Social Dance Calling: Part Four

A Jig, a Waltz or a Hornpipe?

[ Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 ]

This is the fourth of a series of articles about calling for social folk dancing by Peter Barnard. For more information you can call Peter on (01427) 873937.

In this article I will be going through some of the basic terms you will come across in explaining the dances to others.

In previous articles I have looked at the basic building blocks of a dance (rhythm, speed, formation and so on). But these will be of little use unless you can explain to the dancers just what they are going to do! So, some definitions for basic dances:

DANCE FORMATlONS longways set - two lines of dancers facing each other, normally with men on one side and women on the other. square set - four couples standing side by side with their partner, each facing another couple. Each couple makes one side of the square. Couples are numbered anticlockwise, starting with couple no. 1 (with their backs to the band). TIP ­ Form the square shape by holding hands in a circle, your partner standing next to you. Drop hands with the person next to you who isn't your partner to make the square. circle - everyone stands in one large circle facing the centre, usually with the woman on the right hand side of the man. Sicilian circle - a two­couple unit with one couple facing another couple and each couple with backs to another couple in the unit behind. One couple faces clockwise and the other anticlockwise in a large circle. At the end of once through the dance each couple moves on in opposite directions to another couple.

THE BASlCS partner - in a longways set, your partner is normally the person opposite you. When facing the band the line of men are on the left­ hand side. In a square and circle set the woman normally stands on the right­hand side of the man. improper - starting on the wrong side of the set, the man where the woman normally is and vice versa top couples - in a longways set the couple nearest the band bottom couple - in a longways sef the couple furthest from the band head couples - In a square set the couple with their backs to the band and the couple facing them. side couples - in a square set the couples who are not the head couples corner person - the person of the opposite sex standing next to you in a square set and who is not your partner

SIMPLE STEPS step hop - The step is a simple left hop, right hop with an equal time between the step and the hop. double step - The step is 1-2-3-hop and lasts four beats. On the 1­ 2­3 part you change feet on each beat, then hop on the fourth beat (i.e. left-right-left-hop on the left). The single and double steps can be done interchangeably. and with or without a partner. skip step - Step onto one foot, then bounce on that foot before changing to the other foot and doing the same - although in fact the steps are in the rhythm 1-3, 1-3). It is a different rhythm to the step­ hop. waltz step - Done in a ballroom hold. A1­2­3 step. Change feet on each beat(i.e. left-right-left / right-left-right) . The first step is with the man's left and the woman's right foot. TIP - if the dancers find it hard to waltz, simplify the step to the first step only in each bar, changing feet on each step. chassay - a sideways movement, done facing your partner. Either with two hands with your partner in an open hand hold or in a ballroom hold. It is normally done first by going to the man's left. The step (for the man) is 'left - feet together - left pause'. Start with the foot facing the way you are going.

In the next article I will be going through some simple dance figures before we put these figures together in a couple of simple dances.

We are getting close to the point when we will be launching you on those eager dancers. If you can't wait until then and are keen to get going, why not come to an AVlD dance. If you don't have the details for the next ones, call Peter Barnard on 01427 873937.