THE CAMDEN HORNPIPE SET

Study Notes Copyright © William Lynch 2007

First Figure - Turn the Ladies (Hornpipes) 136 bars
1 Doubled quarter house: taking waltz hold, couples dance 2 bars in place then double on to the next place on their R (4 bars).  They repeat this movement into each place and back home. 16 bars
2 House around. 8 bars
3 Top couples house around each other and back to place in 6 bars, partners separating and dancing into line with the nearest side couple on the last 2 bars. 8 bars
4 Advance and retire: all join hands and the lines advance and retire twice.  Gents turn to face the lady on the L keeping her R hand in his L. 8 bars
5 Turn the ladies: ladies dance 3 turns clockwise under gents' L arms while the gents dance in place (6 bars). Original couples re-form on the last 2 bars, ladies turning under R arm into R shoulder hold (both R hands on the lady’s R shoulder, L hands held in front). 8 bars
6 Lead around: couples lead around the set to the place before their own (6 bars) and the gents turn the ladies 1 turn anti-clockwise under R arm into place and into waltz hold. 8 bars
7 House around. 8 bars
8 Side couples house around each other and dance into line with the nearest top couple. 8 bars
9 Advance and retire twice.
Turn the ladies.
Lead around.
House around.
40 bars
10 Doubled quarter house. 16 bars
Second Figure - The Barn Dance (Hornpipes) 152 bars
1 Doubled quarter house. 
House around.
24 bars
2 Barn dance: taking waist hold, couples face centre and dance - in, 2, 3, heelcut, (gents’ R and ladies’ L) and back,2, stamp, separate and dance a ¾ turn (gents anti-clockwise, ladies clockwise) in 2 bars to the count - heel 1, 2, 3, clap, and 1, 2, 3 - to end facing each other (4 bars).  Taking waltz hold, couples dance 2 steps in place then double into the next place on their R (4 bars).  This 8 bar movement is danced into each place and back home. 32 bars
3 House around.
Doubled quarter house.
House around.
32 bars
4 Barn dance.
House around. 
Doubled quarter house
56 bars
Third Figure -The Contraflow (Hornpipes) 120 bars
1 Doubled quarterhouse.
House around.
24 bars
2 Contraflow: all dance around the set, gents anticlockwise on the inside and ladies clockwise, to meet partners in the opposite place (4 bars), take ceili hold and swing (4 bars).  They drop hands and continue to dance in the same direction back to place, gents on the outside and ladies inside, and swing (8 bars). 16 bars
3 Lead around, ladies turning anti-clockwise under R arm on the last 2 bars. 8 bars
4 Doubled quarterhouse.
House around.
Contraflow.
Lead around.
48 bars
5 Doubled quarterhouse. 16 bars
Fourth Figure -The Double Diamond (Polkas) 128 bars
1 Lead around with right shoulder hold. 8 bars
Dance at home. 8 bars
Swing, with ceili hold. 8 bars
2 The double diamond: all couples take crossed hand hold and top couples dance 2 steps to face the couple on their L, while side couples dance in place, and all couples dance 2 steps facing each other.  Top couples dance 2 steps backwards into the place opposite their own while sides dance in place, then tops dance in place while the sides dance 2 steps to face the couple on their L (8 bars).  All dance 2 steps in place and side couples dance 2 steps backwards into the place opposite their own while top couples dance in place.  Top couples then dance 2 steps to face the couple on their L while side dance in place and all dance 2 steps in place (8 bars). Top couples then reverse 2 steps into their own places while sides dance in place; tops dance in place while sides dance 2 steps to face the couple on their L.  All dance 2 steps in place and sides reverse 2 steps to place while tops dance in place (8 bars). 24 bars
3 Lead around.
Dance at home.
Swing.
24 bars
4 Double diamond, with side couples leading the movement. 24 bars
5 Lead around.
Dance at home.
Swing.
24 bars
SOURCE
The idea of having a hornpipe set arose from a discussion among my dancers while having lunch in the Spread Eagle, Camden Town, London, March 1993 during one of Connie Ryan’s workshop weekends.

Back to top

Contents

List of Sets 1

Glossary