COCKLE SHELLS. (TAKEN FROM "PLAYFORD'S DANCING MASTER," 1718).
The music for this dance will be found in Curwen's Edition, No. 5645, Price 2s.A dance for four couples. Standing in two rows, the four ladies behind each other and the four gentlemen behind each other, they face towards the audience.
For the first figure the dancers remain in the same place the whole time.
FIGURE 1 (16 BARS). 2 bars. Pas de Basque to the right and to the left.
2 bars. Shuffle one bar with the right foot, one with the left.
2 bars. Pas de Basque to the left and right (small steps).
2 bars. Stamp the left foot in front and bend towards it, at the same time clap the hands together on first beat of music.
Point right foot behind for a short step on the half beat.
Stamp again with the left foot in front, clapping hands behind the back.
Repeat the stamp with the right foot.Say to pupils, count "1 and 2," or "Stamp-and-stamp" for these last two bars, and the right emphasis of the step will then be perceptible.
2 bars. Double shuffles, first with right foot, then with left foot.
2 bars. Pas de Basque to the left and right.
2 bars. Double shuffles with left and right foot.
2 bars. Repeat stamps with the right foot.
Repeat stamps with the left foot.
Clap hands in front and behind.FIGURE II (16 BARS). 2 bars. 1st gentleman dances Pas de Basque with right foot first, across to 1st and 2nd ladies.
2 bars. Then facing the two ladies takes first the 2nd lady's hand and then the 1st lady's (his own partner).
The ladies begin dancing the Pas de Basque step (very small) when he takes their hands. (See Photograph.)4 bars. The 1st gentleman turns both ladies under his arms, turning them both outwards away from each other, and then back again, then steps back to his original place.
All the above applies to the 4th lady, who does the same steps with the 3rd and 4th gentlemen.
8 bars. The 2nd lady and 3rd gentleman repeat what the 1st gentleman and 4th lady have just done, all ending in original places.FIGURE III (8 BARS). 2 bars. The first four dancers now change places.
1st gentleman crosses over, taking the 2nd lady by the right hand, and turns her under her own arm, changing places with her.
2 bars. The 1st lady and 2nd gentleman repeat as above.
4 bars. The back four dancing the same steps simultaneously, the front four and the back four take hands and galop round each in a circle until they reach their original places.FIGURE IV (8 BARS).
8 bars. Both lines cast off, the 1st lady turning to her right and dancing outside the line straight down to the back, all the ladies following her. The 1st gentleman does the same on the other side, all the gentlemen following him, and all dance up the middle back to places. Polka steps in three.FIGURE V (16 BARS). 8 bars. The first couple again cast off by themselves, going in and out of every person down the line, the lady going out and in between the ladies, the gentlemen out and in between the gentlemen. At the end of the line they return up, this time going in and out, till they are back in their places.
8 bars. Then the first couple take both hands, the gentleman takes lady's right hand in his right hand and her left in his left, and turn under each other's arms, first the lady turning, then the gentleman; they then galop down the middle, still holding hands, the gentleman's left hand behind the lady's head, her left hand holding his on her shoulder. They end at the bottom of the line.
Only the first lady and gentleman dance during this figure; all the others are stationary.
The second couple is now left in front: thus the dance can be repeated until all the dancers have had their turn.Four times through brings all the dancers back to their original places.
For performance, repeat only as often as required.
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