I'm wondering if anyone has come upon this act as performed during the 19th century. The minstrel I'm studying did a dance where he was dressed as a soldier (or a Lancashire clog dancer)from the front -- and a sailor from the back. He danced a clog-dance frontwise then spun around and became a hornpipe-dancing sailor. First mentioned about 1860. Looked amazing according to all accounts.
I came upon one mention of another minstrel performing a similar act in 1848. This reference was in "Burnt Cork and Tambourines". It seems to suggest that this dance was well-known.
However I can't find any other mention of it amid the many articles about "soldiers and sailors" "two-faced" "double-faced" and all.
I don't know if the song, "The Soldier and the Sailor" is connected.
Any ideas?
Cheers, Joy