Barn Dances: Index by Formation

This page contains a list of dances classified by formation. Each dance has a thumbnail summary and a difficulty rating.

The thumbnails are meant as reminders - ("Oh, it's that dance") - and as a way to quckly choose a dance that does/doesn't have a specific move - ("Just had a grand chain, now I want something that doesn't have one"). The thumbnails are NOT meant to be full descriptions.

The difficulty ratings are approximate. 1 is easiest - no ladies chains, reels, Rights & Lefts through. 2 - might include a difficult move but no difficult combinations. 3 - 'unforgiving' dances (no time to recover from a mistake) and especially where that's combined with an opportunity to make a mistake, e.g. a move that may be easy in itself is danced with unexpected people, or an unusual progression. There is also a separate list of 'Harder Dances'.

There is no set rule for guessing the difficulty level. Some experienced callers regard grand chains as potential stumbling blocks for beginners, others claim they can teach ladies chains quite readily. It probably depends on both the caller (what works for you may not work for me) and on the dancers who are present (a sprinkling of more experienced dancers makes a big difference).

There is also a list of dances by name. I hope the two lists are consistent!

• Whole sets (3-4-5-6-8 couples)
• Longways for as many as will (English, American)
• Squares
• Big Circles
• Sicilian Circles (2-facing-2, 3-facing-3, double Sicilian)
• Couple / Old-Time
• Fun Dances
• Everything Else (untested dances, dances by me)
• Harder Dances

Whole sets of 3/4/5/6 or more couples

3 couples

name	thumbnail	diff
La Bastringue	stars, arch, strip willow	2
'Borrowdale Exchange'	scatter mixer	1
Cornish 6-hand Reel	all lead down, balance, back, balance, reel, turns, cast	2
Demon's Rant	men round women, vice versa; circles; arch, double cast, dip and dive	2
Flying Scot	(also works with 4 couples) weave, galops	1
Gipsy Hill Jig	reels on sides, grand chain, stars, 1s down and all swing	2
The Heathfield Rag	turns, chassays, circles, cross	3
Kentucky Reel	circles, turns and grand chain, star, new star, swing new partner	2
The Oak Tree	cast, circle x 2, 2s corner-ptner-corner-ptner, gallops	3
The Ploughboy	swing, down and back, stars, corners cross, circle and cast	2
Return of the Antelope	waves on the sides, turn, repeat; 1s swing, grand chain, all swing	2
Rachel's Reel	slips and circle wtice, elbow turn partner, top man/wman (alternating) cast to bottom	1
T.A.G. (for 3 couples)	cast into stars on the sides, swap stars, and another cast	2
The Three-Hand Reel	2s swing 1st and 2nd corners; reels on sides; 1s swing down	2

4 couples

name	thumbnail	diff
Clopton Bridge	turns, stars, lead down	1
Country Bumpkin	(for 4 or 5 couples) Forward and back, down and up, grand chain, others cast down	1
Devon Jig	(for 4, 5 or 6 couples) arches, cast, 1s swing down, fountain cast	1
Foula Reel	1s down, strip willow back up, arch over sides, poussette	1
Four Around Four	sides lead round, 1s gallop, swing	1
Hebridean Weevil	1s down, arch up and down, up. Strip willow down, arch; all cast and through; 1s up and cast. Jogging step	1
Postie's Jig	ends cross, figure 8, cross and gatepost, repeatedly	2
Pride of Dingle	(4 couples plus 1 person) March up or down, dingle climbs ladder, forward and back, swing	2
Stepping Stone Rag	diagonal do-si-dos, stars, 1s dip forwards and backwards to bottom	2
T.A.G. (for 4 couples)	cast into stars on the sides, swap stars, and another cast	3
Whalebones	casts and arches	2
Witch's Reel	down and back, cast, thread needle	1

5 couples (see also Country Bumpkin, Devon Jig)

name	thumbnail	diff
Bottoms Up	forward and back and cross, thread needle, gallops with waist hold	1
Bridge of Athlone	forward & back and cross, gallop cast, tunnels	1
The Mozart	(radiating formation) To centre and back, 1s weave down, balance and swing, forward and back and on	2
The Pawnbroker	gallops with chases, 3 circles, squeeze	2
The Snowball	progressive glossary dance - turns, stars, circles, lines, gallops, cast	1
Strip The Willow (Drops of Brandy)	(5 or 6 or even 7 couples) Strip the willow!	1
Waves of Tory	forward and back and cross; gallops, dip and dive	2
Weaver's Galopede	thread needle, gallops and crossings, swing	1

6 couples

name	thumbnail	diff
Boston Tea Party	gallops and arches, short dip & dive, cast through arch	1
Caedmon Capers	little sets lead round, balance, dosido, reels, dip and dive	2
Leaving for Barbados	gallop to and fro with all couples joining in one by one	1
Grand National	gallop sideways and turn partner, again other way, tops cross and weave down, all swing	1
OXO Reel	forward and back and gallop twice. Make OXO, gallop, swing	1

7, 8 couples

The Willow Tree

Gallops exchanging partners; strip the willow, cast out from ends through central arch

2

To classification bg

Longways as many as will

English style - mainly step hop

name	thumbnail	diff
Ap Shenkin	1s circle with 2nd woman, then 2nd man; down, up, all single cast left and a bit more to progress	1
Belfast Duck	circles, then lead and chassay down, ditto up, ditto down, duck through arch	1
Enrico	stars, then single cast, double cast, 1s swing to bottom	1
Good Queen Vic	1s galop, 1s and 2s galop, clapping, do-si-do, right arm turns, 1s swing past.	1
Nottingham Swing	corners elbow swing, 1s down and up and cast, all swing	1
Pop Goes The Weasel	1s pop 2nd woman, then 2nd man; 1s down and up; all swing and progress	1
Snakes and Ladders	lead round 2nd M, then 1st M; poussettes, arches	1
Soldier's Joy	1s down and up, reel of four, all down and up passing through, polka round (reel and rant step)	2
Steamboat	lines down and back, all down and up passing through, stars, swing and change	1
The Tempest	circles, galops, ends swing while middles star, dip-&-dive or fwd-&-back	2

American style (easy New England contra dances)

name	thumbnail	diff
Beaux of Albany	triple minor. Balance and swing, down and up, stars, rights and lefts	2
Cocheco Hornpipe	triple minor. Balance and swing, down and up, grand chain, rights and lefts	2
Reading Reel	do-si-do into files, march, ladies chain, promenade, rights and lefts	2
St Lawrence Jig	allemandes, swing, lines down and up, rights and lefts, lines forward and back, star	3
Scout House Reel	lines down and up, circle, ladies chain, do-si-do, swing, lines forward and back, 1s swing	3
Timber Salvage Reel	do si do, balance and swing, 1s down and back and cast, stars	2

To classification

Squares

name	thumbnail	diff
Albert Quadrille	heads fwd and back and do-si-do; sides ditto. Heads circle half, W cross, M cross. Sides ditto. Stars for 8, balance, promenade home.	1
Apple Tree Square	heads forwards and back, 1s through and round, do-si-dos, allemandes, grand chain and promenade home	1
Chinese Breakdown	chorus: turn yur corner, turn one the other side, balance and swing patner, promenade figure: leading couple promenade round outside, adies chain opposite couple, those couples adies chain to right then to left
Coming Round the Mountain	1s promenade the set, stars, do-si-do and swing, promenade home	1
Cumberland Square Eight	heads galop across, sides ditto, stars, baskets, circle, promenade home	1
Grandfather's Clock	Heads do-si-do and cast; ladies chain. Sides ditto. W do star promenade, drop partner, star on 3 places, balance and swing new partner.	2
The Heartbreaker	circle L and R, 4-ladies-chain, 1s through arches, do-si-dos	2
Jig a Jig Square	1st M weaves, 1st W ditto, balance and swing, do-si-do, men star, then star promenade, then tunnelling	1
Joe Taylor's Dance	1s out through 3s and weave back, men star and move women, grand chain, crossings	2
Little Log Cabin	two couples promenade, stars with diagonal pairs, circles, in and out, swing	2
Ninepins	4 couples + 1 person. Pairs galop across, ninepin swings people to middle, two circles, music stops, compete for partners	1
La Russe	balance and swing contraries, ditto partner, 1s keep swinging then promenade, crossing, circle and promenade home	1
Strip the Willow Square	heads galop, sides galop; heads strip willow rund square; circles, balance and swing	2
Twelve Reel	square of threesomes. Forwards and back, repeat swapping ends, middles elbow swing, reels, middles move round	2
Untitled Square	1s dosido and right-&-left round the set, then women and men alternately roll to left; promenade.	1

To classification

Big Circles (mostly mixers)

name	thumbnail	diff
Alabama Jubilee	in and out twice, allemande, do-si-do and move on, allemande, back to partner to swing, promenade and move on	2
Blaydon Races	in and out twice, chassay in and out twice, promenade and move on, balance and swing	1
Chanctonbury Ring	circles, in and out twice, balance and roll womand past twice, chassay in and out, swing	1
Cincinnati Reel	do-si-do, turn LH neighbour, do si do, turn RH neighbour, balance and swing with that one, promenade	1
Circassian Circle	All in and out twice, women in anout, men in and out, swing partner, promenade	1
Circle Waltz	Waltz time. Balance in and out and women roll past, four times. With new partner sway and turn twice. Chassay in and out. Waltz.	1
Honeywell Circle	Circles, chassay in and clap, ditto out, arm-turn partner then neighbour (new partner), balance and swing	1
Lucky Seven	Circle L 16, in and out twice, grand chain for 7; OR in and out twice, do=si-dos, grand chain.	1
Maggie Mixer	Side-by-side go forward, chassay to and fro, ditto other way. Counter-marching, do-si-do, swing person to the left (new partner)	2
Moving Along	In and out twice, turn partner and move on, ditto next, ditto next, do-si-do next, swing the next	1
Reel of Ballymore	In and out twice, promenade forward, men pass on and promenade back, allemandes in figure-of-8, swing new partner	2
Sibyl's Roundabout	In and out twice (men stay in 2nd time), do si do, chassay left and right,make wavy circle, balance, allemande, balance, figure-of-8 to new partner and swing	2

To classification

Sicilian circles (2 facing 2 or 3-facing-3 or 4-facing-4)

2-facing-2

name	thumbnail	diff
Amazon, The	circle L, do-si-do P; circle R, do-si-do Opp; form pairs and woman steers couple round and back	2
Balance The Star	In RH star formation balance in and out, then star; ditto LH. With corners, do-si-do and pass on; ditto with partners	1
The Carousel	do-si-dos, make circle and balance, then circle L, ditto R; elbow balances, then rotate a line of four	1
Dishrag Dance	circles, dishrags, stars, find new couple	2
Mock Turtle Hornpipe	step-hop. circles, arch under and back, stars, side-steps past	1
Quorndon Hill	1s gallop round and back, 2s ditto, stars, forward and back, arch through and back and on	1
Steps of Waterloo	circles, stars, basket, forward and back and pass on	1
Sweets of May	circles, stars, balance and swing partner and opposite, do-si-dos, forward and back and on	1
Waltz Country Dance	waltz time. Balance and change places with oppiste then partner. Balance the circle, women roll across, four times. Waltz on	2
Waterfall Waltz	waltz time. Men turn, do si do corner, women likewise, chassay past, turn partner, repeat, circle left and on	2
Weaver Jig	circle, star, do-si-dos, dip and dive 4 times to move on, basket	1
Wherries Circle Contra	circles, big circles, stars, do-si-do, forward and back and on (unusual starting formation)	1
Whynot's Circle Contra	(start in big circles) big circles right and left, do-si-do and swing, ladies chain, small circles	2

3-facing-3

name	thumbnail	diff
Dashing White Sergeant	circles, turns, reels, forward and back and on	2
Dixon Sixsome	circle, middles swing ends, arches along lines, stars, baskets, forard and back and on	2
Double or Quits	circles, reels, half rights and lefts at one end then the other, balances and turns	2
Gingerbread	swings, stars, arches, baskets	2

Double Sicilian (4-facing-4) (See also The Tempest)

Danish Double Quadrille	circles, in and out in 4s, rights and lefts, circles in 4s, polka round	2
Tumbling Tom Tonic		2

To classification

Couples or Trios in a circle

Gay Gordons
Military Two-Step
Pat-a-Cake Polka
Texas Schottische

To classification

Fun Dances

Julia's Frolics	arches go left and right while people burrow; turn partner, clapping, swing, step 1 place left, spare people burrow.	1
Silly Threesome	Sicilian threesome. Go forwards, middles turn ends, forwards, tunnelling	1
Suicide Square	competitive partner changer. All couples against wall round the room, galops across and back. balance and swing, men do inner circle while women do outer, grab new partner	1
A Year in the Life of a Penguin	5-cu ring. 1s strut while others reel/star/etc. Squeeze in out in and stamp. Double speed balances, swing. Huddle together, outside couples keep squeezing in.	1

To classification

Harder Dances

The Demented Seagull	heads star through and half circle, pass through. Reels of four. Grand chain, promenade.	3
A Grand Starry Night	circles, ladies chain, LH star, grand star (half star in current set, half with next set), repeat, do-si-do	3
Levi Jackson	sides right & left while heads lead down; circles and cast; dosido. 5 ladies chain, promendade, balance and swing.	4
The Plume of Feathers	lines forward and back, arch at ends. Repeat. half right and left at ends; middles through and cast. Repeat. 1s star through with 2s, again with 3s. Swing.	4
The Short and the Tall	Stars, Devil's Elbow, half circle, turn partner, down through arch, do-si-do.	4
The New Parliament House Jig	3 rows of 3: double casts, circles, lines interchange	3

To classification

Everything else

Untested dances

Grandmother's Cabinet
Name unknown #1

Dances by me (TG)

The Three-piece Suite		2
The Birthday Cake		2

To classification

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Last updated 23 October, 2003