Bobbing Joe
Intermediate if called, Advanced if memorized; Longways for as many as will; Partners
Line up facing the head of the room with the Gentlemen on the left, Ladies on the right. Traditionally, the head of the room is where the King and Queen are, but in the USA, the head faces the music (the band, or the boom box!). I have found that students, older students in particular, really enjoy the mathmatical patterns of Contra dances. You can find John Playford's English Country Dancing Master both in print and online
This is what the original looked like. Playford probably intended this book to be a memory jogger because (just like today) he knew that everyone already knew the steps. The music below was arranged by Paul Butler - he added harmony in the fashion of the time.
Notation:
A1: Lead up a double and back (d rt forward, d lt back). Repeat
B1: All facing the music - Set and turn single right. Repeat to left
A2: 1s slip down as 2s slip up, then 1s slip up as 2s slip down. All take hands and circle CW once back to places
B2: Men snap4 and change places. Women snap4 and change places
A3: Sides all (d rt forward toward partner to match rt shoulders, d lt back. Repeat with lt shoulders.
B3: All facing partner - Set and turn single right. Repeat to left
A4: 1s d forward to meet in the middle, d back, d for, cast off back to your places.
B4: All change places with your partner, then take hands around and go half way around. Repeat.
A5: Arms all - take right arms and turn for 8 counts. Repeat with left arms back to places.
B5: All right sides toward partner - Set and turn single right. Repeat to left
A6: Men d back, d forward. Women d back, d forward
B6: 1s cast off, 1s meet and take right hands to turn.
Listen
Watch
Links to Playford online:
The British Museum
The Dancing Master, 1651-1728: An Illustrated Compendium By Robert M. Keller
Jeff Lee's facsimile copy of The English Dancing Master
Palmer's Pocket Playford
Reconstructing an English Country Dance, by Master Trahaearn ap Ieuan
