Upton-on-Severn

Worcestershire. Dances are 2, one stick dance and one handkerchief dance.

Sources.   

Dr Maud Karpeles (Journal English Folk Dance and Song Society, 1933, P.101); Roy Dommett (Dr Maud Karpeles MSS).

Figures

Once to your self is stationary.

 

Whole rounds clock-wise, spinning right to start. 

 

Back to back in 4 bars,  Dance position for 4 bars.

 

Three Top is heys-for-three across the set, the middles moving to their left 1st time. Three bottoms middles move to right.

 

Whole hey has the top couple go down between the middles, tops and bottoms do not turn out at start.

 

Dance position each man makes a quick turn left on the spot (1 bar) and then dances in position facing his partner.

 

Each figure occupies 8 bars, Back to back right and left being 8-bar figures.

 

Finish all-in, facing centre.

Steps

4-step with free leg swung across in front.

Arm-movement

Down and up, with pronounced upward flick.

THE UPTON STICK DANCE

Once to your self, Whole rounds, Chorus, Cross over, Chorus, Three tops( left ), Chorus, Three bottoms( right ), Chorus, Whole hey, Chorus, Whole rounds, Chorus.

 

Strike sticks at beginning of each figure.

 

Chorus  is

1st and 4th time stick-tapping right and left once per bar (8 strikes)  and Dance position.

 

2nd and 5th time doubles fighting.

 

3rd and 6th time above heads and by ankles.

THE UPTON HANDKERCHIEF DANCE

Once to your self, Whole rounds,  Back to back( right ), Back to back( left ), Three tops( right ),  Three tops( left ), Whole hey, Whole hey, Corners,

Back to back( right ), Back to back( left ), Three tops( right ),  Three tops( left ), Whole hey, Whole hey, Whole rounds

 

Corners is

1st half Dance position

2nd half numbers 1 & 6 approach and face, and dancers then adjust positions  to give oblique set.

 

Subsequent figures in these new positions, with numbers 2 and 4 as top couple.