(18th CENTURY)
A Morris dance for four men or two men and two girls.
Standing exactly behind each other in one line they run in,
in a circle, ending in a square.
They swing their arms and their manner should be rollicking and
jovial.
First strain of music, 8 bars, played once for entrance, then
begin again.
Morris step.
For 1, right toe well turned in to left toe; and, move left foot on.
For 2, right foot on heel with a twist; and, move left foot on, repeat this twice, making three bars in all.
Fourth bar. 1, stamp on right foot; and, small step in same place on left; 2, draw right foot back, spring on it; and, put out left foot with heel on floor, toe turned up; this takes one bar.
Four bars repeat.
4 bars. Doing this step the two front men change places
backwards and forwards once with the back men
Four bars.
4 bars. They then repeat the step, changing places across, the 1st gentleman with 2nd ditto, the 3rd with the 4th, across stage.
8 bars. Standing in a square.
The 2nd and 4th gentlemen hold hands to make an arch, the
1st and 3rd gentlemen do a polka step to the right, and going
round the half circle look through the arch clapping hands at
each other as if boxing the ears on one side then on the other
then three times in the centre, thus -
(See Photograph.) This takes two bars. They then draw
back and each turns round on his own axis with right hand up
over head.
8 bars. Then immediately the 1st and 3rd men make an arch, and the 2nd and 4th dance round and clap through the arch as before.
All face inwards in square and do this Morris step in 2 bars.
1st bar 1. Right foot on heel.
2. Left on toe behind.
3. Right toe and left toe. Quick patter step.
4. Right toe and left on heel in front. Quick patter step.
2nd bar1. On right toe behind.
2. Left heel in front.
3. Right on toe behind and left toe. Quick patter step.
4. Right toe and left toe. Quick patter step.
4 bars. Repeat above twice more.
1 bar. Spring round half turn, spring back half turn,
one bar.
1 bar. Three springs, one for each beat of music, the
final one leaves them all with their right feet on the heel pointing
towards the centre, toes in the air.
All now facing inwards towards each other, join arms in a circle laying them one along the other shoulder high.
4 bars. Dance round in a circle (with the first step).
Then repeat, going to left; music gets gradually quicker, and
they get faster and faster until on the last bar they all suddenly
sit down on the floor with a yell and clap their hands on the
last note of music. All the feet should join in the centre.
To rise, all lean on right hands and two facing one way, two facing the other, spring up and run off. (See Photograph.)
Return to Index Step Stately back to Home Page