HERTFORDSHIRE EARLY DANCE

Dance Notations

Note: these notations are designed as a quick reference guide to members. They are still a work in progress.

All in a garden green

Fig 1 A. Double up and back, set and turn single. Repeat
B1. 1st Man shake hands with W1 (R),W2(R),W3 (rt and L), kiss twice, 2 hand turn.
B2. Repeat B1 back W3, W2, W1.
Fig 2 A. Siding, set and turn single.
B. As above, W1 starts
Fig 3 A. Arming, set and turn single.
B. As above, M1 starts
First couple cast to bottom. Repeat whole.

Amoroso

(couples)
A1&2. 8 piva
B1. Man leaves W (ssd sss)
B2. Woman does same to catch up
C1. Man leaves W (3 piva and 1s)
C2. Woman does same to catch up
D1. Man leaves W (ssd ssd mezavolta), both reverence, Man turns clockwise (3 piva and 1s)
D2. Woman does the same to catch up (no mezavolta), reverences, W goes around M to end with man on her right ready to start again with W leading.

Bassa Pompilia

Available to members on request.

Black Almain

Honour, 4 doubles forward (hopped);
double away and towards partner (flat), 2 doubles sideways;
Men only 2 sideways doubles and turn single; woman same;
half a two hand turn and 4 slips to M’s rt; repeat;
double away and towards.

Branle d'Aridan

Double and kick LRL: repeat;
Double L, single RLR, double L, kick L&R, double R, quick double L with kick R, quick single R and kick L; Repeated.

Branle de la Guerre

(Dl,dr,dl,dr)*2; dl,dr,sl,sr,dl; sr,sl,dr,sl,kickl,r,l & caper

Branle d'Ecosse

Double L & R, single L & R. repeatedly
Double L, single R & L, Double R & L, single R, Kick R,L,R, and caper.

Branle des Chevaux

8 doubles; M 2 taps rt foot & step rt, turn single lt. W’s same. Repeat

Branle des Lavandieres

Double L&R; repeat;
Single L&R facing partner (& nagging partner!); repeat;
hopped double L (clapping), hopped double R;
hopped double L (clapping), 3 kicks turning L and jump feet together.

Branle de Malte

A. Double L, single R, double L, single R,
B. (Forwards - with actions) L,R,L,R,step hop (timing: slow, slow, quick, quick, quick);
(turning) step hop, step hop, 3kicks and jump (timing Slow, slow, quick,quick, quick, jump)

Branle des Pois (Peas brawl)

Double L & R: repeat;
man jump, lady jump; man single L and 2 jumps,
lady jump, man jump, lady single L and 2 jumps.

Branle des Sabots

A. 2*(Double L, double R),
B. 2*(Single L&R, 3* stamp R).
Whole repeated with clapping.

Canario

Honour, 2 continenze, 4 canario steps forward.
4 steps circling left to separate; 2 quick steps and cadenza
Variation 1 (men), B (chorus) 2 steps circling and 2 facing.
Variation 1 (women)
Variation 2 (men then women)
Changeover variation
Variations 3 and then 4 and then closing figure (scorsi)

Chestnut

(3 couples longways)
A. Double up and back, repeat; facing p, single B and cross with p; circle on wrong side; cross as before and circle on own side.
B. Siding R&L; cross as before; half hey; cross & half hey on own side.
C. Arming R&L; cross as before; 1s lead down to invert set; cross as before 1s cast to invert set.

Cuckolds All a Row (or Hey Boys)

(square 4)
A1 F & B double ; repeat.
B1 Gipsy back and forward with partner
A2 Siding with partner, then opposite.
B2 Men cross, ladies cross, circle left; ladies cross, men cross, circle left to place.
A3 Arming with partner, then opposite.
B3 men poussette with opposites lady (double F&B), men cast right to places followed by this opposite lady. Repeat the pousette to get back to places and cast left followed by lady.

Dolce Amoroso Fuoco

Available to members on request.

Douce Dame Jolie

(Branles Coupes)
Double L & R; Repeat;
Double L, single R, L, R; Repeat
Double L, single R, double L, single R, double L and change weight; Repeat.

Drive the Cold Winter Away

(longways)
1. Double up & back. Repeat. 1M F&B and turn last but one W,then turn last W, & stay whilst other Ms go betw.2&3W to the 1st M. 1st M back then go upset & turn 2W, then turn 1st whilst men go betw last 2Ws turn R and back to places.
2. Siding. Repeat whole
3. Arming. Repeat whole.

Earl of Essex's Measure

Double forward & single back, repeated; repeated; single away and towards partner, double forward and double back

Farandole

Line led from left.

Gathering Peascods

(circle)
1. 2 doubles to L, turn single L with double; repeat to R;
Chorus: M make inner circle & slip L, fall out; W as men;
M double forward and clap, W as men, men double in & turn single out; repeat with W leading;
2. Partners side R, set & turn single; repeat L; Chorus: W leading.
3. Partners arm R, set & turn single; repeat L; Chorus: Men leading

Gelosia

(3 couple set)
A. All 8 saltarello steps with partner
B. 1M goes around 1W to face 2W with 3 doubles.
Reverence, whilst 2M moves into 1M’s place with 1 piva
1M goes in front of 2W to face 3W
Reverence, whilst 3M moves into 2M’s place with 1 piva
1M goes behind 3W to stand beside her with 3 piva.
C. All 8 piva in set.
D. 1cpl turn anticlockwise, then 2cpl turn, then 3cpl turn. All end facing partner.
E All change places giving right hands (3 single steps). Repeat giving left hands to place.
Repeat whole x3

Grays Inn Masque

(4 couple longways)
A. Double up and back, set and turn single. Repeat
B. All double to the L and double back
C All back away from partner and then change places
D Honour, salute (kiss)
E. Turn partner and change places
F. Men hey. Women hey
Second time through: All side, set and turn single
Third time through: All arm R and L, set and single

Heartsease

(square 4)
1. F & B a double; repeat. Double Away from P & F, turn contrary by rt.
2. Siding P, & contrary. As above
3. Arming P, & contrary. As above.

Il Villanicco

Available to members on request.

Jenny Pluck Pears

3 couple circle
1. Circle L with 2 doubles, set and turn single; reverse.
1st M puts p in by R hand, then 2nd M same, then 3rd M same (w’s stand back to back in centre), all honour;
M 4 doubles round clockwise & back;
M (in turn) take p’s out by L hand; all honour.
2. Side R set and turn single, repeat L.
W (in turn) put M in by L hand; all honour;
W 4 doubles round clockwise and back;
W take M out with R hand; all honour.
3. Arm R set and turn single, repeat L.
Men put W in etc as in first part.

Kettledrum

(4 couples circle)
1. Double in & out, repeated. Women in & link R hands, men in and link into star; R H turn partners into place. Repeat with men in lead and LHs.
2. Siding R&L. Sides in, out, cast into heads place. Heads in, meet opposite and lead out to side. Repeat with heads leading in.
3. Arming R&L. Giving p both hands swing in&out and turn to face corner, kiss & 2 hand turn. Repeat to end turning partner

La Volta

8 steps travelling; 8 steps turning (one step per bar)

Longe Pavian

A1&2. Honours.
B1&2. 2 singles and a double forward, R&L singles sideways, double R backwards.
C1&2. 2 singles sideways L&R, double F & B; Repeat.
A1/2 2 singles and a double forward, single back; Repeat.
Cont. as above

Lord of Carnarvon's Jig

(4couple longways)
1.A. Up a double and back x 2
B. Couples go about each other x 2
2.A. 1s cross and cast below 2s, then cross and cast below 3s
B. 1s lead down between 4s, and cast (all follow) to invert set(1432); arm R with p.
3&4 Repeat whole dance led by 2s who lead down at the start.
Repeat whole until all back home.

Lorraine Almain

A1. Honour presence and partner
A2. 4 hopped doubles fwd.
B1. 3 flat doubles fwd and 1 to turn single rt.
B2. Repeat B1
A1 &2 8 hopped doubles
Honours

Merry, merry milkmaids

(4 couples. Longways)
1. A1&2 Lead up and back, set & turn s. Repeat.
B1&2 cu.1, 3meet slip betw. 2 or 4, R&L hands star in fours. Repeat with cu. 2, 4
2. A. Sides as above.
B. M1 and W1, rest following cast to bottom, all set & turn S. Repeat to place
3. A. Arms as above.
B. 4 men back and forw., single hey. 4 Women as much.

Millison’s Jig

1. A1&2.(8 bars) Up & back. Repeated.
B1. 1s gallop up; 2s gallop; 3s gallop. All turn single UP.
B2. Reverse to place. All turn single down.
2. A1 & 2 Siding
B1 1s cross, 2s cross, 3s cross. Turn single
B2 Reverse. All turn single down
3. A1&2 Arm R & L
B1 1M cross with 2W; 1W cross with 2M; 3s cross. Turn single.
B2 1M cross with 3W; 1W cross with 3M, 2s cross. Turn single
Honours

Old Almain

Honours; With partner, 2 hand turn with almain single L & R, double L; reverse; 4 hopped doubles forward round room

Passo Mezzo

Honours; Men’s 1st mutanza and lady’s passeggio; lady’s 1st mutanza and men’s passaggio; (thus 2nd and 3rd); together circling passeggio; 4th, 5th & 6th mutanze; together cirling passeggio, and honours.

Petit Riens

(Ballo for 3 - in file)
A. 16 piva around the room
B. 1st - 4 piva anywhere, 2nd follows, 3rd follows (all end in file again)
C. 1st – a double away, 2nd double to face 1, 3rd double to make triangle
D. 1 & 2 – riverenza, 1 & 3 riverenza, All riverenza together.
E. All back away a double, all forward a double.
All 2 reprise (L & R)
All turn
Repeat whole with new leader x 2.

Pinegay Branle

Double L, kick L, double L, kick L,R,L, double L, double R. Honours

Quadran Pavan

2 singles and a Double fwd. 2 singles sideways & double back.Repeat*3

Queens Almaine

A. Honour presence and partner;
B1. Double forward L, double backwards R; facing partner single sideways L&R; double L turning L; B2. Repeat all starting R foot;
A. 4 hopped doubles forward (instead of honours). B. as above.

Row Well Ye Mariners

A1&2. Up double and back. Repeated.
B. Slide 2 steps to L & R; Double back & fwd;
C1. Clap (own, p’s R, own, p’s L, own, prayers, both).
C2. Repeat clapping – start L.
A. Siding R with NEXT couple down set (M with F)
B. as above
Note: shapes are different for top couple.

Rufty Tufty

(square 4)
A1&2. F & B double ; repeat.
B1&2. Men set & turn single, repeat.
C1. Men lead partners a double out back, turn single; Men lead opposite out & back, turn single.
A2 Siding with partner, then opposite. B & C as above
A3 Arming with partner, then opposite. B & C as above

Smith's New Rant, or May Day

(Longways round)
Fig 1. 1s start: A. Siding. B Clap, pass, turn single, 11/2 turn. Repeat M1 with W2 and W1 with M2.
Fig 2. 1s face W2 holding arch, W2 goes under, they turn to face, W2 returns. B. clap, pass, 3 hands 11/2. Repeat with M2.

Spagnoletta

8 spezzati forward; 4 away from partner;3 sottopiede & L trabuchetti, repeat R; 4 spezzati forward, 2 recacciate, 2 passi in saltino, heave up partner

Spanish Pavan

2 slow singles forward, step left fwd& rt foot approachs to pied en l’air; 7 fleurets, finish feet tog., rt pied en l’air (pause) 2 peieds en l’air-L &R & feet tog.

The Spaniard

(longways 8)
Up a Double, 4slips to R, set & turn S; Repeat Down.
1st & last Cs fall back whilst others meet & slipup or down , Set & turn S. Repeat to places
Siding S&T. Repeat. 1st & 3rd Ms push Ps back (others opposite) & fall into each others places. S&T Repeat the contrary way.
Arming S&T. Repeat. 1st M&2W&3M&4W meet and back & go 11/2 round. Other likewise. Repeat whole to places

Up tails all

(circles, hands 4)
A. Double in and out, set and turn single. Repeat.
B. 1st couple lead thru 2s, cast off, clap and arm. 2s Repeat
C. As in B but clap and hands across.
D. As in B but clap and circle.
E. Double in and out, set and turn single. Repeat
D. Grand chain

Upon a summer's day

(3 couples longways)
1. Double up and back, set and turn single; repeat
Chorus: Lines F&B, 2s&3s keep hands and arch whilst 1s cast through to 3rd place. Repeat twice until all home.
2. Siding, set and turn single. Chorus as above.
3. Arming, set and turn single. Chorus as above

Villanella

(Couples in a line)
Intro: Reverenza grave; Continenza L & R;
Sequito ordinario L &R; Continenza L; Reprise R *2
Figure 1: (Passi Grave L & R; Ordinario L) *2
Chorus: Continenza L; Reprise R *2; Reverenza grave.
Figure 2: Men move in front of lady to end on her other side with 2*(Passi grave L & R; Ordinario L)
Both chorus
Figure 3: Ladies do same
Both chorus
Figure 4: Men cast L & Ladies cast R to face opposite direction (Passi grave L & R; Ordinario L); then men cast R and ladies L to face front again (Passi grave L & R; Ordinario L)
Both Chorus
Figure 5: Turn to face partner. Holding R hands change places (spezzati L&R) drop hands and turn L to face partner (spezzati L & R).
Take L hands and change back (spezzati L & R)., drop hands and turn R to original place (spezzati L & R).
Both chorus

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