ALLEY CAT

FORMATION: Individual dance, everyone facing the front to start. 1. Extend right foot to right side, touching toe to floor.

Close right foot and then repeat the movement.

2. Extend left foot to the left side, touching toe to floor. Close left foot and then repeat the movement.

3. Extend right foot back, touching toe to floor behind. Close right foot and then repeat the movement. 4. Extend left foot back, touching toe to floor behind.

Close left foot and then repeat the movement. 5. Raise right knee, touch right foot back to the floor and then repeat the movement. 6. Raise left knee, touch left foot back to the floor and then repeat the movement.

7. Raise right knee once and return to the floor 8. Raise left knee once and return to the floor

9. Jump on both feet, making a ¼ turn to the right, then clap hands

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Repeat dance from the beginning.

CANADIAN LANCERS

FORMATION: Longways set of 4 couples A. 1) Partners join inside hands and walk forward with 4 steps 2) Walk backwards four steps 3) Drop hands, face partner, girl walks around her partner for 8 steps and

returns to her own place.

Repeat parts 1) and 2) Repeat part 3) with boy walking around girl

B. 1) Girls cast-off, skipping around boys line and back to place, using 16 measures 2) Boys cast-off, skipping around girls line and back to place, using 16 measures C. 1) Clap own hands twice 2) Stamp left foot, stamp right foot 3) Join hands with partner and change places

Repeat all of part C, three more times

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Repeat dance from beginning

CARDING THE WOOL

FORMATION: Squares of 4 couples. Couple 1 and 3 are the head couple. 2 and 4 are the side couples.

PART 1: Carding the Wool COUNTS 1 – 4 The head couples change places across the set, moving sideways with a

sliding steps and pause on the 4th count. The boys pass back to back. 5 – 8 Couples return to original position with 4 sliding steps, boy again pass back to

back. 9 – 12 The side couples return to original places across the set, boys passing back

to back 13 – 16 Side couples return to original position, boys passing back to back. 17 – 24 Head couples change positions again and return 25 – 32 Side couples change places again and return PART 2: Girls Circle COUNTS 1 – 32

Girls step forward; join hands in a circle of 4 and circle left once around with 8 walking steps.

Girls face partner, join both hands, skip around with partner, (in a 2 hand swing), with 8 skipping steps.

Girls join hands in a circle of 4 and circle to the right once around with 8 walking steps.

Girls face partners, skip around with partner with 8 skipping steps. PART 3: Carding the Wool (REPEAT) PART 4: Boys Circle Boys repeat the circle formation of the girls

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CARDING THE WOOL …..Continued

PART 5: Carding the Wool (REPEAT) PART 6: Girls Star

Girls place right hand to the centre to form a right hand start, walk once around with 8 walking steps

Girls face partner, join both hands and skip around with partner with 8 skipping steps.

Girls place left hands to the centre to form a left hand star, walk once around with 8 walking steps.

Girls face partner, join both hands and skip around with partner with 8 skipping steps.

PART 7: Carding the Wool (REPEAT) PART 8: Boys Star

Boys repeat the star formation of the girls PART 9: Carding the Wool (REPEAT)

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CIRCASSIAN CIRCLE

FORMATION: Large single circle of couples facing centre, all hands joined, girls to the

right of partners. 1. Everyone walk 4 steps toward the centre, and all walk 4 steps backwards to place. 2. Repeat step #1 3. Girls walk 4 steps into the centre and then 4 steps backwards into place.

4. Boys walk 4 steps into the centre, then turn ½ turn to the left and walk diagonally

(clockwise) 4 steps to take a new partner.

5. Use a cross-arm grasp with new partner and lean away from each other and skip around in a circle for 8 steps.

6. Promenade new partner for 6 steps and then turn and face centre and join hands.

Repeat dance from the beginning.

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COTTON-EYED JOE

FORMATION: Groups of two or four – side by side, facing counter clockwise around the circle.

PART 1 - Weight on left foot, bring right knee up and then push down towards floor TWICE

(at the same time clap hands two times – Optional) - Run on the spot – right – left – right - Weight on right foot, bring left knee up and then push down towards floor TWICE

(at the same time clap hands two times – Optional) - Run on the spot – left – right – left REPEAT ALL OF THE ABOVE PART 2 (Travelling forward)

Do eight gallop steps – right – together – right - left – together – left – right – together – right - left – together – left – right – together – right - left – together – left – right – together – right - left – together – left

REPEAT PART 1 and PART 2 THROUGHOUT THE DANCE PART 3 (Optional) Part 3 can be done in place of PART 2 or for every other PART 2. (part 1 – part 2 – part 1 – part 3 – part 1…etc) - Step with right foot diagonally forward and crossed in front of right neighbour’s left foot. - Step with left foot diagonally forward and crossed in front or left neighbour’s right foot. REPEAT ABOVE SEVEN MORE TIMES

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COTTON-EYE JOE (alternate version)

COUNTS 1 – 2 Tap right heel twice to the front 3 – 4 Tap right toe twice to the back 5 Touch right foot to the left hand across front of body 6 Touch right foot to the floor beside the left foot

7 Touch right foot to the left hand behind the body

8 Touch right foot to the floor beside the left foot

1 – 4 Vine to the right beginning with the right foot (right, left, right, left) 5 – 8 Vine to the left with a turn that finishes the dancer facing a quarter turn to

the left side

Repeat facing new wall

ELECTRIC SLIDE

FORMATION: Individual line dance, everyone facing the front. 1. Grapevine right – step, behind, step, together (stomp) 2. Grapevine left – step, behind, step, together (stomp)

3. Grapevine back – step back right, step back left, step back right, (leaning back and

pulling left toe up) touch left heel.

4. Rock forward (lean forward) on left foot – touch right toe behind

5. Rock back on right foot – touch left heel forward

6. Step forward on left foot with a ¼ turn to the left and scuff right

Repeat from beginning

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GIE GORDONS (Scotland)

BACKGROUND: The Gie Gordons is one of those perfect couple folk dances that everybody

likes and anybody can do. It is an old-time dance of Scottish origin and is a standard favourite on folk dance programs.

FORMATION: Couples in a circle formation, all facing counter-clockwise. Girl to the right

of boy, in Varsovienne position. PART 1 Both start on left foot and take 4 walking steps forward, in the line of direction. Without dropping hands, half turn to the right to face the other way. Boy now has left

arm around the girls’ shoulder, girl standing to boys left. Starting with the left foot, take 4 walking steps backward, still in the line of direction.

Without turning around, both start on left foot and take 4 walking steps forward in clockwise position.

Without dropping hands, turn half around to the left to face original direction (counter-clockwise). Boys right arm is now around the girls shoulder.

Starting on the left foot, all take 4 walking steps backward, against the line of direction. NOTE: On the last of the 4 walking steps, the girl does not put her full weight down on right foot, but barely touches it to the ground so that it will be free to start the next part. Or she may have to take 2 walking steps followed by a step-together-step which will leave her right foot free. PART 2 Partners hold right hands only, with free hands on hips. Girl turns to own right

(clockwise), under joined hands, with 4 two-steps or polka steps, as boy moves forward behind her with 4 of the same steps.

Take ballroom position and do four polka or two-steps around the circle.

GUSTAF’S SKOAL

FORMATION: Square set of four couples with girl on the boy’s right. PART 1 COUNTS: 1 – 4 Partners join hands and free hand is on hips. Couples 1 and 3 walk forward 4 steps and back 4 steps 1 – 8 Couples 2 and 4 do the same 9 – 16 Repeat figure from the beginning

PART 2 COUNTS: 1 – 16 Couples 1 and 3 take four skips toward centre…drop partners hand…join hands with

the opposite couple to exchange partners and take four skips between the side couple (2 and 4) as they make a bridge.

Separate…clap own hands…and return to original position to meet own partner with a two handed hold and swing one around in place.

1 – 16 Couples 2 and 4 do the same figure as above between couple 1 and 3.

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HURRY SCURRY

FORMATION: Couples in large circle POSITION: Partner on boys right, inside hands joined at shoulder height, facing

counter-clockwise. PART 1 COUNTS

1 – 16 All walk forward 16 steps starting with left foot (as music speeds up this will become a run)

17 – 32 Turning toward partner, join new inside hands face in reverse direction and

repeat 16 steps to starting place

PART 2 COUNTS

1 – 4 Facing partner, boys back to centre, do 4 kicking steps, sliding right forward fast and repeating left, right, left. (This is a Bleking step with 4 even kicks)

5 – 8 Clapping on first beat only, walk four steps to change place with partner.

Move in a counter-clockwise direction passing right shoulder and face partner all the time.

9 – 16 Repeat 1 – 8 to return to own place 17 – 32 Repeat 1 – 16 Repeat dance from the beginning

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JIFFY MIXER

FORMATION: Butterfly position, boys back towards centre of circle. FOOTWORK: Steps described are for the boy. Girls who are facing the boy do the

opposite footwork. COUNTS: 1 – 4 HEEL, TOE; HEEL, TOE; SIDE, CLOSE; SIDE, TOUCH; In butterfly position, strike left heel to floor forward and toward left

side, touch left toe beside right foot; repeat; step to left side in LOD (line of direction), on left foot, close right foot to left taking weight on right; step again to left side in LOD on left foot, touch right toe to floor beside left foot keeping weight on left.

5 – 8 HEEL, TOE; HEEL, TOE; SIDE, CLOSE; SIDE, TOUCH; Repeat action of counts 1 – 4 starting on right foot and moving right LOD 9 – 12 CHUG, CLAP; CHUG, CLAP; CHUG, CLAP; CHUG, CLAP; Releasing hands, partners do four “Chugs” away from each other with

weight on both feet, boy moving backwards toward centre of circle and girl moving backward toward wall, clapping hands on the upbeat of the music following each chug.

13 – 16 WALK TO THE RIGHT – TWO; THREE; FOUR (to butterfly position);

Start left foot and take four slow, swaggering steps forward and diagonally to right, progressing to a new partner, ending in Butterfly position, boy’s back toward centre of circle, ready to repeat the dance.

PERFORM ENTIRE ROUTINE FOR A TOTAL OF EIGHT TIMES ENDING WITH A NEW PARTNERS BOWING AT THE FINISH OF THE EIGHTH SEQUENCE.

LA RASPA

FORMATION: Scatter or double circle facing partners (Can be done in one large circle, no partners)

A. 1) Hands joined with partner (or each person have hands on hips), put right

heel forward and hop on left foot, drawing right foot back and putting left heel forward and hop on right foot, drawing left foot back.

2) Repeat #1 and clap hands twice 3) Repeat #1 and #2 seven more times

B. 1) Partners loop elbows and skip around in a circle for 16 beats. Then switch elbows and skip in the opposite direction for 16 beats. (If being done without partners, just skip in one direction for 16 beats and then skip in the other for 16 beats)

Repeat entire dance from beginning.

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MAPLE LEAF STOMP

FORMATION: Double circle dance of partners facing each other with both hands joined. Boys have backs to the centre of the circle.

PART 1: COUNTS 1 – 4 Couples move towards the centre of the circle. Boys moving backwards and

starting on the left foot. Girls move forward starting on the right foot. Take 3 walking steps and stamp on the fourth count.

5 – 8 Repeat with the opposite foot and in the opposite direction 9 – 12 Repeat first four counts 13 – 16 Boys stand clapping hands and girls turn in place 4 steps.(or both turn in place) 1 – 12 Repeat dance from beginning except couples begin by moving away from the

centre of the circle 13 – 16 Girls stand clapping hands and boys turn in places 4 steps.(or both turn in place) PART 2: COUNTS 1 – 8 Boys stand in place and clap hands. Girls take 8 sliding steps to the left around

the outside of circle 9 – 16 Girls reverse direction taking 8 sliding steps to the right passing their original

partner and going onto the next person 17 – 32 Join hands with new partner and promenade counter clockwise around the circle.

The skaters hold is customary. Right hands joined above, left hands below, while standing side by side.

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Dance begins again with a new partner

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MAYIM

FORMATION: Single circle, facing hands, hands joined and held down. MUSIC: Short introduction. Music for entire dance is played 6 times. PART 1: The circle moves to the left (clockwise) in the following manner: (1 count) a) Cross right foot over left foot (1 count) b) Step left with left foot (1 count) c) Cross right foot behind left foot (1 count) d) Step left with left foot

(12 counts) Repeat all above 3 more times PART 2: (4 counts) a) Beginning with left foot take 4 running steps into centre, raising

arms upwards at the same time. (4 counts) b) Run backwards with 4 steps, lowering arms Repeat a) and b) once more PART 3: (4 counts) a) Beginning with right foot- take 4 running steps to the left in the

circle. (1 count) b) Face centre of circle. Hope on right foot and at the same time

touch left toe across right foot to the right side. (1 count) c) Hop on right foot again and at the same time touch left toe to the

left side of the right foot. Repeat b) and c) once more

(1 count) d) Hop on left foot, and at the same time touch right toe across left

foot to the left side and also at the same time clap hands together with arms stretched straight ahead.

(1 count) e) Hop on left foot, and at the same time touch right toe across left foot to the lest side and also at the same time bring arms to sideways stretch position, shoulder height.

(6 counts) Repeat d) and e) 3 more times

Dance is started again from the beginning

PATTY CAKE POLKA

FORMATION: Double circle dance of partners facing each other with both hands joined.

Boys have backs to the circle. Foot work is described for the boys part, reverse it for the girls.

COUNTS: 1 – 8 On the spot using left foot…heel, toe, heel, toe then 3 sliding steps to the left. 9 – 16 Repeat using right foot and traveling to the right 1 – 4 With right hand clap partners right hand 3 times (1&2) with left hand clap

partners left hand 3 times (3&4). This can be done with 2 claps per hand. 5 – 8 Clap both partners hands 3 times (5&6). Bend and clap both knees 3 times (7&8) 9 – 12 Link right arms with partner and make one complete turn, (clockwise) with partner

using 4 steps. 13 – 16 Release hands. Boys move ahead to new partner, moving in a counter-clockwise

direction around the circle with 4 steps. Girls move clockwise to meet a new partner using 4 steps.

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Dance begins again with a new partner.

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POP GOES THE WEASEL

FORMATION: Double circle, composed of sets of 2 couples facing each other, #1 couple

facing clockwise, #2 couple facing counter-clockwise, girls to the right of their partners.

COUNTS: 4 Introduction – Stand in place and clap on POP! 1-2 CIRCLE LEFT

Each set of 2 couples join hands in small circle and all skip 4 steps to left, clockwise.

3-4 CIRCLE RIGHT Each set of 2 couples reverse direction and skip 4 steps to right, counter-clockwise, returning to original position.

5-6 BALANCE IN, BALANCE OUT Hands still joined, couples balance towards each other (with a step-in-dip, raising arms), then couples balance away from each other (with a step-in-dip, lowering arms).

7-8 POP! THE TWO’S UNDER #1 couple form an arch by raising their joined inside hands, and pull the #2 couples toward them, to be popped under the arch, counter clockwise. As #2 couple skip (or walk fast) under the arch, hands are released and all sing out “POP!” and clap own hands at same time. All are now facing a new couple. PERFORM ENTIRE DANCE A TOTAL OF 12 POP-UNDERS

RIBBON DANCE

FORMATION: Double line of couple (music works for six couples), two couples per group.

Partners stand side-by-side all holding ribbons. Designate couples as #1 and #2.

PART 1: “Over and Under” - Couple #1 forms ribbon – arch under which #2 passes with 4 steps. - Then reverse, so that #1 passes under the arch with 4 steps. - Repeat all of Part 1. PART 2: “Cast-Off” - The couples all facing the front, the girls release their end of the ribbons. - Head couple (#1) leads the cast off by separating and skipping to the end of the line. - As partners meet at the end, the head couple (#1) forms an arch with their ribbon. - The rest of the couples pick up the ribbons and skip under the arch and back to the

beginning. PART 3: “Swing Down the Centre” - All couples hold ribbons high. - Couple (#2) at the front of the line slides down the aisle under the ribbon arches for by

other couples to take a new position at the end of the line behind the original couple (#1) REPEAT ENTIRE DANCE FROM THE BEGINNING

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SEVEN JUMPS

FORMATION: Circle; hands joined low at the sides

PART 1: Circle COUNTS 1 – 16 Eight skips or step hops to the right and eight back to the left

PART 2: (2 Chords) The music at this point is a series of chords the dancers all take one step back,

placing hands on hips on the first chord. On the second chord, all raise the right knee waist high and balance as steady as possible.

Repeat Part #1 eight skips right and eight left

PART 3: (3 Chords) Repeat Part #2 giant step back, hands on hips. Hold right knee high, and add

hold left knee high for duration of third chord. CHORUS: Repeat as above

PART 4: (4 Chords) Repeat all for Part #3 – adding – kneel down. Right knee on floor. CHORUS: Repeat as above

PART 5: (5 Chords) Same as Part #4 – adding – kneel on both knees

CHORUS: Repeat as above

PART 6: (6 Chords) Same as Part #5 – adding – place right elbow on floor holding head in right hand CHORUS: Repeat as above

PART 7: (7 Chords) Same as Part #6 – adding – place left elbow on floor both slbows are now on the

floor, chin supported in both hands CHORUS: Repeat as above

PART 8: (8 Chords) Same as Part #7 – adding – touch head to the floor CHORUS: Repeat as above

FINALE As in chorus skip eight right, and eight left on the last count leap as high as possible and clap both hands above head.

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STOMPING IT OUT

COUNTS 1 – 2 Stomp right foot to right side

Lift right knee across and clap at the same time 3 – 4 Stomp right foot to right side Left right knee across and clap at the same time 5 – 6 Stomp right, left 7 – 8 Clap twice 1 – 8 Repeat all to the left 1 – 4 Step forward on the right, drag the left Step forward on the right and stomp left beside the right 5 – 8 Clip heels twice 1 – 4 Vine to the right (R, L, R) and brush left 5 – 8 Vine to the left (L, R, L) with a ¼ turn left and touch the right beside the left

SYMPHONY SHUFFLE

FORMATION: Individual line dance, scatter facing front or done in two lines facing each other.

1. Grapevine right – step, behind, step, touch 2. Grapevine left – step behind, step, touch 3. Walk around 4 steps – right, left, right, left 4. Jazz box – step right foot over left, step back left, step right back to place and

draw left to it

5. Shuffle forward – right foot forward, draw left up behind 6. Shuffle forward – left foot behind, draw right up behind 7. Step forward on right toe and half pivot to the left (now facing the opposite wall) 8. Stomp right foot and stomp left foot

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Repeat dance from the beginning (If doing this dance with two lines facing each other, when you walk forward (#3) you meet as one line, do the jazz box, continue in opposite directions and then turn to face each other again (#7).

TENNESSEE WIG WALK

FORMATION: A double circle, boy on the inside facing counter clockwise, girls on the

outside facing clockwise. Right hand joined at shoulder level. All begin with the left foot.

1. Point left foot forward, point the left foot to the left side, cross the left foot behind

the right root, step to the right with the right foot and then draw the left foot to the right. As you do this you will cross in front of your partner and change from right hands up to left hands up.

2. Repeat above beginning with the right foot and left hands joined.

3. With right hands joined, walk around in a circle with your partner – step one, two,

three, brush, one two, three, brush.

4. Drop hands and walk to the next partner – one, two, three, brush. (The boy walks counter clockwise, the girl clockwise)

Repeat the pattern throughout the song.

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TETON MOUNTAIN STOMP

FORMATION: Single circle of couples, boys facing counter clockwise, girls facing clockwise, both hands joined. (Woman’s left is holding man’s right; woman’s right is holding man’s left)

1. STEP, CLOSE, STEP, STOMP; STEP, CLOSE, STEP, STOMP As a couple step sideways toward centre circle, close outside foot to inside foot;

step again toward centre and stomp outside foot beside inside foot. Repeat stepping sideways away from centre.

2. STEP, STOMP; STEP, STOMP Step sideways towards centre and stomp outside foot;

Step sideways away from centre and stomp inside foot. 3. WALK FOUR STEPS

Hands are joined; hips are adjacent to each other. Boys are walking forward and girls are walking backwards.

4. WALK FOUR STEPS

Without dropping hands, change directions and continue to walk in the same direction as in step #3 but now boys are walking backwards and girls are walking forwards.

5. WALK ON TO NEW PARTNER

Change back to original line of direction; drop hands and boys walk forward on to new partner and girls walk forward to on to new partner.

6. DO – SI – DO

Do a do–si-do with new partner and then join hands and move into starting position. Repeat dance from beginning

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VIRGINIA REEL

FORMATION: A “long ways” set of six couples – two parallel, facing lines, ‘ladies’ on the

left and ‘gents’ on the right (from the head couple) PART 1 “Forward and Back” – Both lines take 4 steps to centre, bow/curtsy to partner and 4 steps

back to place “Forward and Back” - Again “Right hand around” - Partners meet, join right hand, swing once around, clockwise, and

return to place “Left hand around” - Repeat, using left hand and swinging counter-clockwise “Both hands around” – Repeat, using both hands and turning clockwise “Do-si-do” - lines walk forward, pass partners by the right shoulder, slide back-

to- back and return to place, passing left shoulders.

PART 2 “Head couple down and back” - Head couple joins both hands and “sashays” down the set and

back to head position. (Sashays with quick but smooth sliding side-steps)

“Reel the set” – Head couple hooks right elbows, turns once and a half around, then

separates and goes to opposite line. Head gents turns second lady once around with a left elbow turn, as head lady does the same with second gent.

- Head couple meets in the centre for right elbow turn and continues to the third lady and gent for a left elbow turn.

- Head couple continues down the set in this fashion – left elbow turns to the set, right elbow turns to the centre – until it has ‘reeled’ the entire set

- At the foot of the set, head couple swing half-way around so that gent and lady are on the correct side, join hands, and ‘sashays’ back to places

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VIRGINIA REEL…continued… PART 3 “Cast off” – At the change of music, head couple leads to the outside (gents to his left,

lady to her right) and, followed by the lines, marches to the foot of the set. “Form the arch” – Upon reaching the foot of the set, head couple joins hands to form an

arch. The others, now led by the second couple, join hands and ‘sashay’ through the arch. Second couple leads to the head of the set where it now stands as head couple for the next figure.

- When all couples have gone through the arch, head couple drops hands and steps back to become the foot couple.

In this manner, after six changes, each couple will have its turn as head couple.