Study Notes Copyright © William Lynch 2007
First Figure - Side Swings (Reels) | 168 bars |
1 | Top couples:
Walk in and swing: 1st gent and 2nd lady walk into the set and swing with ceili hold, fall back to place and take partners in crossed hand hold. |
8 bars |
In, out and half diamond: both couples advance and retire (4 bars), dance round to face the couple L of their own place (2 bars) and fall back into the place opposite their own (2 bars). The whole movement is then repeated back home. | 16 bars | |
2 | Walk the house, each gent with the lady on his L. The gent turns to the lady on the 1st step and, taking waltz hold, turns her clockwise into his position on the 2nd, walks 3 & 4, reversing the lady, along his side of the set and ¾ turns her clockwise on 5,6,7 & 8 (4 bars) to reverse her along the second side of the set 1, 2, 3 & 4 and ¾ turn her clockwise in the second corner of the set on 5, 6, 7 & 8 (4 bars). The movement is repeated into both the 3rd and 4th corners (8 bars), dancers separating and finishing in their own positions on 7 & 8. | 16 bars |
3 | Top couples:
2nd gent and 1st lady walk in and swing. In, out and half diamond. |
24 bars |
4 | Walk the house. | 16 bars |
5 | Side couples:
1st gent (L of 1st tops) and 2nd lady walk in and swing. In, out and half diamond. |
24 bars |
6 | Walk the house. | 16 bars |
7 | Side couples:
2nd gent and 1st lady walk in and swing. In, out and half diamond. |
24 bars |
8 | Walk the house. | 16 bars |
Second Figure - Christmas (Reels) | 168 bars |
1 | Top couples:
Advance and retire (4 bars), with crossed hand hold, and the gents bring the ladies across in front of them with the L hand, turn the ladies clockwise underarm behind them and into place beside them for the christmas (4 bars). |
8 bars |
Swing four, partners separating and falling back into line with the nearest side couples on the last 2 bars to join hands in 2 lines. | 8 bars | |
2 | Advance and retire twice, top couples dancing in place for the last 2 bars to reform the set. | 8 bars |
3 | Walk the house, with own partner. | 16 bars |
4 | Side couples now dance 1. and fall into line with the nearest top couples. | 16 bars |
5 | Advance and retire twice, sides dancing in place for the
last 2 bars.
Walk the house. |
24 bars |
6 | Top couples now repeat 1. | 16 bars |
7 | Advance and retire twice.
Walk the house. |
24 bars |
8 | Side couples now repeat 1. | 16 bars |
9 | Advance and retire twice.
Walk the house. |
24 bars |
Third Figure - The Gathering In (Jigs) | 128 bars |
1 | Circle: all join hands in a circle and advance and retire twice. | 8 bars |
2 | Walk the house, with own partner. | 16 bars |
3 | Circle, ladies dancing on to the next gent on the R on the
last 2 bars.
Walk the house. |
24 bars |
4 | Circle, ladies dancing on to the next gent on the R on the
last 2 bars.
Walk the house. |
24 bars |
5 | Circle, ladies dancing on to the next gent on the R on the
last 2 bars.
Walk the house. |
24 bars |
6 | Circle, ladies dancing on to their own partners on the last
2 bars.
Walk the house. |
24 bars |
Fourth Figure - Grand Chain (Hornpipes) | 152 bars |
1 | Chain: partners face each other, R hand in R, dance 2 bars in place and chain around the set to meet in the opposite place. They dance 2 bars in place, hands held all around the set, then chain back to meet and take waltz hold. | 16 bars |
2 | Walk the house, with own partner. | 16 bars |
3 | Chain.
Walk the house. |
32 bars |
4 | Chain.
Walk the house. |
32 bars |
5 | Chain.
Walk the house. |
32 bars |
6 | Chain. | 16 bars |
STEPS A very flat step is used for both the reel and hornpipe figures. Walk in - 1 2 3 stamp (2 bars) In and out & Advance and retire - 1 2 3 heelswing (2 bars) and back 2, 1 2 3 (2 bars). Walk the house - The step is a walking step, as in the 'walk in' and 'advance' above, but danced with a sway of the hips known to the local dancers as 'jazzing' the step. Circle - heel 1, heel 2, heel 1234, heelback, heel 2, heel 1234 |
SOURCE Francis and Martin Bolger during the Galway International Set Dancing Festival, March 1993 and at Galway again and in London the following year. I am indebted to Delia Walsh of London for her help in recording this set. |