The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #168985 Message #4083915
Posted By: Steve Gardham
17-Dec-20 - 04:34 PM
Thread Name: Stripping the Willow
Subject: RE: Stripping the Willow
In case anyone wants to use it, here's the notation. If you decide to use it please credit Hugh Rippon.
8 couples longways
Top couple gallop to the bottom of the set and man exchanges his partner for bottom lady and they gallop back to top.
Bottom man and top lady gallop back to top of set and he retrieves his partner and gallops back to the bottom with her.
Top and bottom couples then double strip the willow to the centre where they join hands and form a circle of arches.
Second couple and 7th couple then cast off left and right at either end followed in line by the other two couples behind, and each line of 3 comes under the side arches to meet partner and back to new places where all swing partner to end of music.
x4
New top couple gallop down etc.
Once through the dance is usually plenty as it's quite long.
I would hesitate to call it to beginners without a good few who have danced it before to help.