Folk Culture

This dance is in reel time and can be done to any good Irish reel (or series of reels, for variety). The selection given here is “The Boyne Water,” which is in two parts, A and B, of eight measures each, each of which is repeated.

The Steps
1. Promenade Step
(Meas. 1.) Step forward on the right foot (one), bring the left toe to the right heel (and), step forward again on the right foot, at the same time lifting the left foot from the ground (two), make a slight rise and fall on the right foot (and).
(Meas. 2.) Repeat the same with the left foot, and continue in this manner.
2. “Side Step”
This step consists of two parts, “The Seven” and “Threes,” as follows:
(a) “The Seven”
(Meas. 1.) With a little spring, land on the toes of both feet with the left heel over the right toe (one), take a short step to the right on the right foot (two), bring the left toe close to and behind the right heel (three), step again to the right with the right foot (four).
(Meas. 2.) Continuing the step, bring the left toe close behind the right heel (five), step again to the right with the right foot (six), bring the left foot again behind the right and at the same time lift the right foot from the ground (seven), make a slight pause in this position. During this step the dancer moves directly to the right side without turning the head or body.
(b) “Threes”
(Meas. 3.) Put down the right toe directly behind the left heel and lift the left foot slightly (one). Replace the left foot, lifting the right foot slightly (two), replace the right foot (three), and pause. (Meas. 4.) Make another “Three” in the same manner, but this time putting down the left toe behind the right heel. (The “Threes” are done in place.)
(When the “Side Step” is danced to the left it is done as described above, except that in “The Seven” the dancer moves to the left, stepping sideward with the left foot and bringing the right foot behind, while the “Threes” are begun by putting down the left toe behind the right heel.)

Formation
Four couples form two lines as follows: Two couples stand side by side with hands joined in a line; the other two couples form a similar line facing them.
If a large number of dancers are taking part they form similar sets of four couples and arrange themselves in a column of sets extending down the length of the room.

The Dance
“Lead Up” and “Retire”
A. (Mea. 1.) The four dancers in each line join hands and, beginning with the right foot, advance toward the opposite line with two walking steps (one, and), (two, and).
(Meas. 2.) All make one “Three” in place, beginning with the right foot (one, and, two), pause (and).
(Meas. 3-4) The lines retire to places with the same steps, but beginning with the left foot.
(Meas. 5-8) “Lead Up” and “Retire” again.
“Side Step”
(Meas. 1-4) With “Side Step” (”seven” and “threes”) the two couples in each line exchange places. In doing this couple number one passes behind couple number three, while couple four passes behind couple two.
(Meas. 5-8) With “Side Step” in the opposite direction all return to original places. (This time couple three pass behind couple one, and couple two behind couple four.)
“The Star”
B. (Meas. 9-12) In each set the four dancers nearest the center form a right-hand star, while the two dancers at either end of the set join right hands. All dance around to the left with four promenade steps.
(Meas. 13-16) All release hands, face the other way, join left hands and dance around in the opposite direction, finishing in original positions.
“Lead Up” and “Retire”
(Meas. 9-12) All “Lead Up” and “Retire” as before.
“Pass Through”
(Meas. 13-16) With “promenade” steps the lines advance toward each other and “pass through”; that is, the two lines exchange places. In doing this, couples one and three each make an arch by lifting their joined hands. Couple two pass through couple one’s arch, and couple four pass through couple three’s arch.

If there is but one set dancing, each couple, after passing through, turns around so as to face the other line again. The dance is then repeated, with couples two and four dancing as described for one and three, and one and three as described for two and four.

If there is a column of sets dancing, each line, after passing through, remains back to back with the line they have just danced with, and they find themselves fancing a new line, with whom they now repeat the dance.

At each repetition of the dance, each line travels one place farther down (or up) the room. When a line reaches the top or bottom of the column, the two couples turn around (each woman keeping on the right of her partner) and thereafter travel in the other direction. After reaching the end and facing about in this way, the odd couples now become even, and vice versa, and dance as described for the odd and even numbers.

Throughout the dance, the arms, when not in use, are allowed to hang naturally at the sides. The hands are never placed on the hips or held in any other way than to join hands with another dancer.