how to dance.html

This is instructions to dancing a square set (West Mabou/Glencoe style).

This details the first figure of the square set, done where there are normally
MORE than 4 couples in a set and the regular patterns cannot be done:

First Figure (Jig)
1. All join hands forward and back or do the Mabou Shuffle.
2. Dance with your corner partner.   You´ve just finished the first quarter of the figure.
3. All join hands forward and back or do the Mabou Shuffle.
4. Dance with your corner partner.   You´ve just finished the second quarter of the figure.
5. All join hands forward and back or do the Mabou Shuffle.
6. Dance with your corner partner.   You´ve just finished the third quarter of the figure.
7. All join hands forward and back or do the Mabou Shuffle.
8. Dance with your corner partner.   You´ve just finished the fourth quarter of the figure.
9. All join hands forward and back or do the Mabou Shuffle-    that´ll be it - that´ll be all!

This details the second figure of the square set done where there are
normally MORE than 4 couples in a set and the regular patterns cannot be done:

Second Figure (Jig)
1. All join hands forward and back or do the Mabou Shuffle.
2. Dance with your partner.
3. Promenade around to the right.   You´ve just finished the first quarter of the figure.
4. All join hands forward and back or do the Mabou Shuffle.
5. Dance with your partner.
6. Promenade around to the left.   You´ve just finished the second quarter of the figure.
7. All join hands forward and back or do the Mabou Shuffle.
8. Dance with your partner.
9. Promenade around to the right.   You´ve just finished the third quarter of the figure.
10. All join hands forward and back or do the Mabou Shuffle.
11. Dance with your partner.
12. Promenade around to the left.   You´ve just finished the fourth quarter of the figure.
13. All join hands forward and back or do the Mabou Shuffle-   that´ll be it, that´ll be all!

This details the third figure of the square set done now where there are
normally MORE than 4 couples in a set and the regular patterns cannot be done:

Third Figure (Reel)
1. Right hand to your partner, half grand chain.
2. Swing your partner.
3. Left hand to your corner partner, half grand chain back to home.
4. Promenade to the right (always to the right in the third figure).
5. One couple takes the lead and promenades (leading the rest of the set) to face the music.
6. This couple turns toward each other (lady will be on the left and gent on the right, (the gent´s left hand is on the small of his lady´s back
      - the gent´s right hand is clasping his lady´s right hand outstretched a bit - then they split the couples that were lined up behind them)
      The couples separate only as the head couple passes through and then follow the head couple as do all the others.
7. When the head couple has split the couples, they continue on a bit and then cast off and return towards the music
      - gents line up on one side and ladies on the other side, - they go forward and back a few times (or stepdance - your choice).
8. Join with your partner and do a simple two step (or stepdance) - everyone dances back into their home place ready for the next step.
        You´ve just finished the first quarter of the figure.
9. Right hand to your partner, half grand chain.
10. Swing your partner.
11. Left hand to your corner partner, half grand chain back to home.
12. Promenade to the right (always to the right in the third figure).
13. Another couple OR the same couple as before promenade (leading the rest of the set) to face the "back of the hall".
14. This couple that are leading to the back of the hall turns toward each other (lady will be on the left and gent on the right) (the gent´s left hand is
      on the small of his lady's back - the gent´s right hand is clasping his lady´s right hand outstretched a bit - then they split the couples that
      were lined up behind them) These couples separate only as this couple passes through.
15. When the couple has split all the couples they continue on a bit and then cast off and return towards the back of the hall
      - gents line up on one side and ladies on the other side
      - they go forward and back a few times (or stepdance - your choice).
16. Join with your partner and do a simple two step (or stepdance).
      Everyone then dances their set back into a circle and ready for the next step.
        You've just finished the second quarter of the figure.
17. Repeat steps 1 through 16. You´ve just finished the third and fourth quarters of the figure.
18. Right hand to your partner and do a grand chain (passing your partner by and going all the way to home).
19. All join hands and go forward and back OR stepdance.
20. That'll be it and that'll be all!