Core dances

We select a set of core dances each year, and ask callers to include them where possible so that people dance them frequently and get to know them. The core dances for 2024 are:

The core dances for 2018, 2019, 2020 - 2021, 2022 and 2023 are also available.

Notes:

  • A normal longways set organised by "hands four" is called a duple minor set, because the main (major) set consists of small (minor) sets of two couples. A triple minor set, organised by "hands six", consists of minor sets of three couples.
  • If the first couples in a longways set change places to stand on the other side of the set then the set is said to be improper.
  • A becket set is similar to a duple minor set, but with the dancers in each couple standing on the same side of the set facing across. The name comes from Becket contra, also known as Bucksaw reel, which is in this formation.
  • A semicolon marks the end of two bars, a colon marks the end of four bars and a full stop marks the end of eight bars. One bar corresponds to a single right-and-left step, usually.
  • Turns, circles, stars etc are once round unless stated otherwise.
  • Turns single, crosses, back-to-backs etc are right-shoulder unless stated otherwise.

Bucksaw reel

Composer: Herbie Gaudreau c1957. Formation: Longways duple minor becket set. Music: 32-bar contra reels.

A1 Left-hand turn corner (who is your shadow, i.e. the same person each time): swing partner.
A2 Ladies chain across and back.
B1 1/2 right-and-left through with couple on left diagonal: 1/2 right-and-left through straight across.
B2 Left-hand star: right-hand star (and look for your shadow).

Notes: This dance is also known as Becket contra, and is the origin of the term becket set.

Heidenröslein

Composer: Pat Shaw 1967. Formation: Round 4-couple set. Music: Own 28-bar triple-time tune by Heinrich Werner 1829.

A1 Right-hand turn partner: left-hand turn corner.
A2 Men right-hand star 3/4: women left-hand star 3/4 (to opposite partner).
B Women two chassés left while men two chassés right behind; honour that person then turn away: grand chain two changes. Waltz with new partner to man's original place (i.e. 3/8 around set).

Notes: Change partner each time through. The title comes from a 1789 poem by Goethe, and means "Little rose of the field".

Jamaica

Source: The Dancing Master 1670, interpreted by Colin Hume c2000. Formation: Longways duple minor set. Music: Own 2 x 16-bar tune.

A1 1s take right hands, take left hands; 1/2 two-hand turn: repeat with neighbour.
B1 Long lines fall back and come forward: 1s 1/2 figure-8 up through 2s.
A2 (In new 4s) 1st corners two-hand turn: 2nd corners two-hand turn.
B2 Two-hand turn neighbour 1+1/2: two-hand turn partner.

Notes: Once through the dance is twice through the tune. Couples progress each time through the tune, so overall the dance has a double progression.

Shandy Hall

Composer: George Middleton 1977. Formation: Longways 4-couple set. Music: Own 32-bar tune.

A1 Top 6 circle left while bottom couple two-hand turn: bottom 6 circle left while top couple two-hand turn.
A2 As A1.
B1 Top 4 right-hand star 1/2; middle 4 left-hand star 1/2: bottom 4 right-hand star 1/2; all step and honour partner.
B2 Back-to-back left shoulder with partner: set and turn single.

Sussex Cottage

Composer: Chris Turner, adapted by Charles Bolton. Formation: Longways 3-couple set. Music: 3 x 32-bar jigs.

A1 1s lead down one place; cast back up: all back-to-back partner.
A2 3s lead up one place; cast back down: all back-to-back partner.
B1 Reels of 3 on the sides (2s pass 1s right shoulder to start).
B2 Top 4 circle left 1/2; 1/2 two-hand turn partner: bottom 4 circle left 1/2; 1/2 two-hand turn partner.

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Core dances for 2023

The core dances for 2023 were:

The hop pickers' feast

Source: Thompson 1788. Formation: Longways 3-couple set. Music: Own 3 x 48-bar tune.

A1 1s set to partner; set to 2nd woman: those three circle left.
A2 1s as A1 to 2nd man.
B1 1s cross; cast down a place: cross; cast down a place. 1s lead to the top: cast down a place; cloverleaf turn single.
B2 1s and 3s circle left: circle right. 2s and 1s dance 4 changes of a circular hey, then 1s do an extra change with the 3s to end at the bottom.

Mister Isaacs' magic

Composer: Sue Rosen, for Bob Isaacs. Formation: Longways duple minor improper set. Music: 32-bar contra reels or jigs.

A1 With neighbour balance and box the gnat: men allemande left one-and-a-half.
A2 Balance and swing partner.
B1 Long lines go forward and back: ladies chain across.
B2 Take hands four, balance and petronella one place right: balance and petronella one place right and turn to face new neighbours.

The Real Princess

Composer: Pat Shaw 1964, for HRH Princess Margaret. Formation: Longways 4-couple improper set. Music: Own 4 x 32-bar tune.

A1 Lines forward and back: swing partner to end 1s facing 2s and 3s facing 4s.
A2 Ladies chain up-and-down and back.
B1 Ends meet for 1/2 right-and-left through while middles move to nearer end and 1/2 two-hand turn partner: new ends meet for 1/2 right-and-left through while new middles cast to nearer end and 1/2 two-hand turn partner.
B2 1s at the bottom lead up the middle to the top then lead a cast to invert the set, all 1/2 two-hand turn partner.

The Queen's jig

Source: The Dancing Master 1701, interpreted by Cecil Sharp in The Country Dance Book 1922. Formation: Longways duple minor set. Music: Own 32-bar tune.

A1 1st corners side: set and turn single.
A2 2nd corners as A1.
B1 1st corners cross; 2nd corners cross: all fall back and cross over.
B2 Right-hand star, turn single left.

Well Hall

Source: The Dancing Master 1701, interpreted by Frank von Cleef 1982. Formation: Longways duple minor set. Music: Own 32-bar triple-time tune.

A1 1s right-hand turn one-and-a-half, cast down a place (2s move up), cross over.
A2 2s as A1.
B1 1st corners cross; 2nd corners cross: circle left halfway; cloverleaf turn single.
B2 2nd corners cross; 1st corners cross: circle left halfway; 1s cast down while 2s lead up.

Notes: For the partner crossings in the A music and the corner crossings in the B music the original source just says "cross over" or "change places", but some people prefer to dance these crossings as in The hole in the wall.

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Core dances for 2022

The core dances for 2022 were:

The Duke of Kent's waltz

Source: Cahusac 1802, interpreted by Albert Simons 1970. Formation: Longways duple minor set. Music: Own 32-bar triple-time tune.

A1 Right-hand star: left-hand star.
A2 1s chassé down two steps; up two steps: cast down one place (2s move up).
B1 Partners take right hands, balance forward and back; change places turning the woman under: repeat with left hands to places.
B2 Right-hand turn on right diagonal: left-hand turn partner.

The fandango

Source: Thompson 1774, interpreted in The Apted Book of Country Dances 1931. Formation: Longways 3-couple set. Music: Own 3 x 2 x 32-bar tune.

A1 1s right-hand turn: cast down to middle place (2s move up).
A2 1s left-hand turn: cast down to bottom place (3s move up).
B1 All six circle left: circle right.
B2 1s lead up to the top: cast to middle place (3s move down), turn single away from each other.
A3 1st man two-hand turn 3rd woman while 1st woman two-hand turn 2nd man: 1s two-hand turn.
A4 1st man two-hand turn 2nd woman while 1st woman two-hand turn 3rd man: 1s two-hand turn 1+1/2.
B3 1st man figure-8 through 2s (pass woman right shoulder) while 1st woman figure-8 through 3s (pass man right shoulder).
B4 1st man hey for three with 3s (pass woman left shoulder) while 1st woman hey for three with 2s (pass man left shoulder), 1s lead down to bottom place while 3s move up.

Good Friday

Composer: Kirston Koths 1988. Formation: Longways improper duple minor set. Music: 32-bar contra reels.

A1 All give right hand to neighbour and women give left hands to start in an ocean wave, balance right and left; slide one place right and re-form the wave: balance left and right; slide one place left.
A2 Swing through, i.e. 1/2 right-hand turn neighbour, men 1/2 left-hand turn: swing partner.
B1 Long lines go forward and back: pass through across the set; California twirl with partner to face back in.
B2 Circle left 3/4: do-si-do neighbour 1+1/2.

Helena

Composer: Colin Hume 1988. Formation: Longways 4-couple set. Music: Own 4 x 32-bar tune.

A1 Lead up a double and back: set to partner; 1/2 two-hand turn.
A2 Lead down a double and back: set to partner; 1/2 two-hand turn.
B1 Middles 1/2 figure-8 through nearer end couple: in fours circle left 1/2; fall back slightly with neighbour.
B2 Face neighbour to start three changes of a grand chain round the whole set: two-hand turn partner.

Levi Jackson rag

Composer: Pat Shaw 1975. Formation: 5 couples in a longways 4-couple becket set plus a head couple. Music: Own 5 x 32-bar tune.

A1 Sides 1/2 right-and-left through in fours, heads lead halfway down the set: that again.
A2 Sides circle left in fours while heads cast home: all back-to-back partner.
B1 All five ladies chain on two places: that again.
B2 With new partner promenade one place anti-clockwise around the set: balance and swing.

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Core dances for 2020 - 2021

The core dances for 2020 - 2021 were:

The Bishop

Source: Thompson 1780, interpreted in The Apted Book of Country Dances 1931. Formation: Longways triple minor set. Music: Own 32-bar tune or 32-bar Miss Dolland's delight.

A1 1st man cast to 2nd place (2nd man move up); set to 3rd woman: they two-hand turn.
A2 1st woman as A1.
B1 Bottom couple gypsy right while middle couple gate up through top couple: all circle left halfway.
B2 As B1.

De'il take the warr

Source: John Young 1721. Formation: Longways 3-couple set. Music: Own 3 x 72-bar tune.

A1 1s long cast down to middle place (2nd couple lead up): two-hand turn. 1s lead down; cast back to middle place: two-hand turn.
A2 2s as A1.
B1 Men hey for three. 1st man zig-zag to bottom, i.e. cross right with 1st woman; left with 2nd man: right with 2nd woman; left with 3rd man: right with 3rd woman; 1st man and 3rd woman turn single left.
B2 Women hey for three. 1st woman zig-zag to bottom as B1.

Notes: On the last time through all turn single on the last two bars.

Grimstock

Source: The Dancing Master 1651. Formation: Longways 3-couple set. Music: Own 3 x 24-bar tune.

A Lead up a double and back: set and turn single. All that again.
B Grimstock hey (lead in with partner from the ends, separate in the middle).
A Side with partner: set and turn single. All that again.
B Grimstock hey as before, but partners face each other and slip, those inside taking hands.
A Arm right: set and turn single. Arm left: set and turn single.
B 1s cross left and face down to start 1/2 hey for three: 1st couple cross right and face up to start 1/2 hey for three to places.

Jack's maggot

Source: The Dancing Master 1703. Formation: Longways duple minor set. Music: Own 32-bar tune.

A1 1st man hey for three with the women (pass 2nd woman right to start).
A2 1st woman hey for three with the men (pass 2nd man left to start).
B1 Right-hand star: left-hand star.
B2 1st corners cross; 2nd corners cross: circle-left halfway; 1s cast down while 2s lead up.

Postie's jig

Composer: Roy Clowes. Formation: Longways 4-couple set. Music: 4 x 32-bar Lassie, come dance with me or similar.

A1 Ends set; cast in (middles move out): actives 1/2 figure-8 through nearer end.
A2 Actives lead across (men arch); cast round a post: lead up and down (4s arch); cast round a post.
B1 As A2 from new positions.
B2 Actives 1/2 right-and-left through: right-hand turn partner.

Note: The posts can help the actives round. In A2 and B1 the arches are made by the men or the couple moving up.

Star Trek

Composer: Mike Richardson 1990. Formation: Becket set. Music: 32-bar contra reels.

A1 Right-hand star: ladies chain across.
A2 Women pass right to start a reel of four.
B1 Women cross right to swing partner on the side.
B2 Lines forward and back: right-hand star and move on to next couple.

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Core dances for 2019

The core dances for 2019 were:

The hole in the wall

Source: The Dancing Master 1695. Formation: longways duple minor set. Music: Own 16-bar triple-time tune.

A1 1s cast down; lead back.
A2 2s cast up; lead back.
B 1st corners cross; 2nd corners cross: circle left halfway; 1s cast down while 2s lead up.

Notes: In the B music the original source just says that the corners "cross over", but the modern interpretation is for them to sweep round each other to stand close and then fall back.

The Indian Queen

Source: The Dancing Master 1701. Formation: longways duple minor set. Music: Own 32-bar tune.

A1 1st corners set and turn single: two-hand turn.
A2 2nd corners as A1.
B1 Right-hand star: left-hand star.
B2 Back-to-back with partner: 3 changes starting with partner.

The Shrewsbury lasses

Source: Thompson 1780 interpreted in The Apted Book of Country Dances 1931. Formation: longways 3-couple set. Music: Own 3 x 40-bar tune.

A1 1st man step and honour 2nd woman: two-hand turn her.
A2 1st woman as A1.
B1 1s cast down to middle (2s lead up), 1s and 3s circle left, 1st man goes up round 2s while 1st woman goes down round 3s, 1s 1/2 two-hand turn in middle place to end proper.
B2 3s cast up to middle (1s lead down), 2s and 3s circle left, 3rd man goes up round 2s while 3rd woman goes down round 1s, 3s 1/2 two-hand turn in middle place to end proper.

Spring fever

Composer: Tony Parkes. Formation: longways duple minor improper set. Music: 32-bar contra reels.

A1 Lines forward and back: swing neighbour.
A2 Men allemande left one-and-a-half: swing partner.
B1 Circle left: left-hand star.
B2 1/2 promenade across: ladies chain across.

Top of the deck

Composer: Gary Roodman 1992. Formation: 4-couple becket set. Music: 4 x 32-bar jigs.

A1 Balance and swing partner.
A2 1/2 promenade across: all four ladies chain across (to the same man each time).
B1 Lines forward and back: pass through; ends cast away from line to meet their opposite while middles turn in with neighbour to form a square set.
B2 Heads lead forward; heads fall back as sides lead forward: heads pass through as sides fall back; sides pass through.

Wakefield Hunt

Source: Thompson 1779. Formation: longways triple minor set, triple progression. Music: Own 48-bar tune.

A1 1st man cast down (2nd man move up); set to 3rd woman: two-hand turn her.
A2 1st woman as A1.
B1 Circle left: circle right.
B2 1s gate down through 3s: 1s gate up through 2s.
C1 1s and 3s right-hand star: 2s and 1s left-hand star.
C2 1s and 3s dance 3 changes starting with partner, 1s change with neighbour below to triple-progress.

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Core dances for 2018

The core dances for 2018 were:

Childgrove

Source: The Dancing Master 1701. Formation: longways duple minor set. Music: Own 32-bar tune.

A1 Side with partner: back-to-back partner.
A2 Side with neighbour: back-to-back neighbour.
B1 Two-hand-turn neighbour one-and-a-half to change places: two-hand-turn partner.
B2 1s figure-8 up through 2s.

Note: This is often danced with the 1s improper so that more of the interaction is with members of the opposite gender.

Heptathlon jig

Composer: Alan White 2003. Formation: 7 people of any gender in a longways 3-couple set with an extra person in the centre. Music: 7 x 32-bar jigs.

A1 Centre and top two people on the right right-hand-star: centre and top two people on the left left-hand-star.
A2 Centre and bottom two people on the right right-hand-star: centre and bottom two people on the left left-hand-star.
B1 Centre passes right middle person right shoulder to start a reel-of-3 across the set with the middle two people.
B2 Centre and top-right person right-hand-turn one-and-a-half to change places: all set; outside people cast one place clockwise while new centre person sets.

The Merry Andrew

Source: Maggot pie 1932. Formation: longways 3-couple set. Music: Own 3 x 32-bar tune.

A1 Top two couples half right-hand-star; turn single left: half left-hand-star; turn single right.
A2 Bottom two couples as A1.
B1 On the right diagonal set; pass right: man 2 followed by man 1 cross the set below man 3 and cast up to men's side while woman 2 followed by woman 3 cross the set above woman 1 and cast down to women's side.
B2 On the left diagonal set; pass left: man 1 lead man 3 while woman 3 lead woman 1 as in B1.

Notes: Change partner each time through. The original version had dancers passing right in B2.

The nice combination

Composer: Gene Hubert. Formation: longways duple minor improper set. Music: 32-bar contra reels.

A1 Balance and swing neighbour, ending in a line of four facing down.
A2 Lead down the hall; turn as couples: come back; bend the line.
B1 Circle left three-quarters: swing partner on the side.
B2 Ladies chain across: left-hand-star.

Sun Assembly

Source: Thompson 1757, interpreted by Ken Sheffield 1982. Formation: longways duple minor set. Music: Own 32-bar tune.

A1 Circle left halfway; fall back on sides: 1s gate up through 2s.
A2 1s half figure-8 up through 2s, 2s cross: all set to partner and turn single.
B1 1s right-hand-star with the 2s below: 1s left-hand-star with original 2s.
B2 1s lead down one place; cast up: all two-hand-turn partner.

Turning by threes

Composer: Gary Roodman 2003. Formation: round 3-couple set. Music: 3 x 32-bar Tourner á trois.

A1 Circle left; turn single left: circle right; turn single right.
A2 Back-to-back partner: two quick changes of a grand chain around the set; right-hand-turn the next.
B1 Men left-hand-star: women right-hand-star.
B2 Men lead in; women lead in as men fall back: women look over right shoulder to gypsy right one-and-a-bit with the man on their right, who becomes their new partner.

Notes: Change partner each time through.

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