(17th CENTURY.)
For eight people, standing in two lines, facing each other.
4 bars. 1st
and 2nd gentlemen hold hands, also the 3rd and 4th ladies;
both couples beginning with the right foot, do a polka step backwards,
falling back from the line; this is repeated backwards and forwards,
four bars.
4 bars. Backwards and forwards. Eight bars in all.
The step, which is a Morris step, is like the ordinary polka
with the exception of the last beat of the four, which instead
of having the foot in the air, is stamped on the ground for four:
going backwards, the stamp comes on the front foot; going forward,
the stamp comes behind with the foot on the toe. The stamp should
be very decided, and comes on the 4th beat of the music.
2 bars. Then all the dancers curtsey and bow to
each other for two bars.
2 bars. All turn round rapidly on their own axis on the
outside foot (that further from the partner), the inside
foot very pointed and beating time to the music as they turn.
The outside hand is held over head.
2 bars. Repeat turn inwards, changing the hand
and foot.
2 bars. Ladies curtsey and gentlemen bow.
16 bars. Now the 1st and 2nd lady and 3rd and 4th gentlemen
repeat the whole figure through again.
During the final turns the 2nd lady and gentleman and 4th lady
and gentleman change places, finishing on the opposite sides,
with ladies and gentlemen alternately down each line. (See margin.)
2 bars. The four gentlemen galop to the centre, linking arms with each other, placing their outside hands on their hips, standing in a star.
2 bars.
The ladies then chassé forward and clasp their hands through
their partners' outside arms, and facing the centre all galop
round in this position, the ladies pulling outwards; galop
4 bars. two bars to left, two bars to right.
8 bars. The ladies end in their own places, turn their backs on their partners, and face outwards; each one separately, linking her hands in front of her, does a jig step for six bars. Pat right foot four times, pat left foot four times. (See Photograph.)
Repeat pats twice ; eight in all ; and return to original places. Gentlemen meantime remain in the centre, with their backs to each other and facing outwards in a circle, link arms and galop eight steps to the right and eight steps to the left.
Return to original places.
Ladies immediately link arms in a row and galop through the gentlemen's ranks sideways.
The 4th lady leads first between the 3rd and 4th gentlemen. The
1st lady leads, returning between the 3rd and 2nd. The 4th lady
again leads between the 2nd and 1st gentlemen. The 1st lady leads,
returning in front of the 1st gentleman, and thus immediately
to their places in a line. While the ladies shoot in and out,
the gentlemen clap their hands in time to the music.
As soon as ever the ladies have regained their places the gentlemen repeat what the ladies have just done, going first in between the 3rd and 4th lady, etc.
The ladies clap hands while the gentlemen shoot.
During this figure the lines of the ladies or gentlemen galoping should be kept perfectly straight.
Having
regained original places, all the ladies on the one side and
all the gentlemen on the other, hold hands, and repeat half the
first figure.
4 bars. All do the first Morris step backwards and forwards
once.
2 bars. All turn singly on outside foot, turning rapidly
round, with outside hands over head.
2 bars. All reverse turn. Change hands and feet.
2 bars. Bow and curtsey all, to partners.
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