Skip to content
Country Dance * New York
  • Home
  • Contra
    • What is Contra?
    • Contra Etiquette
    • Call for CD*NY Dances
  • English
    • What is English Country Dancing?
    • This Season’s Dances: 2024 – 2025
    • ECD Figures – Visual
    • Meet the Callers
    • Meet the Musicians
    • ECD Dance of the Month Archive
    • Past Seasons’ Dance Archive
  • Special Events
    • Playford Ball 2025
    • Dance Weekend of Quality
    • 12th Night Dance
  • Get Involved
    • Become a CD*NY Member
    • Join the Band
    • Donate
    • Sponsor a Dance
    • Volunteer with us
    • Apply for a Scholarship
  • About Us
    • Who We Are
    • Meet the Board
    • FAQ
  • Nearby Dances
  • Contact Us

Dance of the Month Directions

Miss de Jersey’s Memorial
Pat Shaw, 1971
Duple minor longways, ¾ triple time meter

HISTORICAL DIRECTIONS
A1 1-4 1s R-hand turn 1½, ending in the middle of a line of 4, all facing original corner dancer.
1s move down slightly during the turn while 2s move up slightly.
5-8 L-shoulder hey for 4 across the set, 5 changes.
2s end improper in middle, facing partner; 1s end home.
A2 1-4 2s L-hand turn 1½, ending in line of 4, all facing original neighbor.
5-8 R-shoulder hey across the set, 4 changes.
End improper, men progressed, women not progressed.
B1 1-4 Circle L ¾, ending with men above.
5-8 Men ½ figure-8 through women, M2 passing in front of M1 to start.
9-12 Mirror back-to-back with partner, men splitting women to start.
(Men take hands leading down, women take hands falling back.)
13-16 Circle R ¾ ending in original places, improper, 1s facing down, 2s facing partner.
B2 1-2 1s lead down while 2s fall back with two single steps.
3-4 1s, changing hands, fall back, continuing down hall while 2s move up with 2 chassé
steps.
5-6 1s lead up to original 2nd place while 2s meet in 1st place.
7-8 1s separate, moving up outside 2s while 2s lead down to 2nd place. End home and
improper.
9-12 Partners 2-hand turn, ending close, then fall back.
13-14 Partners change places, passing R-shoulder, and turn back on neighbor. End 1s
facing up, 2s down.
15-16 Neighbors change places, backing up, passing R-shoulder.

POSITIONAL DIRECTIONS
A1 1-4 1s R-hand turn 1½, ending in line of 4, all facing original corner dancer.
1s move down slightly during the turn while 2s move up slightly.
5-8 L-shoulder hey for 4 across the set, 5 changes.
2s end crossed over in middle, facing partner.
A2 1-4 2s L-hand turn 1½, ending in line of 4, all facing original neighbor.
5-8 R-shoulder hey across the set, 4 changes.
End crossed over, with 1s in 1st corner positions, 2s in 2nd corners.
B1 1-4 Circle L ¾. Original L-file dancers end above.
5-8 Top two dancers ½ figure-8 down, dancer on R passing in front to start.
9-12 Mirror back-to-back with partner, top dancers splitting bottoms to start.
(Tops take hands leading down, bottoms take hands falling back.)
13-16 Circle R ¾ ending in original places, crossed over, 1s facing down, 2s facing partner.
B2 1-2 1s lead down while 2s fall back.
3-4 1s, changing hands, fall back, continuing down hall while 2s move up with 2 chassé
steps.
5-6 1s lead up to original 2nd place while 2s meet in 1st place.
7-8 1s separate, moving up outside 2s while 2s lead down to 2nd place. End home and
crossed over.
9-12 Partners 2-hand turn, ending close, then fall back.
13-14 Partners change places, passing R-shoulder, and turn back on neighbor. End 1s facing up,
2s down.
15-16 Neighbors change places, backing up, passing R-shoulder.

VIDEO LINK https://youtu.be/9-AqhfL2620?si=CwX-oEmtpWAT8_lw
Old Batchelor
DM1, 1695
Duple minor longways, 6/8 meter

HISTORICAL DIRECTIONS
A1 1-4 1s cross and go below into the center of a line of 4 facing up
5-8 Line of 4 lead up a double and fall back, ending with 1s facing neighbors

A2 1-4 Neighbors side (Sharp)
5-8 1s, turning over R shoulder to face partner in middle of the line,
turn 2 hands 1¼ around (1M below, 1W above)

B 1-2 1s and 2W hands-3 L about ½
3-6 2M joining between the women, hands-4 L until 1s are home proper,
2s below improper
7-8 All turn single cloverleaf (1s up, 2s down)
9-10 Starting partner, 2 changes of a circular hey (skipping)
11-12 1s change by R shoulder

POSITIONAL DIRECTIONS
A1 1-4 1s cross and go below into the center of a line of 4 facing up 
5-8 Line of 4 lead up a double and fall back, ending with 1s facing neighbors

A2 1-4 Neighbors swirly side
5-8 1s, turning over R shoulder to face partner in middle of the line,
turn 2 hands 1¼ around (L-file #1 below, R-file #1 above)

B 1-2 1s and R-file #2 hands-3 L about ½
3-6 L-file #2 joining between the R-file dancers, hands-4 L until 1s are home,
2s below crossed over
7-8 All turn single cloverleaf (1s up, 2s down)
9-10 Starting with partner, 2 changes of a circular hey (skipping)
11-12 1s change by R shoulder


VIDEO LINK  https://youtu.be/Y1lFKNVXsDA?si=uqVK3cRXahGj8aeT
Mary K
Gary Roodman, 2002
Duple minor, Improper, 3/2 (triple time)

HISTORICAL DIRECTIONS
A1 1-3 Men cast R around neighbor & cross set to corner’s place (9 steps)
4 Partners along the line 2-hand turn halfway (3 steps)
A2 1-3 Women cast R around partner to corner’s place
4 Neighbors along the line 2-hand turn halfway
B 1-2 Circle L halfway, fall back slightly
3-4 Partners cross, turn R to face
5-6 2 changes R & L
7-8 Partners 2-hand turn, 1s face up, 2s face partner

C1 Petit Fours with original neighbors:
1 1s lead up & face, 2s fall back & face down
2 1s fall back from partner & face down, 2s down outside & face
3 1s down outside & face, 2s meet
4 1s meet & face down, 2s lead up & face
C2 Petit Fours with new neighbors:
1 1s lead down & face, 2s fall back & face up
2 1s fall back & face up, 2s up outside & face
3 1s up outside & face, 2s meet & face down
4 1s meet, 2s lead down & face

POSITIONAL DIRECTIONS
A1 1-3 2nd corners cast R around neighbor & cross set to corner’s place (9 steps)
4 Partners along the line 2-hand turn halfway (3 steps)
A2 1-3 New 2nd corners cast R around partner to corner’s place
4 Neighbors along the line 2-hand turn halfway
B 1-2 Circle L halfway, fall back slightly
3-4 Partners cross, turn R to face
5-6 2 changes R & L
7-8 Partners 2-hand turn, 1s face up, 2s face partner

C1 Petit Fours with original neighbors:
1 1s lead up & face, 2s fall back & face down
2 1s fall back from partner & face down, 2s down outside & face
3 1s down outside & face, 2s meet
4 1s meet & face down, 2s lead up & face
C2 Petit Fours with new neighbors:
1 1s lead down & face, 2s fall back & face up
2 1s fall back & face up, 2s up outside & face
3 1s up outside & face, 2s meet & face down
4 1s meet, 2s lead down & face

VIDEO LINK

The Fandango
Thompson, 1774; rec. Porter, 1931
3 couple longways, 6/8 meter

HISTORICAL DIRECTIONS
A1 1-8 1s R-hand turn, end facing up, cast to 2nd place as 2s move up
A2 1-8 1s L-hand turn, end facing up, cast to 3rd place as 3s move up to make a ring of 6

B1 1-8 Hands-6 to the L, then back to the R
B2 1-6 1s lead to top, cast to 2nd place as 3s move down
7-8 1s turn single down & away

A3 1-4 1s 2-hand turn 1st corners
5-8 1s 2-hand turn partner
A4 1-4 1s 2-hand turn 2nd corners, with 1s ending in 2nd place improper
5-8 1s 2-hand turn 1½  accelerating into skipping

B3 1-6 1s go L (man up, woman down) for full figure-8 through standing end couples
7-8 1s pass by L to switch ends (man down, woman up)
B4 1-6 L-shoulder heys for 3 across the set
7-8 1s meet & lead to the bottom as 3s cast up to middle place

POSITIONAL DIRECTIONS
A1 1-8 1s R-hand turn, end facing up, cast to 2nd place as 2s move up
A2 1-8 1s L-hand turn, end facing up, cast to 3rd place as 3s move up to make a ring of 6

B1 1-8 Hands-6 to the L, then back to the R
B2 1-6 1s lead to top, cast to 2nd place as 3s move down
7-8 1s turn single down & away

A3 1-4 1s 2-hand turn 1st corners
5-8 1s 2-hand turn partner
A4 1-4 1s 2-hand turn 2nd corners, with 1s ending in 2nd place crossed over
5-8 1s 2-hand turn 1½  accelerating into skipping

B3 1-6 1s go L for full figure-8 through standing end couples
7-8 1s pass by L to switch ends
B4 1-6 L-shoulder heys for 3 across the set
7-8 1s meet & lead to the bottom as 3s cast up to middle place

VIDEO LINK   https://youtu.be/6vfov2UekJI?si=lDTU2nj6n9UQG-1B

The Severn Bore
Fried de Metz Herman, 1991
Duple minor, 3/4 (triple time)

HISTORICAL DIRECTIONS
A1 1-4 1M sets forward R to 2W & L to 1W, then turns single back to place
5-8 1M, 1W & 2W circle 3 to L, releasing hands on bar 7 to dance forward to place

A2 1-4 1W sets forward R to 1M & L to 2M, then turns single back to place
5-8 1W, 1M & 2M circle 3 to L, releasing hands on bar 7 to dance forward to place

B1 1-4 1s meet & face down (3), lead down (6) & change hands to face up (3)
while 2s cast up to follow their 1s (6) & lead down (6)
5-6 1s lead up while 2s (facing down) back up
7-8 2s split the 1s for mirror shoulder round ¾ into a line of 4 across, 2s on the outside,
1s back-to-back in the center, all facing neighbor

B2 1-6 R-shoulder hey for 4 across set until 1s meet 2nd time
7-8 1s L-hand turn halfway into progressed place, while 2s loop into progressed place


POSITIONAL DIRECTIONS
A1 1-4 Top 1st corner sets forward R to corner & L to partner, then turns single back to place
5-8 Those 3 circle to L, releasing hands on bar 7 to dance forward to place

A2 1-4 Top 2nd corner sets forward R to partner & L to corner, then turns single back to place
5-8 Those 3 circle to L, releasing hands on bar 7 to dance forward to place

B1 1-4 1s meet & face down (3), lead down (6) & change hands to face up (3)
while 2s cast up to follow their 1s (6) & lead down (6)
5-6 1s lead up while 2s (facing down) back up
7-8 2s split the 1s for mirror shoulder round ¾ into a line of 4 across, 2s on the outside, 1s back-to-back in the center, all facing neighbor

B2 1-6 R-shoulder hey for 4 across set until 1s meet 2nd time
7-8 1s L-hand turn halfway into progressed place, while 2s loop into progressed place


VIDEO LINK   https://youtu.be/KJ9zqcqPxNk?si=KW7Y853nPZVEPRGW

Prince William
Walsh, 1731; rec. Pat Shaw, 1960
3 couple longways, 4/4 meter

HISTORICAL DIRECTIONS
A1 1-8 Crossover mirror hey: 1s cross down, 2s up the outside, 3s meet & lead up
A2 1-8 That again, 1s crossing back to own side (all home)

B1 1-8 1s cross straight over and dance down to 2nd place while 2s lead up,
then 1s turn partner 2 hands 1½ to end proper
B2 1-8 2s the same

1s contra corners:
A3 1-4 2s move up the outside to 1st place while 1M precedes his partner
to turn 3W R hand while 1W turn 2M in 1st place R hand
5-8 1s (in middle place) turn partner L hand
A4 1-4 1s turn 2nd corners R hand 
5-8 1s turn partner L hand in middle to face the women’s line (1M above)
1s solo track:

B3 1-8 1s lead thru the women and cast back to middle of set,
turn partner 2 hands to end facing the men’s line (1W above)
B4 1-8 1s lead thru the men and cast back to middle of set, turn partner 2 hands, moving down to 3rd place proper while 3s cast up to middle place, staying wide and facing up for next round (progressed order: 2-3-1)

POSITIONAL DIRECTIONS
A1 1-8 Crossover mirror hey: 1s cross down, 2s up the outside, 3s meet & lead up
A2 1-8 That again, 1s crossing back to own side (all home)

B1 1-8 1s cross straight over and dance down to 2nd place while 2s lead up,
then 1s turn partner 2 hands 1½ to end original side
B2 1-8 2s the same

1s contra corners:
A3 1-4 2s move up the outside to 1st place while 1s approach 1st corner* to turn R hand
5-8 1s (in middle place) turn partner L hand
A4 1-4 1s turn 2nd corners R hand 
5-8 1s turn partner L hand in middle to face R wall, (R-file dancer on the R)

1s solo track:
B3 1-8 1s lead thru the R-file and cast back to middle of set,
turn partner 2 hands 1½ to end facing L wall, (R-file dancer on the R)
B4 1-8 1s lead thru the L-file and cast back to middle of set, turn partner 2 hands, moving down to 3rd place original side while 3s cast up to middle place, staying wide and facing up for next round (progressed order: 2-3-1)

*  If the 1’s were in 2nd place with the 2’s above and 3’s below, their 1st corners would be the dancers on their right diagonal. At the start of A3, these same dancers are the 1st corners for the 1s, even though the 1’s start from top place.

VIDEO LINK  https://youtu.be/u3KMK0lUeAo?si=n1kutYMjG5qu_4yu
Prince William
Walsh, 1731; rec. Pat Shaw, 1960
3 couple longways, 4/4 meter

HISTORICAL DIRECTIONS
A1 1-8 Crossover mirror hey: 1s cross down, 2s up the outside, 3s meet & lead up
A2 1-8 That again, 1s crossing back to own side (all home)

B1 1-8 1s cross straight over and dance down to 2nd place while 2s lead up,
then 1s turn partner 2 hands 1½ to end proper
B2 1-8 2s the same

1s contra corners:
A3 1-4 2s move up the outside to 1st place while 1M precedes his partner
to turn 3W R hand while 1W turn 2M in 1st place R hand
5-8 1s (in middle place) turn partner L hand
A4 1-4 1s turn 2nd corners R hand 
5-8 1s turn partner L hand in middle to face the women’s line (1M above)
1s solo track:

B3 1-8 1s lead thru the women and cast back to middle of set,
turn partner 2 hands to end facing the men’s line (1W above)
B4 1-8 1s lead thru the men and cast back to middle of set, turn partner 2 hands, moving down to 3rd place proper while 3s cast up to middle place, staying wide and facing up for next round (progressed order: 2-3-1)

POSITIONAL DIRECTIONS
A1 1-8 Crossover mirror hey: 1s cross down, 2s up the outside, 3s meet & lead up
A2 1-8 That again, 1s crossing back to own side (all home)

B1 1-8 1s cross straight over and dance down to 2nd place while 2s lead up,
then 1s turn partner 2 hands 1½ to end original side
B2 1-8 2s the same

1s contra corners:
A3 1-4 2s move up the outside to 1st place while 1s approach 1st corner* to turn R hand
5-8 1s (in middle place) turn partner L hand
A4 1-4 1s turn 2nd corners R hand 
5-8 1s turn partner L hand in middle to face R wall, (R-file dancer on the R)

1s solo track:
B3 1-8 1s lead thru the R-file and cast back to middle of set,
turn partner 2 hands 1½ to end facing L wall, (R-file dancer on the R)
B4 1-8 1s lead thru the L-file and cast back to middle of set, turn partner 2 hands, moving down to 3rd place original side while 3s cast up to middle place, staying wide and facing up for next round (progressed order: 2-3-1)

*  If the 1’s were in 2nd place with the 2’s above and 3’s below, their 1st corners would be the dancers on their right diagonal. At the start of A3, these same dancers are the 1st corners for the 1s, even though the 1’s start from top place.

VIDEO LINK  https://youtu.be/u3KMK0lUeAo?si=n1kutYMjG5qu_4yu

Hambleton’s Round O
DM 2, 1710; rec. Bentley, 1962
Triple minor, 3/2 (triple time)

HISTORICAL DIRECTIONS
A 1-2 1s cast down to middle place, 2s move up
3-6 L shoulder heys across: 1M down w/ 3s, 1W up w/ 2s
7-8 1s 2-hand turn in middle place

B 1-2 Top 4, 1st corner positions change, 2nd corner positions change
3-4 Same 4 circle L halfway, turn single R
5-8 Same 4 four changes of a circular hey, beginning R-shoulder with partner

POSITIONAL DIRECTIONS
A 1-2 1s cast down to middle place, 2s move up
3-6 1s go R for heys for 3 across the set passing corner dancer L shoulder to start
7-8 1s 2-hand turn in middle place

B 1-2 Top 4, 1st corner positions change, 2nd corner positions change
3-4 Same 4 circle L halfway, turn single R
5-8 Same 4 four changes of a circular hey, beginning R-shoulder with partner

VIDEO LINK https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VybVR7bJalQ

Location

All regular dances are held at the Church of the Village, 201 W 13th Street.

Season Calendar

🔎 View in Full-Size

To subscribe to our calendar via Google, click the [+] button above.

Subscribe to CD*NY’s Newsletter

Click here to subscribe to our newsletter and receive email reminders about upcoming events!

Learn More

CDNY General Information

General Contra Information

General English Information

Dance Shoe Information

Giving to CD*NY

Copyright Country Dance * New York 2024 | Proudly powered by WordPress