A dance for eight people, the dancers standing in two squares of four. Two couples stand facing the audience, the other two couples stand exactly behind.
8 bars.
As the music begins partners hold hands cross-wise, right in
right, left in left, and cross over to the other side, 1st couple
going to the 2nd couple's place, and vice versa, the 3rd
couple to the 4th's place; as they cross they do the following
step, to complete which takes four bars.
2 bars. Polka step.
1 bar. Swing left foot over right in air, with a small
hop swing right over left ditto.
1 bar. Three springs, changing the feet rapidly in the
5th position.
All couples start on inside feet, and the springs or changes come on the first three beats of the fourth bar, which completes the step and the phrase of music.
It is then repeated once more, dancers ending in two lines opposite each other.
4 bars.
The line called A, holding hands joined over head, polkas across
to B's place. At the same time B line crosses over dancing
underneath A's arms.
4 bars. Return to places this time, B line holding hands
up and A line going underneath.
2 bars.
Both lines now polka to centre and face each other, not holding
hands.
2 bars. Each gentleman takes lady opposite by both hands
(thus changing partners), and turns her under her arms
in the centre.
2 bars. Then each couple polkas to corners.
2 bars. At the corners each gentleman turns his lady under
with both hands, and ends on the right.
2 bars.
Each couple with hands crossed dances the polka step to the centre.
Gentlemen turn ladies under arms,
ending with all ladies in the centre.
Ladies hold left hands across to lady opposite, keeping a hold
of gentleman's right hand.
4 bars. A wheel is thus formed: all go round in circle,
the ladies going backwards and the gentlemen forward with the
polka step, four bars.
2 bars. Gentlemen then turn to centre, ladies coming outside,
still holding partners' right hands.
6 bars. The wheel is repeated round again, this time the
gentlemen going backwards and ladies forward.
2 bars. Polka with partner's hands crossed to corners,
gentlemen turn ladies under; end as previously.
(In this figure, the centre people, both ladies and gentlemen, go backwards, the outside people, who face the other way, going round forwards.)
4 bars.
Gentlemen now polka across to original partners, ladies standing
still; four bars.
4 bars. Partners take both hands, facing each other, the
lady dancing backwards. They do the Pas de Basque step, raising
their hands from side to side, and take
this position :-
8 bars.
Grand chain all round, each ending with original
partner.
2 bars.
All return to opposite corners with partners, polka step.
3 bars. Front couples turn to the couples directly behind
them and give right hands across. Polka round. Three bars.
3 bars. Change, giving left hands across. Polka round.
Three bars.
8 bars. Gentlemen taking partners' hands repeat the first step of all, and re-cross back to original places, ending:-
Return to Index Step Stately back to Home Page