3-Couple Dances 

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The Grandparents' Waltz       

Format: 3 couples longways.     Dance and Music: Colin Hume, 2003

A1:	(16 bars): Ones right-hand turn, cast to middle place (twos lead up) and pass each other left shoulder to face first corner (7 bars).  Step right (1 bar) and…
	Honour, step left and honour, turn single left ¾ to finish improper in middle place.  Left-hand turn partner a little more than once around to finish in the middle of the set facing second corners (the man facing diagonally up to the top lady, the lady facing diagonally down to the bottom man).
A2:	Pass second corners right shoulder: half a diagonal reel, then as the ones pass each other left shoulder they veer left to face first corner (the other opposite-sex person).  Three changes of a diagonal reel starting right shoulder, to finish with the corners in each other's places, the first man at the bottom between the twos and the first lady at the top between the threes (3 bars).  Ones step right (1 bar) and…
	Honour, step left and honour, turn single left ¾ and…  Loop left shoulder round right-hand same-sex neighbour to middle place: 3, 1, 2 all improper facing partner (3 bars).  Ones cross left and turn left while the others turn single left ¾ (1 bar).
B1:	(16 bars): All single file anti-clockwise half-way to 2,1 improper, 3.  Lines of three fall back a double; lead forward.
	Middles (ones) move out to your own right and circle left with this couple, then the ones break with your left hand and draw the line up or down (5 bars).  All pass through with opposite and stay facing out (2 bars).  Turn single left ¾ (1 bar).
B2:	All single file clockwise half-way to 3L 1M, 3M 2L,1L 2M.  Lines of three fall back a double; lead forward.
	Middles (2nd lady and 3rd man) move out to your own right and circle left with these two people, then the leaders break with your left hand and draw the line up or down (5 bars).  Ones in middle place two-hand turn half-way to your own side and fall back (3 bars).
Reverse progression.

Written for Malcolm and Barbara Shaffer on the arrival of their second grandchild.  I knew I'd got the music right the first time Barbara heard it, when she came up to me and said: “That's gorgeous.  What is it?  It sounds Jewish”.

The turn single left ¾ needs to be energetic — it's only one bar (three steps).  People have great difficulty with the timing of this dance.  There are six places where the musical phrase starts on bar 8 rather than bar 1, and each time there is a rising or falling three-note sequence for the step and honour or the turn single left three-quarters.  But people tend to think in 8-bar phrases rather than actually listening to the musical phrase.  I wrote the tune first, and usually I'm careful not to write a three-beat upbeat.  I've had arguments with Andrew Shaw about “Sally in out Alley”, for instance — he thinks people should start to move on the upbeat bar and I think they should wait until bar 1 proper.  But having written this tune, I had to write a dance which would fit it, which meant putting in movements which start at odd places and on the left foot (though Barbara says mentioning the feet only confuses people).

Barbara and Malcolm also said, “the half diagonal heys are one continuous flowing move, which should lead directly into the second honours and the cast to 2nd place improper.  Again the ones crossing just flows from the cast and it is difficult to get the other dancers to time their turn single in order to flow into circle anti-clockwise half-way.”

I would say that if they're listening for the rising three notes at the start of the musical phrase they should be able to do it.  It should be a case of the music telling you!

Their conclusion was, “In short, the whole dance just flows for the first couple, but you need the others to be aware of the importance of their timing.  Good dancers should very quickly be able to dance it without a call, because it is a dance that rewards a bit of effort to learn it.”

I hope they're right.

Laura and Filon       

Format: 3 couples longways, twos improper.
Dance: Colin Hume, 2003.     Music: Traditional Polish Folk Song (waltz)

A:	Twos face up: half a Grimstock hey (12 steps, finishing 3, 2, 1).  At the bottom: ladies cross (second and first ladies, on the diagonal); men cross (all right shoulder).
B1:	Tops (threes) cross down through the middles and go down the outside to the bottom, the others moving up.  All circle left 4 places, to finish opposite your shadow.
B2:	The same (led by the same third man, this time with the second lady).  The same, to finish opposite your partner.
Standard progression.

I've loved this tune for years — long before I met my Polish wife Renata.  My father travelled abroad a lot on business, and he brought back recordings of music from many countries, including an LP of Polish Folk Music.  I'd been meaning to write a dance to this tune for some years, and while I was staying with Susan Murrow in the States I had a go.  I wanted B1 and B2 to have the same moves, since they're the same music, and I had an idea of a three-couple set with the middles improper circling four places round.  Unfortunately I had started the A part with moves which made this totally impossible, so I struggled with it for a couple of hours and eventually gave up.  Back in England I scrapped the A part and wrote the dance in about five minutes!

A Grimstock hey is what they call in the States a mirror hey (because they don't know the dance Grimstock) and in Scottish reflection reels.  I could argue that a morris hey is also a mirror hey.  On the other hand, Americans could argue that there are three different heys in Grimstock!

Lucy       

Dance and Music: Colin Hume, 2006.

Format: 3 couples longways

A:	Ones give two hands: balance forward and back; let go with outside hand and star through.  Ones and twos the same.
B:	Join hands in lines of three and fall back two waltz steps; lead forward.  Do-si-do partner.
C:	Circle left.  Circle right.
D:	(12 bars): Ones (in middle place) cross; cast up to top.  Lead to the bottom, acknowledging each couple as you pass them (threes move up).  All two-hand turn.

For Lucy Ward, who has known me all her life.  First danced at the ceilidh following her wedding to Alex Dickson, 4th August 2007, with music from Folkus Pocus.  Lucy had trouble with the Star Through because she needed one hand to hold up the train of her wedding dress!  I've only called it the once, so it's possible I will change something.

“Star Through”:  Man let go with left hand; lady let go with right hand.  (In this dance it's easier to describe it as “Let go with your outside hand”.)  Raise your joined hands and both move forward, the lady going under the arch, to finish in each other's places standing side-by-side.  Star Through is not only a change position move but a change direction move. 

The New Man       

Dance: Colin Hume.  Music: Chris Dewhurst.  1987.

Format: 3 couples longways, Twos Improper.

A1:	Join hands in lines, go forward and back.  Men swing the lady below (leaving top lady, bottom man spare), finish facing out.
A2:	They lead away (go round a couple from the next set), wheel around and lead back, while the bottom man (the New Man of the title) seizes his chance to swing the top lady, and they lead up and wheel around.
B1:	Circle left (slip).  Circle right, making sure the New Man and his current partner finish at the top.
B2:	Grand chain all the way round.
C1:	Promenade with the same person, and when the new man and his lady reach the bottom they promenade up the middle followed by the others, back into a longways set.
C2:	Top couple long cast to middle place.  Half figure eight down through the bottom couple to finish improper, ready for the next turn of the dance.
Progressed position is 2M+3L, 1L+3M, 1M+2L.

Written for the wedding of Sian Morgan and Peter Gillam (with Chris Dewhurst playing the organ for the service at Castle Church, Stafford), and called by Joe Hodgson at the wedding ceilidh, 19th December 1987, with Alterations providing the music.

The music appears in the Cloverleaf Collection, Book 2, along with many other excellent country dance tunes composed by Chris Dewhurst.

Northbourne Hop       

Dance and Music: Colin Hume, 1998.

Format: 3 couples longways

A1:	Ones right-forearm turn 1½ (or 2½) with a step-hop.  Ones left-forearm turn neighbour 1½ or 2½.
A2:	Right-hand star for six (1-2-3-hop).  Back with the left.
B1:	In lines, four chassées diagonally right into one long line; four diagonally left (finishing with back to partner).  Four diagonally backwards left (into one long line); four diagonally backwards right.
B2:	Circle left half-way.  All cross-hand swing, finishing on original side.

Progressed position is 3, 1, 2.

I was lying in my tent at a Folk Camp at Northbourne in Kent when Barbara Bradford walked past and challenged me to write a hornpipe dance called “Northbourne Hop” — because of the association between Kent and hops.  I wrote this dance in four minutes — my record so far!

The Retiring Librarian       

Dance: Geoff Todd, 1994.

Format: Three couples circle.  Music: 32 bar jigs

A1:	Circle left.  Circle right.
A2:	Ladies right-hand star.  Left-hand star.
B1:	Do-si-do corner.  Swing (new partner).
B2:	Promenade anywhere, and find two more couples.

I suggest that the first time you swing your original partner, and the last time you finish with a basket of 6.  Most people eventually realise that you don't actually need three couples — but let them find this out for themselves!

Geoff Todd gave up calling some years ago — he said he was getting rusty and it was becoming a chore.  His dance “Left, Right and Centre” won the Beckenham and Croydon Dance Club's “Dance Search” Competition in 1986 and appears in the Dance Search book.

This one was written in 1994 for Sheila Mainwearing on her retirement as a librarian.  Sheila says it's not so much a retirement as having time to do the things she's really interested in, such as the excellent job she used to do booking (and looking after) bands and callers for Sidmouth Festival.  Anyone who knows Sheila will tell you that she's not the least bit retiring!

Six and Sixpenny Rant       

Dance: Manchester University Dance Group, c. 1970.

Format: 3 couples longways.     Music: 3 x 32-bar rants.

A1:	Middle couple stand still to act as posts, ends give right hands: First lady and third man dance a full figure of eight through the middles while their partners dance all the way round the outside (stepping).
A2:	Ends give left hands and do the reverse.
B1:	Ones lead to the bottom, the others come up the outside to invert the set.  Threes (at the top) face down, make a single-hand arch and lead to the bottom, the others turn in and dance up to finish 2, 1, 3.
B2:	Twos dance anti-clockwise all the way round the outside while the others dance anti-clockwise one and a half times round each other to finish 2, 3, 1.
Norman and Denise Bearon have provided the following background information:
The dance is based on Sussex Bonny Breastknot and was composed by small group of us whilst at university one evening after going back to someone's flat because we were not prepared to pay 6s 6d to get into the local dance (poor students as we were!)
One of the group (a Mr. Peter Fox) then went and published it in English Dance and Song magazine under this name.  At the time we were very upset with him over this because a) he had not consulted any of us, nor credited anyone else and b) although that title had been discussed we were concerned lest the real reason for the name became known and we did not want to upset the local District.  We wanted to call it “Varsity Rant”
We were at university 1968-72 and I guess the incident took place 1970 or 71.  It will have been published around 1971 or 1972 I expect.

Tamar Rant       

Dance: Maurice Dart.     Date unknown.

Format: 3 couples longways.     Music: 3 x 32-bar rants.

A1:	Ones cross diagonally down through the set, pass between the 2nd and 3rd person of the opposite sex and dance a figure of eight around these two people back to the top.
A2:	Mirror heys (Ones still improper) and one extra change to bring ones to middle place.
B1:	Man up, lady down: right-hand star with this couple.  Ones cross over, left-hand star with the other couple, again finish improper.
B2:	Ones half figure eight up through the twos.  Ones and threes swing and change (just half-way) to progress.

Repeat the whole dance twice more.  Rant step except in the stars.  Use plenty of space.

First published in English Dance and Song, Summer 1991.  By then Maurice Dart had lived in Devon and Cornwall for 59 years, and danced there for 39 of them.  He named this dance after the one common factor — the River Tamar.

Whitby Town       

Dance:  Elaine Beckingham.   Date unknown.

Music: 3 x 32 bar jigs.

Format: Three couple square (twos on the right of the ones, and a gap between twos and threes).

A1:	Men stand behind partners (optionally with hands on lady's waist): Shetland reel (reel of three with couples acting as a unit) started by the ones and twos passing right shoulder.
A2:	Ones and twos do-si-do opposite.  Ones and threes do-si-do opposite.
B1:	Twos and threes do a ladies chain (there and back) while ones wait for the ladies to cross, then lead through the other couples and cast back to place.
B2:	Ones and twos right and left through [half].  Ones and threes right and left through [half].

The second man must make sure he finishes the Shetland reel on his partner's left.

First published in English Dance and Song, Spring 1995.  Elaine Beckingham comes from Sheffield and is a well-known and popular caller in that area.  At that time she had been calling for about twenty years, and writes and calls dances in various styles — Playford, American and Ceilidh.  She has called with “Airs and Graces” for twelve years; she has done evenings of her own dances at Whitby Festival (where I came across her some years ago) and Sidmouth.  The formation of the dance is meant to represent Whitby with the East and West piers.  Her view is that a good caller must be very aware of the audience.  You're there for the dancers, not to show how good you are, and you need to remember that there was a time when you didn't know what the terms meant. She's also very keen that the dance should fit the music.

Barbara Walton's Delight       

Dance: Irene Crew.  Date unknown.

Format: 3 Couples longways.     Music: 3 x 32 bar reels.

A1:	Join hands in a circle of 6: set right only, slip left all the way (6 bars); in lines set right and left.
A2:	Ones and threes double figure eight round the twos: ones cast, threes cross up through the twos to start.
B1:	Middle man up, lady down: figure 8 through this couple.
B2:	At the top, right-hand star half-way; cross right with partner.  At the bottom, left-hand star half-way; cross left with partner.

First published in English Dance and Song, Autumn 1999.  For information about Irene Crew and Barbara Walton, see The Countryman's Hat

Colin's BMX       

(well — who's heard of his big LX?)

Dance and Music by Trevor Monson, October 2004.

3 couple longways — 2's improper

A	1-4	All back to back — 2's with 3's and 1's with partner,
	5-8	1's long cast into middle place while 2's 2-hand turn ½ way & lead up to top while 3's set & turn single.
B1	1-4	1's go right for right-hand stars of 3 once round at each end, 1's finish facing their 1st corners for…
	5-8	½ diagonal reel of 4 with 1st corners (passing right shoulder to start).  1's then pass right shoulder in the middle and face 2nd corners for…
B2	1-4	½ diagonal reel of 4 with 2nd corners (passing right shoulder to start).  1's finish in middle place improper for…
	5-8	1's go right for right-hand stars of 3 at each end.     (3 1 2 all improper)
C	1-4	Top 2 couples pot hook to change sides — 1st lady & 3rd man passing right to start and then 1st man & 3rd lady pass left
	5-8	Bottom 2 couples pot hook to change sides — 1st & 2nd ladies passing right and then 1st & 2nd men pass left.     (3 1 imp 2)

This is the first tune Trevor has ever written.  Keeping Thyme refused to play his F#dim chords, and Trevor admitted that he didn't understand chords at all!  I have replaced them with something more feasible.  He called the dance at my 60th birthday party dance (the “big LX”).

According to Wikipedia, BMX (an abbreviation for bicycle motocross) is a form of cycling on bikes, generally with 20 inch wheels.  It originated in California in the 1970s, where teenagers imitated their motocross heroes on their pedal bicycles.  I'm happy to say that I have never owned or ridden one.

The B part has a Scottish flavour and can be danced with a skip-change step provided you don't get ahead of the music!

For You Shall See       

Format: 3 couples longways.       Dance: Dick Hosking, 1998.
Music: 3 x 32 bar steady Scottish reels such as Miss Brook Reel.

A1:	Cross heys.
A2:	Hey own sides.
B1:	Lines forward and back.  Twos out to own right: right-hand star two places; all walk round the set two more places (men 2, 3, 1, ladies 3, 1, 2).  [Twos lead own-sex line home.]
B2:	Circle left (slip).  Circle right.
It's a change partner dance.

Written for his wife Maggie in memory of their honeymoon in 1993 near Fuschlsee.

December Rose       

Format: 3 couples longways.     Dance and Music: Colin Hume, 2003.

A1:	(24 bar jig): First lady quick cast to middle place, end men step forward; set in a wave.  Lady up: four changes of a hey for three, finishing with ones passing left shoulder — second man move down on the last four beats, third man loop left into top place.
	Lady down, man up: heys for three across, lady starting right shoulder with second man, man starting right shoulder with second lady — twos and threes not with partner.
	Ones keep going: pass the same person right shoulder and loop right to middle place.  Lead to the bottom (bottoms cast up); two-hand turn half-way.
A2:	First man cast up to middle place, end ladies step forward; set in a wave.  Man down: four changes of a hey for three, finishing with the ones passing left shoulder — 3rd lady move up on the last four beats, second lady loop left into bottom place.
	Lady down, man up: heys for three across (lady starting right shoulder with 2nd man, man starting right shoulder with 3rd lady.
	Ones keep going: pass the same person right shoulder and loop right to middle place.  Lead to the top (tops cast); two-hand turn half-way.  [Order is now 1, 3, 2.]
Note: All the heys and the ones' loop are danced with a skip-change step.
B1:	(3-time): Ones cast to middle place (6 steps); half figure eight down.  All circle 6 left half-way; gipsy right with partner.
B2:	Ones stand still, twos and threes half double figure eight through them, tops casting and bottoms crossing up (12 steps).  Ones lead to the top and acknowledge (all home); cast to the bottom as the threes lead up.

Commissioned by Karen Millyard (on behalf of the Toronto English Country Dance Group) for Christine Robb when she got married and moved to Boston.  I was told by the group and her husband Kim what she liked: complex dance, energetic, stepping, complicated or unusual heys, strong driving open circles, gipsies — and came up with this.  The first part may seem rather Scottish, but the three-time second part establishes it as English — with even a hint of Pat Shaw's “Four Winds”.

The other dance I wrote for Christine is Christine's Conundrum — I don't know which of the two is harder! 

Forsooth       

Format: 3 couples longways.
Dance: Francis Carter, 1991     Music: 3 x 32 bar bouncy jigs

A1:	Ones cross, cast below twos who lead up.  Ones half figure eight up, and end facing first corners (man facing the bottom lady, lady facing the top man).
A2:	Those four people dance a diagonal reel (right shoulder), and the ones do the final change right shoulder to finish improper in second place.
B1:	Ones set; cast to the bottom as the threes lead up.  Ones half figure eight up through the threes.
B2:	Top two couples face down: Inverted Grimstock (mirror) hey.

Skip-change step throughout.  The style is more Scottish than English — and why not?

Written for Sue Downs.  It must have done the trick — she married him a few years later!  Published in Sussex Folk Harvest, 1991 — it was the winner of the competition that year.

Gold for Bernice       

Format: 3 couples longways.     Dance and Music: Colin Hume, 2007/8.

A1:	(10 bars):  Ones cross and cast one place, twos lead up (6 steps); ones back-to-back (6 steps).  Join hands in lines of three: fall back (3 steps), lead forward (3 steps).  Ones to your own right (man up, lady down): half reels across with this couple (6 steps); ones to your right: half figure eight through the other couple (so the ones do an ellipse), finishing 2, 1, 3, all improper.
A2:	Twos the same — except that going to your right means man down, lady up — all finishing home.
B1:	(10 bars):  At the top, first corners cross (first man, second lady) (3 steps), second corners cross; all circle left half-way.  Top couple (threes) cross down into a mirror (Grimstock) hey, finishing 3, 1, 2 (12 steps).  All two-hand turn (6 steps).
B2:	At the top, first corners cross (third man, first lady), second corners cross; all circle left half-way.  Top couple (twos) cross down into a mirror hey, finishing 2, 3, 1.  All two-hand turn.

For Bernice and Ken Jackson on their Golden Wedding.

I think this is version 7 of the dance — I struggled to get it right.  Trevor Monson tried out various versions and gave useful feedback, until we arrived at this.  In A1, I recommend that you walk thought the half reel, stop, then walk through the half figure eight.  Now warn the ones that the ends will still be moving as they start the half figure eight, and they need to go through the other couple, turn left and go round the same-sex person to finish where they started the reel.  Now walk the two moves through together.  In a Grimstock hey I always recommend that the dancers take their partner's hand at the end of the set.

Invisible Mending       

Format: 3 couples longways.
Dance: Sue Downs, 1998.     Music: 3 x The Balloon (Fallibroome 6)

First Figure:
A1:	Up a double; set away and together (men left, ladies right).  Full turn single away to finish facing up; fall back a double.
A2:	Down a double; set away and together (men right, ladies left).  Full turn single away to finish facing down; fall back a double.
B1:	Ends two-hand turn half-way; top two couples circle left half-way.  All circle left half-way to finish 3, 1, 2 with the ones improper.
B2:	“Magic Hey”: Full Grimstock (mirror) hey, but ones cross on final lead up to finish proper in middle place.
Second Figure:
A1:	Into-line siding right shoulder to right, then turn to face partner; turn single left to place.  Left-shoulder back-to-back.
A2:	Into-line siding left shoulder to left, then turn to face partner; turn single right to place.  Right-shoulder back-to-back.
B1:	Ends two-hand turn half-way; top two couples circle left half-way.  All circle left half-way.
B2:	“Magic Snake”: Ladies about turn into a Shetland reel, men following partners, top two couples pass right shoulder to start — middles cross at last moment to finish proper.
Third Figure:
A1:	Right-hand turn partner half-way; men move down a double, ladies up.  Fall back; finish the right-hand turn.
A2:	The same left.
B1:	Ends two-hand turn half-way; top two couples circle left half-way.  All circle left half-way.
B2:	“Magic Star”: Middles to own left: Right-hand star with this couple.  Cross right shoulder with partner into left-hand star with this couple, and all finish proper.

I'm sure you've worked out that it's called “Invisible Mending” because the active couple are improper at the end of B1 and magically become proper at the end of the figure.

Janet Murphy's Delight       

Dance: Colin Hume, Music: Jenny Jones, 1989.
Each line of music is ten bars of three-time.

Format: 3 couples longways

A1:	First lady cast, first man wait three beats and follow; twos lead up, ones finishing improper in second place.  Lines fall back, come forward; set in lines.  All two-hand turn partner half-way (2 bars).
A2:	Top two men cross, face, back away; top two ladies the same.  Circle 6 left all the way (6 bars).
B1:	Ones cross, face, back away; cast to middle place as the twos lead up and cast out.  Ones lead down through the threes and cast up to place, followed by the twos.  Ones cast to middle place while twos lead up to top place (2 bars).
B2:	Threes cross, face, back away; cast up to middle place as the ones lead down and cast out.  Threes lead up through the twos and cast to place, followed by the ones.  Threes cast up to middle place while ones lead down to bottom place (2 bars).

First danced at Morland Village Hall on Friday 18th August 1989.

Janet Murphy is in her eighties, but is still amazingly alert and interested in everything.  After doing my version of a Playford dance she's been known to say: “I've been dancing that for fifty years, but I really think your way is better.”  I hope I'm as open-minded as that.  Her husband Bill was a well-known folk dancer and a leading figure in the Morris revival.  We displayed the dance on the final evening of the Morland Dance Week, and Janet was as taken aback as I've ever seen her!

All the crossings are what some people refer to as “Hole in the Wall” crossings (which I've heard referred to as “Well-Hall” crossings in the States).

John's Folly       

Format: 3 couples longways.     Dance and Music: Colin Hume, 2000

A1:	Top two couples circle left.  Pass that same neighbour right shoulder to start half a straight hey on the side.
A2:	Bottom two couples (twos and ones) circle right.  Pass that same neighbour left shoulder to start half a straight hey (home).
B1:	Ones and twos take nearer hand with partner and set to neighbour; twos move up the outside as ones move down, first man rolling his partner across to change places with her.  Ones and threes the same, so that the ones finish at the bottom on their own side.
B2:	Take hands in lines of three and fall back a double; lead forward a double.  All two-hand turn.

Written for John Konvalinka, who bought the dance at the Pinewoods auction during English Week 2000.  John asked for a three-couple dance, smooth and flowing, which would be suitable for beginners but enjoyable by experienced dancers.  My first version proved far too complicated, but I managed to simplify it and call it on the final afternoon of the camp.

John suggested the title (possibly his reaction to topping the bidding for a dance and tune which hadn't even been written), and this gave me the rhythm of the first bar of the tune, its Scotch snap setting me off on a tune and dance which have something of a Scottish flavour.

Jonathan's Jig       

Format: 3 couples longways.     Dance and Music: Colin Hume, 1998

A1:	(12 bars): Middle man down, lady up: Half hey across with this couple, then actives quick right-hand turn half-way to take their partner's place in the other half of the other hey — finish with actives improper (8 bars, skip-change step).  Actives cross right shoulder; loop right one place, man finishing in top place on the men's side, lady in bottom place on the ladies side while first man and third lady move right into middle place (4 bars).
A2:	New middles repeat, all finishing in original place.
B1:	(12 bars): Middles left-hand turn half-way; cross giving right hands on the right diagonal (all diagonal crosses are with same sex).  Cross left hand on the left diagonal; cross right hand on the right diagonal, finishing 3, 2 improper, 1.  Circle 6 left half-way, finishing 1 improper, 2, 3 improper, in lines well apart.
B2:	Lines forward and back.  Ones cross and cast; twos lead up.  Threes cross and cast up; ones lead to the bottom.
Standard progression.  Repeat the dance twice more.

The dance and tune were bought by David Macemon and Cynthia Stenger at the auction at Mendocino English Week 1998, for their son Jonathan Macemon.  They suggested the title, and since Jonathan was very young at the time I started the tune with a quote from the children's song “Here we go round the mulberry bush”.

Masquerade       

Format: 3 couples longways.     Dance and Music: Colin Hume, 2004

A1:	(12 bars): Ones two-hand turn (6 steps); cast to middle.  Two-hand turn first corner (shadow) ¾ to lines of three across; circle 6 left half-way.  Leaders (3rd man, second lady, on the left-hand ends of the lines) tight cast left into half reels of three across, and at the end the ones keep moving into middle place.  [3, 1, 2]
A2:	Threes at the top do the same.  [2, 3, 1]
B1:	(12 bars): Bottom couple (ones) lead up into half figure eight through the tops, then face up, middle couple (threes) move down and face partner.  Grand chain 4 hands.  [3, 2 improper, 1]   Middle couple (twos) lead up (the way they're facing) and cast back while end couples set and Hole-in-the-Wall cross.  [3, 2, 1, all improper]
B2:	Top couple (threes) lead down into half figure eight through the bottom couple then face down, middle couple (twos) move up and face partner.  Grand chain 4 hands (so both grand chains are in the normal direction).  [3 improper, 1, 2 improper]   Middle couple (ones) lead down (the way they're facing) and cast back while end couples set and Hole-in-the-Wall cross.  [3, 1, 2]

Modifications:

November 2007: Originally at the start of B1 I had the threes waiting for two bars and then leading down, but it seems better to get them out of the way immediately — and the same for the twos in B2.

Written for the band “Masquerade”, and first performed with them at Broadstairs Folk Week in 2004.  Masquerade is Daphne Baker on piano, Graham Knibbs on violin and Stephen Thomas on double bass.  I'd already called with Daphne in England and Holland so I knew she was very good, and when she told me that she had formed a new band called “Masquerade” consisting of three classical musicians I knew I was in for something exceptional, so I wrote a tune that I would hesitate to give to many folk musicians, complete with some interesting bass notes for Stephen.  They played it superbly.  Some time later they played at a concert for classical musicians and included this tune to show the audience the sort of things they played for dancing, and it was the hit of the evening.  No, it's not a waltz — it's slower than that.  I've provided versions of the music in both 3:4 and 3:2 time.  Ian Jones (accordionist with Cumbrian Gap) said, “ I have a way of playing 3/2 tunes which seems to work and comes automatically when I see that time signature.  Also the more spacious appearance of 3/2 enables the players to 'feel' what you want more readily.”  But Daphne Baker finds the 3:2 version a “forest of crotchets” (quarter notes) and the ties in the 3:4 version more readable.  The choice is yours.

I was at a workshop at Cecil Sharp House in 2006 where they were playing for Philippe Callens, and at least three people came up to me and said, “Do you know this band?  I've never heard of them.  Aren't they good!”  So I predict that Masquerade will soon become better known.  In August 2007 they released a CD of my tunes, including “Masquerade”, which is selling well and receiving general approval.  Read more about Masquerade here.

The Responce       

Format: 3 couples longways.     Dance: Francis Carter, 1995.     Music: 3 x 40 bars St Giles's Pound (Fallibroome 4)

A1:	Ones cross right shoulder; cast to middle place.  Cross right shoulder, turn left, go round one person and face first corner — man facing across to bottom lady, lady facing across to top man.
A2:	Reels of three across the set (pass first corner right shoulder to start), and ones continue the move to finish improper in second place.
B1:	Ones set; cast to the bottom (threes stand still).  Half figure eight up; threes lead up to middle place.
B2:	Rights and lefts for six:  All cross giving right hands; those in first lady's and third man's place cross giving left hands, the others cross with neighbour giving left hands.  The same from new places.
B2:	The same from new places.  All set and turn single.

The dance won second prize in the Dance Search '95 competition run by the Beckenham and Croydon Folk Dance Group.  It was published in CDSS News the same year, with the spelling changed from “Response” to “Responce”.  The “Rights and lefts for six” figure comes from Scottish Country Dancing.

Ruth       

Format: 3 couples longways.     Dance and Music: Colin Hume, 2006

A:	Ones cast (twos move up straight away); right-hand turn first corner just over half-way to a diagonal wave of four with the corners in the middle — from the top: first lady, second man, third lady, first man.  Middles left-hand turn half-way; set in the wave.
B:	The other two people step forward to make same-sex right-hand stars and start to turn them, then the ones move up or down their own line and the others follow to finish with the men home and the ladies in the order 2, 3, 1.  All back-to-back opposite (shadow).
C:	Ones (on a long diagonal) set to each other; cast left shoulder to middle place on own side: 2, 1, 3.  Join hands and set in lines; cross right shoulder with partner and turn right.
D:	Circle left half-way.  Two-hand turn partner.
Progressed position is 3, 1, 2.

Written for Ruth Allmayer, and first danced at Sigmaringen in Germany in March 2006, with music played by Folkus Pocus.

Ruth booked me with Folkus Pocus for a similar weekend in 2004.  Before that, English dancing in that region had meant Alan Davies (with a safe band), and Ruth wanted to show people that different callers put a very different slant on things.  (Antony Heywood has since pointed out that he has also run courses in that area.)  In addition to Playford-style I gave them American Squares and Contras, Scottish, English Traditional and some of my own dances.  They coped with everything I threw at them, and of course were delighted with the music, and Dan, Caroline, Renata and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  When Ruth booked me for a second weekend I said to Renata “I'm going to write a dance for Ruth — should it be stately or bouncy?”  “Bouncy”, she said, which was what I had already thought, so here it is.  Some Playford-style bands would not be too happy with the tune, but I knew Dan and Caroline would be in their element.  After she had danced it to my calling, Ruth then called it (without looking at the instructions) while I danced it — a brave woman!

Ruth has called with Alan Davies for several Dance Weeks at Halsway Manor with a mixture of dancers from England and Germany.  Since our first weekend in Germany she has danced at Pinewoods for two weeks (including participating in a callers course) and called at Sidmouth, and is becoming better known as a caller.  In 2007 she was again booked for Sidmouth, where she called this dance (and another six of mine!), and in 2008 she was booked for Eastbourne but could not appear because of illness, so I took over her programme.  She appeared in 2009 and did a really good job.

Strawberries and Cream       

Format: 3 couples longways.     Dance and Music: Colin Hume, 1996

A1:	First man and third lady pass your partner right shoulder, and dance round the outside to each other's place.  (Their partners do not move!)  Those who can, set on the right diagonal; cross over passing right shoulder and face in.
A2:	First lady third man pass your opposite left shoulder, and dance round the outside to each other's place.  Those who can, set on the left diagonal; cross over passing right shoulder again, and stay facing out.
B1:	Lines of three lead away four steps; ends move in and circle left half-way in those threes.  Lead back; cross right with new partner and turn right.  [This means that one end person in each line turns the long way, but it flows much better into the reel.]
B2:	Reels of three on the side, the top two people on the men's side and the bottom two people on the ladies' side starting right shoulder (6 bars); middles right-hand turn half-way to own side.

Progressed position is Men: 2, 3, 1; Ladies: 3, 1, 2.  Repeat the dance twice more.

No particular reason for the dance or title — it just seemed a sweet little tune.  In fact I prefer strawberries and ice-cream, but somehow that doesn't sound right.

Unrequited Love       

Format: 3 couples longways.     Dance and Music: Colin Hume, 1986

First Figure:
A1:	All lead up a double and back.  Top couple cast to middle place, middle couple lead up to top place; bottom couple cast up to middle place, middle couple lead down to bottom place.
A2:	All lead down a double and back.  Bottom couple cast up to middle place, middle couple lead down to bottom place; top couple cast to middle place, middle couple lead up to top place.  [Home]
B:	Bottom two couples circle left half-way; open into a line of four facing up and fall back while top couple two-hand turn all the way.  The line of four make an arch at each end and lead up, the top couple go down under one arch each, bend the line to reform the longways set.
C:	The same from new positions.  [Home, ones and threes improper.]
D:	Join hands in lines and take one step back, then cross over right shoulder and turn right to face in.  Circle left four places (until the middle man is at the top on his own side).
E:	New middle man down, lady up: right-hand star with this couple, middles finishing on original side facing new partner.  All two-hand turn new partner.
Second Figure:
	As before, but siding into line right shoulder at the start of A1 and left shoulder at the start of A2.
Third Figure:
	As before, but arming right in A1 and left in A2.
Coda: (having finished with two-hand turn original partner): Step right and honour partner; step left and honour.

The dance was published by Cotswold Music in the Hunter's Moon collection in 1987, with a recording by Wild Thyme (now available on cassette).  Originally I had the top couple standing still at the start of B and C but I noticed people doing a set and turn single, and when I asked them why they said it was the only point in the whole dance where anyone stood still.  I could see the force of this argument, but if the bottom two couples are circling and opening up into a line it seems more logical to me that the top couple should do a two-hand turn and open up into a line.  If you do it, make sure you turn all the way — particularly in C where you start and finish the turn improper.