The Morris Book Part 6

As there are two bars to turn in after crossing over, and again after re-crossing, the dancer must, of course, turn slowly and evenly, so that the turn is completed just in time for the jump in bars 4 and 8.

This is called in the Notation--Cross-over.

BACK-TO-BACK.

As with the Cross-over, this movement is completed in eight bars.

In the first four bars partners advance, right shoulder to right shoulder, but not touching, pa.s.s one another, move to the right, re-pa.s.s partners (left shoulder to left shoulder), and retire to position, moving backwards. Thus:

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 1.]

In bars 4 to 8 partners advance, left shoulder to left shoulder, pa.s.s, move to the left, retire backwards, re-pa.s.sing right shoulder to right shoulder, and so to original station. Thus:

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 2.]

This is called in the Notation--Back-to-back.

GO-AND-COME.

This is a form of the Cross-over, but made without turning. It is executed in Front formation, to eight bars of music. In the first two bars partners cross exactly as in the Cross-over--right shoulder to right shoulder. In bars 3 and 4, instead of turning, retire backwards in the line they crossed--right shoulder to right shoulder. In bars 5 and 6 they cross again, but left shoulder to left shoulder, and in bars 7 and 8 retire on the same line--left to left again.

This is called in the Notation--Go-and-Come.

THE RING.

In this, wherever it occurs, partners simply alter positions so that the whole side forms a ring, or circle. It is sometimes used at the finish of a dance; and in "Bean-setting" it occurs at the beginning. (_See_ diagrams, p. 51.)

This is called in the Notation--Ring.

STEPS IN FOREGOING EVOLUTIONS.

Unless special instructions are given to the contrary, the step used in bars 1 and 2 of "Chain," "Cross-over," "Back-to-back" and "Go-and-come,"

is always 4/3 or 6/3, according to time, and 4/2 or 6/2 in bars 3 and 4; likewise, 4/3 or 6/3 in bars 5 and 6, and 4/2 or 6/2 in bars 7 and 8.

THE JUMP.

The manner of the Jump has been described already (_see_ p. 33). It remains to tell of the different ways in which the movement is employed, and to a.s.sign to each a Notation number.

The Jump is used in two ways only, as follows:--

1. In position. That is, the dancer jumps where he stands, without changing front.

This is called in the Notation--Ju.

2. To make a half-turn. That is, in military phrase, to make a "half-right--or left--turn."

This is called in the Notation--j.

For direction--to left or right--of turning, _see_ instructions under "Positions, and change of position."

The following rules as to the Jump apply to Handkerchief and Corner dances, and are invariable. In Stick dances tapping to a great extent takes the place of jumping, but in these, where the Jump is to be used, it will be found marked in the Notation. Movements of the hands, which invariably go with the Jump, will be found under heading "The Hands."

The first general rule is this: Every dancer whose turn it is to execute any movement whatsoever, must jump on last half-bar before that movement begins. This applies, as the case may be, to the whole side, or to any pair of opposites about to execute any figure or movement.

For instance, the whole side is to dance Down-and-back and Up-and-back, so on last half-bar of "Once to Yourself," the whole side jumps together--then starts the figure. Also in all figures executed by the whole side in common--in "Chain," "Cross-over," "Back-to-back,"

"Go-and-come"--all jump together on last half-bar before the figure begins.

It is the same with pairs or opposites. In Corners and Capers each pair whose turn it is to dance together jump on last half-bar before they begin. As each pair finishes the next must be ready to jump on last half-bar before their turn. So with the third pair; and as they finish, and the whole side takes up the next figure in common, then the whole side jumps together on last half-bar.

So much for the Jump as an invariable preliminary to all figures in the Stick and Handkerchief dances. We come now to the Jump as made at the middle and end of figures.

In the first place there are the figures executed by the whole side in common.

All, then, having jumped on last half-bar before the figure is begun, jump also at middle and end of the figure as follows:--

In "Down-and-back," Ju., "Up-and-back," j. (forming Fr.), _see_ Notation, the side goes forward and back as described (_see_ p. 40) for four bars; jumps together on half-bar of bar 4, still facing in the same direction.

That completes "Down-and-back," Ju. Then, instantly, they all make a complete turn to the right--right-about--dance as before in bars 5 to 8, and on last half-bar of bar 8 all jump, and as they jump make a half-turn inward. That completes "Up-and-back," j. (forming Fr.).

The Chain, though it is executed in Column formation, follows upon a figure executed in Front. So the preliminary jump, before beginning Chain, is made Front; files make half-Chain, end numbers change places, and at half-bar of bar 4, all jump, j., in a half-turn to Front; then complete Chain and jump to Front again, j., on last half-bar of bar 8.

In "Cross-over," "Back-to-back," "Go-and-come," all executed in Front formation, the whole side jumps in position, Ju., at half-bar in bars 4 and 8.

In Corners and Capers, _wherever opposites change places_, the rule is that they jump on last half-bar, as they finish their part in the figure--that is, as they complete the movement of changing or re-changing places.

In "Blue-eyed Stranger," where the whole side dances in position for eight bars, all jump at half-bar in bar 8. Should the side elect to keep up the step for sixteen bars (_see_ p. 50), then all jump at half-bar in bar 16.

In "Bluff King Hal" and "Morris Off," there is no Jump at all.

THE HANDS.

The movements of the hands are made invariably according to rule, as follows:--

These rules apply, as with the Jump, to all Handkerchief and Corner dances.

In making the Jump, the hands are always, with rigid arms, thrown above the head.

In "Down-and-back" and "Up-and-back," "Chain," "Cross-over,"

"Back-to-back," "Go-and-come," movements of the hands are always the same. That is: Commencing with the preliminary Jump, when the hands are above the head, on beginning of first bar, with first step (of 4/3 or 6/3 step), hands are swung backward; forward on half-bar; back again, beginning of bar 2, and forward on half-bar of bar 2. In bar 3 (4/2 or 6/2 step) the hands, being already upward and forward, are swung twice in a circle, commencing inward, so that the handkerchiefs are waved in a double circle over the head. At beginning of bar 4 the hands are lowered straight in line with the body, and at half-bar of bar 4, with the Jump, they are thrown straight above the head on rigid arms.

These movements of the hands are always the same in every Handkerchief and Corner dance. Whenever the 4/3 or 6/3 step is used the hands are swung as already described. Also, wherever there are the two bars of 4/2 or 6/2 step, the hands are also used as already described--double circle overhead; down, and up on the Jump.

In Capers, wherever the 4/1 or 6/1 High Step is used, the hands are swung backward on beginning of bar, forward and upward on half-bar; and this movement is continued all the time the High Step (4/1 or 6/1) is used.