These dances are done in square sets. A square consists of 4 couples, one couple on each side of a square. The couple with their back to the band is number 1, the couple on their right is number 2, and so on around the set. Couples 1 and 3 are the head couples, 2 and 4 are the side couples. Your partner is standing next to you (man on the left, woman on the right), the person on your other side is your corner.
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 Square
By Peter Foster
4 Couple Square
32 bar jig or reel
Medium
A1 (16) All 4 ladies chain across and back
A2 (4) Men cast: men pull their left shoulders back and move anticlockwise
around the outside one place
(4) Women cast: women pull their right shoulders back and move clockwise
around the outside one place
(4) Men cast again (one more place). This is your new partner
(4) Set to your new partner
B1 (16) Grand chain halfway, so you meet you new partner in the man's home
place. Swing
B2 (16) Promenade once around the set
The casting in A2 is pretty quick, dancers have only 4 steps to get around to the
next place.
This dance was adapted from "Untitled Square" (from Thomas Green's site) to include a partner change.
Named for the bush dance workshops, which are held in the Ainslie Hall.
Annette's Waltz By Peter Foster, January 1991 4 Couple Square 32 bar waltz Medium Figures in parentheses are bar counts A1 (2) Top couples advance (2) As tops retire, sides advance (2) Sides turn opposite person by right hand half way, retain hands and face the nearer top couple (gents facing gents, ladies facing ladies) (2) Change places with the couple you are facing, outside couples making an arch A2 (2) Couples in centre, turn opposite by the right hand half way, retain hands and face away from the other couple (2) These couples go forward two steps to finish on the sides (note - during these last four bars, the other couples may balance twice) (4) Everyone grand chain (grand right and left) for 2 hands (2 waltz steps for each hand). Everyone is now back where they started B1 (4) Turn partner right hand, all the way around, and a bit more (2) Men star left half way, women move clockwise around the outside one place to meet your new partner (2) Balance with new partner B2 (8) Waltz this new partner halfway around the set (men finish in original place) The dance is done 4 times, the tops leading twice and then the sides leading twice. Written for Annette Holden
Apple Blossom Square
By Peter Foster
4 Couple Square
32 bar jig or reel
Easy
A1 (8) Heads advance and retire
(8) Heads advance, let go of their partner, face the nearer side couple,
go through that couple and cast around to place
A2 (8) Everyone do si do partner (right shoulder)
(8) Everyone do si do corner left shoulder. Stay facing your corner
B1 (16) Turn corner left hand, come back to your partner for a grand chain
until you meet your corner again. Take a promende hold with this
person, who becomes your new partner
B2 (16) Promenade to the men's home place and swing
This dance was adapted from "Apple Tree Square" (from Thomas Green's site) to include a partner change.
Arkansas Traveller 4 Couple Square 32 bar reel Medium (because of A2) A1 (8) Heads advance and retire (8) Heads advance and retire again A2 (4) Heads turn the person opposite by the right hand (4) Heads turn partner left hand (4) Everyone turn corner right hand (4) Everyone turn partner left hand B1 (16) Swing corner (who becomes your new partner) B2 (16) Promenade to the man's home place Do 4 times, the heads leading twice and then the sides leading twice. A2 is pretty quick, especially that first turn (you only have 4 steps to get to your opposite and turn them all the way around)
Armstrong’s Waltz 32 bar waltz A1 (4) Turn corner left hand (4) Men right hand star A2 (2) Partner change left hand (2) Women right hand star (4) Men give right hand to women's left, turn into ballroom hold B1 (2) Balance in and out (2) Waltz one place around the square (4) Repeat the balance and waltz one place (now on opposite sides) B2 (2) Balance in and out (2) Men solo waltz on to next woman (new partner) (4) Waltz new partner to place
Bromyard Square Square set 32 bar reel (adapted from Colin Hume’s dance) A1 (8) First couple left-hand turn, the other three ladies chain one place (8) Second couple the same (man 2 turns whoever he is with) A2 (8) Third couple the same (8) Fourth couple the same, and you should have your partner back B1 (16) Men left hand star 3/4 and swing corner (new partner) B2 (16) Promenade to man's place (slightly more than once around) Note: this is my simplified version of Colin’s dance (I just changed the first half and the second half…) Keep the set small! And the men need to actively help the women into and out of the ladies chains. Also, if you do ladies chains with courtesy turns, then stay in the courtesy turn hold to do the extra turn, rather than doing a left hand turn. In A1/A2, each of the women does one solo turn – if one of them ends up doing 2 then something has gone wrong… You can do an amusing fudge so that everyone actually does get their partner back at the end of the dance: the last time through, when the men star left, say “Men star left until you see your original partner”.
Buffalo Gals
4 Couple Square
32 bar reel
Easy
A1 (16) Head women cast and go around the outside: they pull their
right shoulder back, go behind their partner and continue
clockwise around the outside of the set until they get home
A2 (8) Everyone do si do partner right shoulder
(8) Everyone do si do corner left shoulder
B1 (16) Swing partner
B2 (16) Promenade
Repeat with side women casting, then head men (men cast by pulling back
their left shoulder and going anticlockwise around the outside),
then side men, then all the women, then all the men.
You can spice it up a bit with things like "all those wearing black
shoes, cast".
Camille's Quadrille
By Walter Lenk
Square set
32 bar reel
A1 (16) Heads half right and left, sides (overlapping) half right and left,
heads half ladies chain, sides half ladies chain (it's quick!)
A2 (8) Dosido corner
(8) Swing partner (actually, the one you finished the ladies chain with)
B1 (8) All circle left half way
(8) Swing corner (new partner)
B2 (16) Promenade to man's place
Can Can Quadrille
Square set
By Steve Bullock
Music: Can Can (48 bars)
A1 (4) Head couples pass through, remain facing out
(4) Head couples can can (see below)
(4) Side couples pass through, remain facing out
(4) Side couples can can
A2 (16) Repeat A1 to get back to place
B1 (16) With corner, give right hand and pass by,
with the next person (your original opposite) do a left hand turn all the way to face back the way you came.
Then right hand pass corner, left hand pass partner to face far corner
B2 (16) Do the chain again, this time starting with far corner.
At the end of the final left hand pass with partner, all finish in a circle
C1 (12) 3 can can steps
(4) Turn around on the spot to face out, take hands again
C2 (12) 3 can can steps
(4) Turn around on the spot to face back in
On the repeat, the sides lead the dance
Can can step (takes 4 beats):
Step onto right foot and swing the left foot across in front, then step on the left foot and swing the right foot
(energetic dancers can do the entire dance with the can can step...)
Note about the A part: couples can turn around as the next couples start their pass through.
Alternatively, more experienced dancers can turn while doing the can can
Clarissa’s Catch
Peter Foster 2 May 2018
Square set
4x32 jig or reel
A1 (16) Couple 1 visit the set
A2 (16) (Chase) Woman 1, followed by her partner, go anticlockwise around the outside
of the set. Re-enter the set between the opposite couple, woman 1 finish in
original place, man 1 finish in the middle
B1 (16) Circle left and right around the man in the middle while he shows off
B2 (4) All advance to the centre
(4) Woman 1 pick up her partner, all retire to place
(8) All swing partner
Repeat for each couple in turn
This dance was written for the wedding of Clarissa and Simon. There is some symbolism:
A1 is the showing off of your prospective soulmate
A2 the man chases his partner, but it is the man who gets caught! (This is Clarissa's catch)
B1 the man needs to prove himself worthy by showing off appropriately
B2 the woman takes her catch home and everyone celebrates
For the chase, it doesn't matter where the woman re-enters the set. I have suggested entering
between the opposite couple, as that is the easiest to describe, but feel free to re-enter the
set somewhere else.
If the dance is repeated, a variation is Simon's Snare. This is the same, except that the
man leads in A2, going around the outside clockwise, being chased by the woman, who is then
the one ensnared.
Colonials Quadrille (Canberra version)
4 Couple Square
48 bar reel
Easy
A1 (16) All circle left and right
A2 (16) Couple 1 visit (in promenade hold, go anticlockwise inside
the set, acknowledging each couple in turn)
B1 (8) Heads half right and left
(8) Sides half right and left
B2 (8) Heads half right and left
(8) Sides half right and left
C1/C2 (32) Grand chain all the way around the set, swing partner
Repeat 3 more times with each couple in turn leading (when a side couple
is leading it is the sides who start the rights and lefts in B1/B2)
Colonials Quadrille (Sydney version)
4 Couple Square
64 bar reel
Easy
A1 (16) All circle left and right
A2 (16) Couple 1 visit (in promenade hold, go anticlockwise inside
the set, acknowledging each couple in turn)
B1 (8) Heads half right and left
(8) Sides half right and left
B2 (8) Heads half right and left
(8) Sides half right and left
C1/C2 (32) Grand chain all the way around the set, swing partner
D1 (16) Ladies wheel: waist hold with partner, women make a right
hand star
D2 (16) Mens wheel: still in a waist hold with partner, come back with
the men making a left hand star
Repeat 3 more times with each couple in turn leading (when a side couple
is leading it is the sides who start the rights and lefts in B1/B2)
Colonials Quadrille (Melbourne version)
4 Couple Square
48 bar reel
Easy
A1 (16) All circle left and right
A2 (16) Couple 1 visit (in promenade hold, go anticlockwise inside
the set, acknowledging each couple in turn)
B1 (8) Heads half right and left
(8) Sides half right and left
B2 (16) Grand chain halfway
C1 (16) Ladies wheel: waist hold with partner, women make a right
hand star
C2 (16) Turn around (as a couple) and promenade home
Repeat 3 more times with each couple in turn leading (when a side couple
is leading it is the sides who start the rights and lefts in B1)
Corner to Corner
Peter Foster 22 April 2023
Square set, partner change
9x32 reel
The opposite sex people in the set are your partner, corner, opposite, far corner
(this last one is sometimes called the Right Hand Corner. or The Lady on the Right,
but I prefer the term Far Corner)
Break
A1/A2 (32) Turn corner left, pass partner right shoulder to face far corner
Turn far corner right, pass partner left shoulder to face corner
Continue: turn corner left, far corner right, corner left.
Finish facing partner
B/1/B2 (32) Grand chain all the way round the set, starting right hand to partner.
Swing partner at home to fill up the music
Figure
A1 (8) Head couples go forward and back
(8) Head women turn left hand and face corners in a line of 4 across the set
(the line will likely be on a slight angle)
A2 (16) Hey for 4 across the set (right shoulder start)
B1 (16) Everyone balance and swing corner (others need to wake up at this point)
B2 (16) Promenade to the man's place
Do head women, head men, side women, side men.
Do the break before each figure, with a final break at the end. Note that in the break you
meet your corners, before some of you do a hey with them.
After the left hand turn, make sure you finish facing your own corner. Note that, when
the women do this turn it is slightly more than once around; when the men do it is slightly
less than once around. The men may prefer to go around twice, but make sure you finish facing
your own corner!
The break is adapted from the singing square Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight
The First Coorong Quadrille
Peter Foster May 2018
A 4 figure quadrille, numbered anticlockwise 1, 3, 2, 4 (1 and 2 tops, 3 and 4 sides)
The dance is named for the Coorong Pavilion, the venue for the Heritage Ball at
the National Folk Festival in Canberra.
Figure 1 – Getting Acquainted
Jig, 4x32 bars
Bars Figure
8 Couple 1 visit the set
2 Tops advance, let go of partner and take hold of opposite
2 Women retire, taking their opposite man back with them
4 Tops swing their opposite
WHILE Sides half rights and lefts
4 Tops half ladies chain (to partner)
4 All advance and retire
8 All face partner, grand chain halfway and swing partner in home place
Repeat with each couple in turn leading the figure
Figure 2 – Chaining Ladies
Jig, 4x32 bars
Bars Figure
4 Tops half ladies chain
4 All swing corner, finish in SIDE lines (finish the swing with the
woman on the right of the man)
4 Lines advance and retire
4 Half ladies chain, turn to face up and down the room (top and bottom lines)
4 Half ladies chain, turn to face across (side lines)
4 Half ladies chain (to partner), stay in the ladies chain hold, finish the courtesy turn
facing anticlockwise around the set
8 Still in ladies chain hold, promenade once around the set to home place
Do 4 times, lead by tops, sides, tops, sides
(when sides are leading, form top and bottom lines after the swing)
Notes:
For the corner swing, the corners should wait in place and let the lead people come to them. This way
there is less confusion over whether to finish in side lines or top and bottom lines. Also, after
the initial ladies chain, it is nice for the man to gently assist that woman toward her corner, after
which he then goes to his corner.
In the middle of the dance, the 3 successive half ladies chains have a bit of variety in the courtesy
turns: some are short (just 3/4 around), others are long (1+1/4 around). Dancers (especially the men)
should adjust their tempo to ensure these are done smoothly.
Figure 3 - Making Waves
Reel 4x32
Bars Figure
4 Tops advance and retire
4 Tops half rights and lefts
2 Tops advance, take opposite with left hand, men take right hands to make a wavy line of 4
2 Balance in line
2 Men right hand turn halfway, take partner's left hand to remake the wavy line of 4
2 Balance in line
4 All left hand turn partner (sides also turning partner) to make a wavy line of 8 with the women
on the outside (sides turn just 3/4)
4 Balance in line twice
8 Promenade partner (men turning around to get into promenade hold), finish in home place
Do 4 times, lead by tops, sides, tops, sides
Note: to get into the promenade, everyone drop right hands. Retain left hands and men turn around and take
promenade hold with partner (the women do not turn around)
Figure 4 - Giving Thanks
Waltz 4x32, plus a 32 bar coda for the waltz the hall
Bars Figure
2 Man 1, solo visit: go around anticlockwise inside the set, to your far corner and acknowledge that person
2 Man 1 continue around to the next woman (original opposite) and acknowledge
2 Continue around to corner, acknowledge
2 Continue around to place and acknowledge partner
8 Woman 1 solo visit clockwise (so starting with far corner)
8 All face partner and grand chain halfway (2 bars per hand)
8 All waltz partner home
96 Repeat with each couple in turn leading the figure. Then coda:
32 Waltz the hall
The visiting bit is fairly quick: the dancers take 2 bars to move to the next person,
acknowledging (with a bow/curtsy) on the second bar
Four Leaf Clover
4 Couple Square
32 bar waltz, four times through
Peter Foster 5 April 2012
A1 (8) Grand chain halfway around (meet partner on opposite side of the set)
A2 (8) Waltz partner home
Now for the cloverleaf movement - see below for more detail
B1 (4) Women cast one place, men star left halfway, change right hand with the one you meet
(4) Men cast one place, women star left halfway, change right hand with the one you meet
B2 (4) Women cast one place, men star left halfway, take the one you meet (your original corner) in a ballroom hold
(4) Waltz one place around
Men are now home, women have progressed right
In B1, here is a more detailed description of the Cloverleaf movement:
Ladies: Cast out clockwise 1 place (3 waltz steps) while…
Gents: Left-hand star 1/2 way (3 waltz steps)
Cross right-hand with this person (original corner) changing places (1 waltz step)
Ladies: Left-hand star 1/2 way (3 waltz steps) while…
Gents: Cast out clockwise 1 place (3 waltz steps)
Cross right-hand with this person (original partner) changing places (1 waltz step)
For B2, do the first half of the cloverleaf move again. Then waltz corner to the mans home place
Inspired by Cloverleaf Quadrille by Lucy Stockdale
Four Sisters Square Dance
Square, numbered anticlockwise 1234
4x64 jig or reel
by Peter Foster
For the four sisters at the Monday dances (Sarah, Bec, Naomi and Phoebe)
A1 (16) Woman 1 goes into the middle and shows off as the others circle left and right around her.
She stays in the middle and faces partner for...
A2B (48) (Strip the willow type sequence): Woman 1 turn partner right, corner left, partner right,
opposite left, partner right, far corner left, partner right.
Then turn opposite WOMAN left 1+1/2 so that they both finish with their opposite men for a swing.
C1 (8) All circle left halfway and swing corner
C2 (16) Open out in waist-shoulder hold, men take left hands to star promenade to
the men's home, butterfly whirl in place
D1 (8) All 4 ladies chain across
(8) Ladies chain on the diagonal to return to partner (could be either diagonal - ladies, look for
your partner so you can chain toward him)
D2 (8) Everyone into the middle and back
(8) Swing partner
Next time woman 2 starts etc
Butterfly whirl: still in waist/shoulder hold, turn as a couple, man going backwards, woman forwards. In
this dance you will probably go twice around
Hole in the Floor
Peter Foster 21 Feb 2019
Square set (or 5 couple circle – see note)
32 bar jig or reel
A1 (16) All circle left and right
A2 (16) Women move left (in front of their partner) to the next man (their far corner). Swing
B1 (8) Men move right, in front of the woman they have just swung, then behind the next to
get to the woman opposite
(8) Dosido this person (new partner)
B2 (16) Grand chain halfway and swing new partner
Men are stationary, women progress.
Inspired by a hole in the floor that people were avoiding. In this dance, no one goes through the middle of
the set, so it is okay if there is a hole there. Mind you, that is not a very strong theme. For example,
Round and Around also happens to have this feature.
Although it was designed as a square, the dance can also be done in a 5 couple set. An important difference is
that the grand chain is still only 4 hands, so the final swing is not with the person you did the dosido with.
Also, men and women both progress – after 5 times through you will finish in original place, having danced
in every position and with each person.
The Heartbreaker
4 Couple Square
32 bar jig or reel
Easy
A1 (16) All circle left and right
A2 (16) Couple 1 visit (in promenade hold, go anticlockwise inside
the set, acknowledging each couple in turn)
B1 (16) Couple 1 dance the heartbreaker: 1s separate, go through the
nearest side couple, go around the outside to meet, then come
up through couple 3 to get back to place
B2 (16) All swing partner
A slight variation of Pete Coe's dance.
Jig a Jig Square
(version of Martyn Harvey's dance)
4 Couple Square
64 bar jig
Medium
A1 (16) Man 1 weaves around the set, passing partner on the inside,
then outside couple 2, inside couple 3, outside couple 4 to
place
A2 (16) Woman 1 weaves
B1 (8) All do si do partner
(8) All do si do corner
B2 (16) Balance and swing partner
C1 (8 Men left hand star
(8) Men right hand star. Stay in the star and pick up partner (hand
hold, not waist hold) for...
C2 (16) Star promenade once around (clockwise). Let go of the star but
keep partner's hand, raise it to make an arch. All stand still
except couple 1
D1/D2 (32) Couple 1 turn around and tunnel under the arches made by 2, 3
and 4. As soon as 1s have passed, 2s turn and follow them etc.
When 1s get home they arch, 2s and 3s likewise. Swing if there
is time left over
In D1, when the couple turn around they simply turn on the spot, turning
toward their partner so that they are facing anticlockwise with the man
on the left, woman on the right.
Second time through it is the 2s who weave and start the tunnelling etc.
This is a version of the dance by Martyn Harvey (from Thomas Green's dance
pages). There is the following comment "At a workshop, Martyn Harvey said
that the second time through the dance, the 1s always tried to follow the
2s through the tunnels instead of standing and waiting, so it needed to
be emphasized that they should wait. A suggestion was that couples should
turn round before tunnelling and go the other way through the arches."
This version takes up that suggestion, slightly rearranging the dance so
that the tunnelling still occurs in the "natural" direction (anticlockwise).
So I tried it out, and then...
The second time through, couple 1 immediately turned around and tried
to follow the 2s!
Kamikaze Corner
Peter Foster 15 May 2023
Grid Square
32 bar reel
A1 (4) Head couple go forward, take hand with opposite (man right, woman left) and
face the nearer side couple
(4) Side couple separate, everyone pass through. Sides will meet their opposite in
head positions, heads are with their opposite in the side positions (if it helps,
you can think of this first 8 steps as being like a (partial) grand square)
(8) Swing, finish facing in with the woman on the right
A2 (8) Circle left for 8 steps
(8) Drop hands and come back the other way, single file
B1 (16) Men (or women – see note) star left halfway, pick up partner (inside hand only,
not a waist hold) and star promenade halfway. Let go of the star and whirl with
partner to face out of your set, so you are facing a couple from an adjacent
set (or facing a wall)
Those who are facing a wall simply turn back in
Those who are facing another couple take hands in a ring of 4
B2 (4) Balance the ring
(4) Drop hands and pass through (right shoulder) into new set
(8) Everyone swing partner, finish facing into your (new) set with the woman on the right
This is a grid square. You keep your partner, but move into other squares around the hall.
To set it up, have people form squares as usual. Then arrange these squares into a compact grid. Arrange them
in rows and columns, with no space between them.
As an example, 6 squares can be arranged as 3x2. Or 9 squares as 3x3. 8 squares can be arranged as 2x4 or even
as 3x3 with one corner missing (that is, a row of 3, another row of 3, then a row of 2). Avoid having a row with
just a single square. So if there are 10 squares, arrange them 3, 3, 2, 2 rather than 3, 3, 3, 1.
In B1, the men lead the star promenade. Occasionally, have the women lead this instead. That is, the women make
the left hand star and pick up their partner for the star promenade. This could feel a little odd, as you are on
the “wrong” side of your partner. But the subsequent partner swing will fix that up.
An important note regarding the progression
When the men lead the star promenade, it results in the square progressing one place to the left. When the women
lead it, the square progresses to the right. Do NOT simply alternate them, as it results in some couples stuck in
one corner of the hall, moving back and forth between 2 places. In general, do the men star, with an occasional
women star. For example MMMWMMMWMMMWMM etc
Note that if you only do the men star, there are some issues with the mixing:
- Couples in the middle (where the action is) move around the same 4 positions. So while they do meet other people,
they stay in one part of the hall, just in this 4 square block
- Couples on the outside migrate around the outside. So they do travel all around the hall. However, they keep
getting some of the same couples in these squares (basically, couples follow each other around the outside)
That is why you should occasionally throw in a women star, to progress the other way and throw some couples into
different orbits. So repeating the sequence men, men, men, women is a good compromise between easy to remember
for the caller, and a reasonable mix up of the dancers.
Oh, and the dance is named for a very confusing roundabout in Bilgola, NSW, that the locals have dubbed Kamikaze Corner.
Although there is another confusing intersection, with the same nickname, in Leongatha Vic. So choose whichever is more local.
King George Square
by Phil Wilson
4 Couple Square
64 bar jig
Medium
A1 (8) Set twice to partner (or hold both hands and step kick twice)
(8) Swing partner
A2 (16) Repeat with corner. Finish in original place
B1 (8) All 4 ladies chain across
(8) Promenade halfway, so the women are back home
B2 (8) All 4 ladies chain across
(8) Promenade halfway, so everyone is home
C1/C2 (32) Square strip the willow: top men turn right arm 3/4, then
turn that woman left arm, repeat until men turn their
partner into place
D1 (16) All circle left for 16 steps
D2 (16) Promenade once around
Second time through the side men do the strip the willow, then
the top women, then the side women.
La Russe Quadrille Square set Music: 64 bar reel A1 (8) Men cast out by left shoulder and go behind their partner and around to the next woman (their “far corner”) (8) Set to and swing this person A2 (8) Men return to place (again going behind their original partner) (8) Set to and swing partner B1 (16) 1s keep swinging B2 (16) 1s visit the set C1 (8) 1s and 3s cross (3s arching), partners change places with a California twirl (8) Cross back and change places again C2 (16) 2s and 4s cross and return D1 (16) circle left all the way (16 steps) D2 (16) Promenade back to place Each couple in turn leads the dance You can make the dance a bit zippier by doing C1/C2 at double speed, overlapping the rights and lefts (so sides cross over on the heels of the tops etc). So everyone then crosses over and back twice
Lost In Space
By Peter Foster 15 Aug 2016
Square, 64 bar figure
Keep partner, each couple leads in turn
A1 (16) Couple 1 visit the set
A2 (16) Head men cross the set and swing their opposite lady
B1 (16) All circle left about halfway and swing corner. Square up (head men are now home)
B2 (8) Ladies chain on the diagonal to original partner
(8) Forward and back, taking hands in a circle
C1 (16) Man 1 lead the set out to a line
C2 (16) Face partner and do a half reel of 8
D1 (16) Swing partner, finish facing back the way you came in promenade hold
D2 (16) Promenade back to original place, couple 1 in the lead (when you get back to where
your square was, turn left to promenade around in the usual anticlockwise direction)
Repeat for each couple in turn (of course, when 2 or 4 lead, it is the side men who cross in A2)
The diagonal ladies chain may be confusing, but it is always to your partner, which makes it easier.
The name comes from the fact that you will be going all over the room, visiting each wall in turn,
and will need to find your way back to the right place
This is another dance with the lead-to-a-line/reel/swing/promenade sequence (the others
are Roll Out the Daryl and The Fishermen's Reel).
This is probably the best one, being the easiest (you keep both your partner and your original
position) and having some fairly organised chaos with leading out in each direction in turn
Push and Shove
Author unknown
Square Set
4x48 jig or reel
A1 (16) First couple cross the set, split the threes, separate, and stand behind the side person of their sex.
Gently push this side person into the centre and take their place. The people who were pushed
into the middle now swing and go to the empty gap in the set (in this case, first place)
A2 (16) The same man (with a different woman) cross the set, split the opposite couple, separate and
push new people in to the centre for them to swing to the gap (actually, the same woman gets
pushed each time)
B1 (16) Same man (with another different woman) repeats the figure once more.
All are now reunited with partner, but progressed one place round the set
B2 (8) Corner left hand turn
(8) Partner dosido
C (32) Grand chain all the way around the set and swing partner (finish in these progressed positions)
The new number 1 man leads the dance next time
If you repeat the dance, suggest having the women lead the second time. That is, woman 1 repeats
the push and shove bit, with different men. Note that the dance then progesses in the other direction
For a 3 couple version of this dance, see Push and Mini Shove on the Other Formations page
Roll Out the Daryl
by Peter Foster
4 couple square
Music: Beer Barrel Polka (48+32)*4
Medium
Nominate one man in the set as Daryl.
Have the women note their starting position (the women always return to
their home place each time through the dance)
A1 (8) Daryl couple and couple opposite galop in and out
(8) Same two couples polka across
A2 (8) Everyone galop in and out
(8) Everyone polka halfway around
B1 (8) Partner do si do
(8) Partner right hand turn (actually 1+1/4, but who's counting)
B2 (16) Men star left halfway, pick up opposite woman in a waist hold,
star promenade halfway (so men are back to where they started the
star), then butterfly whirl in place (butterfly whirl: still in the
waist hold, turn as a couple, man moving backwards, woman forwards)
C1 (8) All 4 ladies chain 1 place only
(8) All 4 ladies chain 1 more place
C2 (8) All 4 ladies chain 1 more place (this is your new partner)
(8) With new partner, forward and back, take hands in a circle, Daryl
drop left hand and...
Chorus ("Roll out the Daryl")
D1 (16) Daryl leads the set out to a line. Then all face partner
D2 (16) Half reel of 8 (ie until you meet this same person again)
E1 (16) Swing this person, finish in a promenade hold facing back the way
you came
E2 (16) Promenade to the *woman's* home place (swing if time left over)
Note that in the promenade, Daryl is again leading. On the way home he
needs to turn left so that everyone is promenading anticlockwise around
their set. The promenade is less than once around (even Daryl only
promenades about 3/4 around, the others less)
Repeat 3 more times to get everyone back to their starting position.
Daryl remains the same man throughout the dance. Note that since Daryl changes
position, the lead out to a line is done in a different direction each time.
So this dance is a contender for the title of "the four couple dance that requires
the most space".
The lead out should be done by Daryl going directly to his left. Ideally he should
keep going in a straight line but he may need to deviate in order to avoid other
sets (or walls).
The dance can be made a bit less chaotic by having all Daryls in the same position,
so that all sets lead out in the same direction (for example, make man 4 Daryl, so
that all sets lead out in the direction of down the hall). Similarly, if you change the
dance so that you promenade to the man's home place then the lead out is always the same.
This makes it slightly easier, but I like the chaos of lines going every which way.
(See The Fishermen's Reel or Lost in Space for a slightly simpler version)
The tune is the Beer Barrel Polka (pdf).
Everyone knows the chorus ("Roll out the barrel...") but the verse is much less known.
It's 48 bars long, which combined with the 32 bar chorus makes for a dance of unusual length.
Written for Daryl Powell to celebrate his 65th birthday.
The Fishermen's Reel
by Peter Foster. Version 7 March 2013
4 couple square
Music: 4x64 bar jig or reel
Medium
A1 (8) Head couples forward and back
(8) Heads half ladies chain
A2 (8) Sides half right and left
(8) Sides half ladies chain
B1 (16) Men left hand star 3/4 (to corner) and swing
B2 (8) All 4 ladies chain across. This is your new partner
(8) Everyone go forward and back, taking hands in a circle
ready to "go fishing"
Go fishing:
C1 (16) The man who is now in fourth place goes straight down the hall to
lead the set out to a line. Then everyone face partner
C2 (16) Half reel of 8 (ie until you meet this same person again)
D1 (16) Swing this person, finish in a promenade hold facing up
D2 (16) With that same man still leading, promenade up the hall, turn
left and promenade around the set, that lead man finishing in
fourth place
Men have progressed left one place, women have progressed two places.
This is a simpler version of Roll Out the Daryl, with standard length music.
Each man gets to lead the figure and the lead out is less chaotic (but do
try the chaotic version. It's more fun)
The theme is simple: the men are fishermen, the women are fish. The "going
fishing" symbolises throwing out the line, hooking and landing a fish, then
the men bring their catch home. Tell this to the dancers at your own peril!
Round and Around
Peter Foster 11 March 2019
Square set
5x32 bar jig or reel
Easy
A1 (16) Head couples turn your back on your partner and go around the outside, all the
way until you get back to place (will pass partner halfway and again at home).
Finish facing corner
A2 (8) Everyone dosido corner (right shoulder)
(8) Everyone dosido partner (right shoulder)
B (32) Grand chain all the way around the set, swing partner at home
Do heads, sides, men, women, everybody (that last one is a touch chaotic!)
In going round the outside, men always travel clockwise, women anticlockwise.
When passing someone round the outside, pass right shoulder
Stour County Quadrille
4 Couple Square
32 bar waltz
Medium
(numbers in parentheses are bar counts)
Figure 1
A1 (8) Head couples waltz halfway around the outside
A2 (8) Side couples repeat
Chorus
All women turn to face out, take right hands with partner, left
with corner to make a wavy circle
B1 (2) Balance forward and back
(2) Right hand half turn. Take hands again in a wavy circle,
this time with the men facing out
(2) Balance
(2) Left hand half turn
B2 (4) Balance and right hand half turn
(4) Balance and left hand half turn
Everyone is now home
Figure 2
A1 (4) Heads take ballroom hold and slide in and out
(4) Heads waltz halfway across the set
A2 (8) Sides repeat
Repeat chorus to get home
Figure 3
A1 (8) Heads right hand star halfway, then continue to turn
partner right hand on the opposite side
A2 (8) Sides repeat
Repeat chorus to get home
Figure 4
A1 (4) Head ladies chain across by the right hand and turn
the opposite man left hand
(4) Side ladies repeat
A2 (4) Head men chain across by the left hand and turn
the opposite woman right hand
(4) Side men repeat
Repeat chorus to get home
Figure 5
A (16) Starting with corner, everyone waltz chain to the other side
(ie balance and turn lady under man's right arm, 4 times)
Repeat chorus to get home
That is 5x32 bars. You can add another 32 bars for a waltz the set and
waltz the hall.
In this dance, the figures get everyone accross the set, then the chorus
gets everyone back home. Feel free to mix and match figures (or even
make up new ones, eg pass through and turn partner right hand).
Any comments - email pfoster@pcug.org.au