Some dances in unusual formations
Bunyips Bandicoots Music: Sung by the dancers Easy Formation: A series of concentric circles, ie a small circle in the centre, a slightly larger circle around them and so on. Aim for 4 circles, but 3 is okay The dance is very simple: (8) Circle left (8) Circle right (8) To the middle and back (8) Turn single (hopping around rather than simply walking around) While singing (to the tune Frere Jacques): Bunyips, bandicoots, bunyips, bandicoots, Possums too, possums too, Wallabies and wombats, wallabies and wombats, Kangaroos, kangaroos Do it a few times so that everyone is familiar with the song and steps. Then comes the crunch: sing and dance it *as a round*. That is, just the centre circle starts, then the next circle joins in etc. At kids' dances I like to finish with this dance: it's easy, everyone can join in, the whole family can dance together, it's highly distinctive and very memorable. Here is a similar dance with a Christmas theme (it also includes a more difficult version in a square set).
CHOGM Pentrille
by Norm Ellis
Music: 5x64 bar jig or reel
Medium
Formation: 5 couples in a pentagon (really just a circle),
numbered anticlockwise 14253 (yes, you read that correctly)
A1 (8) Forward and back
(8) Circle left
A2 (8) Forward and back
(8) Circle right
B1 (16) Split the circle: everyone still holding hands, couple 1 go
between lady 2 and man 5, then separate and go around the
outside to their original place, dragging everyone else with them
B2 (16) Split the circle the other way, lady 2 and man 5 going
through couple 1
C (8) 1 swap with 2, 2s making an arch
(8) 1 swap with 3, 3s making an arch
(8) 1 swap with 4, 4s making an arch
(8) 1 swap with 5, 5s making an arch
D1 (16) Swing partner
D2 (16) Promenade
The numbering looks a bit unusual, but it makes sense when you get to
the part where the 1s cross with each other couple in turn.
The renumbering after each time through is not really a problem: couple
1 are obvious and they drive the dance. Note that it doesn't really matter
if they split the circle in the wrong place, everyone still ends up where
they are supposed to be.
Levi Jackson's Rag
by Pat Shaw
Music: 5x32 bar rag
Medium-Hard
Formation: 5 couples in a horseshoe, ie 4 couples in a becket
set with a 5th couple at the top. This top couple is facing
down, others facing across, everyone standing next to their
partner with the woman on the right
A1 (8) Sides right and left WHILE top couple go halfway down the middle
(tops go down just after the sides cross over)
(8) Sides right and left WHILE top couple go down to the bottom
A2 (8) Sides hands 4 with the couple across and circle left
WHILE tops separate and cast to the top
(8) Everyone do si do partner
B1 (8) All 5 ladies chain: ladies right hand star, go 2 places
around (past your partner, past the next, to the next),
do a courtesy turn with this man
(8) 5 ladies chain again. Stay in the ladies chain hold
B2 (4) Promenade one place around the set
(12) Balance and swing
B1 is where the dance falls apart. Men must take an active part here,
both to assist the women into the star and then to take the appropriate
woman out
Southern Cross
Music: 5x64 bar jig or reel
Medium
Formation: 5 people in a cross - imagine a square set with an extra
couple in the middle, except they are single people rather than couples.
Numbered anticlockwise, with number 5 in the middle
A1 (16) 4 outside people circle left and right (number 5 can show off)
A2 (16) Number 5 grand chain around the set: right hand to 1, left
to 4, right to 3, left to 2 (5 finishes in the centre)
B1 (16) Arches: 2, 5 and 4 take hands in a line of three and make
arches. 1 and 3 go clockwise through the arches (ie through
the arch on their left and returning through the other arch).
Go through the arches twice (but if they use the centre person
as a support they can go through lots of times...)
B2 (16) Arches on the other axis, made by 1, 5 and 3
C1 (16) Reel of 3 up and down (with 1, 5 and 3)
C2 (16) Reel of 3 across (with 2, 5 and 4)
D (8) Progression: 5 swing with 1, leaving 1 in the centre
(8) 5 swing with 2, leaving them in position 1
(8) 5 swing with 3, leaving them in position 2
(8) 5 swing with 4, leaving them in position 3
(5 finishes in position 4)
These swings should use the crossed-hand hold
Troika
Music: own tune
Easy
Formation: Line of three people, everyone facing the front (can also
do it as threesomes around the room, all facing anticlockwise)
A (8) 8 steps forward, on the 8th step raise hands and shout "Oy!"
(8) 8 steps back, again shout "Oy!"
B (8) Arches: centre and right hand person make an arch, left hand
person go through the arch and around the centre person to place
(others need to turn under their joined hands)
(8) Arch on the other side
C (12) Circle left 12 steps
(4) 3 stamps
(12) Circle right 12 steps
(4) 3 stamps while breaking into a line of 3 (may optionally break
in a different place to put someone else in the middle)
When doing it around the room, the centres progress to a new line
during the first part
The band should increase the tempo as the dance continues
Any comments - email pfoster@pcug.org.au
Last modified 29 June 2008