Chelsea Reach
Introduction
Interpreted:
Michael Barraclough (2021)
Original author:
Unknown
Published:
Michael Barraclough web-site
Original source:
Dancing Master Vol 1, 3rd edn, 1665(-1690)
Modern sources:
Playford Ball (Keller & Shimer, 1990)
Country Dance Book 3 (Sharp & Butterworth, 1912)
Country Dance Book 3 (Sharp & Butterworth, 1912)
Formation:
Square 4-Couple Set
Tune:
Specific tune - Chelsea Reach (Dancing Master Vol 1, 3rd edn, 1665)
Music:
F 6/8 Barnes: 1/19
Choreography
A1
1-8
Meet a double and back, set & honor right and left
A2
1-8
“Up and back a square”, set & honor right and left
B1
1-4
Head couples pull by and go to each other’s corner place (end facing in) while side couples meet (clap) and stand back-to-back with partner (lines of four across, facing up and down)
5-6
(In fours) circle left ½
7-8
(Facing up or down) pull by right and loop left into
B2
1-4
(Same groups) star left (end close to partner)
5-8
Partner turn (end proper)
A3
1-8
Meet a double and back, set & honor right and left
A4
1-8
“Up and back a square”, set & honor right and left
B3/B4
Repeat B1/B2 (sides pulling by, heads meeting and facing out, lines of four up and down facing across)
A5
1-8
Partner side-by-side right, set & honor right and left
A6
1-8
Partner side-by-side left, set & honor right and left
B5
1-2
Partner two-hand turn ½ (ccw, ladies in center)
3-4
Partner two-hand turn ½ (cw, all home)
5-8
Ladies star right ½ while men orbit ½ (ccw, all end across the set)
B6
1-8
Repeat B5 (cw, ccw, men in the centre, men star left , ladies orbit cw)
A7
1-8
Partner arm right, set & honor right and left
A8
1-8
Partner arm left, set & honor right and left
B7
1-4
Lead corner out and in a double (end facing corner)
5-8
Grand chain 4 places (start right with corner, end facing same corner on the opposite side of the set)
B8
1-8
Repeat B7 to place
© Michael Barraclough, 2024
Notes
Notes
1
Cecil Sharp provides two interpretations of 1st chorus. Playford Ball is a slight variant of the 2nd variation.
2
The square is numbered clockwise, but it doesn’t matter as everything is heads/sides or corners.
Music
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