Dances for Three Couples

Parsley Hay

Difficulty=2. Source=Brian Scowcroft Music=32 bar March/Polka/Reel.
Name of the dance comes from the Derbyshire village of that name which
I used to pass regularly on my way home.

A1. 1cu cross and weave to the bottom of the set. All back to back

A2. 1cu cross and weave back to the top. All back to back

B1. 1st cu face down and dip and dive once around (1cu under arch made by 2cu to begin)

B2. 1cu face 2cu, balance once and 1st cu under arch made by 2nd cu
1st cu repeat above with 3cu to progress to the bottom.

Bideford Bridge

Difficulty=2. Source=Eddie Upton?. Music=32bars march/jig.

A1. Circle left and right

A2. Middle couple swing, couples 1 and 3 Right and left hand through to place.

B1. Back to back with partners, 1cu dance to bottom of the set

B2. Dip and dive 1st cu start

Off She Goes

Difficulty=1. Source=Kentish Hops Collection Music=24 bar jig.

A1. Top cu gallop down the set, come back and cast to middle position

A2. Middle cu turn partner (Right arm), man turns bottom woman(left arm) while woman turns top man [1st corners].
Middle cu turn partner (Right arm), man turns top woman (left arm) while woman turns bottom man [second corners]

B1. Swing partner to bottom of set (progression) all swing.

Staffordshire Knot

Difficulty=1-2 Source=Dave Hunt ? Music= 32bar jigs/reels

The first figure is intended to mimic the county symbol of Staffordshire which is a knot with three loops, supposedly used to hang three victims simultaneously!

2nd man RH turns the botton woman; then LH turns the top woman
A2 2nd woman RH turns the top man; then LH turns the bottom man
B1 Reel of three along the line
B2 Tops swing down while others balance to their partner, all swing

Herne Bay Dance

Difficulty=2 Source=From a source (Clemanti) dated 1836, printed in the "Kentish Hops collection ? Music= 32bar jigs/reels

A1 1st couple cross into middle on the opposite side and do a reel of 3 or hey (1st cu begin hey by passing right shoulder with the bottom person).
A2 1st couple cross back and hey on their own side.
B1 All process down room, on return couples 2 and 3 arch over the first couple.
B2 Right and left hand turns (man turns the woman under as they return to place)

Go George, I can't endure you

Difficulty=2 Source=Collected in Rossendale by Julian Pilling. Printed in a booklet called "Down back o't shoddy"
Music= 32bar polka/reels

This dance must take the prize for the most ridiculous name ever. The booklet also contains the wonderful "Jack's the Lad" - the earliest recorded example of the handjive!!

A1 Men hold hands and dance around the women (hop 1,2,3 is the recorded step)
A2 Women dance around the men as in A1
B1 1st couple cross and cast into the middle place; swing - ending on the correct side.
B2 top two couple do a right and left hand through (4 changes). At the end of this the 1st couple (in the middle) face up making an arch and move backwards over the third couple to the bottom<

In the final section stars could be substituted for the right and left hands making the dance easier for novices.