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Don't worry if you don't understand the terms used below, e.g., stars, do-si-do, baskets. All the dances are walked through before the music starts and then called throughout the dance. A glossary booklet is available.
This is a rough guide to the number and style of dances that may be done in a three to four hour event, mainly for people less familiar with dancing at ceilidhs or barn dances. A more complicated set of dances can be put together for more regular dancers who enjoy a wider selection. If you know of a dance or set of dances that you would like to put into an event please let me know and I will endeavour to include them. For example, at weddings you may want to start with a waltz to allow the bride and groom to start the dancing, and include Haste to the Wedding. A St. Patrick's Night (March 17th) or Burns' Night (January 25th) may want a slant towards Irish or Scots dances and music. However I do not do Scottish Dance events: they tend to be more specialised.
We prefer to finish by 11.30pm. (Playing and calling is exhausting work!) However, if an event starts to fade as people get tired / go home, it is preferable to finish a bit earlier than to struggle on and keep trying to make up sets.
DANCE TITLE |
FORMATION |
COMMENTS |
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| Djatchko Kolo | Kolo | A simple, warm-up, circle dance from the Middle East, without partners. |
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| Farmer's Jig | 4 couples longways | The dance starts with a walk, and then gallop up the room. There is a cast on both sides and an arch at the bottom of the set. |
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| Trip to Barford | 4 couples longways | Lines advance and retire, then do-si-do. There is a star formation in the centre of the set, while the end couples dance around them. |
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| Cumberland Square Eight | 4 couples square | This is a local favourite. Alternating pairs of couples do circles, stars and baskets. All then circle the set and finish with a promenade. |
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| Coming Round the Mountain | 4 couples square | An American square with couples each taking a turn to lead, doing circles, stars, baskets and a do-si-do. |
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| Lucky Seven | Circle with partners | Partners in a large circle advance and retire, then do a grand chain with sometimes interesting results. |
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Break ½ hour or so.
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| Gay Gordons | Circle with partners | A traditional Scottish dance. Partners promenade and turn. |
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| Swedish Masquerade | Circle with partners | A rather romantic, couple dance with waltzing and polka steps. |
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| Waves of Tory | 5 couples longways | Lines advance and retire, followed by a dip and dive sequence. |
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| Bridge of Athlone | 5 couples longways | Similar to above, but at an increased tempo with arches and swings. |
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| Dashing White Sergeant | 3 facing 3 | Circle the set then in lines set and swing, walk a reel, advance and retire and move on to a new opposing three. |
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| Gingerbread | 3 facing 3 | Similar moves, but there is a more complicated sequence of swings and stars. |
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| Lovers Knot | 4 couples longways | A great deal of fun! Lines of men, and then ladies, circle the set. The top couple weaves between the others to the bottom of the set. |
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| The Willow Tree | 8 couples longways | A bit more complicated, but great fun. This dance has a strip the willow sequence in it, done from both ends to the middle. |
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| Circassian Circle | Circle with partners | A traditional finishing dance. |
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