Circle dances written by |
Geof Owen | ||
Folk Dance Caller and Choreographer
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Click here for an alphabetical listing of dances or click on the shape below to see dances in that shape |
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Circle | Sicilian Circle | Dances for 3 couples | Dances for 4 couples | |
Dances for 5 couples | Dances for 6 couples | Longways | Squares | Other |
Name | Belt and Braces © Geof Owen 1998 | |
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Date written | 1998 | |
Format | Circle Two couples in line facing anti-clockwise round the room Inside couple improper (L-M-M-L) | |
A1 | 1-4 | Lines lead forward a double and back and bend lines into a circle |
5-8 | In fours, circle left all the way | |
A2 | 1-4 | Ladies arch, men pass through to meet next two ladies and set right and left |
5-8 | Symmetrical do-si-do (men between ladies) | |
B1 | 1-4 | First corners (inside man & outside lady) cast left to change places |
5-8 | Second corners (outside man & inside lady) cast right to change places | |
B2 | 1-4 | First corners cross followed by second corners cross |
5-8 | In fours, circle right Ladies drop hands and open into line of four (men in the middle) to begin again | |
Suggested Tunes | any 32 bar reel or jig | |
Notes | first published in "A Final Helping of Sadler‘s salad" | |
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Name | Cloudy Skies © Geof Owen 2015 | |
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Date written | 2015 | |
Format | Circle - numbered as 1st & 2nd couples - 1st couples have 2nd couples on their right | |
A1 | 1-4 | Into the middle and back. |
5-8 | Into the middle again, second couple fall back, first couple turn to face second couple | |
A2 | 1-4 | In fours circle left once round |
5-8 | As couples chasse left two steps, form Alamo ring and balance the ring | |
B1 | 1-4 | With ladies dropping hands, turn half way as couples. and reform Alamo ring and balance. |
5-8 | Balance and swing partner finishing proper and facing partner | |
B2 | 1-8 | Pass partner right shoulder, go left shoulder round the one you meet, back to partner and pass right shoulder, go left round the one you meet, go back to partner and reform circle. |
Suggested Tunes | any 32 bar reel or jig | |
Notes | first published on this web site in 2015 | |
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Name | Dora’s Progression © Geof Owen 1996 | |
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Date written | 1996 | |
Format | Circle: men outside facing partners in the circle | |
A1 | 1-2 | All chasse two steps to the left |
3-4 | Two hand turn new partner half way | |
5-6 | All chasse two steps to the left | |
7-8 | Two hand turn original partner half way | |
A2 | 1-2 | All chasse two steps to the right |
3-4 | Two hand turn new partner half way | |
5-6 | All chasse two steps to the right | |
7-8 | Two hand turn original partner half way | |
B1 | 1-4 | On the right diagonal, do-si-do |
5-8 | On the right diagonal, right hand turn half way and turn single to the left | |
B2 | 1-4 | With new partner opposite, do-si-do |
5-8 | With same person, right hand turn half way and turn single to the left | |
Suggested Tunes | Miss Sulyard’s Delight on “Blackburne Tunes” CD by Stowfolk (N x 32 bars) | |
Notes | first published in "Saddlers’ Salad" | |
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Name | Felicity © Geof Owen 2003 | |
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Date written | 2003 | |
Format | Circle | |
A1 | 1-4 | All face partner, chasse in two steps and turn single away (man to left and lady to right). |
5-8 | Still facing partner, chasse two steps out and turn single away (man to right and lady to left). | |
A2 | 1-4 | All two-hand turn partner half way and pass by. |
5-8 | Back to back with the person you meet. | |
B1 | 1-4 | Take inside hands (man’s right to lady’s left) and balance forward and back and star through. |
5-8 | Keeping hands joined, lead in, turn individually and lead neighbour out. | |
B2 | 1-4 | Set right and left twice to this new partner |
5-8 | Swing new partner and finish proper | |
Suggested Tunes | Felicity on “Outside the Square” by Dave Brown | |
Notes | first published in a Lead a Merry dance | |
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Name | Franconia Festival © Geof Owen 1996 | |
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Date written | 1996 | |
Format | 3 facing 3 in circle round room | |
A | 1-4 | All do-si-do with person opposite |
5-8 | Men go right for right hand star on the ends | |
9-12 | Men go left for left hand star on the ends | |
B | 1-4 | Men cross left shoulders and go round behind right hand ladies |
5-8 | Men meet in middle of set and two hand turn all the way | |
9-12 | Men go round behind left hand ladies back to place | |
C | 1-4 | Circle six, four steps to the left and back to the right |
5-8 | All two hand turn person opposite half way and stay facing. Circle three to the left half way. Ladies drop hands and open into line facing new three | |
Suggested Tunes | Peacock Rag on “Augmented” CD by Arden Folk | |
Notes | first published in "Saddlers’ Salad" | |
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Name | Honey Bee
© Geof Owen 2009 | |
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Date written | 2009 | |
Format | Circle – man + 2 ladies in lines of 3 facing anticlockwise round the hall | |
A1 | 1-4 | Man with right hand lady, take two hands and gallop to man’s left four steps and back. |
5-8 | Man with left hand lady, take two hands and gallop to man’s left four steps and back. | |
A2 | 1-8 | Man does right elbow turn with right hand lady, then left elbow turn left hand lady. Repeat. |
B1 | 1-4 | Hands three and circle left half way. Ladies arch and man pops through to ladies in line behind. |
5-8 | Hands three with new ladies and circle left half way. Ladies arch and man pops through back to original partners. | |
B2 | 1-4 | Lines of three go forward and back. |
5-8 | Lines go forward again and man moves on to ladies in front. | |
Notes | ||
Suggested Tunes | Henri Quatre on Hampshire Dance Tunes by Burlsedon Village Band | |
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Name | Illuminations
© Geof Owen 1996 | |
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Date written | 1993 | |
Format | Circle – all face in | |
A | 1-4 | All circle left eight steps |
5-12 | Men put partner into circle for poussette, poussette in and back and put lady on men’s left | |
13-16 | Men go into centre four steps, turn to right and return to new partner (lady on his right before going in) and stay facing out | |
B | 1-4 | Give right hands and turn all the way |
5-8 | Join left hands and balance forward and back twice (ocean wave) | |
9-12 | Keep left hands, drop right hands and turn all the way | |
13-16 | Do-si-do this person | |
Notes | ||
Suggested Tunes | Moss Roses on “Under the Greenwood Tree” CD by The Mellstock Band (N x 32 bars) | |
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Name | Rhian‘s Third Roundabout © Geof Owen 2001 | |
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Date written | 2001 | |
Format | Circle for as many as will | |
A1 | 1-4 | Couples right hand turn half way, join hands in the circle and balance forward and back (ocean wave) |
5-8 | Release right hands and left hand turn half way, join hands in the circle and balance forward and back (ocean wave). | |
A2 | 1-4 | Man turns left hand lady half way and all turn single. |
5-8 | Two hand turn original partner half way and set right and left. | |
B1 | 1-8 | Facing partner, hey for three round circle. |
B2 | 1-8 | Still facing partner, do-si-do one and a half and set right and left to new partner. |
Suggested Tunes | *Old Blackthorn*Water from the Well*The Chieftains* | |
Notes | first published in "Step This Way" | |
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Name | Snowshill © Geof Owen 1996 | |
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Date written | 1996 | |
Format | Circle – couple facing couple, inner and outer circles | |
A | 1-4 | Ladies chain across with facing couple |
5-12 | Left hand star and back with the right | |
13-16 | Turn new partner cross hands one and a quarter finishing in line with ladies in the middle (facing each other) | |
B | 1-8 | Hey for four all the way |
9-12 | Inside couples promenade anti-clockwise, outer couples promenade clockwise |
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13-16 | n promenade hold, turn partner three-quarters to face new couple | |
Suggested Tunes | Carolina Cloggers on “Augmented” CD by Arden Folk (N x 32 bars) | |
Notes | first published in "Saddlers’ Salad" | |
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Name | Tudor Rose © Geof Owen 2003 | |
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Date written | 2003 | |
Format | Circle – couples face in and out alternately | |
A1 | 1-4 | Couples lead four steps in direction they are facing and turn to face partner. Back away four steps. |
5-12 | With person you meet, lead back into circle. Men right hand turn half way while ladies left hand turn half way. (All home) | |
A2 | 1-4 | Do-si-do partner. |
5-8 | Set to partner and in promenade hold, half promenade to change places with neighbour. (Those who were facing in are now facing out and visa-versa). | |
B1 | 1-4 | Couples lead four steps in direction they are facing and turn to face partner. Back away four steps. |
5-8 | With person you meet, lead back into circle. Men left hand turn half way while ladies right hand turn half way. (All home) | |
B2 | 1-4 | Left hand turn partner all the way. |
5-8 | Face neighbour (man to man and lady to lady) and set then with neighbour allemande right half way. | |
Suggested Tunes | Lobelia on “High Jenks” by The Cracknalls | |
Notes | first published in a Lead a Merry dance | |
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