Mr. Dolly

Tune: George Green's College Hornpipe, by George Green Set: 4 dancers; 21“ (short) or 28 ¼” (medium) sticks; skipping (single steps) Source: Red Stags / Andy Anderson Chorus: clash G-G-PPP1) G = ground; P = partner; L = left; R = right [low], R-L-PPP [high], repeat Figures: , , , ,

Detailed Description

Chorus

This dance can be done with one stick or two sticks in parallel.

bar 1: tap the ground to the left of your partner (GL), then the ground to the right of your partner (GR). bar 2: clash forehand 3x with your partner (PF-PF-PF). (Red Herring clashes low; most sides in the Eastern US and Canada clash high) bar 3: clash backhand with the person diagonally to your right (RB), then forehand with the person diagonally to your left (LF) bar 4: clash backhand 3x with your partner (PB-PB-PB).

Repeat.

Figures

In this dance (only), all figures start with a “hitch-back” (hop back onto right foot, but keeping weight forward).

Cross and Swing

Dancers cross the set (passing by the “stick” (right) shoulder) and continue well past their partner on beats 1-4. On beats 5-6, the dancers turn over their “stick” (right) shoulder and switch the stick to the left hand. On beats 7-8, the dancers charge in toward their partner, right arm extended, catching the partner by the waist (from the front). On beats 9-14, the dancers go around their partners, continuing to hold their partner by the waist. On beats 15-16, the dancers break apart and end up in their original positions.

J-Loops

Beat 1 (right foot): dancers step in place Beat 2 (left foot): dancers surge forward to just past their partner Beat 3 (right): dancers slide to the right, passing behind their partner Beat 4 (left): dancers move slightly backward into a single straight line Beat 5 (right): dancers move backward, with the right foot crossing behind the left so that the motion is diagonally back toward their original place. Beats 6-8: dancers pass by the right shoulder to their partner's place, then turn around over the stick (right) shoulder to face their partner.

The figure repeats on beats 9-16, with the dancers ending up back in their original positions.

Mini-Brook

Bars 1-2: First corners cross. Bars 3-4: Second corners cross. Bars 5-8: Dance clockwise around the set 1½ times to end up in home position.

Some sides put one elbow into the center like a “chicken wing”. Red Herring does not do this.

Dragon's Bane

This figure is a square hey with altered priorities.

Beats 1-2: Dancers move across the set. Master side comes together and passes inside apprentice side. Beats 3-4: Dancers turn 3/4 (hard turn) out from the center. Beats 5-6: Dancers cross up & down. Top dancers come together and pass inside of bottoms. Beats 7-8: Dancers turn 3/4 (hard turn) out from the center.

Repeat on beats 9-16.

All turns are out from the center, i.e., first corners will turn over their left shoulders and second corners will turn over their right shoulders.

Rounds & Off

Beats 1-8: Dancers dance around in a circle. Beats 9-16: #1 leads the dancers off into the audience.

Tune

George Green's College Hornpipe (MP3 played by Jeff Bigler)