Bledington

Gloucestershire. Dances number about 25, of which 3 are stick, 1 processional and 7 jigs.

Sources

Morris Book V; Journal English Folk Dance and Song Society; The Travelling Morrice; Roy Dommett. Roy Dommett's additional source was Clive Carey's MSS. Sharp included reference to some Bledington dances in the 1st edition of Morris Book III, where they were not distinguished from other traditions; he omitted them from the 2nd edition.

Figures

Foot up, Half gip, Whole gip, Half rounds and Whole hey.

 

Foot up is stationary, up and down with ½  turn on Hook leg(out) to face down (do not face partners unless sticking).

The Steps

4-Step, Hook leg, Side step, Plain caper, Fore caper and Upright caper are all used,  as well as Hockle backs and Shuffles.

 

Hook leg is like a galley, but free leg swings near the ground (kicking a ball).

 

Once to yourself is Step and jump in set dances and Shuffles and Foot together jump in jigs.

 

All figures are | 4-step | 4-step | Hook leg | Step and jump |. Start on outside foot.

In Half gip one 4-step across, one 4-step in opposite place and Hook leg back to place.

In Rounds, Hook leg out and dance straight back, except in Black Joke when a set is formed.

 

Finish up on 4 Plain capers with low waves.

 

Half capers are | RIGHT left right - | LEFT right left - |.

 

Fore capers are | Right toe back Together RIGHT LEFT | Left toe back Together LEFT RIGHT |.

 

Upright capers are | Cross( right ) Cross( left ) RIGHT LEFT | Cross( left ) Cross( right ) LEFT RIGHT |.

 

Shuffles are in parallel and start up to the left.

Arm movements

Counter twists (ears to nose) with 4-Step, high forward on jumps and Half capers and low waves with Plain caper.

Processional dance

HEY DIDDLE DIS

also known as HEY-AWAY

| 4-Step | 4-Step | Hook leg( right ) | Step and jump | 4-Step | 4-Step | Hook leg( left )   | Step and jump |

| Half caper | Half caper | RIGHT LEFT | RIGHT LEFT |

 

Single file.

Stick dances

Once to yourself, Foot up, Chorus, Half gip, Chorus, Whole gip, Chorus, Half round, Chorus.

BILLY BOY

As known as Constant Billy. Chorus is Sticking and Half hey, repeat.

 

| - - Odds - | - - Evens - | Tips - Butts - | Tips - Butts - |.

THE BLACK JOKE

Chorus is Sticking and Half hey, repeat. 4 Plain capers at end of each phrase.

 

Sticking is two handed

| - Right Left Back Forward | Left Right Forward Back |.

Right and Left are with diagonals, Back and Forward with partner.

Pause before first strike, if with “Oh”, do throughout.

YOUNG COLLINS

Chorus is Sticking (or clapping) and Half hey, repeat.

 

| 3 Dip - | 3 Tips - | 3 Dip - | 3 Tips - |.

 

Clapping is

| 3 Front - | 3 Right - | 3 Front - | 3 Left - |.

Handkerchief Dances

Once to yourself, Foot up, Chorus, Half gip, Chorus, Whole gip, Chorus, Half round, Chorus.

FLOWERS OF EDINBURGH

Chorus is Caper and Half hey, repeat.

 

| Half caper | Half caper | RIGHT LEFT | Hook leg |

IDBURY HILL

Also known as THE OLD WOMAN TOSSED UP, THE MAID OF THE MILL and MORNING STAR.

Chorus is long Side step and Half hey, repeat.

 

| Side step( right ) | 4-step | Side step( left ) | Hook leg |

LEAP FROG

Also known GLORISHER and HOP-FROG

 

Once to yourself, Walk round, Chorus, Walk round, Chorus, Walk round, Chorus, Walk round, Chorus.

 

Walk round is

1st time walk round clockwise, each man on reaching the top of the set Salute.

Singing is “Why don’t you take a bow, Sir? Because he don’t know how, Sir!”

2nd time with Half caper.

3rd time Fore caper.

4th time Upright caper with leapfrog on 3rd beat.

1 over 2, 5 over 3, 4 over 6, 2 over 1, 3 over 5 and 6 over 4. 

            Last two bars Galley( left ), Foot together jump to place.

 

Chorus is long Side step and Half hey, repeat.

 

| Side step( right ) | 4-step | Side step( left ) | Hook leg |

OVER THE WATER TO CHARLIE

Chorus is Side step and Half hey, repeat.

 

| Side step( right ) | right left RIGHT - | Side step( left ) | Hook leg |

SATURDAY NIGHT

Once to yourself, Foot up, Whole hey.

 

Foot up is 

| 4-step | 4-step | Shuffles | Foot together jump | repeat.

| Side step( right ) | 4-step | Side step( left ) | 4-step | Half caper | Half caper | RIGHT LEFT | RIGHT LEFT| 

 

1st man start doing Foot up. Then turns right to dance with 3rd man.

Changes continue until set for Whole hey.

 

Men come on in sequence 1, 3, 5, 6, 4 and 2.

THE CUCKOO’S NEST

Chorus is caper in column and Half hey, repeat.

1st time up, 2nd down. 1st couple, 2nd couple and then 3rd couple.

 

1st time  | Salute |.

2nd time | Half caper | instead of Salute.

3rd time | Fore caper | instead of Salute.

4th time | Upright caper | instead of Salute.

THE GALLANT HUSSAR

Chorus is partners cross and Half hey, repeat.

 

1st time  | Side step( right ) | Side step( left ) | Hook leg( right ) | Hook leg |.

2nd time | 2 Half caper | instead of Side step.

3rd time             | 2 Fore caper | instead of Side step.

4th time | 2 Upright caper | instead of Side step.

TRUNKLES

Chorus is corners salute and corners cross.

 

Corners salute is | 4-Step | 4-Step | Half caper | Hook leg( right ) |.

Start on right.

 

Corners cross

1st time | Side Step( right ) | Side Step( left ) | Side Step( right ) | Side Step( left ) |

| Hook leg( left ) | Step and jump |.

2nd time | 4 Half caper | instead of Side steps.

3rd time | 4 Fore caper | instead of Side steps.

4th time | 4 Upright caper | instead of Side steps.

WILLIAM AND NANCY

Also known as BONNETS O’BLUE

Chorus is corners and Half hey, repeat.

 

1st time  | Salute |.

2nd time | Half caper |.

3rd time             | Fore caper |.

4th time  | Upright caper |.

Heel and tow dance

GENERAL MONK’S MARCH

Also known as WE WON’T GO HOME TILL MORNING

As William and Nancy, but with Heel and toe step.

 

| right Heel( left ) right - | left Heel( right ) left - |

Jigs

HIGHLAND MARY

Also known as BALANCE THE STRAW

 

Once to yourself, Foot up, Jig, Fore caper, Jig, Upright caper, Jig

 

Once to yourself is | Shuffle | Foot together jump |.

 

Foot up is | 4-step |  4-step | Shuffle | Foot together jump | repeat.

 

Fore caper is 2 | Fore caper |  instead of 4-step.

 

Upright caper is 2 | Upright caper |  instead of 4-step.

 

Jig is

| Side step( right ) | 4-Step | Side step( left ) | 4-Step | Half caper | Half caper | RIGHT LEFT | RIGHT LEFT |.

JOCKIE TO THE FAIR

Once to yourself, Foot up, Jig, Fore caper, Jig, Upright caper, Jig

 

Once to yourself is | Shuffle | Foot together jump |.

 

Foot up is | 6 bars 4-step | Shuffle | Foot together jump |.

 

Fore caper is | 4 bars Fore caper | 4-step |  4-step | Shuffle | Foot together jump |.

 

Upright caper is | 4 bars Upright caper | 4-step |  4-step | Shuffle | Foot together jump |.

 

Jig is

| Side step( right ) | 4-Step | Side step( left ) | 4-Step |

| Side step( right ) | Side step( left ) | 8 Half caper | RIGHT LEFT |.

LADIES’ PLEASURE

Once to yourself, Foot up, Jig, Fore caper, Jig, Upright caper, Jig.

 

Once to yourself is | Shuffle | Foot together jump |.

 

Foot up is | 4-step |  4-step | Shuffle | Foot together jump | repeat.

 

Fore caper is 2 | Fore caper |  instead of 4-step.

 

Upright caper is 2 | Upright caper |  instead of 4-step.

 

Jig is

| 3 bars Hockle back | RIGHT left left| 4-Step | 4-Step | RIGHT LEFT | RIGHT LEFT |.

LUMPS OF PLUM PUDDING

Once to yourself, Foot up, Jig, Fore caper, Jig, Upright caper, Jig

 

Once to yourself is | Shuffle | Foot together jump |.

 

Foot up is | 6 bars 4-step | Shuffle | Foot together jump |.

 

Fore caper is | 4 bars Fore caper | 4-step |  4-step | Shuffle | Foot together jump |.

 

Upright caper is | 4 bars Upright caper | 4-step |  4-step | Shuffle | Foot together jump |.

 

Jig is

| Side step( right ) | 4-Step | Side step( left ) | 4-Step | Half caper | Half caper | RIGHT LEFT | RIGHT LEFT |.

PRINCESS ROYAL

Once to yourself, Foot up, Jig, Fore caper, Jig, Upright caper, Jig

 

Once to yourself is | Shuffle | Foot together jump |.

 

Foot up is

| 4 bars 4-step | Side step( right ) | Side step( left ) | Shuffle | Foot together jump |.

 

Fore caper is 4 bars Fore caper instead of 4-step.

 

Upright caper is 4 bars Upright caper instead of 4-step.

 

Jig is

| Side step( right ) | 4-Step | Side step( left ) | 4-Step | Side step( right ) | Side step( left ) |

| 3 Cross( left )  | 3 Cross( right ) | Side step( right ) | Side step( left ) | RIGHT LEFT | RIGHT LEFT |.