Ilmington

Warwickshire. There is information about 14 dances, including 1 processional, 5 alternatively stick or hand-clapping and 2 Jigs.

Sources

Morris Book I; Roy Dommett (Sharp's MSS; Dr. Kenworthy Schofield's MSS). Dr. Kenworthy Schofield's information came largely from Sam Bennett, Ilmington dancer and fiddler, who was teaching the dances up till 1945.

Dancing in Ilmington underwent a series of revivals, with resulting variations in the dancing, hence the alternative versions.

Figures

Foot up, Half hands, Back to back, Cross and turn, and Whole-rounds to finish.

 

Foot up is stationary, facing up and down, and turning out at end of second half, the  turn at end of 1st half is on the Jump, but that at the end of 2nd half occupies 2 bars.

 

Cross and turn pass right shoulders, ¼ turn to right and turn left to middle on the Jump. 2nd half repeat, but return to place.

 

Whole rounds face front halfway round, all turn out to right at beginning of each half, finish facing up.

 

Half hey has an extra loop on the spot at each end. Shoulder nearly touching and up and out or down and out.  

1st couple down inside, down outside and then loop.

2nd couple up outside, loop and then down inside.

3rd couple loop, up inside and then up outside.

Steps

2 bars 4-Step, 1 bar 2-Step, Step and jump, repeat. Jump with snatch in Once to yourself.

Arm-movements

Relaxed Down and up, snatch on Jump, 3 waves and up with Plain caper and Jump at end of dances. Low twists in Side step.

Processional Dance

PROCESSIONAL DANCE

Tune is Flowers of May. In single or double file, each man capering or galleying as he pleased. On entering the ground they danced in a circle to 2-Step, swinging arms alternately.

Sticking or Clapping Dances

Sticks are held by one hand end at the side, but high crossed in Once to yourself and Foot up. Usual striking at end of each half-figure. Sticking was interchangeable as between the dances. Clapping was performed with or without handkerchiefs tied to middle fingers. Clap hands above head at end of each half figure.

THE BLACK JOKE

Once to yourself, Foot up, Chorus, Half hands, Chorus, Back to back, Chorus, Cross and turn, Chorus, Whole rounds

Stepping in each half is 2 bars 4-step, 2 bars 2-step, 3 Plain caper, Jump.

 

Once to yourself is 3 Plain caper, Jump, Strike or clap on Jump.

 

Foot up turn on the capers in both halves, to face front for clash or clap.

Chorus is Sticking or clapping and Half hey,  repeat.

 

CONSTANT BILLY

Once to yourself, Foot up, Chorus, Half hands, Chorus, Back to back, Chorus, Cross and turn, Chorus, Whole rounds

Chorus is Sticking or clapping and Half hey, repeat,

 

Single stick

Sticking is single-handed throughout:

| Tip    Butt             Tip            Butt    | Tip    Butt            Tip            Butt             |

| Tip    Butt            Tip            Butt    | Tip    Butt            Tip            -             |

 

Feet  are

| right             right             left             left              | right right    left             left              |

| right             right             left             left              | right             right             Jump             |

 

Two sticks

Sticking is single-handed throughout:

|  - Tips  -  Tips  |  Tips  Tips  Tips  Tips  |

 

Tips with partner through out with the sticks parallel, but alternating right and left.

 

Danced to plain capers.  

 

Clapping is

| Front - Right - | Front - Left - | Front - Back - | Front - Both -|

SHEPHERDS' HEY

Once to yourself, Foot up, Chorus, Half hands, Chorus, Back to back, Chorus, Cross and turn, Chorus, Whole rounds

Chorus is Sticking or Clapping and Half hey,  repeat.

 

Sticking is sticks left and right for tips and butts.

| Odd - Even - | Tip Butt Tip Butt | Tip Butt Tip - |

 

Feet

| 3 Stamp( right ) together | 3 Stamp( right ) together | right right left left | right right Jump - |

 

Clapping

| Front( under right knee ) Right - | Front( under left knee ) Left  |

| Front( under right knee ) Front( under left knee ) | Left Left Left - |

THE CUCKOO’S NEST

Once to yourself, Foot up, Chorus, Half hands, Chorus, Back to back, Chorus, Cross and turn, Chorus, Whole rounds

Chorus is Sticking or clapping and Half hey,  repeat. As in Shepherds' Hey.

Handkerchief Dances

MORRIS ON

Danced to BUMPUS O' STRETTON.

Once to yourself,  (Foot down, Foot up), Dance in position

 

Repeat (Foot down, Foot up) ad lib, till musician breaks  into another tune, usually Old Mother Oxford (Molly Oxford) , when set  presumably dances one phrase in position, then proceeds without  pause into the new dance.

Foot down is down, and turn out to face up (4 bars), up and Jump, not turning (4 bars).

Foot up as Foot down, facing down last time face front on Jump

THE MAID OF THE MILL

Once to yourself, Foot up, Chorus, Half hands, Chorus, Back to back, Chorus, Cross and turn, Chorus, Whole rounds

 

Partners are linked by two handkerchiefs knotted together  at one corner, held in their right hands, raised high throughout except  when passing under in hey. Left arm hangs by side.

Chorus is Spin and Half hey,  repeat. 

Spin is 2 circles on the spot, turning upwards (odds counterclockwise evens clockwise) with 3 bars of 2-step, Step and jump.

BUMPUS OF STRETTON

Once to yourself, Foot up, Chorus, Half hands, Chorus, Back to back, Chorus, Cross and turn, Chorus, Whole rounds

 

Chorus is Open Side step and Half hey, repeat.

 

Open Side step is

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

moving about 6 feet (2 metres) left in the 1st two Open side step and return to place with Jump.

THE BUFFOON

Once to yourself, Hey and Chorus alternately ad lib.

 

Once to yourself  face partner

 

Hey if danced in set, a Country Dance hey, 2 ½ times through (4 bars), if in line, a continuous straight hey (reel) . In either case, finish in two rings of 3 dancers.

 

Chorus is in turn counter clockwise starting with A.

1st  time A Front right knee, B's right shoulder, Knee(B’s backside). Repeat with B and C, then C and A. All turn round, then re-form line or set.

2nd  time instead of kicking make a feint with right fist at his face.

Jigs

NELSON'S PRAISE

Once to yourself, Foot up, Jig, Capers, Jig, Clapping, Jig

 

Foot up is | 6 4-Step | 2-Step | Foot together jump |.

 

Jig is Open Side step 

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

| 4-Step | 4-Step | Cross Cross Cross - | Cross Cross Cross - |

| 4-Step | 4-Step | 2-Step | Foot together jump |.

 

Capers are

| Cross Apart together Cross  | Apart together Cross Apart | together Cross Apart together  | Cross Apart together left | 4-Step |  4-Step | 2-Step | Foot together jump |.

 

Clapping is 5 | Under( right knee ) Under( left knee ) Back | then as capers.