English Country Dances
Part 2
Paul DeGory
Here follows the second part of Paul DeGory's article on English country dances, with a description of several of the dances from the Playford manual:
Rufty Tufty
For two couples in a square
This is a dance that only appears in the first edition of Playford. It is a good example of the 'doubles', 'siding' and 'arming' figures interspersed with a chorus type of dance. It also contains an interesting printing error. The dance instructions tell you to "Set and turn S-" i.e. set and turn single once however the B music, to which this fits, is marked with a repeat sign. If the dance were being performed in singles and doubles with alternating feet (i.e. as per a court dance) then it would make sense to balance it by doing two sets of setting one starting left and the other right. However if you aren't bothering about alternating feet then setting and turning twice is pretty boring.
The couples start facing each other a little way apart.
Dance steps for this music
First time through tune
A. Couples meet and retire, twice.
B. Set and turn single to partner.
C. Lead out with partner then lead back in.
Everyone turn single; turning out from the set.
Lead out with opposite then lead back in.
Everyone turn single; turning out from the set.
Second time through tune
A. Siding with partner; B and C as above.
Third time through tune
A. Arming with partner; B and C as above.
Picking of Sticks
A longways dance for three couples
Here is a dance with 'doubles', 'siding' and 'arming' figures interspersed with a variety of figures. It has fared strangely in modern times. Cecil Sharp, in his Country Dance Book of 1916, changed its name to 'Picking Up Sticks' and set it to the tune of another Playford dance 'Lavena'. To confuse things further the last figure of the dance has become known as a 'Sheepskin Hey' despite the fact that has little in common with Playford's dance 'The Three Sheepskins' (or anything else to do with sheep's skins for that matter...)!
You need to play the tune seventeen times through to complete the dance and even a pretty tune like Lavena can get tedious after this! I therefore suggest using a mixture of both Playford's and Sharp's tunes. I've described the dance with Lavena (L) played seven times, then Picking of Sticks (P) four times, and finally Lavena played a further six times. This is however only one of many possible arrangements.
Start as a line of three couples, facing up the hall toward the presence (royalty, etc.)
Tune
Bars
Steps to this music
Doubles then person at top swaps down set
L1
1-4
All lead up a double then back a double
L1
5-8
All lead up a double then back a double
L2
1-4
The person at the top left of the set works their way to the bottom of the set by changing places with middle dancer opposite then with last dancer on their side; i.e. first man changes places with second lady and then with the third man.
L2
5-8
All lead up a double then back a double
L3
1-4
The person at the top right of the set works their way to the bottom of the set by changing places with middle dancer opposite then with the last dancer on their side; i.e. first lady changes places with the second man and then with the third lady.
L3
5-8
All lead up a double then back a double.
L4
1-4
The person at the top left of the set (i.e. second woman) works their way to the bottom of the set by changing places with middle dancer opposite then with last dancer on their side.
L4
5-8
All lead up a double then back a double.
L5
1-4
The person at the top right of the set (i.e. the second man) works their way to the bottom of the set by changing places with middle dancer opposite then with last dancer on their side.
L5
5-8
All lead up a double then back a double.
L6
1-4
The person at the top left of the set (i.e. the third man) works their way to the bottom of the set by changing places with middle dancer opposite then with last dancer on their side.
L6
5-8
All lead up a double then back a double.
L7
1-4
The person at the top left of the set (i.e. the third woman) works their way to the bottom of the set by changing places with the middle dancer opposite then with the last dancer on their side.
L7
5-8
All lead up a double then back a double.
Siding, Slips and Arming
P1
1-8
All side with partner
P2
1-2
First couple take hands and slip down between the second couple. Second couple separate and slip up to top of set.
P2
3-4
Second couple take hands and slip down between the first couple. First couple separate and slip up to top of set.
P2
6-8
First and second couples repeat P2 1-4.
Meanwhile (P2 1-8) the third couple cross over and slip
round the outside of the set back to place.
P3
1-2
Third couple take hands and slip up between the second couple. Second couple separate and slip down to bottom of set.
P3
3-4
Second couple take hands and slip up between the third couple. Third couple separate and slip down to bottom of set.
P3
6-8
Second and third couples repeat P3 1-4.
Meanwhile (P3 1-8) the first couple crosses over and slip
round the outside of the set back to place.
P4
1-8
All Arm with partner
Heys
L1-3
All
Sheepskin Hey; Men hey around women then return to place. The first man starts by leading the line behind the first woman, in front of the second then all the way round the third. The third man will follow as far as the second woman. He reverses direction by going all the way round her then leads the new line, formed by the first and second man joining in behind him, back up round the first woman. The second man, now at the end of the line will turn back around the second woman and then lead the third and first man in the hey. Finally the first man turns back when he reaches the second woman and leads the hey back up again. He then leads the men out of the hey back round behind the women and into place.
L4-6
All
Sheepskin Hey; Women hey around men then return to place. Exactly the same as the men's except the women are heying and the men standing still! (Actually the heys are a lot easier to do than describe - just remember to keep going and if you're at the end of the line turn back found the middle person!)
