Tune: Donkey Riding (traditional) as AB(ABB)3 (A=figures, B=sticking).
Sequence: Once to Yourself, Singles, Stars, Singles&Doubles, Triangle Swing, Doubles&Triples, Parallel Heys, Triples&Triples.
Chorus: All sticking is "forehand high, backhand low (turn right), backhand high, forehand low (turn left)" and repeat. To remember which way to turn, follow your stick after the clash low. When not sticking, tap the ground when the clash low would occur.
In all three sticking patterns, the center dancer starts with the dancer closest to the musician and repeats the following sequence four times: "stick forehand high, backhand low, then turn 3 dancers to the right, stick backhand high, forehand low, then turn 2 dancers to the left". After these 4 repetitions, the center will have clashed with a total of 8 people, in the order that you'd draw a five-pointed star (1, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 5, 4 in the diagram below).
To determine the sticking patterns for the rest of the dancers, number the set as below left. The sticking patterns are below right, where the numbers correspond to the dancers in the diagram, "C" means stick with the dancer in the center, "L" means stick with the dancer to your left, "R" means stick with the dancer to your right, and "T" means tap the ground. Start in the column under your number, read to the right, then repeat the line for a total of 8 entries. (For example, the sequence in Doubles for dancer 4 is TRCLTTRC.) Note: when clashing twice with the same person in triples (either the RR or the LL), try to whirl around 360 degrees between the pairs of clashes, following your stick after the clash low.
4
2
M 1 C
5
3
|
1 2 3 4 5
Singles: C T T T T
Doubles: C L T T R
Triples: C R R L L
|
The sticking patterns for doubles and triples are fiendishly difficult to
remember, especially when your brain is oxygen-depleted from dancing. Here are
some suggestions that may help:
* The pattern for doubles is given by the consonants in the word
"clutter", and the pattern for triples is given by the consonants in the word
"Carroll" (as in Lewis Carroll).
* Everything depends on which direction the center is facing. In singles,
the only clash occurs with the center. In doubles, the pair of dancers behind
the center also clash. In triples, the two pairs of dancers (roughly) parallel
with the center also clash.
* In doubles, the direction in which you stick goes from right to center to
left; in triples it goes from left to center to right. Theoretically, then,
you need only to remember where you're starting the sequences.
Stars: Dancers 3 and 4 move toward each other. In groups of three (1&3&4 and C&2&5) do right-hand stars for half the music, then left-hand stars back to place.
Triangle Swing: Pass shoulders up/down the set, with 1, 3, and 4 moving away from the music and C, 2 and 5 moving toward the music (2&4 and 1&C pass right shoulders, 3&5 pass left shoulders). Each group stays in their triangle throughout the entire figure! Turn over your right shoulder in mid-phrase and return to your partner, transferring your stick into your left hand. At the beginning of the phrase, reach around your partner's waist with your right arm and swing (the three couples should be in a triangle). End back in place.
Parallel Heys: Dancers 2 and 5 back away from each other. Dancer 1 does a left-shoulder hey with 4 and 3, while C does a left-shoulder hey with 2 and 5. Stay even with the corresponding dancer in the other hey. Do two full heys, ending back in place.
This page was written by Mike Miller of the Bassett Street Hounds and
was last edited on 3/27/00.