compiled by Her Ladyship Berengere d'Acre, except as noted
Inner hands joined, lean away from partner, toward
partner, away, toward, away, lean back a bit, and straighten up.
Step on the left toward the left, on the right
toward the right, on the left toward the left, bring right foot semi-behind
the left and hop-left (which means hop quickly an right foot and come down
on the left.) Then right, left, right, hop right.
And dance begins again.
All take hands, do a double left, double right, double left, double right.
All drop hands, turn single over left shoulder, turn single over right shoulder.
Repeat ad nauseam.
To the same tune:
All up the hall a double, three quick kicks, back a double, three quick kicks. Dropping hands, all go out a double, three quick kicks, turn and go in a double, jump in place.
Partners set and turn single. That again, but change places while doing the turn, thus ending up in partner's place and facing down the hall.
All begin the dance again, starting down the hall a double, three quick kicks, back a double....
Taking hands all, eight slipping steps to the left. Eight slipping steps to the right..
Chorus (also known as Worship Figure): All go in a double, clap, and back out a double. Partners set and turn. All that again.
Partners side, that again.
Chorus.
Partners arm right, then arm left.
Chorus.
(optional)
Grand Hey: Take right hands with your partner,
pull past to the next person, reaching for that person with your left hand.
DO NOT LET GO UNTIL YOU HAVE TAKEN HANDS WITH THE NEXT PERSON. Continue
pulling past by alternating rights and lefts for seven people (you probably
WON'T end up with your partner); stop at the eighth person.
Chorus.
Taking hands all, eight slipping steps to the left. Turn single. Eight slipping steps to the right. Turn single.
Men's slipping ring in the center (8 counts to slip, 4 counts to get back to the main circle); women's slipping ring in the center.
Men meet and clap hands; as they go back, women go forward and clap hands; as they go back, men meet, and turn single back to place. Same again, with the women starting.
Partners side, turn single, that again.
Women's slipping ring in the center; men's slipping ring.
Women meet and clap hands; as they go back, men go forward and clap hands; as they go back, women meet, and turn single back to place. Same again, with the men starting.
Partners arm left, turn single. Arm right, turn single.
Men meet and clap hands; as they go back, women go forward and clap hands; as they go back, men meet, and turn single back to place. Same again, with the women starting.
Both couples forward a double, meet, and fall back a double to places. That again.
Chorus:
Partners set and turn single twice. Each man
leads his partner out a double from the set, then they turn and come back
to the set, hands joined. All turn single. Each man then leads his contrary
out a double from the set, turn and come back. All turn single.
Partners side right, then left.
Chorus.
Partners arm right, then arm left.
Chorus.
Both couples forward a double, meet, and fall back a double to places. That again.
Chorus:
Partners face and go back and forward a double.
Right hand turn with their contrary once round. Contraries face and go
back & forward a double. Left hand with partners once round.
Side right with your partner, then side left with your contrary.
Chorus
Arm right with your partner, then arm left with your contrary.
Chorus
Taking hands all, double left (step sideways to the left with left foot, bring right foot near, step to the left again, and close with right), double right (same thing, but moving to the right this time), double left, double right.
Do six single lefts (step sideways to the left
with the left foot, then bring right foot next to the left), and do a jumping
turn as follows: each woman steps in front of the man to her left, while
turning to face him. She places her hands on his shoulders, and jumps into
the air while he places his hands on her waist and guides her to his left.
She then turns to face the inside of the circle again, having progressed
one place in the circle. Repeat that entire sequence.
Repeat from the beginning.
Taking hands all, eight walking steps to the left. Partners face each other, set and turn single. Eight walking steps to the right. Partners face each other, set and turn single.
Chorus:
The first man puts his lady into the center of
the circle. The second as much. The third as well. Honor all. The men face
left and take twelve walking steps around the circle, each man honoring
each lady as he passes her, ending in front of his own lady. Honor all.
The men face right and take twelve walking steps around the circle, each
man honoring each lady as he passes her, ending in front of his own lady.
Honor all. The first man takes his lady out of the center of the circle.
The second as much. The third as well.
Partners side right, set and turn single then side left, set and turn single.
Chorus: same as the first chorus, but with the ladies putting the gentlemen into the center and doing the walking steps.
Partners arm right, set and turn single then arm left, set and turn single.
Chorus: same as the first chorus.
All up a double and back. That again.
First couple, followed by others in turn, takes
hands and slips up the hall four slips. All turn single.
Third couple, followed by others in turn, slips
down the hall as before. All turn single.
Partners side, that again.
Top man, bottom lady exchange places; top lady, bottom man exchange places; middle couple exchange places. All turn single.
All that again, in the same order (original top man exchanges places with original bottom lady, etc). All turn single.
Partners arm right, then arm left.
Men do a straight hey, with first man starting down, second and third men starting facing up. Women do as much.
First couple casts down to the third couple's position and the others move up as the dance begins again at up a double and back. Three times through total.
Up a double and back. That again.
Chorus: 1st couple lead a cast down to the bottom of the set, all following; 1st couple lead a cast back to places, all following.
Men take hands, go half way around behind the women, 1st man leading. 3rd man lead the line back to place
Chorus.
Women as the men before.
Chorus. (After every verse, insert a chorus.)
Men take hands, go all the way around behind the women and back to place.
Women as much.
Men form a circle, slip round in a ring. Reverse halfway through.
Women as much.
Take hands all, slip around and reverse back to place.
Men straight hey: 1st and 3rd men face down, 2nd and 4th face up to begin.
Women as much.
Hey for all: 1st and 4th couples face across, 2nd couple face down, 3rd couple face up to begin, rights and lefts all the way around back to place (no hands necessary).
Final chorus, though you may have to sprint to get it...
Hands all, forward a double and back, set and turn single. That again.
Head men change; head women change. Heads take partners by left hands, switch places, then reach across the set with right hands to change across with opposites. Side couples as much.
Partners side, set and turn single. That again.
Head couples meet in the center; first man then leads third woman between the 2nd couple while third man leads first woman between the 4th couple, separate, cast off back to place and turn your own woman. Sides as much.
Partners arm right, set and turn single. Arm left, set and turn single.
Head couples face across the set and, starting with right hands to opposite do four changes of the circular hey back to place (right to opposite, left to partner, right to opposite, left to partner). Side couples as much.
During the last chorus, the song goes:
If all the world were paper, and all the seas were ink,
If all the trees were bread and cheese, what would we have to
drink?
If all the bottles leaked, though not a one was cracked,
If Spanish apes ate all the grapes, what would we have for sack?
Up a double and back. That again. Set and turn single. That again.
Lacing the Bodice: (To change places, dancers
face each other and slip on the diagonal, leading with the shoulder closest
to the oncoming dancer. Each dancer's number designation remains the same
no matter where he is standing in the set.) 1st man, 2nd woman change places;
1st woman, 2nd man change places; 1st man, 3rd man change places; 1st woman,
3rd woman change places; 2nd woman, 3rd man change places; 2nd man, 3rd
woman change places. The set should now be inverted, so 1st couple leads
a cast back to proper places.
Side right and left. Set and turn single twice.
Celtic Horses: 1st and 3rd couples take hands with partner and face away from the set. 2nd couple cross by rights (giving hands), woman goes around the outside of the set to the top to turn in a three person circle with the 1st couple, while man goes around the outside of the set to the bottom to turn with 3rd couple. 2nd couple then passes each other by lefts (giving hands) in the center of the set and woman goes around the outside to the bottom to turn with 3rd couple while man goes around the outside to the top to turn with 1st couple. End up back in place. (Note: on the first circles both the top and bottom are going clockwise, while on the second circles both the top and bottom are going counterclockwise.)
Arm right, arm left, set and turn single twice.
Whipsaw hey for men: Men join hands, 2nd man pulls first between 2nd and 3rd to begin a straight, full hey on the side, ending back in original places and turning single.
Whipsaw hey for women: when the men are done, as above, ending with a turn single.
The dance should be done three times, with the top couple casting to the bottom of the set during the first up a double and back.
A B A B A
B A B
A B A B A
B A B
Step toward partner and turn back-to-back; step out, turn to face partner and two-hand turn.
A man, followed by B man, go between women, A man turn right to return to B's place, B man turn left to return to A's place. All clap & form a circle, go all the way around once to place.
Your new pattern will be
A B A B A
B A B
B A B A B
A B A
Repeat with women going between men in same pattern to progress, A next to new B couple, B next to new A, and everyone back with their original partners. All clap & circle round with old A&B, and begin dance again with new A-B sets.
Repeat until musicians die. If you come to the end of the line and there is no new couple for you to dance with, you are "dead" for one progression, and will come to life again as the opposite letter couple from what you were when you "died."
Lead up a double & back. That again.
1st man changes with middle dancer on opposite
side then with last dancer on own side. All lead up a double and back.
Repeat as above by 1st woman, then alternately
by dancer in 1st man's place then 1st woman's place, until all have returned
to place.
Siding right & left.
(shuttle figure) 1st couple take hands, slip down between 2nd couple, who slip up to top. 2nd couple take hands, slip down to places between 1st couple, who slip up to place. That again. Meanwhile 3rd couple cross over & skip around set to place.
Repeat as above with 2nd & 3rd couples slipping while 1st couple cross & skip around set to place.
Arm right & left.
Men do sheepskin hey: The 1st man leads
the other men around 1st woman, in front of 2nd woman, around 3rd woman
and would continue doing this except the last man in line going around
the 2nd woman "cheats" and goes all the way around the 2nd woman
to become the first man in line and continue the pattern of weaving in
and out. This happens to the 3rd man, then 2nd man, then 1st man, after
which they head for home as quick as possible, hopefully all in the correct
order.
Women do sheepskin hey around the men.
The basic pattern is step-step-step-ball change, marking out the 4/4 time. It can start on either the left or right foot.
Basic pattern forward, beginning on the left, then right, then left, then right. (Four times in all. On the last ball-change, pivot to face partner.
Basic pattern backwards, beginning on the left. Ditto forwards, on right. Ditto left. Ditto right.
Men set and turn single. Women set and turn single.
Partners do a two-hand turn to change places using the basic pattern. Four slides to the man's left, partners holding hands. Two hand turn back to place. Four slides to the man's right.
Basic pattern backwards (drop each other's hands!).
Basic pattern forwards, pivoting on the last
ball change to face the head of the line.
All go up a double and hack. That again.
Mushrooms, B couple: Without stopping, B couple
skips up through A couple, out and around to place, crosses the set, skips
up and around A couple, and down between them to place improper) where
they jump. All that again, but this time skipping down and around C couple.
Cast-A-Post: A's cast down to third position,
B's and C's cast out and through them to first and second positions, respectively.
Mushrooms, C couple; Cast-A-Post.
Mushrooms, A couple; Cast-A-Post.
Partners side. That again.
Heys, B couple: Each B arms right with the dancer
diagonally to their left, then goes into a hey with the corresponding couple,
returning to place (improper) when one cycle of the hey is completed.
AII that again.
Cast-A-Post.
Heys, C couple; Cast-A-Post.
Heys, A couple; Cast-A-Post.
Partners arm right, then left.
Stars, B couple: C couple set and turn single
while A's and B's cast about themselves, and go into a right hand star.
A's then set and turn single, while C's and B's do the same. note: B's
always are the followers, with the A's and the C's leading the casts.
Cast-A-Post.
Stars, C couple; Cast-A-Past.
Stars, B couple; Cast-A-Post.
Technically there is a 16 beat bow to the Presence and another to your partner.
Each couple palm left, palm right, palm left and
change places.
Each couple palm right, palm left, palm right
and change back.
Chorus: Pacing forward, inner hands joined, pavanne left (step left, and bounce), pavanne right, then step left, behind with the right foot, and onto the left (and bounce). Pavanne right, pavanne left, then step right, behind with the left foot, and onto the right (and bounce).
The top two couples and bottom two couples together: women palm left, men palm right, women palm left and change places. Men palm right, women palm left, men palm right and change places.
Chorus from your new positions.
All couples together: Women palm left towards the center, men palm right towards the center, women palm and move one place forwards. Men palm right, women left, men right and move one place to rejoin their partners.
Chorus.
In sets of two couples: women palm left, men right, women left and change places. Men right, women left, men right and change places.
Chorus with a catch: begin toward the man's side for each couple. I.e. half the set goes left and half goes right.
Each couple palm left, palm right, palm left and
change places.
Each couple palm right, palm left, palm right
and change back.
(hands with your partner) In a double, slip a double left and right. Turn single, back a double.
In a double, change with your contrary. Change with your own, turn single.
Men back a double and cross with each other, turning by the left hand, ladies turn double, then men turn the contrary ladies by the right hand, then ladies back a double and cross with each other, turning by the right hand while men turn double, then ladies turn their own men back to place.
In a double, change with your contrary, set and turn single. That again.
Men in a double, then ladies in a double and hands round, slip halfway round and turn single. That again, ladies in first.
In a double, hands across, slip out and in with your contrary. Men cast off left, pass through their partner's place, and return to place, ladies following. Back a double, change with your own, men change, ladies change, and change with your contraries.
Men in a double and shake by the right hand, ladies as much and walk quite round (right hand star).
Ladies in a double and shake by the left hand, men as much and walk halfway round, and fall abreast of the presence.
Honor the presence.
c 1993 Paul Giles writing as Giles Hill of Sweetwater
Single left (step sideways to the left with the left foot, then bring right foot next to the left), women put hands on hips while men waggle a finger at them. Single right; men put hands on hips while women waggle a finger at them.
Double left, clapping once on each step. Double right. Double left, clapping once on each step.
Kick left, kick right, kick left and jump. (Kicks are slow, at the same pace as the earlier stepping.)
And the dance begins again.
(hands with your partner) In a double, slip a double left and right. Turn single, back a double.
In a double, change with your contrary. Change with your own, turn single.
Men back a double and cross with each other, turning by the left hand, ladies turn double, then men turn the contrary ladies by the right hand, then ladies back a double and cross with each other, turning by the right hand while men turn double, then ladies turn their own men back to place.
In a double, change with your contrary, set and turn single. That again.
Men in a double, then ladies in a double and hands round, slip halfway round and turn single. That again, ladies in first.
In a double, hands across, slip out and in with your contrary. Men cast off left, pass through their partner's place, and return to place, ladies following. Back a double, change with your own, men change, ladies change, and change with your contraries.
Men in a double and shake by the right hand, ladies as much and walk quite round (right hand star).
Ladies in a double and shake by the left hand, men as much and walk halfway round, and fall abreast of the presence.
Honor the presence.
c 1993 Paul Giles writing as Giles Hill of Sweetwater
Taking hands all, double left (step sideways to the left with left foot, bring right foot near, step to the left again, and close with right), double right. That again.
Single left (step sideways to the left with the left foot, then bring right foot next to the left), women put hands on hips while men waggle a finger at them. Single right; men put hands on hips while women waggle a finger at them.
Double left, clapping once on each step. Double right. Double left, clapping once on each step.
Kick left, kick right, kick left and jump. (Kicks are slow, at the same pace as the earlier stepping.)
And the dance begins again.
webbed by Lord Todde mac Donnell, 7/24/00