Circle dances written by

Geof Owen  
Folk Dance Caller and Choreographer

 
Home Dances Dance Books Contact me

Click here for an alphabetical listing of dances
or click on the shape below to see dances in that shape
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
   
  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"
^^ back to top ^^






  Name
Cloudy Skies

© Geof Owen 2015
   
  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
^^ back to top ^^






  Name
Dora’s Progression
© Geof Owen 1996
   
  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"
^^ back to top ^^






  Name
Felicity

© Geof Owen 2003
   
  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
^^ back to top ^^






  Name
Franconia Festival
© Geof Owen 1996
   
  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"
^^ back to top ^^






  Name
Honey Bee
© Geof Owen 2009
   
  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
^^ back to top ^^






  Name
Illuminations
© Geof Owen 1996
   
  Date written 1993
Format Circle – all face in
A1-4 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)
^^ back to top ^^






  Name
Rhian‘s Third Roundabout

© Geof Owen 2001
   
  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"
^^ back to top ^^






  Name
Snowshill
© Geof Owen 1996
   
  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
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"
^^ back to top ^^






  Name
Tudor Rose
© Geof Owen 2003
   
  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
^^ back to top ^^





        link to wychhill web sites