around in place in
four beats.
A SET is a shifting of weight starting by stepping
out with your right foot (2 beats),
changing weight to your left foot, then back to the right
(1 beat each), then
do the same to the left starting by stepping out on the left
foot.
A SLIP is stepping out with one foot sideways
and then bringing the other to it.
A GYPSY is a chasing of the opposite sex in
a circle once around.
A PUESETTE is a prancing movement.
A LILT is like a prancing movement but the
legs don't raise as high.
A DUPLE MINOR is 2 couples that always dance
together no matter how many
dancers are in the set.
Click on HEYS to learn and
see a cheap Diagram
of Heys for 3 & Heys for 4 and above.
A GHIP is a slipping circle once around to
place with another person.
An HONOR is a bow to your partner in 4 beats.
Couples are NUMBERED by:
Line dances - Their order in the line (i.e. the couple at
the head of the line is #1)
Square dances - the couple nearest the audience is the #1
couple and 2, 3, and 4 follow
clockwise from them.
If you wish to download the instructions above click here
Begining Dances:
Appleyhouse
Black Nag
Childgrove
Cuckolds
all arow
Gathering Pescods
Goddesses
Heart's
Ease
Hide Parke
Jenny
Pluck Pears
Rufty
Tufty
Sellenger's
Round
Intermediate Dances:
29th
of May
Bobbing Joe
Broom Man
Chestnut,
or Dove's Figary
Dargason, or Sedany
Grimstock
Madge on
a Cree
Merry
Milkmayds
Night Peece
Picking
of Sticks
Scotch Cap
Stingo
Advanced Dances:
Argeers
Beggar Boy
Boatman
Confesse his Tune
the
Health
Irish Lady
King's
X
Ladies
of Newcastle
Lulling Beyond Thee
Newcastle
Parson's Farewell
Uffington
Horse