Couple Dances

Dances for Couples

Seven Step Polka

Difficulty=1. Source=Tom Anderson, Shetland Fiddler. Music=Penny on the Water (12 bar tunes).
Face partner and hold hands

4 bars. Take 7 steps to the man's left then 7 steps back, to the woman's left.

4 bars. Man pushes his partner 1 double step, Woman pushes man 1 double step
Double step to mans left, double step to womans left.

4 bars. Polka around

Caerphilly March

Difficulty=1. Source=?. Music=32bars march/jig.

Stand next to each other, woman on man's right. hold left hands in front of each other, hold right hands behind woman (as in the Gay Gordons

A1. March forward 4 steps, turning on the fourth (don't let go hands), march backwards for 4 steps. .
Repeat.

A2. Face partner, clap hands, clap partner's right, clap, clap partners left, clap, clap behind you, clap,
clap both hands with partner. Repeat clapping sequence.

B1. Right hand turn with partner, repeat with left arms

B2. Polka around

An alternative clapping sequence is...Clap, clap hands under your right leg, clap, clap under your left leg, clap, clap behind you, clap, clap both hands with your partner

Fennol

Difficulty= 1-2 Source=Welsh Traditional (given by P. Chadbund) Music= 32 bar polka

A1 Balance away from your partner, together and take 3 steps forward, turn and repeat the phrase.
A2 RH turn partner, man moves to the woman in front and LH turns her (progression)
B1 Clap own hands together, right with ptr, tog, left, tog, cross (across chest), both with ptr. Repeat.
B2 Swing

Pete suggests this might be the origin of Caerphilly March, I include it here rather than in the page on circle dances to allow easy comparison with Caerphilly March and by removing the progression it becomes a couple dance. In fact several dances on this page e.g. Caerphilly March, Heel and Toe Polka, Breton Polka can be made progressive and are then done in circle formation. I know many would disagree but I find novice dancers enjoy couple dances and can be nervous of progressive dances. They are also useful at dances where both adults and children are present as parent and child can stay together and as they are usually quite simple two children can usually manage (often better than the adults!)

Breton Polka

Difficulty=1. Source=unknown. Music=24 bar polkas (ABB).

I came across this some years ago at a Fest Noz near Vanne (Brittany). I don't know the name of it and I've never come across anything like it in Brittany since but I suspect it is in fact from further North - Belgium, Netherlands possibly.

Face partner

A1. Stamp Right foot 3 times. Clap hands 3 times. Give RH to partner and make arch,
woman turns under arch and back (quickly)
Repeat.

B1. Right and left hand turn

B2. Polka around (In Brittany some couples changed partners during the polka)

The Ideal Schottische

Difficulty=1. Source=Cock and Bull Band Music=8 bar Hornpipe

I have known this dance for many years, originally dancing it with the Cock and Bull Band. The notes with their album "All Buttoned Up" offer no original source but Eddie Upton says he "Got it from Dave Hunt who got it from Roger Watson who got it from...."

Hold both hands with your partner in a circle with the man facing out

bar 1. Dance 3 side steps to man's left (anticlockwise). On 4th step let go leading hand,
bring trailing hand forward so you are back to back with your partner.

bar 2. Keep going anticlockwise and dance a double step (1,2,3 hop)

bar 3. Dance 3 steps clockwise and turn on the 4th step so you are facing your partner.

bar 4. Keep dancing clockwise and dance a double step.

bar 5-6. Dance two hop steps into the middle of the room (man dances backwards) and 2 steps out

bar 7-8. Ballroom hold, dance 4 hop steps around.

Breton Schottische

Difficulty=1. Source=N/A Music=schottische

This simple couple dance seems to be very widespread, at least in Brittany and seems to be adapted by dancers to fit a variety of tempos and rhythms.

Ballroom hold with your partner

bar 1. Double step to the man's left (1,2,3,hop - although the hop is not pronounced).

bar 2. Double step to the woman's left

bar 3-4. Dance around with four hop steps

Heel and Toe Polka (Dutch version)

Difficulty= 1-2 Source=Traditional (via Jo Freya?) Music= 32 bar polka

Couples stand next to their partners (promenade hold) in a circle facing anticlockwise. Basic step is "Heel&Toe and three steps". beginning with the right foot this would be done as follows: Place right heel down, place right toe down, take three walk steps forward beginning with the right foot. this will leave the left foot raised to do the step to the left.

A1 Heel&Toe 1,2,3 moving forwards; repeat three times.
A2 Give ballroom hold with partner. Heel&Toe 1,2,3 moving anticlockwise, repeat but moving clockwise; repeat the sequence.
B1 Stand facing anticlockwise. Heel&Toe 1,2,3 moving away from partner, repeat moving back to partner; repeat the sequence
B2 Polka around

Boston Two Step

Difficulty= 1 Source=Traditional/Old time Music= 16 bar jig

Stand next to partner holding nearest hand. Face anticlockwise around the room

A1 Step apart, step together, march forward for 4 steps turning to face clockwise on the last step. Repeat moving clockwise
B1 Give two hands to partner, do 2 chassee steps in each direction. Polka around

Mexican Waltz

Difficulty= 1 Source=Traditional/Old time Music= 16 bar waltz

Stand next to partner holding nearest hand. Face anticlockwise around the room

A1 Sway forward and back; turn away from your partner and spin around until you face your partner and clap hands twice. Repeat beginning facing clockwise around the circle.
B1 Give two hands to partner, pull together, push apart and together again, clap hands behind your partner's back (very cosy!). Waltz around (4 steps)