name this ceilidh dance

Subject: RE: name this ceilidh dance
From: GUEST,Cath Watkins (Jigfoot)
Date: 13 Aug 14 - 08:57 AM

It is indeed called The Brighton, and we found it in the Pyle manuscript, from Nether Wallop in Hampshire. Many of the tunes from the manuscript have been published as Hampshire Dance Tunes

The original instructions are:
"The 1st Lady sett & lead the 2nd Gent down the middle – 1st Gent do the same with the 2nd Lady – Promenade – & whole Poussette"

These were clarified and described more fully by Dave Williams, along with most of the fifteen or so dances that appear in the manuscript, and we had a lot of fun trying them out with some willing volunteers last year, with the aim of incorporating some of them into Jigfoot's tune and dance repertoire.

Dave's description of the dance is as follows:

Formation: Three couple longways

A2 1st Lady sets to second man and they then dance down the set, turn and come back to places.

A2 1st Man sets to second Lady and they then dance down the set, turn and come back to places.

B1 All three couples face up and take promenaded hold and double cast to bottom of set and then up middle to original places.

B2 1st couple poussette to bottom of set. (Push me Pull you)
All take two hands. 1st couples move to ladies side with man pushing while 2nd and 3rd couples move to mans side by men pulling. 1st couple move down set a little while 2nd move up. All couples change direction, 1st man pulling while 2nd and 3rd push. 1st move up a little while 3rd move down and all reverse direction to end back in a set with 1st couple at bottom.

Jigfoot just love playing the tune for this dance. It was originally in F, but we play it in G because we have a melodeon in the band, and because all the open Es in the B section sound great on the fiddles. We've regularised the structure to AABB rather than AABA as written.

If anyone would like a copy of Dave William's dance descriptions from the Pyle manuscript I'm happy to send the PDF file if you message me from the Jigfoot web site. (There may be a little delay replying as we're away at Whitby and for the bank holiday weekend)

Cath

Subject: RE: name this ceilidh dance
From: Mr Red
Date: 13 Aug 14 - 04:52 AM

According to Webfeet.org the original was called "Brighton" so I thought the twist could be called "Brighton Anchorage".
It is a simple dance, but if we had to dance complex dances we would be called Playfordophiles or Contraries. I am a Ceilidhnaut at heart. And anyway, in the Anchor Gardens there are a fair number of the public discovering Ceilidh is fun - so we have to give them a chance to join the coterie of dance fanatics.

Subject: RE: name this ceilidh dance
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 12 Aug 14 - 03:55 PM

Or even 'Anchors Aweigh'!

Subject: RE: name this ceilidh dance
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 12 Aug 14 - 03:47 PM

I'm sure it's not new - I seem to recall doing it on numerous occasions over the years, but without being aware of a name (not sure it even merits one). However, if you want an 'Anchor' theme, how about 'Anchors Away'?.

Subject: RE: name this ceilidh dance
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 12 Aug 14 - 01:28 PM

As this dance appears to be of recent make why not call it The New Anchor?

Subject: name this ceilidh dance
From: Mr Red
Date: 12 Aug 14 - 03:21 AM

As posted on the E-Ceilidh e-mail forum

Jigfoot band members may possibly respond as this comes via the Anchor Gardens ceilidh Wed @ 12.00 @ Sidmouth Folk Fest caller Pete Gritton (new to me but "he dun well", so did Jigfoot)

4 couple longways (I think) though it would work with any number within the limits of the music.

1) Man2 & Lady1 sidestep down & back to respective places
2) Man1 & Lady2 sidestep down & back to respective places
3) Couples Promenade to left back to place
4) top couple dance/sidestep to bottom
5) all swing to finish

Firstly what is it called?
Secondly there was a tendency for move 1 to result in Man2 & Lady1 being opposite each other & I thought this would have made it a progressive dance (though better with an odd number of couples) ie:

1) Man2 & Lady1 sidestep down & back to Lady's position
2) Man1 & Lady2 sidestep down & back to Lady's position
3) Couples Promenade to left back to place
4) new top couple dance/sidestep to bottom
5) all swing to finish

If this latter has no name why not give it something like "Lifting the Anchor", "Hauling the Anchor" or some such similar incorporating the word "Anchor".

Discuss-

Hon Publicity Stroud Ceilidhs Fri 26th Sept next as part of the Stroud Folk Festival
Band is GB2H who are seasoned, nationally known ceilidh band players who gig with the best but are a relatively local people:
Roger Grimes, Martin Brinsford, Paul Burgess & Heather Horsley.