Catalog of Dances
This catalog lists all dances on the programs of recent and upcoming Alexandria Assembly balls. It is in alphabetical order.
Barbarini’s Tambourine
Set: Duple Minor Longways
Dance: Caledonian Country Dances, Book the Fourth, as they are perform’d at Court
& Publick Entertainments
Published by Walsh ca 1735-1740 (reconstructed by Jacqueline Schwab)
Music: Barnes I-8. 2/4 time. AABB
Video
Notations:
A1 1-4 1st Corners cast (Man down, Woman up) and half-figure-eight through the 2nd Corners
(passing left in the middle & go right round partner) to end in each other’s places
A2 1-4 2nd Corners do the same
B1 1-2 Fall back a step along lines and cross (all proper)
3-4 Back-to-back with neighbor
5-6 Back-to-back with partner
B2 1-4 Rights and lefts (four changes)
5-6 All turn partners round two hands
Bath Medley
Set: Duple Minor Longways
Dance: Wright's Compleat Collection of Celebrated Country Dances, Vol. 1
Walsh's The Compleat Dancing Master, Book 1, 1740
Music: Barnes I-10. AABB. 120 bpm
Notations:
A1 1-4 1st corners cast (outside set) into each other's places
5-8 2nd corners cast into each other's places
A2 1-4 1st corners cast ending home
5-8 2nd corners cast ending home
B1 1-4 1st corners change, 2nd corners change
5-8 Left hands across half home
B2 1-4 Set forward to partner and fall back
5-8 Facing partner, three changes of rights and lefts
Candles in the Dark
Set: Duple Minor Longways
Dance: Loreta Holtz 2006
Music: Jonathan Jensen 2004. Barnes III, p36. Bm 3/4
Video
Notations:
A1&A2: Assisted half figures-8 (men assisting women w/ right-in-right).
A1 1-8 M1 with partner, then with W2.
A2 1-8 M2 with W1, then with partner.
(All Progressed, but Improper)
B1 1-4 Neighbors Mirror back-to-back (2s split 1s to start).
5-8 All circle left (once round).
B2 1-4 Neighbors Mirror back-to-back (1s split 2s to start).
5-8 Partners gypsy right 1½ to finish proper.
(1s join right hands & face down to start next round)
Captain Wentworth
Set: Triple Minor Longways
Dance: Daniel Beal, 2021
Music: Off She Goes, Barnes III-105. 6/8 time, AABB
Video
Notations:
A1 1–4: 1s & 2s circle L once round.
5–8: 1s & 2s poussette CW* half to progressed place. (*CW = Clockwise)
A2 1–8: 1s R shoulder hey with 2s & 3s along the lines.
B1 1–2: Quickly, 1s RH turn half to face 1st corner person, 1st Man to 3rd Woman
& 1st Woman to 2nd Man.
3–4: 1st Man with 3rd Woman & 1st Woman to 2nd Man, L hand turn round.
5–6: 1s R hand turn a little more than half to face 2nd corners,
Man to 2nd Woman & Woman to 3rd Man.
7–8: 1st Man with 2nd Woman & 1st Woman with 3rd Man, L hand turn round, such that
1s conclude between end couples, facing up/down in lines of 3.
(2nd Woman and 3rd Man must release the handhold a little early to turn in place,
facing up/down.)
Note: Skip-change steps may be used for all the turns in part B1.
B2 1–2: Lines of 3: dance 3 steps forward and close L foot beside R foot with weight or dance a
double step forward)
3–4: 2s & 3s fall back as 1s “petronella” (turn individually 3/4s CW to conclude in 2nd place,
facing partner across the set).
5–6: Lines of 3: dance 3 steps forward and close L foot beside R foot with weight
(or dance a double step forward).
7–8: All turn Single R back to place.
1s begin dance as before with a new set of 6.
Cheshire Rounds
Set: Duple Minor Longways
Dance: Walsh 1718-1760 (reconstructed by Charles Bolton 2000)
Music: Barnes I, p19. 3/2 D
Video
Notations:
A1 1-4 W1 cast down and dance CW around standing 2s to end in Partner’s place
WHILE M1 follows W1 around W2, but cuts up center to end in W1’s place.
A2 1-4 M2 cast up and dance CW around standing 1s, to end in Partner’s Place.
WHILE W2 follow M2 around W1, but cuts down center to end in M2’s place.
B1 1-2 1s cross and dance down the outside
WHILE 2s two-hand turn 1/2 and lead up;
3-4 Partners (all) two-hand turn once round.
[all proper and progressed]
B2 1-4 All Four Changes of Rights & Lefts (start with partner).
Drapers’ Gardens
Set: Duple Minor Longways
Dance: Dancing Master, Vol. 1, 13th ed., 1706
Music: Preston's Twenty Four, 1799. Barnes I-30. AAB.
Video
Notations:
A1 1-4 1st Corners set forward and turn single to the right
5-8 1st Corners turn two-hands once around
A2 1-8 2nd Corners repeat A1
B 1-2 Two women face and turn two hands half way around
3-4 Two men the same
5-8 Circle hands four half way around and fall back into lines
9-12 All rights and left two changes, beginning with partners
13-16 1st Couple lead up through 2nd Couple and cast down to place
(this can be a run-around)
Dublin Bay, or We’ll Wed and We’ll Bed
Set: Duple Minor Longways
Dance: The Dancing Master, Vol. 2, 1st ed., 1710
Music: I-100, 2/2 time. AABB
Video
Notations:
A 1-2 1st Couple, 1 st Woman passing in front of the 1 st Man, set forward toward your corners
3-6 1 st Couple turn their corner by the right hand all the way around and ...
7-10 1st Couple pass your partner by the left shoulder in the middle to go CCW around your own neighbor
and back into the middle to do a left shoulder gypsy with partner to face your neighbor whom you will...
11-14 Arm right once around ending in line across the hall, facing down, with the 1 st Couple in the middle,
all proper
B 1-4 In line with hands, fall back a double (up the hall), go forward a double (down the hall)
5-8 Turning towards neighbor, change hands into a line facing up and fall back a double (down the hall)
and come forward a double (up the hall)
9-16 1st Couple drop partner’s hand and move up center through top couple and cast down to second place,
neighbor acting as a pivot
Duke of Kent's Waltz
Set: Duple Minor Longways
Dance: W.M. Cahusac’s Annual Collection, 1801 (Reconstructed by A. Simons 1970). Named for Edward Augustus, son of George III and father of Queen Victoria.
Music: Barnes I-32. 3/4 time. AAB
Video Video
Notations:
A1 1-8 1s & 2s star right & back by left.
A2 1-4 1s take two-hands, dance 2 sashay steps down & back.
5-8 1s cast down (2s lead up).
B 1-4 Partners take right hands: balance forward & back.
Men turn partner under their arms (ccw) as partners change places (allemande crossing).
5-8 Partners repeat using left hands (turn partner under clockwise).
9-12 All turn right diagonal (i.e. M1 w/ new W2) by right-hand (once).
13-16 Partners left-hand turn
Dusty Miller, The
Set: Triple Minor
Dance: John and William Neal, A Choice Collection of Country Dances, Dublin Ireland, 1726
Music: Barnes I-33. 3/2 time. AABBAABB
Video
Notations
A1 1-2 1st Couple lead through the 2nd Couple
3-4 1st Couple turn in and cast down to 3rd place
A2 1-2 1st Couple turn with two hands
3-4 1st Couple cast up to 2nd place
B1 1-2 1st Man turn 2nd Woman by the right hand
WHILE the 1st Woman turn the 3rd Man by the hand
3-4 1st Couple turn by the left hand in 2nd place
B2 1-2 1st Man turn the 3rd Woman by the right hand
WHILE the 1st Woman turn the 2nd Man by the right hand
3-4 1st Couple turn by the left hand in 2nd place
A3 1-2 1st Man slow set and honor with the 3rd Woman (to the right)
WHILE the 1st Woman slow set and honor with the 2nd Man
3-4 1st Man turn the 3rd Woman with two hands
WHILE the 1st Woman turn 2nd Man with two hands
A4 1-2 1st Man slow set and honor with the 2nd Woman (to the right)
WHILE the 1st Woman slow set and honor to the 3rd Man
3-4 1st Man turn 2nd Woman with two hands
WHILE the 1st Woman turn 3rd Man with two hands
B3 1-4 1st Man hey with the Women [1st Man passing left shoulders with 3rd Woman to start],
WHILE the 1st Woman hey with the men [1st Woman passing left shoulders with 2nd Man to start]
B4 1-4 1st Couple turn with two hands to get proper
Flying Sorceress, The
Set: Duple Minor Longways
Dance: Kalia Kliban 2007
Music: Antone Seoane, ¾ Am
Video
Notations:
A1 1-4 1s set and gypsy right ½ .
5-8 Neighbors (original corners) repeat (set & gypsy ½ ).
A2 1-4 All circle left once round.
5-6 All balance the ring.
7-8 1s lead up, AS 2s dance down the outside.
B 1-8 All poussette clockwise (current 1st corners dancing forward).
C1 1-4 Neighbors mirror gypsy (1s splitting the 2s to start).
5-8 1s half-figure-8 down (2s may repeat their gypsy path).
C2 1-4 All Rights & Lefts two changes.
5-8 Partners two-hand turn 1-½, to end proper
German Waltz
Set: Duple Minor Longways
Dance: For the Year 1797 Twenty Four New Country Dances, Corri, Dussek & Co.
Music: German Waltz as copied by Jane Austen in her music books. (Anne Daye, A New Collection of Dances for Jane Austen, p. 13). 3/8 time. AABB CCDD.
(No video available.)
Notations:
A1 1-4 1st Woman set twice to the 2nd Man
5-8 1st Woman two-hand turn 2nd Man once around
A2 1-8 1st Man repeats with 2nd Woman
B1 1-8 1st Couple lead down the middle and up again, casting to 2nd place
B2 1-8 Couples allemande right and allemande left
Hole in the Wall, The
Set: Duple Minor Longways
Dance: Dancing Master, Vol. I, 1698
Music: Henry Purcell. Barnes I-52. AAB.
Video
Notations:
A1 1-4 1st Couple cast below the 2nd Couple.
Meet in the center and lead back up.
A2 1-4 2nd Couple cast above the 1st Couple.
Meet in the center and lead back down.
B 1-4 1st Corners cross, 2nd Corners cross.
B 5-6 Hands four half-way around.
B 7-8 1st Couple cast off while 2nd Couple moves up.
Jane’s Waltz
Set: Duple Minor Longways
Dance: Margaret & Jeff Bary, 2024
Music: Jane’s Tune by Kathy Talvitie 3/4 time. AABB
Video
Notations:
A1 1-4 Circle halfway around and turn partner halfway around to face up
5-8 1st Couple lead up and cast down while the 2nd Couple cast down and lead up
A2 1-8 Dolphin hey for 3, 1st Couple dancing as a unit: 1st Couple dance up between the 2nd Couple
and to the right while the 2nd Couple casts into the hey, all ending in a line of four facing up,
1st Couple in the middle
B1 1-4 Line of four set moving forward; 2nd Couple gate the 1st Couple up and around to reform the set
5-8 1st Couple half figure eight up around the 2nd Couple
B2 1-4 2nd Couple half figure eight down around the 1st Couple
5-8 Balance the ring; with partner, overhead allemande to place facing new neighbors
Knole Park
Set: Duple Minor Longways
Dance: Voight, 1809; Bishop 1788
Music: Barnes I-65. AABB
Video
Notations:
A1 1-4 1st and 2nd Couple hands four once round to the left
5-6 1st Corners cross
7-8 2nd Corners cross
A2 1-8 Repeat A1 back to place
B1 1-8 1st Couple lead down center, lead back up and cast to 2nd place, while
2nd Couple lead up one place
B2 1-8 1st Couple and 2nd Couple whole poussette counterclockwise:
1st Man and 2nd woman pushing their respective partners
La Boulanger
Set: Circle of Couples, Woman to the right of her partner
Dance: Campbell’s Fourth Collection of the newest and most favourite Country Dances and Cotillions… as performed at Court, Carleton House, Willis’s Rooms, Bath, and all public assemblys etc., London [1789].
Music: Campbell’s 4th Collection [1789]. Dance repeats until all women have turned the men to their right (four or five couple sets work best). The “B” music is played ad lib as many times as necessary in order for the 1st Woman to turn all the men in her set, etc., requiring the musicians to actively participate in the dance. (Anne Daye, A New Collection of Dances for Jane Austen, p. 36). 2/4 time.
For 4 couples: AABBB
Video (note - this shows a 6 couple set)
Notations:
A1 1-8 All circle to the right
A2 1-8 All circle back to the left
B 1-4 W1 turns the Man on her right by the right hand, WHILE M1 turns single left. Then
5-8 W1 turn M1 by the left hand.
Repeat B for each remaining Man around the set. E.g. if the set has 4 couples, repeat B 3 times.
After W1 has danced with the last Man and M1, the set progresses (the next Woman to the right of the W1 becomes the new W1, and her partner becomes M1) and the dance repeats.
Mr. Beveridge’s Maggot
Set: Duple Minor Longways
Dance: Dancing Master, Volume I, 11th Edition, 1701 (Pat Shaw’s interpretation)
Music: Barnes I-77. 3/2 time. AAB
Video
Notations:
A1 1-2 1st Couple ‘Hole in the Wall’ cross and face down, then
3-4 1st Couple go back-to-back by the right shoulder with the 2 nd Couple, then
A2 1 1st Couple turn single up, Man to the right and Woman to the left, and
2-3 1st Couple turn the 2 nd Couple by the right hand and then cross back to original places
by the left hand
B 1-4 1st Couple cross and cast, then go back to back finishing in the middle of a line facing up
as the 2nd Couple meets, leads up and casts onto the end of the line
5-8 Line moves up (1 bar) and falls back;
1st Couple crosses up and casts as the 2nd Couple meets and leads up
Elephant Stairs
Set: Duple Minor Longways
Dance: Walsh 1727 (reconstructed by Andrew Shaw 2017)
Music: Barnes III, p53. ¾ G
Video
Notations:
A1 1-8 1s CAST down into a full figure-8 around 2s (T-S up at end).
A2 1-8 2s CAST up into a full figure-8 around as (T-S down at end).
B1 1-4 Men lead through the women and cast back to place.
5-8 1s lead down through 2s and cast back to place.
B2 1-4 Women lead through the men and cast back to place.
5-8 All face up and Cast-and-Lead 1-1/2 to progress:
1s cast down, lead up, and cast down again.
AS 2s lead up, cast down, and lead up again.
Minor Spaniard
Set: Duple Minor Longways
Dance: Jenny Beer 2000
Music: Barnes II, p85. 6/8 Em
Video
Notations:
A1 1-4 1st corners set forward and turn single back to place.
5-8 1s two-hand turn once round.
A2 1-4 2nd corners set forward and turn single back to place.
5-8 2s two-hand turn once round.
B1 1-2 1s lead down.
3-4 1s set (to each other).
5-6 1s lead back up.
7-8 1s cast down (2s move up).
B2 1-4 All circle left once round.
5-8 2s gate 1s up and around to progressed place.
Mulberry Garden
Set: Duple Minor Longways
Dance: Dancing Master, 1670
Music: Barnes I p83, 6/8 Dm
Video
Notations:
A1 1-8 All lead up a double and back. Repeat.
B1 1-4 Partners facing, all fall back a double and come forward a double.
5-8 Partners turn 2 hands.
A2 1-4 Partners back to back.
5-8 Neighbors back-to-back.
B2 1-4 Circle left halfway, partners change places passing right shoulder.
5-8 2s cast down and lead back up to place WHILE 1s lead up and cast down to progressed place.
My Love is but a Lassie Yet
Set: Duple Minor Longways
Dance: Cahusac’s Annual Collection of Twentyfour favourite Country Dances for the year 1800.
Music: As copied by Jane Austen in her music books. (Anne Daye, A New Collection of Dances for Jane Austen, p. 23). 2/4 time. AABB.
(No video available.)
Notations:
A1 1-4 All foot it (set, rigadoon)
5-8 1st and 2 nd Couples right-hands-across (star right) once around
A2 1-4 All foot it (set, rigadoon)
5-8 1st and 2nd Couples left-hands-across (star left) once around
B1 1-4 1st Couple dance down the middle (chassé, rigadoon)
5-8 1st Couple dance back up the set and cast to 2nd place
B2 1-8 1st and 2 nd Couples rights-and-lefts
Old Mill, The (or The Merry Salopians)
Set: Three Couple Longways
Dance: Nathanial Kynaston and published by John Walsh 1718 (reconstructed by Tom Cook 1987 to the tune The Old Mill by Brian Jenkins)
Music: Barnes I, p91. Brian Jenkins. 3/2 G/D modal
Video
Notations:
A1 1-6 M1 casts below 2s as W1 balances back and follows him.
M1 & W3 right-hand turn, M1 then follows partners, who continues (ccw)
around the 2s to partner’s home.
7-8 1s left-hand turn half to get home.
A2 1-8 1s repeat A1, but all reversed: W1 casts as M1 balances & follows,
W1 & M3 turn lefts, W1 follows M1 to top, 1s turn right half.
B1 1-6 1s (keeping right hands) lead down & out thru W2&W3 to start a
Morris Hey across set.
[W2&W3 cast then lead thru M2&M3, who cast & lead thru 1s, etc.]
7-8 1s meet and right-hand turn ¾ to end in 2nd place improper.
B2 1-4 1s CROSS & cast up (2s move down); 1 button-hook turn single down
5-8 1s lead down center to the bottom, 2s & 3s up outside & follow to invert set.
1s cast up to 2nd place, as 2s continue to bottom. [order 3-1-2]
Portsmouth
Set: Duple Minor Longways
Dance: The Dancing Master, 11th Edition, Henry Playford, 1701
Music: Barnes I-100, 2/2 time. AABB
Video
Notations:
A1 1-8 1st Man hey with 1st & 2nd Women
A2 1-8 1st Woman hey with 1st & 2nd Men
B1 1-8 1st Couple cross and cast with a half-figure-eight up through 2nd Couple
B2 1-8 1st and 2nd Couples four changes of rights and lefts
Prince William
Set: Three Couple
Dance: Jonathan Walsh, The Compleat Country Dancing Master, 1731
Music: Barnes I-100. 2/2 time. AABBAABB
Video Video
Notations:
A1 1-8 1st Couple cross down the center for a mirror-image hey,
2nd Couple moving up the outside to start (cross-over hey)
A2 1-8 1st Couple cross again for hey on own sides
B1 1-4 1st Couple cross over one couple
5-8 1st Couple turn one-and-one-half times around
B2 1-8 2nd couple the same
A3 1-4 1st man turn 3 rd woman by the right while the 1st woman turns 2nd man
(man passes in front of woman to start turns)
(2nd woman moves to 1st woman’s place);
5-8 1st couple turn by the left in the center;
A4 1-4 1st Couple turn remaining corners by the right;
5-8 1st couple turn two hands in the center ending with the 1st woman on the right
facing the women’s side
B3 1-8 1st couple lead out between the women and cast back to center and turn
one and one half times around ending with the woman on the right facing the
men’s side;
B4 1-8 1st couple lead out the men’s side and cast back turning two hand three quarters
around and casting on their own side
Softly Good Tummas
Set: Duple Minor Longways
Dance: Nathanial Kynaston 1718 (reconstructed by Andrew Shaw 2002)
Music: Barnes II, p120. Dm 2/2
Video
Notations:
A1 1-4 All single file to left (cw) ½-way round set (one double per side).
5-6 All (facing corner) in a double to meet in the center.
7-8 All turn single left out from center, clapping on last beat of phrase.
A2 1-4 All single file to right (ccw) ½-way round set (to home).
5-8 All into center, turn single right back out, clapping on last beat.
B1 1-2 1s quick cast down as 2s lead up.
3-4 Partners set.
5-6 All (starting w/ partner) two changes of Rights and Lefts.
B2 1-2 Neighbors fall back setting.
3-4 Partners come forward, cross and turn to face.
5-8 1s right-hand turn down middle, WHILE 2s cast up outside.
Ragg, The
Set: Duple Minor Longways
Dance: Neal Collection 1726 (reconstructed by Rich Jackson & George Fogg 1990)
Music: Barnes I, p104. D 6/8
Video
Notations:
A1 1-4 1s cross and go below to 2nd place (2s dance up)
5-8 1s two-hand turn 1½.
A2 1-8 2s cross and go below to 2nd place, two-hand turn 1 ½.
B1 1-4 Star right.
5-8 Star left.
B2 1-4 All set twice to partner
5-8 3 changes of a circular hey
Sapphire Sea
Set: Duple Minor Longways
Dance: Christine Robb ca 2015
Music: “Tom Kruskal” by Emily Troll & Amelia Mason, Barnes III, p12`. 2/2 F
Video
Notations:
A 1-4 All circle left once round.
5-8 1st corners right-hand turn once round. 9-12 2nd corners left-hand turn once round.
13-16 1s cast down to form middle of line across the hall
WHILE 2s lead up and cast to end of the line.
All face W2 who faces W1, M1, M2.
B 1-8 Dolphin Hey (1s acting a single unit)
--start with W2 passing 1s by the right
--End in same place in line of 4 but now facing up.
9-12 Line up a double and back.
13-16 2s gate the 1s up and around to progressed places
Take a Dance
Set: Duple Minor Longways
Dance: Thompson 1765
Music: Barnes I, p124. 6/8 Bm
Video
Notations:
A1 1s lead down through the 2s, cast back to places, 2 hand turn once.
A2 2s lead up through the 1s, cast back to places, 2 hand turn once.
B1 1s cross and cast, and 1/2 figure 8 up through 2s.
B2 Partners facing, rights and lefts, 4 changes.
Trip to Kilburn
Set: Triple Minor Longways
Dance: Dancing Master I: 1718-1728 (reconstructed by Cecil Sharp 1916)
Music: Barnes I, p128. Am 2/2
Video
Notations:
A1 1-6 1s cast and circle with the 3s.
7-8 1s lead down through the 3s.
A2 1-6 1s cast up to 2nd place and circle with the 2s.
7-8 1s lead up through the 2s.
B1 1-2 1s cast to middle place.
3-8 Circle 6 once round.
B2 1-4 1s and 2s do 4 changes of a circular hey, facing partners to start. (Very quick!)
5-8 All 2 hand turn partners
Tythe Pig
Set: Duple Minor Longways
Dance: Dancing Master, Vol. I, 1695
Music: Barnes III-141. AAB
Video
Notations:
A1 1-4 1st Corners back-to-back
A2 1-4 2nd Corners back-to-back
B 1-2 Neighbors face and pat-a-cake
3-4 All cloverleaf turn single away from neighbor to face partners
5-6 Clap hands with partner then own hands
7-8 1st Couple cast, 2s lead up
9-10 C1 lead up and cast again, 2s cast down and lead up