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IN bringing out this set of Old English Dances, which have been taken from Thompson's Collection of Old Country Dances, the "Dancing Master" of John Playford, and other sources, I have taken pains, while carrying out the descriptions, to avoid the use of technical terms. The dances will thus be intelligible to the amateur teacher as well as to the professional. In describing the old steps, I have often called them by names now more generally understood, as, for instance, the polka step, which is very near of kin to many of the Morris steps, and with which every present-day teacher is acquainted. Should there be steps which, in spite of this, are not clear to all, I shall be pleased to teach and show them to any intending teachers, and to help unravel any knotty points. Further, in describing the figures, I have not dwelt on the importance of the pointed toe, the turn of the wrist, the graceful giving of the hands, the finished curtseys and bows. These and many other little touches I leave for the teacher to insist upon as they occur in the dance.
These joyous old dances, with their happy gaiety of tune and step, carry us back through the centuries to the ancient rustic revellings, when the country people made merry and danced to the fiddle and the drum. In performing these dances this atmosphere must be retained, or their pristine freshness and charm will be lost. But children are impressionable little mortals, and are quick to catch the idea of sprightly gaiety from such infectious airs and steps. Since I revived the first series of these dances in 1906, which included Kemps jig, Staines Morris, Devonshire House, Dull Sir John, Old Maid in Tears, and many others, they have sprung rapidly into fashion. And now these quaint old-world dances, I may say without exaggeration, are popular with prince and peasant alike.
Seven of the old airs in this series have been edited by Mr. Frank Kidson.
ALICE M. COWPER COLES.
52 DRAYCOTT PLACE,
LONDON, S.W.
July 8th, 1909.**************************************************
ALL IN A GARDEN GREEN ... ... ... ... 6 or 8 Dancers COCKLE SHELLS ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 8 Dancers STAINES MORRIS ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 8 Dancers THE FAITHFUL SHEPHERD ... ... ... ... ... ... 12 Dancers WOMAN'S WORK IS NEVER DONE ... ... ... 6 Dancers DARGASON, OR THE SEDANY ... ... ... 8 or more Dancers ALL IN A HURRY ... ... ... .. ... ... ... ... 8 Dancers THREE SHEEPSKINS ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 12 Dancers THE MAIDS' MORRIS ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 8 Dancers BUTTERED PEASE ... ... ... ... ... .. 4 or more Dancers MUSIC -The music of Nos. 1, 3, and 6 will be found in Curwen's Edition, No 5675, price 1s. That of the other dances is in Curwen's Edition, No. 5645, price 2s.