6+ .. couples

Formation: 3/4/5 .. couples in a line. Couples usually start by facing each other, but if they turned to face up the man would be on the left and the woman on the right.

Grouping these dances by numbers is a bit flakey because some dances can be done with different numbers of couples.

3 couples

La Bastringue

Anne Welch, Ring O'Bells 'Hoedown Saturday Night'

3 couple. Difficulty: 2

A1: 1s and 2s right hand star; same four face neighbour (1s down, 2s up) and balance R and L, then 2s arch and 1s go under
A2: 1s and 3s left hand star; face neighbour, balance right and left, 3's make an arch and 1s go under
B1: 1's strip the willow to finish improper at the top -
B2: 1s cross passing right shoulders, go down outside (rest moving up), all do 2 hand turn with partner, swing / gypsy / whatever.

'Borrowdale Exchange'

3 couples in a circle. Scatter mixer. Difficulty: 1

A1: All circle L and R.
A2: Into the middle and back; do-si-do partner.
B1: Right-hand star holding hands with person opposite and with nobody else, then undo the star: the woman whose hand is lowest goes under (others arch), then the next. Keep hold of the hands.
B2: Promenade around and make new sets.

The person I got this dance from said its real name was something else, but he liked calling it Borrowdale Exchange. Seems to be a variant on Kentucky Reel.

Cornish Six-Hand Reel

3 couple. 3 x 64 or 6 x 32 marches. Difficulty: 2

Start all in one line across the room facing down, men on left of partner as usual.

A1: all go 8 steps down; balance R and L twice, still facing down.
A2: turn individually, 8 steps up, balance R and L twice facing up. Turn to face partner.
B1 and 2: six-hand reel, all the way. Start passing right shoulders. End the reel when you face your partner again for the second time.
C1: right hand turn partner; left hand turn partner. (slow turns.)
C2: do-si-do partner; 2-hand turn partner. All face towards 1s (the couple on the caller's right).
D1 and 2: double cast (1s turn left and all follow); 1s arch at the end and all go through to progressed places. Swing if time. End facing down.

Unusual in being danced across the usual line, so that in D1 and 2 the double cast is moving from caller's right to caller's left.

Demon's Rant

by Eddie Upton.

3 couple longways. Difficulty: 2

A1: 1st man leads his line round the women; 1st women leads her line round the men.
A2: All circle left and right.
B1: 1s arch; 2s and 3s lead through the arch, then double cast to the left, followed by the 1s. (Order now 2 3 1.)
B2: 1s face up, others down: dip and dive once through.

Music - 32 bar polkas / rants.

Flying Scot

longways set 3 or 4 couples. Vigorous. Difficulty: 1

A1: Men hold hands and 1st man leads weaving through the women's line. (16 steps; with 4 couples, they have to keep moving).
A2: Ditto for women, weaving through men's line.
B1: 1s galop as far as possible down the room (8 steps) then back to BOTTOM of set. .
B2: Sides take hands and lines sidestep down the room (8 steps) and back (8 steps), led by the 1s who are now at the bottom of the set.

Gipsy Hill Jig

3 couple longways. Difficulty: 2 (because of the reels)

Start with 1s facing down, others facing up.

A1: Reels along the sides, starting with 1s passing 2s by right shoulder.
A2: Grand chain, progressive: 1s face across, others face up; 1s pass by right hand, then give left to 2s, etc, the 2s and 3s joining in as the 1s reach them. End in place. The 1s have to move quickly to get round, ready for -
B1: 1s and 2s right hand star, left hand star.
B2: 1s galop to bottom and all swing. End in place, new 1s facing down, others up.

This may have another name; when I danced it at a ceilidh, that's what the caller said. I think.

The Heathfield Rag

Step-hop except the chassays. 3-couple longways proper. Progression is 2-3-1. Difficulty: 3

Colin Hume, in 'Dances with a Difference' vol. 2 (includes the music) (Thanks to Colin for permission to use it)

A1: top man and bottom woman right-forearm turn 1 and half times, finish in each other's places (8 steps); top W bottom M ditto with left forearm. (Order now 3-2-1)
B1: in lines do 4 chassays right, then 4 chassays left; do-si-do partner. (Middle woman should stay near middle of set to help start the next figure)
A2: all the men circle L once round middle woman; then the women circle L once round middle man.
B2: Top 2 men cross, top 2 women cross (order now 2-3-1); all cross-hand swing partner.

Music: The Entertainer, but in a version trimmed for dancing by Colin Hume. Probably works with other raggy tunes, though.

Note. Colin Hume, who not only wrote the dance but is immeasurably more experienced than me, tells me: "I don't see why you say the middle woman should stay near middle of set to help start the next figure. In my experience people are in danger of going round too far in the circle; there's plenty of time for it. And I suggest you remind them to finish the swing with everybody back on their original side."

Kentucky Reel

Chris Brady

3-couple circle proper. Progression is 2-3-1 but you change partners each time. Difficulty: 1

Start with 3 couples forming a circle.

A1: Circle left and right
A2: all left-hand turn neighbour once around into a grand chain
B1: on meeting partner, turn with left hand, men form right hand star, women drop in behind, and take the star around once. (Make sure to hold hands with the opposite person)
B2: Everyone raise the hands in the star to make an arch.One couple has the bottom pair of hands in the star - that M pulls the W through under the arch, next couple ditto, and all swing, ending back in a circle. This is your new partner.

Music: 32 bar American reels

The Oak Tree

longways set, 3 couples. 32-bar jigs. Difficulty: 2

Eddie Upton

A1: 1s cast to bottom; circle L once with bottom couple.
A2: 1s cast back up to top; circle L once with middle couple.
B1: middle couple (2s) pass their partner by R shoulder, turn 1st corner with L hand, turn partner with R hand, turn 2nd corner with L hand, turn partner with R hand.
B2: 1s galop all the way down set followed by 2s and 3s; all galop back in that order (progression).

The Ploughboy

longways set, 3 couples. Own tune (The Curly-Headed Ploughboy) or 32-bar reels. Difficulty: 2

A1: top 2 couples balance twice and swing; end facing down as couples.
A2: 1s and 2s lead down (2s will be in front). Turn as couples and lead back; 1s cast to middle place.
B1: Top 2 couples (2s and 1s) right hand star, left hand star
B2: Bottom 2 couples (1s and 3s) - 1st corners cross, 2nd corners cross; circle half way, then 1s peel out of the circle and cast to bottom as 3's complete the circle into middle place.

1st corners are usually 1st man and 2nd woman, 2nd corners: 1st woman and 2nd man. In this dance, however, because the 1s have moved one place down, it's 1st M and 3rd W, then 1st W and 3rd M.

Rachel's Reel

longways set, 3 couples. Difficulty: 1

Nigel Barrell

A1: take hands along sides, slip L 4 steps, slip R 4 steps;all take hands and circle right, once around.
A2: as A1 but opposite way - slip R, slip L, circle left.
B1: Turn partner by the right arm, then by the left arm
B2: top man cast to bottom of own line, others move up, all swing person opposite (new partner).

2nd time, bottom woman casts up, then top man again, and so on alternating. After 6 times through everyone is home.

Return of the Antelope

3 couple longways. Difficulty: 2

By Henry Garfath in Rob Haskell's booklet

A1: 1s cross and stand between 2s and 3s to make waves on the side; all balance up and back, then 1s right hand turn the person whose right hand they're holding, ending back in the wave
A2: All balance in waves again, then 1s turn person whose left hand they're holding; 1s swing to end in the middle facing down
B1: 1s and 3s left-hand turn partner and pull-by left along the line, while 2s (now at the top) do the same with partner. Star a grand chain (1s with partner, 2s and 3s along the line)
B2: Complete the grand chain, swing partner and end in progressed places.

Music: 32 bar reels or hornpipes

T.A.G.

3 couple longways. Gentle. Difficulty: 2

Roger Whynot, 'More of Whynot' (see note below)

A1: 1s lead down the centre; come back and cast out. (2s can assist, though the original dance specifically says 'unassisted'.)
A2: As the 1s cast, all the men do left hand star while all women do right hand star, but only until 1s meet at bottom, when they swap stars into M doing right hand star while W do left hand star. Other couples likewise swap stars as they meet at the bottom. Women always go in front when passing.
B1: as partners meet at the bottom again, swap stars again back into M doing left hand star while W do right hand star
B2: as 1s meet yet again at the bottom they lead everyone up to top and cast - all follow (single file, in the original). 1s arch at bottom and others go through. Can swing if time but that's not in the original dance.

Music: Marches

Tell the dancers to keep the stars together as long as possible before they change stars, otherwise the stars fall apart and everyone gets lost. Also helps if you keep the stars close together, so that you can reach one star from the other easily. I've given this difficulty 2 because the star-swapping is unforgiving - one bad mistake brings the whole set to a shambles. But it's easy really, as they say.

NOTE: this was originally published as a 4 couple dance. It works, but it's quite tricky for beginners. When it was called as a 3-couple set, I realised how much easier it was.

SECOND NOTE: Hugh Stewart writes - "When I do TAG as a 3 couple set I believe in doing a complete star before swapping stars, and going round nearly twice before swapping back (i.e. [touch; touch; touch; swap; swap; swap] x 2 ) but you then get very little time for the lead up and cast to the bottom and lead to progressed place bit."

Take your pick.

The Three-hand Reel

3 couple longways. Difficulty: 2

A1: 2nd man does right arm swing with 1st corner, then with 2nd corner (i.e. with 3rd W, then 1st W)
A2: 2nd woman ditto
B1: 1s face down, others up, and do reels along the side
B2: 1s swing down to the bottom.

32-bar step-hops.

I saw this danced at Sidmouth Folk Festival. There's also a traditional version in which middles step for 8 bars to first one end then the other, etc.

4 couples

Clopton Bridge

4 couple longways. Step-hop. Difficulty: 1

John Chapman

A1: 1st man and 4th woman arm R and L
A2: 1st woman and 4th man arm R and L
B1: 2nd and 3rd couples do right hand star, left hand star
B2: 1st couple swing down middle (or walk down with a nice swagger step), all swing.

Music: 32-bar hornpipes - need something vigorous, the dance relies on energy

All done to a hornpipe step, except that in the original notation JC suggests a 1-2-3-hop (welsh style) step for the stars (makes it more interesting)

Country Bumpkin

4 couple or 5 couple. Difficulty: 1

Michael Barraclough (with my thanks for permission to publish)

A1: Lines forward and back, cross with arches
A2: 1s gallop down and up
B1: 1s face across and start a grand chain. When they meet at the bottom 1s make an arch
B2: Other couples lead down through the arch, cast up to progressed places.

Although this isn't a very special dance it is said to work at any speed from a slow step-hop to a breakneck reel, and so be very useful in almost any circumstances.

Devon Jig

4 5 or 6 couple - good for awkward numbers? Difficulty: 1

A1: 1s face down the set, the rest face up and make arches; couple 1 dance (if possible) under arches and dance back to place
A2: 1s cast out followed by rest of set, lead back to place up the middle (1's do not make an arch at the bottom!)
B1: 1s swing to bottom slowly
B2: new top couple cast to L as a pair, 2nd to R, 3rd to L etc. All lead back up the middle to places

Music: N x 32 jigs/reels

The Foula Reel

4 couple longways. Pronounced 'Fooler'. Difficulty: 2

A1 and A2: 1s lead down the middle and strip the willow back up
B1: Back at the top, 1s make an arch (with the man inside) and carry it down over the mens' heads, then back over the womens' heads
B2: Poussette, starting with 1st man pushing and all other men pulling. (I.e.: all take hands with partner. 1s pass each other couple in turn, weaving in and out as they go to and fro.)

32-bar jigs, e.g. Shaalds o' Foula, or good to a step-hop tune.

Distinctive because of the strip the willow and the poussette. Difficulty is 2 because the poussette gives people trouble,

Four Around Four

4 couple longways. 32-bar reels. Difficulty: 1 (very easy indeed - a good dance to start an evening where you expect the dancers to be inexperienced)

A1: men leads round women
A2: women lead round men
B1: 1s galop to bottom and back
1s cast to bottom, others move up, all swing

Hebridean Weevil

4 couple longways. Running step throughout (jogging rhythm or else one-two-three-four, one-two-three-four). 64-bar. The Keel Row is a good tune to use. Difficulty: 1

A1: Partners arm right, then left.
A2: Partners do-si-do twice, right shoulder both times.
B1 and 2: 1s lead down, then take an arch up over the men's side and back down over the women (woman on the outside), finally leading back, improper.
A3 and 4: 1s strip the willow to the bottom, and there make an arch (proper sides).
B3 and 4: 2s 3s and 4s cast and lead up through the arch to places, then make arches facing down. 1s lead up through the arches and cast out to bottom of set.

A good alternative to The Willow Tree. The running step is tiring, so use it just before or just after a break.

Postie's Jig

4 couple longways. Difficulty: 2

A1: The two ends are working couples. These couples set and cast to middle (middles move out to be new ends); working couples, half-figure-8 through the new ends
A2: working couples take inside hands and cross (men make arch), turn with a gatepost round ends to face up or down; cross again (bottoms make arch), and turn with a gatepost to face across
B1: ditto across (M arch); ditto up/down (bottoms arch)
B2: working couples half rights and Ls, then swing partner

Music: 32-bar jigs

The 'correct' version probably has different arching, but this arching sequence is easier because the rule is that when the two men are paired to cross past the two women it's always the men who make the arch, and when it's a man and a woman paired, it's always the bottoms who arch. ('Men up, bottoms up.')

Pride of Dingle

Ken Alexander 'Home Brewed', pub Cotswold Music. Difficulty: 2

set for 4 couple + 1 person. The odd person (M or W) is the Dingle and starts at foot of set.

A1: All face down except Dingle who faces up. All march fwd 8 steps turn march back.
A2: (Dingle climbs ladder): all do 1/2 right hand turn 1/2 left hand 1/2 right hand 1/2 left hand. As they do so, Dingle moves up through the set hand-over-hand making 3-hand stars with with each couple in turn, right hand left hand right hand left hand. At top Dingle joins own side -- M or W as appropriate.
B1: fwd and back twice. Those on Dingle's side move down and bottom person becomes new Dingle.
B2: All swing the person opposite. Bottom couple basket with new Dingle.

Music: 5 x 32-bar marches

Ken Alexander originally called this 'Pride of Pingle', but he says the dance went to America and there the folk process renamed it for him.

Stepping Stone Rag

4 couple longways. Difficulty: 2

A1: Diagonal do-si-dos by 1st man and 2nd woman, 3rd man and 4th woman; then the same by the other pairs, i.e. 1st woman and 2nd man, 3rd woman and 4th man.
A2: Top two couples do right hand star and the bottom two couples likewise. Then the same couples do left hand star, ending with 1s facing down, others facing up.
B1 and 2: All take inner hands. 2s make an arch and 1s go under, then 1s arch and go backwards over 2s, then 2s arch again and 1s go under to face 3s. Over 3s, back under, then over again to face 4s. Under 4s, back over, under again. Each couple starts to swing as soon as it can.

Can be danced to 32 bar jigs or as a step-hop, as preferred.

It might be easiest to call A1 as "1st corners do-si-do ..... 2nd corners do-si-do".

Quite a distinctive dance.

T.A.G.

4 couple longways. Gentle. Difficulty: 3

Roger Whynot, 'More of Whynot'

See above, under 3-couple dances

Whalebones

4 couple longways. Difficulty: 2

Ring O Bells 'Ceilidh Sat Night', credited to Mick Peat in 'A Dance for Whitby 86'

A1: 1s arch, 2s lead up through arch and cast back to place; then middle couple's (2s and 3s) right hand star
A2: ditto other end - i.e. 4s arch and 3s lead down through it, then cast back to place; then couple's 2 and 3 left hand star (NB Left)
B1: couples 2 3 4 make arches, couple 1 cast to bottom and tunnel up to top
B2: 1s cast out to bottom, make arch, others follow 1s and through arch to new places

Music: 4 x 32 bar jigs

Witch's Reel

4 couple longways. Difficulty: 1

Tony Slinger

A1: 1s galop down (8 steps and back)
A2: 1s cast out and all follow; 1s arch at bottom and all through arch.
B1: Join hands along lines and old 1s (now at bottom) join hands across the set to make horseshoe. New top W starts thread the needle under arch made by 2 men at top. (NB at end both arching men can turn in and go under their own arms)
B2: New top man starts thread the needle under Ws arch. Men need to be snappy to get the set reformed in time.

Music: 32-bar reels

5 couples

Bridge of Athlone

5 couple longways sets. Difficulty: 1

A1: lines forward and back; lines cross (men make arches)
A2: lines forward and back; lines cross (women make arches)
B1: 1s galop down 8 steps and back
B2: 1s cast out and all follow; 1s make arch at bottom and others go through
C1: All except 1s face down and make arch. 1st woman up tunnel, 1st man up outside; then man down tunnel, woman outside
C2: all swing

Music: 5 x 48 bar jigs

Bottoms Up

5 couple longways. Graham Spencer. Difficulty: 1

A1: Women thread the needle - twice if spry enough
A2: Men likewise
B1: Join in ring of 10 & circle left & right
B2: Bottom couple galop up to top, top couple place hands on waists of bottom couple, galop to bottom as foursome, top couple taking bottom place for next turn

Music: jigs

The Mozart

long sets of 5 couples radiating from the centre of the room. Difficulty: 2 (because of unusual formation)

Dudley Laufman

A1: Take hands with partner and all lead towards centre of room and back; then take hands with neighbours, forming two facing lines within the set of 5 cpuplres, and lead fowards.and back
A2: Top couple (nearest centre) cross over and weave down the opposite line. At the bottom, cross back.
B1: All balance and swing partners.
B2: Lines join hands, go forward and back, forward again and pass through (men make arches).

This version is the version I've danced, but here is Dudley Laufman's own description, showing that the dance has evolved during its travels:

"Here it is from my book OK LET'S TRY A CONTRA etc. Musicians should arrange themselves in the center of the room. Sets form in lines outward from the center likes spokes from a wheel. Top couple nearest center. This is a whole set. Everyone lead up towards the band and back/All forward towards partner and back/All swing partners/Top couple weave down through their own lines to foot. All foward and back; forward again and pass on to next set. Everyone has new partners. Keep it up until you come around to your partner again. Should have four or five sets to start with. And the band should be in the middle sans microphones. AND, most important, use the name tune, which is a theme from Mozart's Concerto for Horn and Orchestra K417. Music is with the book. In the key of C, but we play it on D now."

The Pawnbroker

longways set 5 couple. Difficulty: 2

An everyday story of urban life - honest people (the 1s) are chased by creditors (the 2s and 3s) until they have to go to the pawnbrokers - then everyone falls on them and squeezes out their last pennies

A1: 1s galop down chased by 2s then back to place 2s leading (8 steps each way)
A2: 1s set off again this time pursued by 3s and back. 3s return to place; 1s stop between 4s and 5s.
B1: 2s and 3s make a circle of 4 while remaining W make a circle of 3 and while remaining M make a circle of 3. All circle L 8 steps and back.
B2: 1s leave their circles and turn to each other into a swing. Long swing (16 steps). All others make a ring and squeeze them by going in and out (Squeeeeze - "We want our money" ) twice. 1s end at bottom on own sides.

Music: Jigs

The Snowball

By Martin Hodges

5 couple longways. Difficulty: 1

A1: 1s right hand turn partner; left hand turn partner
A2: 1s and 2s right hand star, left hand star
B1: 1s 2s and 3s, circle left and right
B2: 1s 2s 3s and 4s, take hands on the sides and go forward and back in a line, twice
C1: 5s gallop to top, cast out to bottom
C2: 1s gallop to bottom; all swing

A useful dance at the start of the evening to make sure everybody knows the basic moves. And something for everybody to do, every time round.

48 bar jigs

Strip the Willow (or Drops of Brandy)

5 or 6 (even 7) couple longways. Difficulty: 1

Caller should note that this dance isn't phrased, so if there's more than one set they'll soon be out of synch and once the dance has started you can't do much if they go wrong. So explain clearly at the start. Rule is 'right arm to partner, left to others, but don't hold the dance up if you or anyone else get mixed up, just take the arm that's offered'.

1s turn with R elbows one and a half, then 1st W turns 2nd M with L elbow, turns partner in centre of set with R, 3rd M with L, etc to end of set; 1st M does the same up the line of W, starting with bottom W; on reaching the top again they go down both lines simultaneously. Next couple starts as soon as there's a chance.

(I recently discovered that in Scotland whenever a new couple starts it's usual to take a cross-hand hold at arm's-length for the first swing and to go round lots of times until they get bored. That means that you should stick to short sets or else it gets very boring in between turns.)

Music: Some dancers / bands like using slip jigs, notably Drops of Brandy. Others use ordinary jigs. Or Irish reels, either as a step-hop (Spootiskerry was used by Token Women with success) or as a breakneck whirl (I've heard The Moving Cloud used brilliantly). Start gently then gradually wind up the speed 'until it flies', says Rhodri Davies..

Waves of Tory

5 couple longways. Difficulty: 2

A1: lines fwd and back; top 2 couples do right hand star while bottom couple right hand turn
A2: lines fwd and back; top 2 couples do left hand star, while bottoms left hand turn
B1: tops galop down 8 steps and back
B2: tops cast out and down make arch all follow and through arch
C1 & 2: complete circuit of dip & dive, started by the bottom couple diving. If you're at an end you always go under. Stop when back to where you started.

Music: 5 x 48-bar jigs (or 10)

It's often hard for beginners to complete the dip-and-dive in the time available; be prepared to ask the band for an extra C phrase (and make sure the band is prepared too). At one barn dance I was at, the band played three C's every time, and it worked fine - the sets who finished early stood around for short time or did a swing.

Rhodri Davies says: "Traditionally bottom couple starts [as in the version above] but often now the top couple starts since they can start a bit earlier and that helps a lot."

I've given this a difficulty of 2 because there's always someone who can't get the dip and dive right. Try using one of the dances with a shorter dip and dive figure earlier in the evening so that people know what to do better.

Weaver's Galopede

5 couple longways. Difficulty: 1

A1: all hold hands to make a horseshoe, 1st and 2nd men arch and women thread needle
A2: ditto, but men thread needle
B1: 1s galop down .... as they pass rest cross with right hand; couple 1 galop back up rest cross back with left hand
B2: 1s galop down again and rest cross with right hand; all swing and end on own sides

Music: 5 x 32 bar jigs/ reels

6 or more couples

Boston Tea Party

By Jean Butler (in Captain's Ceilidh)

6 couple longways. reels (own tune is 'Goodbye Girls we're going to Boston') or jigs (Fiery Clock Face). Difficulty: 1

A1: 1s gallop to bottom, make an arch and come up over men, W on the outside
A2: 12s go on arching and go down over women, W still on outside; then gallop back up to top
B1: 1s face down, others face up, all holding hands. 1's (only the 1s) dip and dive through the arches as others move up, going over or under 1s, casting out when they get to the top. At the bottom 1s make an arch.
B2: the casting couples meet at the bottom of set, lead up through the arch made by the 1s to progressed places; swing.

Caedmon Capers

by Eddie Upton. 6 couples in two sets of 3, like this:

M 1 W      M 2 W
M 3 W      M 4 W
M 5 W      M 6 W

48-bar jigs. Difficulty: 2

A1: Left-hand 'set' promenades all the way round the right hand 'set'
A2: Right-hand set promenades round left hand set
B1: All face partner, balance twice, do-si-do
B2: Reels of 4 (1s with 2s, 3s with 4s, 5s with 6s)
C1 and 2: 1s and 2s start dip-and-dive, working in opposite directions, as follows:
1s go under 2s, then over 4s, under 6s, over 2s, and make an arch in 5th place; 2s go opposite way, over 1s, under 3's etc. ending with arch in 6th place.

Other couples cast out, as a couple, as soon as they have been dipped or dived, and then come up through the arch at the bottom. All swing.

Grand National

by Alan Simpson

6 couples, longways. Difficulty: 1

A1: Take hands along the sides and gallop (or prance) sideways 4 steps to the left, then come back with 4 to the right; meet partner and left-arm turn once round
A2: (Same as A1 but in the other direction) Take hands along the sides again and gallop sideways 4 steps to the right, then 4 to the left; meet partner and right-arm turn once round
B1: Top couple cross and weave down the opposite side going in between dancers, to the bottom of the set.
B2: All swing.

Music: 32 bar jigs

Published in The Oak Tree by Paul Hudson.

Leaving for Barbados

6 couple longways. Music: 6 x 48-bar jigs/reels. Difficulty: 1

Phil Thoroughgood ?

A1: Top 3 couple circle L bottom 3 couple ditto; then back
A2: Top 3 right hand star bottom 3 ditto; left hand star
B1: Reform the set. 1s galop down 8 steps; 6s followed by 1s galop back. (These are presumably the frantic preparations for leaving.)
B2: 6-1-2 galop down; 5-6-1-2 back.
C1: 5-6-1-2-3 galop down; 4-5-6-1-2-3 galop back.
C2: 1s (now in the middle) lead to the top, wave goodbye (they're leaving for Barbados) and cast to the bottom.

Good for weddings, as 'Leaving on your Honeymoon' led by bride and groom - visit dressmakers, caterers, printers for invitations, groom's family, bride's family. Or whatever.

The Barn Dance Book has a slightly different version (C2: 1s swing slowly to bottom and then all swing) and it's called 'A Trip to Barbados'.

OXO Reel

6 couple longways. Difficulty: 1

A1: lines fwd and back. Tops galop to bottom.
A2: lines fwd and back. 2s galop to bottom.
B1: Top 2 couples circle L; bottom 2 couples circle R; middle 2 right hand star. OXO ! Then back the other way.
B2: 2nd couple (now at bottom) galop to top; all swing.

The above is the version I have most often encountered. Original version (by John Tether):

A1: lines fwd and back. Forward again, men arch, women duck under.
A2: As A1 but women duck under.
B1: Top 2 couples circle L; bottom 2 couples circle R; middle 2 right hand star. OXO ! Then back the other way.
B2: Top couple galop to bottom; all swing.

Music: 32-bar jigs/reels

The Willow Tree

8 couple set. Difficulty: 2

Hugh Rippon

A1: 1s galop to bottom; 1st man returns with bottom woman, leaving 1st woman behind
A2: 1st woman and bottom man galop up set; bottom man returns with his own woman
B1 and B2: End couples strip the willow to middle (i.e. past 3 couples), then form an arch of 4 in the middle of the set (others make space)
C1 and C2: Sides cast (top subset casts down, bottom subset casts up) through arches to place; swing if time.

Music: 48-bar jigs 4 or 8 times through.

Although I learnt this dance by doing it, there is a printed version in 'The Willow Tree' by Hugh Rippon and Dave Mallinson (plus other dances, some original), published by Dave Mallinson Publications, 1996.

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Last updated 26 May, 2004