These are several types of circle dances: big circles have everyone facing in with the man on the left, woman on the right (these are usually mixers, changing partner each time through). Sicilian circles have a couple facing a couple around the room, so you progress with your partner on to a new couple. A double circle has men on the inside facing their partner on the outside (these are also usually mixers). In a big circle your partner is next to you, your corner is on you other side. This page includes big circles and double circles, the sicilian circles are on another page.
In the descriptions, numbers in parentheses are beat counts. Except for waltzes, when they are bar counts (yes, that's inconsistent. Deal with it).
Last update: 13 June 2023
Ainslie Galop
Peter Foster 22 May 2018
Circle, all facing in
32 bar jig or reel
A1 (8) Everyone to the middle and back
(8) Men into the middle, turn to face partner, men walk out to partner and
take partner with 2 hands.
A2 (8) Galop 8 steps along line of dance (to the man's left, woman's right)
(8) Dosido partner left shoulder
B1 (8) With the person on the right diagonal, dosido right shoulder (new partner)
(8) Swing this new partner
B2 (16) Promenade
Bakers Mistress
64 bar jig, 4 times through
Peter Foster 12 Sep 2017
8 couples in a circle, all facing in, numbered anticlockwise 1 to 8
This is a variation of Bakers Wife, using the Double Strip the Willow figure
A1 (16) Couples 1 and 5 promenade CLOCKWISE around the inside of the set.
Finish slightly short, so that man 1 is in front of man 2,
man 5 is in front of man 6. Couples 1 and 5 now drop hands and face their
partner (women are back to back in the centre)
A2 (8) 1 and 5 pass partner with right hand to face the next person along
the line (so the 2 men meet each other in the middle, the 2 women face
an opposite sex person on the outside). Turn that person by the
left arm and finish facing your partner.
Finish slightly further around so that the women are standing in front of
the next woman around (so woman 1 stands in front of woman 2, woman 5 stands
in front of woman 6)
(8) Pass partner by the right, turn the next person by the left arm and finish facing
your partner, again finishing slightly further around, so the men are standing
in front of the next man around
B/C/D1 Repeat the above, working all the way around the inside of the circle
D2 (16) All swing partner, 1 and 5 swinging back out to their original place
Note that you NEVER turn your partner, you only PASS your partner by the right to
meet the next person for a left arm turn.
There is a gap in the circle (where the working couples were). An extra big step is needed
here to get to the next people
Bakers Wife
8 couples in a circle
8x32 bar jig
Medium
This is basically a strip the willow in a circle
Couples are numbered anticlockwise 1 to 8
A1 (16) Couples 1 and 5 swing into the centre (crossed-hand hold). Finish in
a line of 4 between couples 2 and 6.
(48) Lady 1 and man 5 strip the willow: they turn man 2/lady 6 by the
left, then their partner right, and so on around the set. Man 1
and lady 5 are the pins: they turn each other left arm in the
centre, then their partner by the right
If the couples co-ordinate correctly, they will form a lovely
straight line that rotates around the inside of the set
Next time through:
A1 (16) Couples 2 and 6 swing in while 1 and 5 are swinging out.
(Lady 2 and man 6 are the strippers)
After 4 times through each couple has had a turn. Then do it again
with the stripper/pin roles reversed.
Optionally, add 8 bars at the very end to allow everyone to finish
with a swing.
Blackwattle Reel by Amnon and Sheryn Doernberg Circle, all facing in 32 bar reel Easy A1 (16) All holding hands in a circle, advance and retire twice A2 (4) Turn partner right hand (4) Turn corner left hand (4) Turn partner right hand (4) Turn corner left hand B1 (8) Partner do si do (8) Partner do si do left shoulder B2 (4) Face partner, everyone step to their right and honour partner (4) Move on to a new partner (men anticlockwise, women clockwise) (8) Swing new partner
Cincinnati Reel 32 bar reel Mixer Form a double circle with the men on the inside facing their partners on the outside. Your partner is facing you. Your left corner is the opposite sex person diagonally to your left, your right corner is diagonally to your right. A1 (8) Do si do partner (8) Turn left hand corner by the left hand A2 (8) Do si do partner by the left shoulder (8) Turn right hand corner by the right hand. Stay with this person (they are your new partner) B1 (16) Balance and swing this new partner B2 (16) Promenade
Circassian Circle part 2
Circle of couples, everyone facing in
32 bar jig or reel
Easy
A1 (16) All holding hands, advance and retire
A2 (8) Women only, advance (clap on the 4th step) and retire
(8) Men only, advance (clap on the 4th step) and retire.
Come back to your corner
B1 (16) Swing corner (new partner)
B2 (16) Promenade
Doubleska Polka
(also called Star Polka and Sternpolka)
48 bar tune of the same name
Easy
There are 3 parts to the dance:
Polka
A (32) All polka around the hall
Promenade
B (32) Promenade around the hall in the waist-shoulder hold. Men
place their left hand on the left shoulder of the man in
front. At the end of the promenade the men throw their
partners into the centre
Clap
C (32) Men clap hands as follows: clap their hands together twice,
then with their nearer hand clap with the men on either
side once. While the men continue this clapping sequence,
the women make their way to the outside (they are not allowed
to duck, they must carefully time their exit!) Once on the
outside they go around clockwise.
At the end of the C music the men turn around and find a new
partner, ready for the polka
Finish the dance on the polka
Infinity Circle mixer Peter Foster 1 May 2017 A1 (16) Women figure 8 around their partner and corner (see note) A2 (16) Men figure 8 around their partner and corner B1 (8) Everyone to the middle and back (8) Swing corner (new partner) B2 (16) Promenade around the circle Note The figure 8 starts by going in front of your partner, continuing around until you get back to where you started, then go in front of your corner, again continuing around until you get back to where you started. The figure 8 looks straightforward, but in practice it seems to be a bit disorienting. Perhaps remind the dancers that you start by going in front of the person you just did the promenade with. This dance was quickly put together at the dance class of 1 May. It was Heritage Week, so the other caller was doing some dances of historical significance. I went the other extreme, writing some brand new dances
Jingle Bells
Circle mixer, double progression
Peter Foster 5 Dec 2015
Music: Jingle Bells (the verse as well, not just the chorus)
A1 (8) Promenade ("Dashing through the snow...")
(4) Men turn out to pick up the woman behind (the women do keep
moving forward as the men cast out)
(4) Promenade with this new person
A2 (8) To the middle and back (still in promenade hold)
(8) Dosido partner. Stay facing them for the Jingle Bells bit:
B1 (8) With partner, clap along with the rhythm of Jingle Bells as follows:
“Jingle Bells” [just clap your hands]
“Jingle Bells” [clap behind your back]
“Jingle all the…” [clap in front again]
“…way!” [clap your partner’s two hands once with your own]
(8) Swing your partner. Finish the swing where you started (that is, do
not swap places with your partner)
B2 (8) Face your corner and clap as above
(8) Swing your corner (who becomes your new partner), finish in
promenade hold ready for the restart
The second half is from a dance I came across a while ago.
Note that the dance is double progression, so you do the Jingle Bells bit
with 2 new people each time
Jubilee Jig
by David Johnson
Circle of couples, everyone facing in
32 bar jig
Easy
A1 (16) All holding hands, circle left and right
A2 (4) Men go in to the middle, take hands and make arches
(4) While the men retire the women go in under the arches.
Women now make arches
(4) While the women retire the men go in under the arches.
Men clap on the 4th step
(4) Men retire
B1 (16) Grand chain: starting with your partner as 1, grand
chain to number 7, who becomes your new partner
B2 (16) Swing your new partner
The grand chain in B1 does not need to always be to number 7. The
caller may vary it, resulting in shorter or longer grand chains and
a correspondingly longer or shorter swing.
I like to arrange it so that the last time through, people are
reunited with their original partner (you know, the one they asked
to dance and then lost during the walkthrough). This requires a bit
of quick thinking (and counting) by the caller, but dancers are
always surprised and pleased to suddenly get their original partner
back just in time for the final swing.
Moving Along by Ray Dawson 32 bar reel Mixer A1 (16) Go into the middle and back, twice A2 (8) Right hand turn partner, then pass them by the right to move on (8) Left hand turn next person, then pass by left to move on B1 (8) 2 hand turn the next person, then pass them by the right to move on (8) Do si do next person, then pass them by the right to move on B2 (16) Swing this final person Gets you round the circle pretty fast! Before starting the walk through, clarify what “move on” means (men move on anticlockwise, women clockwise)
Muffin Man Jig
Double circle, men on the outside, women on the inside
32 bar jig
Easy
A1 (16) Men holding hands, women holding hands, everyone
advance and retire twice
A2 (16) Circle left and right (men and women will be going in
opposite directions)
Note: to make progressive, only circle right for 7 so
that you finish facing a new partner
B1 Clapping sequence with your partner:
(4) Your knees twice, partner's right hand twice,
(4) Your knees twice, partner's left hand twice,
(2) Your knees once, partner's right hand once,
(2) Your knees once, partner's left hand once,
(4) Clap above your head, behind your back, above your head
B2 (16) Swing partner
For B1, the call is:
Knees, knees, right, right,
Knees, knees, left, left,
Knees, right, knees, left,
Above! Behind! Above! And swing!
Double circles usually have the men on the inside. For this dance it
doesn't really matter if the men are inside or outside. Since men generally
have longer arms, I suggest that they be given the outside circle.
Quakers Wife
8 couples (numberered anticlockwise 1 to 8) in a double circle,
men on the inside, women on the outside
32 bar jig
Easy
A1 (8) Right hand turn partner
(8) Left hand turn partner
(48) Couple 1 take inside hands and walk between
the 2 circles. Couple 2 fall in behind, then
couple 3 etc. When couple 1 get back to their
original place they separate and stop. Each
couple in turn, as they reach their original
place, also stops. Continue until all get back
to place
Next time through couple 2 leads etc.
Works best with 8 couples: more than 8 and it takes too long
to complete the figure, fewer than 8 and the double circle is
a bit too spaced out.
The lead couple do not need to do a plain walk, they may do
any sort of step they like: they can hop, polka, moonwalk,
do wheelbarrows, whatever. The other couples copy whatever
the lead couple does.
Have fun!
Sacristan Circle of 4 to 8 couples 32 bar jig or reel Easy A1 (16) All holding hands, circle left and right A2 (16) Men left hand star (for 16 steps) B1 (16) Men pick up a new partner and star promenade for 16 steps B2 (16) Swing new partner Alternate with the women making the left hand star. For fun, try calling "one person from each couple make a left hand star". In this case, remind them to pick up an opposite sex partner. This is a minor variation of Sacristan from Brian Scowcroft's site.
Slinky Mixer
32 bar reel
Peter Foster 24 March 2019
Circle mixer, men on the inside, women on the outside, all facing partner
A1 (8) Left shoulder dosido with partner
(8) With the new person on your right diagonal, right shoulder dosido.
Finish facing this person - this is your new partner
A2 (8) Pass this new partner by right shoulder, turn right, go forward slightly (men clockwise
around the outside, women anticlockwise around the inside) to meet a new person, face
this person and pass right shoulder (so now the men are back in the middle, women on
the outside), turn right and go forward slightly to meet your partner again
(8) Repeat
B1 (16) Swing partner
B2 (16) Promenade. At the end, release right hands and men stay in the middle, then you can pull
into the left shoulder dosido to restart
A2 is the slinky figure. All the dancers are walking a clockwise circle around 2 people: their
partner and the person on their right diagonal (have dancers note who these people are before
walking the figure). Perhaps a better way to describe it is a half gypsy with partner, then a half
gypsy with the next person, finish facing your partner. And repeat
Incidentally, the slinky figure also provides a "sneak preview" of your next partner, which is nice.
Adapted from Slinky Reel by Arthur Kingsland
Summer Evening Waltz Peter Foster 23 Jan 2023 32 bar waltz, double progression Circle of couples, all facing in, woman on the right of partner. Easy A1 (2) All holding hands in a circle, 2 waltz steps in to the middle ... (2) ... and back (4) Partner dosido right shoulder A2 (4) Corner left shoulder dosido (4) Corner left hand turn, finish facing partner, take right hands B1 (2) Balance forward and back with partner (2) Pass partner by the right shoulder to face a new person. Take left hands (2) Balance forward and back (2) Pass by the left shoulder to face another new person. Take ballroom hold B2 (8) Waltz around the circle. Open out facing in to the middle with the woman on the right First danced on a summer's evening at Dancing in the Park in Canberra. Adapted from the Bavarian dance Summer Morning Waltz.
Swings and Roundabouts
Peter Foster 7 March 2018
32 bar jig or reel
Formation: Two circles, with most couples on the outside and a smaller number on the inside.
Everyone is facing in, women on the right of their partner
A1 (8) Everyone to the middle and back (in 2 separate circles)
(8) Partner dosido
A2 (8) Corner left shoulder dosido
(8) Corner left hand turn, retain this hand and take right hand with partner to make a wavy
circle, men facing in (except that those in the middle just go directly to partner)
B1 (16) Those in the middle, swing partner
WHILE those on the outside:
B1 (4) Balance forward and back
(4) Half right hand turn to remake the wavy circle, women facing in
(4) Balance forward and back
(4) Left hand turn 3/4 to promenade hold (this is your new partner)
B2 (16) All promenade, again in 2 separate circles. Those on the inside make their way to
the outside and squeeze in between two couples. The couples in the outer circle that
have someone push in front of them become new inner couples. They need to move into
the middle to form the new inner circle
In B2, couples in the middle should make a bee line to the outside, to give enough time to
effect the changeover
B1 is the swing (in the middle) and roundabout (on the outside). Some people may not get many
turns in the middle, but that’s okay: what you lose on the swings you gain on the roundabouts.
Incidentally, if you want a simpler dance, do it in just one circle and call “swings” or
“roundabouts” as appropriate. But note that "swings" does not progress but "roundabouts" does progress.
Victoria’s Waltz
By Peter Foster
32 bar waltz
Mixer
A1 (2) All holding hands in a circle, balance forward and back
(2) Men take the lady on their left and pass her across to place her on his right
(2) All holding hands in a circle, balance forward and back
(2) Women take the man on their left and pass him across to place him on her right
(it’s the same man who just passed her across)
A2 (2) All holding hands in a circle, balance forward and back
(2) Men again take the lady on their left and pass her across to place her on his right. This is your new partner
(4) Two hand turn partner once around, open out standing next to your partner,
facing anticlockwise around the room, men on the inside, women on the outside
B1 (2) Two waltz steps forward, turn on the spot (turning towards your partner) and take their other hand
(2) Two waltz steps backward (so still going in the same direction)
(4) Repeat the other way: two waltz steps, turn on the spot, two waltz steps back. Then take a ballroom hold
B2 (8) Waltz on
Written for my daughter
Woaf
32 bar waltz
Mixer
Formation:
Circle (single file), like the over the shoulder promenade hold except the men are standing behind partner,
everyone facing anticlockwise around the circle
A1 (2) 2 sliding steps sideways toward the middle of the circle
(2) 2 sliding steps back out
(1) Peek at each other over woman's left shoulder
(1) Peek over the other shoulder
(2) Woman turn under (in place), left hands joined, woman turning anticlockwise
A2 (4) Slide in and out again
(4) Keeping hands joined, woman travel anticlockwise around the man, who stays still
B1 (8) Repeat A1
B2 (4) Slide in and out
(2) Peeks again
(2) As in A2, woman goes anticlockwise around the man but finishes behind him.
Then drop hands and take hold of a new partner
Note that the woman does not see who her new partner is until the peek in A1
Any comments - email pfoster@pcug.org.au