Other Dances
In all of these dances (unless marked otherwise), the man will be
standing to the left of the woman. Men offer their right hands palm up
to the women; generally aim to have the hands be at level of the woman's
waist. For more explanation on the basic steps, see
Basic Figures. This is a collection of
the Thrir Venstri Foetr dances that don't fit the other formats.
Longways Set
This dance is a Pavanne dance which has footwork very different from most
of our dances. You can read about the pavanne step in the Basic Figures. Please note that as
of January 2002, we no longer rise at the end of each sub-step.
- A1
- Take inside hands with partner, Pavanne left forward.
- A2 - Convert*
- Keeping hands, you will be turning around as couples to face the foot
of the set. Women will be doing a Pavanne right back while men will be
doing a Pavanne right forward. Note: at the pause after the 1st 2 steps,
the entire set should be in a single line facing the audience.
- B1
- Pavanne left forward.
- B2
- Pavanne right back.
- A1
- Drop hands, women Pavanne left around front of their partners,
flirting with partner, ending onpartner's left facing down the set.
- A2
- Women continue moving around partner with a Pavanne right behind their
partner, flirting with next gentleman in line, and returning to place.
- B1
- Men Pavanne left around front of their partners, flirting with
partner, ending on partner's right facing down the set.
- B2
- Men continue moving around partner with a Pavanne right behind their
partner, flirting with the next lady in line, and returning to place.
Repeat entire dance (ending facing in original direction).
*Note: Second
conversion should be reverse of first conversion with women doing Pavanne
right forward while men Pavanne right back so that you still face the
audience at the mid-way point.
End Belle Qui
Circle Dance, as many as will (no partners)
By tradition, Thrir Venstri Foetr performs this dance facing out of the
circle, 3 times through the entire dance.
- A1
- Double Bransle left
Kick left, Kick Right
Double Bransle Right
- A2
- Double Bransle left
Kick left, Kick Right
Double Bransle Right
- B (only 1 B phrase)
- Double Bransle left
Kick left, Kick Right
Single Bransle Right
Kick Left, Kick Right, Kick Left
Single Bransle Left
Kick Right, Kick Left, Kick Right
Dboule Bransle Right
End Charlotte Bransle
Longways Set with couples
Set up facing partner. This is a 'mixer' dance allowing each dancer to
dance with all members of the opposite gender, mild flirting and polite
conversation is encouraged. Note: set will tend to migrate toward foot
of hall, so leave a little space there. The head of the hall will be to
the men's left and the women's right.
- A1-A4
- Take both hands with partner. Double Bransle up the hall, double
Bransle down the hall. Repeat a total of 4 times.
- B1
- Drop hands with partner. Men paw twice gently upon the ground with
their right foot, take one Bransle step down the hall (right), and turn
over left shoulder while moving up the hall (ending between partner and
lady next to her).*
- B2
- While man at head of the hall continues the turn as a Cast to the foot
of the dance. Women paw twice gently upon the ground with their right
foot, take one Bransle step up the hall (right) and turn over left
shoulder while moving down the hall (ending in front of next man). Take
hands across the set with new partner.
Repeat entire dance until music ends.
*Since the man at the head of the hall will no longer have a partner
(having moved up past the top woman), he will need to run down to the foot
of the dance while the women are doing their progression.
End Horse's Bransle
Couples dance. Music is ABBA for one time through the dance (usually
done twice)
- A1
- As a couple Double Left forward, Double RIGHT forward.
- B1
- Man 3 single steps forward while Woman take 3 steps backwards. Man
turns. All double forward (towards partner), take Left hands and switch
places to become improper facing the original direction of movement
changing hands to inside hands
- B2
- Woman 3 Single steps forward while Man take 3 single steps backwards,
Woman turns over right shoulder to face Man. All double forward (towards
partner), taking Left hands and turn to become proper and change to inside
hands
- C
- Each steps forward, steps backwards, short cast away from each other
back into place.
Repeat dance with the B portion swapped so that women move forward first
End Ly Bens Destonys
Circle Dance (non-couples)
This dance is believed to have been brought back by the knights on
crusade. These knights were impressed with the belly dancing of the east,
thus they brought the dance back. In honor of its origins, we strongly
encourage lots of swinging of the hips with the steps.
- A1
- All take hands. Double Bransle left, Double Bransle right.
- A2
- Double Bransle left, Double Bransle right, drop hands.
- B1
- Raise your hands above your head, take three steps into the center of
the circle, turning so that your body is sideways to the circle on each
step (left, right, left), clap three times.
- B2
- Take three steps out of the center of the circle, turning your body so
that it is sideways to the circle on each step (right, left, right), kick
three times (left, right, left) while turning slightly so that you are
facing into the circle again. Retake hands.
Repeat as desired. With Thrir Venstri Foetr, this dance has become a
contest between the dancers and musicians to see which group can go faster
without losing cohesiveness. As the musicians speed up, take smaller
steps.
End Maltese Bransle
Line Dance for Four Dancers with Progressions.
The person on the left of each line (based on the dancer's perspective is
Dancer1, number down the line.
- A1
- Take hands in the line, 8 Bransle steps to the left. Drop hands.
- B
- Dancer1 does 4 kicks, turning 1/4 turn per kick over the left shoulder
(so that on the 4th kick s/he is facing front again). Dancer2 does 4 kicks
while turning, Dancer3 does 4 kicks while turning, Dancer4 does 4 kicks
while turning. Dancers2, 3, and 4 take hands again.
- A1
- Dancers2, 3, and 4 do 8 Bransle steps left while forming arches with
hands, while Dancer1 steps in front of Dancer2, facing Dancer2, Single
Bransle left, steps forward between Dancer2 and Dancer3, Single Bransle
left, Single Back between Dancer3 and Dancer4, does a backwards turn over
the right shoulder to join the end of the line (Dancer4 on Dancer1 left).
Renumber dancers.
Repeat Dance 4 times (so that Dancer1 is back at the front)
End Montarde Bransle
Longways set of couples for as many as will. Proper dance (not a
duple/triple minor).
- A1
- Double Forward, Double Back
- A2
- Double Forward, Double Back
- B1
- Women turn to face away from the set, double forward (skipping). Then
men do a double forward (skipping) to end up behind the women. Men put
their hands on the women's shoulders and starting with the left
{this is a change effective 2007] side
'peep' around the shoulder at the woman 4 times (left, right, left,
right [again, this was changed Summer 2007)). The musical cues for this
are fairly clear and it does not go that
fast.
The Playford then says all fall back a double. We have decided to all
turn 1/2 turn and double forward back to place. All turn over their left
shoulder.
- B2
- Men now turn to face away from the set, double forward
(skipping). Then
Women do a double forward (skipping) to end up behind the men. Women put
their hands on the men's shoulders and starting with the left side
'peep' around the shoulder at the man 4 times (left, right,
left, right).
The Playford then says all fall back a double. We have decided to all
turn 1/2 turn and double forward back to place. All turn over their left
shoulder.
- A1
- Side Right
- A2
- Side Left
- B1
- Men turn to face away from the set, double forward
(skipping). Then
Women do a double forward (skipping) to end up behind the men. Women put
their hands on the men's shoulders and starting with the left side
'peep' around the shoulder at the man 4 times (left, right,
left, right).
The Playford then says all fall back a double. We have decided to all
turn 1/2 turn and double forward back to place. All turn over their left
shoulder.
- B2
- Women now turn to face away from the set, double forward
(skipping). Then
men do a double forward (skipping) to end up behind the women. Men put
their hands on the women's shoulders and starting with the left side
'peep' around the shoulder at the woman 4 times (left, right, left,
right).
The musical cues for this are fairly clear and it does not go that
fast.
The Playford then says all fall back a double. We have decided to all
turn 1/2 turn and double forward back to place. All turn over their left
shoulder.
- A1
- Arm Right
- A2
- Arm Left
- B1
- Women turn to face away from the set, double forward (skipping). Then
men do a double forward (skipping) to end up behind the women. Men put
their hands on the women's shoulders and starting with the left side
'peep' around the shoulder at the woman 4 times (left, right, left,
right). The musical cues for this are fairly clear and it does not go that
fast.
The Playford then says all fall back a double. We have decided to all
turn 1/2 turn and double forward back to place. All turn over their left
shoulder.
- B2
- Men now turn to face away from the set, double forward
(skipping). Then
Women do a double forward (skipping) to end up behind the men. Women put
their hands on the men's shoulders and starting with the left side
'peep' around the shoulder at the man 4 times (left, right, left, right).
The Playford then says all fall back a double. We have decided to all
turn 1/2 turn and double forward back to place. All turn over their left
shoulder.
End New Boe Peep
Circle
- A
- Double bransle left, kick Left
Double bransle left, kick Left-Right-Left
- B
- Double bransle left, double bransle right
Double bransle left, double bransle right
End Pinegay
Couples
- A
- Reprezzo left, Reprezzo right
- B
- Man moves away from woman with an Italian Double, ends up facing the
woman.
- A
- both Reprezzo left and right
- B
- Man moves back to beside woman with an Italian Double, rejoin hands
- A
- Reprezzo left and right
- B
- Woman moves away from man with an Italian Double, ends up facing man
- A
- both Reprezzo left and right
- B
- Woman moves back next to man with an Italian Double, join hands
- A
- Reprezzo left and right
- B
- Italian Double forward drop hands
- A
- Turn of Joy to the left, rejoin hands, Reprezzo right
- B
- Italian Double forward, drop hands
- A
- Turn of Joy to the left, rejoin hands, Reprezzo right
- C
- 8 Piva Steps
- D1
- Man movemento, woman movemento
Man walks away from the woman
- D2
- Woman movemento, man movemento
Woman walks toward the man
- D1
- Man movemento, woman movemento
Man walks away from the woman
- D1
- Woman movemento, man movemento
Woman walks up next to man
Repeat entire dance with woman going first
End Rostiboli
Longways for as many couples as will. Music is ABCD
- A
- Double Forward, Double Back, Double Forward, Double Back
- B
- Facing forward, couples drop hands and men do 2 slip steps left while
women do 2 slip steps right (both moving away from the set). Then do
slip steps back to the set (men moving right, women moving left).
- C
- Turn to face your partner, double back, double forward.
- D
- (for this part, think of the patty-cake clapping games that kids do).
All clap hands once, then clap right hands against partner's right hand,
clap hands once, clap left hands against partner's left hand, clap hands
once, clap both hands against self [we have been crossing our arms for
this part and getting the knap on the junction between shoulder and
chest], clap hands once, clap both hands across against partner's hands
(right to left).
- A
- Side right with the person diagonally to your left (across the set).
Side left with the person diagonally to your right.
- B
- Facing forward, couples drop hands and men do 2 slip steps left while
women do 2 slip steps right (both moving away from the set). Then do
slip steps back to the set (men moving right, women moving left).
- C
- Turn to face your partner, double back, double forward.
- D
- **Note the order of hands changes slightly from the first time
through** All clap hands once, then clap left hands against partner's
left hand, clap hands once, clap right hands against partner's right
hand, clap hands once, clap both hands against self [we have been
crossing our arms for this part and getting the knap on the junction
between shoulder and chest], clap hands once, clap both hands across
against partner's hands (right to left).
End Row Well Ye Mariners
Couple Dance
Couples join right hands (man's right arm behind woman's shoulder) and
left hands (man's left arm across chest, holding hand at woman's shoulder
height). Set up facing in such a way that the couples won't hit each
other as the dance progresses. This dance is also known in some circles
as Gay Gordon.
- A1
- Point left foot forward and to the left (45 degrees), bring left foot
behind the right foot, step right with the right foot, bring the left foot
in front of the right, point the right foot (45 degrees forward and
right). (point, behind, beside, in-front, point)
- A2
- Bring right foot behind left, step left, bring right foot in front of
left, point left foot (45 degrees front and to the left), close with left
foot. Pause.
- B1
- Take three steps forward, jump-kick (kick with right slightly, kick
with left as high as you can without losing balance, land on the right
foot), take three steps forward (left, right left). Jump and pivot (man's
left arm is now behind woman's shoulders, right hand is across his chest),
three steps forward, jump-pivot, stamp feet three times (left, right,
left).
- B2
- Take three steps forward, jump pivot (landing on right), three steps
back. Three steps forward, jump-pivot, three steps back. Drop left
hands.
- C
- As man walks slowly forward, he gently holds the woman's right hand
above her head. Woman turns four times (usually clockwise) moving forward
with man. Turn to face partner, balance forward, balance back, turn to
face forward (man's right arm behind woman's shoulder) and regrasp left
hands.
Repeat total of three times. On the final repetition the end of part C
is: balance forward, balance back, turn as if restarting the dance but
woman finishes turn under man's arm and reverence partner.
End Scotland the Brave
Circle Dance, as many as will (no partners), holding hands
By tradition, Thrir Venstri Foetr performs this dance facing out of the
circle, 3 times through the entire dance. On all the Bransle steps, do
a slight sweep of the unweighted foot as if you are trying to lift your
neighbor's kilt.
- A1
- Double Bransle left, Double Bransle right, Single Bransle left,
Single Bransle right.
- A2
- Double Bransle left, Double Bransle right, Single Bransle left,
Single Bransle right.
- B1
- Double Bransle left, Single Bransle right, Single Bransle left,
Double Bransle right.
- B2
- Double Bransle left, Single Bransle right, pause briefly, kick
left, kick right, kick left, capriole (a slight jump in the air,
landing with one foot just behind the other).
End Scottish Bransle
As many as will (no couples)
One of the simplest of dances, the fun of this dance is the tangling.
Begin by joining hands in a circle, with a break where the leader of
the dance is.
- A
- Take one Bransle step right
- B
- Take three Bransle steps left.
Repeat until either the musicians can't play anymore or until the dancers
are in a knot.
Some additional comments on this dance are: 1) don't let go of the hands
you are holding, 2) follow the leader, 3) allow the leader to duck under
your hands (i.e. form an arch to let the line through).
End Tangle Bransle
This page written and maintained by Eowyn (eowyn [AT] wam [DOT] umd
[DOT] edu). If you have questions or comments on our usage of the dances,
please email me.