| Counts | Steps | |
|---|---|---|
| First Verse | ||
| 8 | In a double and back with your partner. | |
| 8 | That again. | |
| First Chorus | ||
| 8 | Face your partner. Set and turn single. | |
| 8 | That again. As you finish the turn, you should end facing outward from the set with your partner. | |
| 4 | Take hands with your partner and go a double outward from the set. | |
| 4 | Turn to face back into the set, turning to the inside, toward your partner. Go a double back to your original place. | |
| 4 | Drop hands with your partner and turn single. As you finish the turn, you should end facing outward from the set with your corner. | |
| 4 | Take hands with your corner and go a double outward from the set. | |
| 4 | Turn to face back into the set, turning to the inside, toward your corner. Go a double back to your original place. | |
| 4 | Turn single. End the turn facing your partner. | |
| Second Verse | ||
| 8 | Side right with your partner. | |
| 8 | Side left with your partner. | |
| Second Chorus | ||
| 4 | Do the same steps as the first chorus. | |
| Third Verse | ||
| 8 | Arm right with your partner. | |
| 8 | Arm left with your partner. | |
| Third Chorus | ||
| 4 | Do the same steps as the first chorus. | |
Step Descriptions
Doubles
A double consists of three steps with a pause at the end, often bringing the feet together on the last count. “In a double” is a double done forward into the middle of the set. “In a double and back” is a double forward followed by a double backward to where you began.
Siding
While there is no description in Playford’s book for this figure, it is commonly reconstructed as a double toward your partner, angled slightly to one side so that you meet with your shoulders next to each other, then a backward double back to place. To “side right” you angle to your left and meet with right shoulders together. To “side left” you angle to your right and meet with left shoulders together.
Arming
While there is no description in Playford’s book for this figure, it is commonly reconstructed as taking hands with your partner and circling all the way around back to place. This can be done either with two doubles or a simple walking step. To “arm right” take right hands and circle. To “arm left” take left hands and circle.
Set and Turn Single
The “set” is a single sideways step, bringing the feet together at the end (the same as a bransle step). The “set and turn single” figure is a set to the left, a set to the right, and a complete turn over the left shoulder with a double, starting on the left foot. Sometimes this may be done starting on the right foot (set right, set left, turn to the right), though direction is usually not specified. Start in whatever direction feels comfortable based on which foot is free.
Teaching Notes
Lorenzo Petrucci:
The place where most people have trouble is the second half of the chorus. Dancers should be aware of where their partners (or corners, as the case may be) are, so that when they finish the turn single they are able to immediately start going out from the set. Also, turning to the inside (toward your partner/corner) is the quickest way to change direction and come back in to the set.