Dances:

In Out Across,

(top)

or, the CA Circle Waltz
# form circle hold hands
[
   6  in, out
   6  across, #
]  *3
6 in out
6 across - waltz posn
6  step together in, in
6 spin lady under -> waltz posn
6 out out
6 spin lady under -> waltz posn
6 in , in, 
6 out out
12 waltz in circle CW to open up and circle
;

Netherfield

(top)


# form 2 lines face P, no intro
8 R hand 360
8 L hand 360
8 active go I
8 active go II
8 dosido
8 form line
8 step step up up back back up up
8 break and back
;

New French Girl

(top)

chorus
 8 + 8
verse 1 
 8 head pinwheel R
 8 head pinwheel L
 8 side pinwheel R
 8 side pinwheel L
chorus
verse 2
 8 + 8 ladies weave courtesy
 8 + 8 men weave courtesy
chorus
verse 3
 8 head twohand
 8 head dosidio
 8 side twohand
 8 side dosido
repeat

Paddycake Polka

(top)

* circle, gents in middle facing out
4 heel toe heel toe
4 slide (4x)
4 heel toe heel toe
4 slide (4x)
2 slap lap 3x
2 clap both 3x
2 clap right 3x
2 clap left 3x
4 turn.. (1 or 3x)
4 next partner and waltz P

Sellinger's Round

(top)

* doesn't really need couples/partners
* form large circle (can make inner circles) take hands
8 steps to the right
8 steps to the left, drop hands

(
 3 steps into center 3x
 1 clap clap
 3 steps back 3x
 1 clap clap

 2 shift weight: right left right
 2 shift weight: left right left
 4 raise right elbow, follow around (CW)
) repeat 2x

Sheena's Saunter

(top)

* form large circle (inner OK)
all take H

4 all step in, huzzah
 4 all step out, drop H
4 gents in clap
 4 gents out, take H

4 all step in,
 4 all step out
4 ladies step in, 
 4 ladies face partner CCW, gents face CW*

2 pull RH #1 (partner)
 2 pull LH #2
2 pull RH #3 
 2 pull LH #4
2 pull RH #5
 2 pull LH #6
2 pull RH #7
 2 take LH #8 and gents courtesy turn back to circle
;

Note, important that gentlemen especially keep WALKING and not just pulling.
Important for ALL to keep moving thru #'s and not stopping when music stops.
Bad dance for women-as-gents.
^* (ladies face CCW round, gents face CW round circle) take RH with partner. Partner is #1, all pull throuhg RH then LH

Soldier's Joy

(top)

* form sets of 2 cpls each. Lady on rt, facing opposites.
* Sets are to be in a large circle OR a straight line.
# 3/4 time, phrases of 6
6 bow to opposite (not repeated unless time permits)
--
6 two hand turn of opposite
6 pullthrough 
 (rh opposite, lh partner, rh opposite, lh partner)
6 Ladies' Chain
 (Ladies exchange places with RH, gents Courtesy-turn opposite)
6 Ladies' Chain back
 (Ladies exchange places with RH, gents Courtesy-turn partner)- KEEP R hands!
6 step together and apart 2x
6 bow and pass through, bow to new couple

Virginia Reel

(top)

# 2 lines face P.  Choose head.
# (in 4:4, phrases of 8 beats.  opt clap on '78..')
8 bow to partner.. 
8 right hand 360
8 left hand 360
8 both hand 360
8 do-si-do (right shoulders)
8 head couple sashay down
8 head couple sashay back
8 head couple take right hands, half turn 
"strip the willow"
 [head cpl: RH to partner, LH to opps.]
(repeat during whole line:)
head cpl: 2-hand half turn
head cpl sashay back to head (open posn)
"cast off" to bridge
;

Further information

Strip the Willow: left hand turn 360 to opposite [ head lady with next gent, head gent with next lady]
right hand turn 360 to partner, moving down the line to tail
half turn at end so lady is on ladies' side, gent on gent's side

Cast Off: head lady walk around outside to tail, ladies follow while head gent walk around outside to tail gents follow.
head cpl form bridge
all cpls walk under, new head..

Steps:

0 Glossary

(top)

cpl couple
CW CCW clockwise and counter clockwise (or anticlockwise)
H hands
LH left hand
opp. opposite
part. partner
RH right hand

Courtesy Turn

(top)

Lady puts her RH flat in the small of her back, Palm out
Gent takes her LH in his LH, and places his RH palm on her RH
Gent turns lady 360 CCW

Do-Si-Do, or the no-hand turn

(top)


gentlemen fold arms,
 ladies take skirts in hand

step forward and pass right shoulders to right shoulders with partner
 then step to the right without turning
 then step backwards without turning passing left shoulder to left shoulder

To be continued... [top]

About the Pocket Dance Companion

The Pocket Dance Companion was first created by Steven R. Loomis in July of 2005 after mixing up one too many dances. You can find it on the web at http://www.monkey.sbay.org/~srl/pktdance - also follow that link for more dance resources