Headington

Oxfordshire. Dances number about 28, of which 7 are stick, 2 processionals and 5 jigs.

Sources

Morris Book I and II; Morris Book III (1st ed.); Journal English Folk Dance and Song Society Volume 1, No.3 & Volume 8, No.4; Roy Dommett (MSS of Cecil Sharp, Dr. Kenworthy Schofield, Manning & Carey); Oxford University Morris Men; personal observation of the Headington Quarry Men (Headington Quarry Morris Men) and instruction from William Kimber (William Kimber). The MSS are derived from other dancers in the side that Sharp saw in 1899, as well as Kimber.

Figures

Foot up, Cross over, Back to back and Whole hey.

Once to yourself is Jump.

Foot up is up twice, unless stated otherwise.

Finish facing up with 4 Plain capers for stick and Ring and all in for handkerchief dances.

The Steps

4-Step, 2-Step, Cross backs, Side step and Plain caper.

Stepping for figures is usually 2 bars 4-Step, Cross backs and Step and jump, repeat.

Cross backs are | Cross Apart Cross Apart | Cross - Together - |. Alternate feet behind.

Upright capers are | LEFT RIGHT | Jump RIGHT |.

Arm movements

Down and up with 4-Step and Plain caper.

Circles with both arms in Back step, Cross backs, Side step and sometimes Plain caper about 8” above head.

Processional dances

THE MORRIS ON

Single file with 4-step finish in column.

THE MORRIS OFF

Once to yourself, then | 4-step | 4-step | 4-step | 4-step | Together - - - | repeat. Saluting audience by bowing and raising hats on Together.

Stick dances

Short sticks clashed at waist level in Once to yourself and Foot up. On other figures evens hold forward and odds strike down.

BEAN SETTING

Once to yourself, Half rounds, Chorus, Cross over, Chorus, Back to back, Chorus Whole hey, Chorus,

Stepping is 2-step.

Half rounds form up half way.

Chorus is dib and strike round set, repeat.

Sticking is

| Dib - Dib - | Tips( Partner ) - - - | Dib - Dib - | Tips( Partner ) Tips( 1 on 3 ) Tips( 3 on 5 ) Tips( 5 on 6 ) | Tips( 6 on 4 ) Tips( 4 on 2 ) Tips( Partner ) - | repeat.

CONSTANT BILLY

Once to yourself, Foot up, Chorus, Whole hey, Chorus, Cross over, Chorus, Back to back, Chorus

Chorus is Sticking or clapping and Half hey, repeat.

Odd is odds tips on evens butts. Evens is evens tips on odds butts.

Sticking is

| - - Odd - | - - Even - | - - Odd - | Even - Tips - |

Feet are

| right - right - | left - left - | right - right - | left - right - |

Clapping is | Front - Right - | Front - Right - | Left - Right - |

HUNTING THE SQUIRREL

Once to yourself, Foot up, Chorus, Whole hey, Chorus, Cross over, Chorus, Back to back, Chorus, Whole hey

Chorus is Sticking and Bow, repeat.

Sticking is

| Odd - Even - | Odd - Even - | - - - - | - - - Tips |

Feet are

| left - right - | left - right - | left - right - | LEFT - RIGHT - |

Odd is odds tips on evens butts. Even is evens tips on odds butts. 2 backward steps with bow in 3^rd bar.

RIG O’MARLOW

Once to yourself, Foot up, Chorus, Whole hey, Chorus, Cross over, Chorus, Back to back, Chorus

2-step and no Jump.

Chorus is

| - - Odd Odd | - - Even Even | - - Odd Odd | Even Even Tips Odd |

Feet are

| left left left left | right right right right | left left left left | right left right left |

RODNEY

Once to yourself, Foot up, Chorus, Whole hey, Chorus, Cross over, Chorus, Back to back, Chorus, Whole hey

Chorus is Sticking.

Sticking is

| - - Odd Odd | - - Even Even | - - Odd Odd | Even Even Odd Odd |

Feet are

| left left left left | right right right right | left left left left | right right left right |

Odd is odds tips on evens butts. Even is evens tips on odds butts.

Handkerchief Dances

COUNTRTY GARDENS

Once to yourself, Foot up, Chorus, Whole hey, Chorus, Cross over, Chorus, Back to back, Chorus

Chorus is Clapping and Half hey, repeat.

Clapping is

| Front Front Right - | Front Front Left - | Front Front Right - | Left - Up - |

Feet are

| right right right right | left left left left | right right right right | together - Jump - |

DOUBLE SET-BACK

Once to yourself, Foot up, Chorus, Whole hey, Chorus, Cross over, Chorus, Back to back, Chorus

Chorus is Side step and Half hey, repeat.

| Side step | Side step | Cross backs | Cross backs | Foot together Jump |.

GETTING UP STAIRS

Once to yourself, Foot up, Chorus, Whole hey, Chorus, Cross over, Chorus, Back to back, Chorus

Chorus is Capers and Half hey, repeat.

| RIGHT LEFT | 4-step | RIGHT LEFT | 4-step |

Circles on capers and down and up on 4-step.

HASTE TO THE WEDDING

Once to yourself, Foot up, Chorus, Whole hey, Chorus, Cross over, Chorus, Back to back, Chorus

Chorus is Closed side step and Half hey, repeat.

| Closed side step | Closed side step | Closed side step | RIGHT LEFT |

HOW D’YE DO, SIR

Once to yourself, Foot up, Challenge, Whole hey, Fight, Cross over, Fight, Back to back, Reconciliation, Cross over

No handkerchiefs.

Challenge 1^st corners walk together, bend forward 4 hand clasp and drop back.

2^nd and 3^rd corners the same and sing “How d’ye do, Sir?”.

Fight is as in challenge, but strike partners cheek with right hand in 3^rd beat. Second fight with left.

Reconciliation is as in challenge, but with a bow.

LAUDNUM BUNCHES

Once to yourself, Foot up, Chorus, Whole hey, Chorus, Cross over, Chorus, Back to back, Chorus

4 Plain capers at end of each phrase.

Chorus is corners cross

1^st and 2^nd times with 4-step.

3^rd and 4^th times

| 4-step | Step and jump RIGHT - | LEFT - RIGHT - | Jump - RIGHT – | LEFT - RIGHT - | Jump - right | 4-step | 4-step | LEFT - RIGHT - | LEFT - RIGHT - |.

Meet on Step and jump, pass right , turn right, meet for 4-step and retire to corner on capers. Next corners come in on Jump.

THE BLUE-EYED STRANGER

Also known as BRIGHTON CAMP.

Once to yourself, Foot up, Chorus, Whole hey, Chorus, Cross over, Chorus, Back to back, Chorus

Chorus is Side step and Half hey, repeat..

| Side step | Side step | 4-step | RIGHT LEFT |

THE TWENTY-NINTH OF MAY

Once to yourself, Foot up, Chorus, Whole hey, Chorus, Cross over, Chorus, Back to back, Chorus

Chorus is Dance position | 6 4-Step | Cross backs | Cross backs | Foot together Jump |.

THE MORRIS REEL

Once to yourself, Whole hey, Chorus, Whole hey, Chorus, Whole hey

Whole hey is 4-step.

Chorus is Dance position for 8 4-step and Cross over with 8 reel step.

Reel step is

| left | Toe( right ) left right right | Toe( left ) right left left |

or

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

Feet crossed as in side step.

May be danced with 4 or 3 dancers.

THE WEEPING WILLOW TREE

Once to yourself, Foot up, Chorus, Whole hey, Chorus, Cross over, Chorus, Back to back, Chorus

Finish each phrase with 4 Plain capers.

Foot up is 6 4-step, 4 Plain capers. To long music.

Chorus is Weeping and Dance in position.

Weeping 2 bars singing wipe eyes to left and then right then | 4-step | 4-step | RIGHT LEFT | RIGHT LEFT |

Oh, once they said my lips were red and now they’re scarlet pale.

Oh, I was a silly girl to believe his flattering tale.

He vowed he’d never deceive me; I like a silly believed he.

The moon and the stars they shone so bright, Over the willow tree.

TRUNKLES

Once to yourself, Foot up, Chorus, Whole hey, Chorus, Cross over, Chorus, Back to back, Chorus

Foot up is up and down.

Chorus is corners Stamp and strike then Cross.

.

| 4-step | 4-step | 4-step | Stamp( right ) - Strike( right ) - | left in opposite corner. Hands on hips

Cross on

1^st time 4-step

2^nd time Side step

3^rd and 4^th time Upright capers

Finish with 4 Plain capers in.

Jigs

BACCA PIPES

JOCKIE TO THE FAIR

Once to yourself, Foot up, Side step, Capers, Side step, Capers, Side step

Foot up is 4-step, Cross backs, together.

Side step is

| Side step( right ) | Side step( right ) | Side step( left ) | Side step( left ) |

| 6 4-step | Cross backs | Cross backs |.

Capers are 3 times

| LEFT RIGHT | JUMP RIGHT | then

| 4-step | 4-step | Cross backs | Cross Together |.

Finish with 4 Plain capers.

OLD MOTHER OXFORD

Once to yourself, Foot up, Side step, Capers, Side step, Capers, Side step

Foot up is | 4-step | 4-step | Cross backs | Cross Together |.

Side step is | Side step( right ) | Side step( right ) | Side step( left ) | Side step( left ) | 4-step | 4-step | Cross backs | Cross backs |.

Capers are 3 | LEFT RIGHT | JUMP RIGHT | 4-step | 4-step | Cross backs | Cross Together |.

Finish with 4 Plain capers.

SHEPHERDS’ HEY

Once to yourself, Foot up, Jig, Foot up, Jig, Foot up, Jig, Foot up, Jig, Foot up

Foot up is | 4-step | 4-step | Cross backs | Cross Together |, repeat.

Jig is clapping

| Front Front Touch( right ) - | Front Front Touch( right ) - |

| Front Front Under-knee( right ) - | Under-knee( left ) Back Front - |, repeat.

Touch is calf, breast, cheek and head.

Finish with 4 Plain capers.

THE OLD WOMAN TOSSED UP IN A BLANKET

Once to yourself, Foot up, Side step, Capers, Side step, Capers, Side step

Foot up is | 4-step | 4-step | Cross backs | Cross Together |.

Capers are | LEFT RIGHT | 4-step | Cross backs | Cross Together |.

Finish with 4 Plain capers.