Institute, The


Introduction
Choreography
Notes
Music
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Author:
Michael Barraclough (Aug 1983)
Formation:
Sicillian becket (mixer)
Music:
Specific tune - Moll Peatley The New Way, Dancing Master, 11th edn, 1701 (Dm, 6/8, Barnes: 1/72)
Published:
Country Bumpkin (Michael Barraclough)

 

A1
1-4
Neighbor (shadow) back to back
 
 
 
A2
1-4
Neighbor two-hand turn 1½ (end facing partner)
 
 
 
B
1-6
Rights and lefts (3 changes, start partner right hand)
 
7-10
(With the one you meet) swing (ending proper, facing in or out, opposite your shadow)

© Michael Barraclough, 2016

Notes
1
Music is a 4-bar A repeated, followed by a 10-bar B
 
 
 
 
2
Sicilian Becket formation is like a normal Sicilian Circle, but in each minor circle everyone has shifted left one place so that couples are facing in and out rather than around the big circle. 
 
 
 
 
3
Your initial neighbor is actually a shadow who remains with you throughout the dance. You do nothing with your partner!
 
 
 
 
4
The tune is published in "Country Bumpkin" and Other English Country Dances (which also contains The Institute) which is available from the Country Dance and Song Society (CDSS) Store. There is also a version of the tune in Barnes.
 
 
 
 
5
Written and debuted at the 'seminal' Drill Hall ceilidh at Sidmouth International Folk Festival on Aug 2, 1983 where I was calling with the wonderful folk rock band Pyewackett (supplemented on this occasion with Micky Barker on drums). Pyewackett loved the tune, but neither Mall Peatley (1675-1698) nor Moll Peatley The New Way (1701-1728) was really suitable for a ceilidh so I wrote this dance to go with the tune. It was a great hit, as was the evening, with references to the ceilidh still appearing up from time to time on Internet mail lists.  Listen to the tune played by Pyewackett!

Mall Peatley The New Way

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