The ORIGINAL dance was called the 'Hanky Panky'. It was extremely popular in England for many centuries. However, due the to Victorian prudish view on life it was starting to die out. Just in time it was collected by the great Cecil Sharpe, but unfortunately was bowdlerised into what we see today. You don't want to know what the original dance was like (or what they were putting in and out).

I know this because my family used to sell tickets to the dance many generations ago and the name Hansell is a contracted derivitive of the term 'Hanky Panky Sellers'.

And that's the truth!!!

Bert.