Longways Dances

These are dances in longways formation (Line of men facing a line of women) with men on the right when observed by the caller. The dances are usually for "As many as will". Most longways dances are "Duple minor" which means that couples are numbered as first or second couples all the way down the set. More rarely found today are triple minor dances where couples can be first, second or third. Some longways dances are 'improper', in these the second couples begin the dance on the 'wrong' side - the second men are on the left side.

Longways dances are the most difficult to explain to beginners. I often use "Snakes and Ladders" at Barn Dances, in this dance the progression is easy and I just make sure people know that if they fall off the end of the dance they must wait out for once through the dance and someone will come to them. I don't explain about the fact that they change numbers (2nd couple reaching the top of the set rejoin as a 1st couple) as this seems to come naturally (usually!!). I recently met Roger Watson and confessed to pinching his dance and changing it. He told me that he wrote the dance with the express purpose of helping new dancers to learn about longways dance progressions - how about giving it a try at your next Barn Dance.

Snakes and Ladders

Difficulty=1 Source=Brian Scowcroft - based on a dance I saw Roger Watson calling at Sidmouth 1982? Music= 32 bar Hornpipes

A1 1st man leads the two women twice (at least) around the 2nd man (anticlockwise)
A2 2nd man leads the 2 women around the first man as in A1 (clockwise)
B1 Whole pousette twice
B2 Face other cu. 1cu arch, 2cu pass under. 2cu arch, 1cu back up under the arch. 1cu arch, 2cu pass under (progression)

Rakes of Rochester

Difficulty=2 Source=This is a variation of a dance in the Kentish Hops Collection - A series of leaflets of dances from the 18/19th century with a Kent connection. This is recorded as from 1750 Music= 32 bar Hornpipes

A1 1st man RH turns 2nd woman. 1st man LH turns his partner
A2 1st woman LH turns 2nd man. 1st woman RH turns her partner
B1 1cu gallop down followed by the 2cu. Gallop back holding hands with the other cu (progression).
B2 R an L hand through (4 steps per change)

Jacks the Lad

Difficulty=1 Source= Trad. collected in Saddleworth. Became well known when included on the Albion Band album "Prospect Before Us". Music= Durham Rangers was used by the Albion Band. Any Polka/Rant works well. There is a 4/4 reel/hornpipe called Jacks the Lad, not sure if they went together though.

A1 The Hand Jive. Face partner, hold right hand up, palm facing partner.
       2 bars: Do 2 circles with R hand(as if cleaning windows). Clap own hands 3 times.
       2 bars: Do same but with left hand
       2 bars: One circle with RH, clap RH once with partner. Repeat with left hand
       2 bars: Circle twice with both hands, clap both hands with partner three times.
A2 R and L Hand star
B1 1cu promenade down set (either a saunter - steady walking step or a double step (1,2,3 hop although the collected version says hop, 1,2,3)
B2 Half pousette - first man pushes and second man pulls their partner to change places with the other couple (This can be done very slowly with a rant step or more quickly and everyone swings in their progressed position)

Recruiting Officer

Difficulty=2 Source=??I adapted this slightly from a dance on a leaflet in the Folk Shop. Can't find the original now Music= 32 bar jig/reel

A1 1cu gallop down the middle of the set (4 steps only) and back. 1cu separate and slip down the outside of the set and back
A2 1cu does a figure of 8 through the 2cu
B1 R/L hand star
B2 3 changes - give RH to partner, change places; give left to person next to you, change places; give right across set and change places (progression). Turn Single.

Guid Man of Ballanguigh

Difficulty=2 Source=Playford Music= Hunt the Squirrel (Will work with steady jigs or reels)

A1 1st cu cast down between the 2nd cu, men cast through the women
A2 2nd cu cast up between the 1st cu, women cast between the men
B1 1st man and 2nd woman set and turn single, 2nd man and 1sr woman set and turn single
B2 Circle half way around, fall back a step then advance forward (setting) and change sides to progressed positions