Dance Notes For Hinton-In-The-Hedges

1. Disclaimer and Copyright
2. Definitions
   1. General
   2. Stepping
   3. Arm Movements (Hanky)
   4. Arm movements (Stick)
3. General Sequence
4. Hey
5. Figures
   1. Coming In
   2. Foot Up and Down
   3. Back to Back
   4. Step Into Line
   5. Show Out
6. Dances
   1. Old Woman Tossed Up (hanky)
   2. Rambling Sailor (hanky)
   3. Lads-a-Buncham (hanky)
   4. Summer Is Icummen In (stick)
   5. Haste To The Wedding (stick)
   6. Bean Setting (stick)
7. Document Navigation

These notes record the way I teach this tradition. They are my interpretation of the 'Black Book' and how I was in turn taught them. I do not claim that this is the way the tradition was or should be danced only that this is the way I choose to dance it.

© 1996, Copyright by Sarah O'Neill, Chartridge, England. Permission is hereby granted to copy this work or to incorporate it in another work provided that it is not changed, no charge other than for the cost of reproduction is made for the copy or combined work and this copyright notice is included on the copy or in the combined work.

[Table of Contents]

Set Positions and Numbering

The set is numbered from the squire position (1) as follows:

              Top
      Squire        Bag
       side         side

         1           2       (Tops)

         3           4       (Middles)

         5           6       (Bottoms)
             Bottom

Leading Foot

The foot in the direction of intended movement.

Up Foot

When facing across the set the foot nearest the top of the set.

Down Foot

When facing across the set the foot nearest the bottom of the set.

Outside Foot

When facing up or down the set the foot on the outside of the set, e.g. when facing up squire side left foot, bag side right foot. When facing across the set the outside foot in relation to your partner, e.g. left foot when passing right shoulders, right foot when passing left shoulders.

Turn Up and Out

Squire side turn left, bag side turn right.

Turn Out

Squire side left, bag side right.

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Start Foot

The foot that is first stepped onto.

Single Step

Step from one foot to the other and then hop on the new foot. One single step is therefore a step and hop.

Double Step

Step from one foot to the other 3 times, then hop e.g. left, right, left, hop, this equals one double step.

Chassis Step

Step sideways with leading foot and close with the other foot.

Caper

A slow, high jump from one foot to the other.

Step and Jump

Step onto a foot then jump off it landing feet together.

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The Show

Accompanies a step and jump. On the step the hands gather out and up in a sweep and on the jump end up straight out in front of the body, at shoulder height, with hands together and fists facing down.

Down and up

The previous movement will have left the arms straight out in front at shoulder height. They are brought down briskly at the start of the 1st single step and come up slowly during the 2nd single step ready to go down again briskly at the start of the 3rd single step. Arms go down briskly on steps 1, 3, and 5, then gather on step 7 and show (hands out in front) on the jump (step 8).

Windmills

Twists with both arms, left anti-clockwise, right clockwise, outward circles away from the body at breast level. One set of twists for each single or chassis step.

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Down Position

Sticks are held in the right hand, tips pointing down towards the floor, as near straight down as possible. The left hand remains loosely at your side.

Clash

Accompanies step and jump. Bring the stick up on the step ready to clash with partner on the jump. The bag side presents stick and the squire side clashes. Whenever you do a step and jump in a stick dance you always clash. The only exception being the first part of the step into line, when you don't clash in the air.

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Hinton is an outside foot tradition, meaning you start the dance and each figure on your outside foot. Hinton dances generally follow a sequence of 6 single steps then a step and jump or 4 chassis steps, 2 single steps then a step and jump. This equals 8 beats in total.

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First half, to change position:
Tops 1 & 2 move down the set, in, down & out, to the bottom position
Middles 3 & 4 move up the set, out & up, to the top position
Bottoms 5 & 6 move up the set, in & up, to the middle position

Second half, to return to place:
Original Tops 1 & 2 move up the set, in, up & out, to the top position
Original Middles 3 & 4 move down the set, in & down, to the middle position
Original Bottoms 5 & 6 move down the set, out & down, to the bottom position

Remember you are describing a curve not a straight line. Please see individual dances for stepping sequences during hey.

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All Hinton dances have the same common figures as follows:

To start a dance come in with a step and jump on the last two beats of the introductory music.

Arm Movements- Hanky: Show. Stick: Clash.

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Foot up, on the spot, starting with the outside foot, 6 single steps and a step and jump. On the next single step turn out a quarter and on the 2nd single step complete the turn to face down the set. Then 4 more single steps and a step to turn a quarter to face across the set and jump on the spot.

Arm Movements- Hanky: Down and up throughout plus shows for the step and jumps. Stick: Stick held in down position throughout plus clashes for the step and jumps.

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Everyone start left foot first half, right foot second half. On the first 2 single steps move across the set, slightly to the left of where your partner was standing, passing right shoulders. On the next 2 single steps, starting with your left foot (slightly crossing over right), move right sideways, describing a small arc. On the last 2 single steps return to place and step and jump. The second half of the back to back is the reverse of above, starting right foot and passing left shoulders. The whole movement should be one fluid shape, describing a loop.

Arm Movements- Hanky: Windmills throughout plus shows for the step and jumps. Stick: Stick held in down position throughout plus clashes for the step and jumps.

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Imagine a line drawn down the centre of the set. Starting with the left foot take the first single step to the left of your partner to end up with everyone in a line down the centre of the set on the 2nd single step. Then 4 more single steps on the spot and a step and jump. Starting with the right foot take 2 single steps to the right to pass back to back with your partner. On the 3rd single step you should be back in line. Steps 4, 5 & 6 are done on the spot, remembering to get ready to move back on step 6. Move back on the hop of the 6th step, then step (still travelling backwards) and jump in place.

Arm Movements- Hanky: Down and up throughout plus shows for the step and jumps. Stick: Stick held in the down position throughout. N.B. There is no clash in the air on the first step and jump. Clash with partner on the second step and jump when back in place.

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Both halves start left foot, pass right shoulders both times. First half 6 single steps as far as possible across the set, then turn a quarter on the step and complete the turn with the jump to change direction. Everyone turns to their right. Then 4 single steps back towards place. On the fourth step everyone should be in a line in the bag sides starting position. Then the bag side, taking 2 single steps, turns right with a small semi-circle (describing the tail of a j), and the squire side takes 2 single steps to get across the set back to place. Both sides turn right to face up on the final step and jump.

Arm Movements- Hanky: Windmills throughout with shows for the step and jumps. It is usual to accompany the final show with a shout to finish the dance. Stick: Stick held in the down position. There is a pause on the first 2 single steps, moving briskly off on the 3rd single step. Bring your stick up on the 2nd single step hop ready to clash on the 3rd single step, while on the move. On the first step and jump clash in the air, on the final step and jump the bag side should present their sticks and the squire side clashes.

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Chorus

Screwing up, half hey, screwing down, half hey.

Screwing Up

Starting on up foot, 4 chassis steps up and a hop on the up foot, then 2 chassis steps down and step and jump. (On the step you will still be moving sideways, but you should be back in place on the jump).

First Half Hey

Starting with leading foot, 4 chassis steps to change position then a hop, 2 single steps and step and jump all on the spot. (For where to go in the hey please see 'HEY' above).

Screwing Down

Starting on the down foot, 4 chassis steps down and a hop on the down foot, then 2 chassis steps up and step and jump. (On the step you will still be moving sideways, but you should be back in place on the jump).

Second Half Hey

Starting with leading foot, 4 chassis steps to return to starting position then a hop, 2 single steps and step and jump all on the spot. (For where to go in the hey please see 'HEY' above).

Arm Movements

Windmills for the chassis steps, down and up for the single steps, and a show for the step and jump.

Order of Dance

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Chorus

Left with full turn to left, right with full turn to right, half hey, right with full turn to right, left with full turn to left, half hey.

Left, Right

Everyone left 2 chassis steps, then taking 2 single steps turn left 360°. Then 2 chassis steps right and turn right 360° on the step and jump to end up facing across the set.

First Half Hey

see Old Woman Tossed Up, above for stepping.

Right, Left

Everyone right 2 chassis steps, then taking 2 single steps turn right 360°. Then 2 chassis steps left and turn left 360° on the step and jump to end up facing across the set.

Second Half Hey

see Old Woman Tossed Up, above for stepping.

Arm Movements

Windmills for chassis steps, down and up for single steps and shows for step and jumps.

Order of Dance

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Chorus

Corner dance. 1 & 6 (first corners), 2 & 5 (second corners), 3 & 4 (third corners) face each other.

First Chorus

Right foot start, 2 capers, on the spot, 1 double step to move towards centre of the set (1 & 6 and, 2 & 5 diagonally, 3 & 4 facing across), 2 single steps on the spot, then 2 capers. At the end of the second caper strike left feet, then walk backwards to place. First, second and third corners perform this sequence in turn. The third corners do not have time to walk back.

Second Chorus

As above, but the last 2 capers are replaced by a step and jump, while at the same time shaking right hands with your corner partner. The first and second corners do 2 shakes, the third corners only have time for one shake.

Third Chorus

As above, but replace hand shakes with removing or touching hat. The third corners only have time to touch their hats.

Whole Hey

After each corner has done their sequence straight into a whole hey. Starting with leading foot 4 chassis steps to change position, then a hop, 4 chassis steps to return to place and a hop, then 2 single steps and a step and jump on the spot.

Arm Movements

Windmills throughout corner sequence, arms by sides to walk backwards to place. During the whole hey windmills for chassis steps, down and up for the single steps and a show for the step and jump.

Order of Dance

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Chorus

Sticking, strike tips-

Repeat. Keep sticks up throughout sticking sequence. N.B. Set to adjust itself ready for sticking after figures, by middles staying put and top and bottom couple taking one step in as necessary.

Order of Dance

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Chorus

Sticking-

Then four capers up and out, starting with up foot, a quarter turn each caper, finishing facing partner across set. Then sticking with partner tips forehand, backhand, both circle stick round head then strike forehand. (The capers should be on the spot).

Repeat. Keep sticks up throughout sticking sequence and down for the capers.

Order of Dance

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Chorus

Walking across set dibbing, half hey and sticking, walking across set dibbing, half hey and sticking

Walking

Everyone left foot start, 3 walking steps across set (passing right shoulders), bending over and 'dibbing' with the stick each step (you are making a hole for the bean to go in with a twizel of the stick). On the 4th beat, which replaces the 4th step, strike partners stick backhand then continue across the set 2 more steps (5 & 6) dibbing with stick. Then step and jump to turn 180° and clash with partner (everyone turns right).

First Half Hey

4 chassis steps to halfway position, then stand on the spot (no single stepping) and stick with partner tips forehand, backhand, both circle round head and strike forehand.

Walking

Repeat the sequence from this position, as above.

Second Half Hey

Back to place and repeat sticking as above.

Order of Dance