I have written, interpreted or adapted 244 dances. Of these, 150 are currently available on this site, and more are being added daily. |
| Title | Type | Year | Shape | Mixer | Contra | Ceilidh | ECD | FDC | ONS | F/K | W | Book |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | Type | Year | Shape | Mixer | Contra | Ceilidh | ECD | FDC | ONS | F/K | W | Book |
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Help On Sorting and Filtering
Sorting
You can sort the table by any of the columns by clicking on the up and down arrows at the top of each column. The initial sort order is Column 1 (Title) Ascending. Clicking on the Clear Filters button reverts the table to the initial sort order.
Filtering
There are two ways you can filter the information, ie search for the specific information, you are interested in. They are Global Search and Column Search.
Global Search
The right hand search box (labelled "Global Search") operates on the whole table. It will search through all the records and all the columns for a match on the data you enter. If you enter IM it will find all the records which contain IM: ie, all the "improper" dances with an [IM] modifier as well as dance titles with an IM (or im) such as Prince Imperial Quadrille (a "proper" square) and La Pantomime, a longways duple "proper" dance
Similarly, if you enter SQ it will find all the records which contain SQ: including all the 2, 4 and 5 couple squares as well as dance titles with an SQ (or sq) such as Dick Squire's Jig (a longways duple dance) and Graies Inn Masqe, a four-couple longways dance.
To remove a global search you can
- click on the cross which will appear when you hover over the Global Seach input box
- just delete the characters you have entered in the Global Search box
- click on the Clear Filters button (which also clears the column filters, see below for information on column filters)
The global search is an "OR" search across all the columns.
Column Search
The filter boxes for the columns are located at the bottom of the table, under each column.
You can filter on an individual columns, or on combinations of column, both with or without the global filter being set. This is an "AND" search, ie the data shown has to meet all the search criteria.
There are two type of filter, Text and Dropdown.
Text input boxes
These are white, with a placeholder of "Type search here". The placeholder will disappear when you type something in the input box. They operate in "typedown" mode, meaning that the search begins immediately. For example:
- if you type "b" in the title search box you will find 149 dances
- typing "bl" finds only 8 dances
- typing "bla" finds only 3 dances
- or typing "blu" finds only 1 dance
Dropdown selection boxes
These are LightBlue filter boxes and have a drop-down arrow at the right-hand end of the box. When you click in the selection box, or on the drop down arrow, a list of values will appear. Click on a value to select it. (NB. you can only select one value in each column.)
To change the chosen selection click in the selection box, or on the drop down arrow, and click on a different selection.
To remove a selection click in the selection box, or on the drop down arrow, and click on the blank option at the top of the list.
Clear Filters Button
Clicking on the Clear Filters button will:
- remove all the column filters
- remove the global filter
- revert to the initial sort order (Date Ascending)
Help On Shapes
INTRODUCTION
Every dance has a code which describes it's shape and certain other characteristics. The code consists of 2 parts, a shape/sub-shape and a modifier. For example, in the code SQ4[+1E], SQ4 is the base code and the modifier, in square brackets, is +1E.
Generally, the codes do not refer to gender. A ‘couple’ is 2 people working together as a unit. A ‘triad’ is 3 people working together as a unit.
SHAPE
The basic breakdown is based on shape:
- L/M = Longways/Mescolanzes
- C = Circle
- SQ = Square
- R = Reel
- X = Cross
- Z = Zia
- P = People
Where a number is associated with these shapes, it refers to the number of couples involved, eg L4 is a 4 couple longways. The exception to this is P which refers to the number of people, eg P9 is a dance for 9 people.
SUB-SHAPES
Each shape can also have a number of sub-shapes.
Longways (L/M) Longways dances can be:- whole set longways dances
- Ln (involving a specific number of couples, eg, L3 = 3 couple longways set)
- LW (involving any number of couples)
- minor set longways dances
- LS (single minor, 1 couple minor set)
- LD (duple minor, 2 couple minor set)
- LT (triple minor, 3 couple minor set)
- LQ (quadruple minor, 4 couple minor set)
- mescolanzes (like a Sicilian triad or double Sicilian circle but, instead of the dancers being arranged like spokes around the dance floor, the dancers are arranged in line-facing-line in a longways set)
- M3 (triad facing triad)
- M4 (2 couples facing 2 couples)
- whole set circle dances
- Cn (involving a specific number of couples, eg, C3 = 3 couple circle)
- CW (involving any number of couples, all facing in to the centre)
- CD (involving any number of couples, partners facing in/out)
- CP (involving any number of couples, partners side-by-side, facing cw or ccw)
- minor set circle dances
- CS2 (Sicilian circle, 2 couple minor set)
- CS4 (Double Sicilian circle, 4 couple minor set)
- SQ2 (2 couples facing, usually across the room)
- SQ3 (3 couples forming a triangle)
- SQ4 (4 couples, one on each side of the square)
- SQ5 (a square with an extra couple in the centre)
- SQ6 (a square with two extra couples)
- SQG (squares arranged in a grid with dancers migrating between squares
- Rn (involving a specific number of couples, eg, R2 = 2 couple reel)
- Xn (involving a specific number of couples, eg, X4 = 4 couple cross)
- Z2 (2 intersecting lines contra lines, 1 square set)
- Z4 (4 intersecting lines contra lines, 4 square sets)
- P1 (a dance for 1 person, ie, a ‘Covid’ dance)
- P2 (a dance for 1 couple, not interacting with other couples)
- Pn (involving a specific number of people, eg, P9 = a 9 person dance)
- PW (a dance for as many people as you want)
MULTIPLE PARTS
Some dances, particularly earlier dances, consist of multiple parts, each of which could have been a dance in its own right. This is denoted using a ‘+’, for example, Jenny, Come Tie My Cravat (LT+LD).
USA dances (ie those with the 3 standard figures of Up a Double, Siding and Arming) are treated as a single part unless the sub-shapes in each parts are different. In this case the dance will be denoted as having multiple parts, for example, Colin Hume’s dance Step Stately (L5+LD+LT).
MULTIPLE SHAPES
Some more recent dances actually contain multiple shapes. This is denoted using an ‘&’, with the first shape being that nearest the top, for example Colin Wallace’s dance Walley’s Comet (C3&L3).
MODIFIERS
Original (1651) English Country Dances used only 9 of the 28 formations identified above (CW, LW, Cn, Ln, SQ2, SQ4, LS, LD and, towards the end of the 17th century, LT was added). In addition, only a few modifiers were required to be able to accurately refine the sub-shape to define the required formation. Today, variety is the spice of life, and some 50 or so modifiers are needed to accurately refine the sub-shape to define the required formation. All told, I have identified over 340 different combinations of sub-shape and modifier!
Modifiers appear between [ ] after the sub-shape. Multiple modifiers are separated by a space. The order of separators is immaterial.
| Modifier | Meaning | Used with |
| * |
Beware – need to check the actual dance notation! Examples:
|
All |
| - |
The dance can have different number of couples. The ‘-’ modifier functions as ‘to’. Example:
|
Ln, Cn |
| | |
Dance can have different number of couples. The ‘|’ modifier functions as ‘or’. Example:
|
Ln, Cn |
| / |
Dance requires a different number of men and women. The ‘/’ functions as ‘with’. Example:
|
Ln, Pn |
| + | Dance requires at least the number of couples specified | Ln, Cn |
| ? | Modifiers unknown | All |
| +n |
Dance requires 1 or more additional people using the format ‘+ng’ where ‘n’ is the number of extras and ‘g’ is the gender. Use n=0 for situations where any number of extras, but not zero, can be used. Examples:
|
Ln, LW, Cn, CW, CSn, SQn |
| + | Dance requires a minimum of n couples | LW, CW |
| xn |
Dance requires multiple sets functioning as a single set. Examples:
|
LD, Ln, SQ4, Rn |
| A |
Partners alternate which side of the set they are on. Examples:
|
LD |
| EV |
Dance must have an even number of couples |
CW, LD |
| P/IM/IN/CF |
Historically, English Country Dance has been danced by couples defined as 1 man + 1 lady/woman. Even when 2 people of the same gender are dancing together, eg the ladies of Louis 14th's Court at the Palace of Versailles dancing English Country dances to amuse Louis, in each couple one person is referred to as the 'man' and the other as the 'lady'. The standard, or base, formation is referred to as ‘proper' with a modifier of [P], either specified or assumed.
Examples:
|
Ln, LD, LT, LQ, CW, CS2, SQn |
| A/B/E/H/M/S/T/n |
In longways and square set dances, P/IM/IN/CF can be modified to refer to different parts of the set, or to specific couples, using T(op), B(ottom), E(nds), M(iddle), H(eads), S(ides), A(ll) and ‘n’ for a specific couple. These modifiers can also be used when there is a mixture of formations. Examples:
|
|
| =n |
‘=n’ allows the number of couples to be specified where the sub-shape code already has a number. Example:
|
CSn, SQn |
| S |
‘Scottish’ formation, ie 4 couple longways triple minor. NB: L4[S] = LT[=4] |
L4 |
| X |
Longways duple minor proper with the women changing places |
LD |
| RI/RO |
The sets radiate out from the centre of the dance floor. Most usually used for longways sets.
|
Ln, SQ4, R2 |
| PO | Partner is opposite you | C3 |
| H/HT/HB |
Used when the set resembles a ‘horseshoe’. ‘T’ and ‘B’ refer to whether the non-side couples are facing down (T) or up (B). When there are 3 couples there will be 2 side couples and 1 top/bottom couple. When there are 4 couples there will be 2 side couples and 2 top/bottom couples. When there are 5 couples there will be 2 couples on each side and 1 top/bottom couple, etc. Examples:
|
Ln, Pn |
| HX | ‘HX’ = He>Xagon | C6 |
| D |
Where the set is rotated (45°) to form a ‘diamond’. (For P5, the extra person is in the centre ). |
LD, LD[IM], L4, P4, P5 |
| T |
‘T’ (for Triad) is used where each ‘couple’ consists of 3 people. Examples:
|
CD, CP, CS2, SQ4 |
| SQ |
A square set which has been ‘squashed’ into a 4 couple longways set |
SQ4 |
| A | ‘Alamo’ style circle (holding hands, alternately facing in/out) | CW |
| F | Circle, starting facing partner around the circle (men ccw, ladies cw) | CW, Cn |
| C | Pn[C] = >n people in a circle | Pn |
| X | Pn[X] = >n people in a cross | Pn |
| L | Pn[>L>] = >n people in a line | Pn |
| MI/LI |
‘MI’, for men in the middle; ‘LI’ for women in the middle |
Xn |
| CW/CCW |
Couples face ‘CW’ for clock-wise and ‘CCW’ for counter/anti-clockwise. |
CP, X |
| AC |
Sets are across the dance floor |
Ln |
| U/D/P/S/PR |
Which way to face in a reel
|
Rn |
| GF |
Dance is described as ‘Gender Free’ |
All |
Help On Columns
TYPE
The dances fall into 4 categories:
| KEY | WRITTEN | PUBLISHED | |
| ORI | 108 | 106 | Original Dances written by me. Some of these have been published in 2 books: Country Bumpkin (CB) and Rhonda's Romance (RR), both now out of print. |
| INT | 86 | 16 | My interpretations of dances originally written in the seventeenth or eighteenth centuries which I have reconstructed as closely as I can to the way I believe that it was done when it was published. These may be dances which (as far as I know) have never previously had interpretations published or dances where there are one or more interpretations, but I do not agree with them. |
| AM | 19 | 19 | My adaptations of modern dances (1900->) written by other people. I have made the changes because I feel that the changes improve the flow of the dance or improve the transition from one figure to another. |
| AO | 14 | 10 |
My adaptations of old dances (pre-1900). My preference is
|
YEAR
The year the dance was written, interpreted or amended.
SHAPE
Broadly speaking, if there is:
- an L in the code it is a longways dance
- an C in the code it is a circle dance
- an SQ in the code it is a square dance
Use the "Shape Help" button for a much more detailed description of the shape codes.
MIXER
yes if the dance is a 'mixer'
CONTRA
yes if the dance could be used at a Contra dance in the USA (contains a partner swing)
CEIIDH
yes if the dance could be used at a Ceilidh
ECD
yes if the dance could be used at an English Country Dance in the USA
FDC
yes if the dance could be used at Folk/Country Dance Club in the UK (may include a swing and simpler contras)
ONS
yes if the dance could be used at a non-folk dance ("One Night Stand") event
F/K
yes if the dance is suitable for family or kids only events
W(orkshop)
yes if the dance is more complex and should only be used in workshops or at a folk dance camp/weekend/week.
Book
CB if the dance is published in my book Country Bumpkin or RR if the dance is published in my book Rhonda's Romance.
