BALLYCASTLE  SET
      © 2008   Larry E. Taylor

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    This set is from County Mayo, Ireland.
    Gents begin forward on the left foot and ladies begin forward on the right
              foot except as shown below.
    Bar counts for patterns are shown in bold.
    Step for all  lead arounds, circles  and  advance and retires:   a rhythmic walking-step with 
          just a hint of a skip 1 and 2 and 1 and 2 and 1 and 2 and 1-2-3.
    The total bar count for each Figure includes an eight-bar introduction of music.
    First side couple is on the right of the first top couple.
    Chain:  ladies give right hands in the center then left hands to the opposite gent (who
          has danced into his partner's place) and they form an arch; the lady dances under
          the arch and around the gent while the gent continues to face into the set; 
          ladies also take right hands in the center as they dance to home.
    Swing in ceili hold.
    Facing-hold:  partners face one another but with feet slightly offset; gents place hands
          on the lady’s waist and the lady places her hands on the gent’s shoulders or  
          upper arms.  For all partners-dancing in Figure Two, take the facing-hold.
    Documentation is based upon a workshop taught by Eileen O’Doherty at Ellenville,
          New York USA in April 2002.
    Edition of March 3, 2008 — Contact larryetaylor@hotmail.com 
    FIGURE 1 -- POLKAS (272 BARS)   
All couples: advance and retire twice, holding crossed-hands (rights on top)6; face partner2;
swing in ceili hold6; face into the set (dancing 1 and 2 and 1-2-3)2.
Top couples: R E P E A T " M A R K E R " advance and retire once, holding crossed-hands4;
crossover anticlockwise to opposite, turning the lady anticlockwise
          (four-hand hold)once4;
with right hands again on top, repeat the three lines above to home8;
swing in ceili hold6; face in and dance in-place (1 and 2 and 1-2-3)2.
Side couples: repeat from   R E P E A T " M A R K E R "   24.
Top couples: R E P E A T " M A R K E R "R E P E A T " M A R K E R " as second top dances in-place, holding crossed-hands,
          first top couple advances holding crossed-hands3;
          release hands and face in the center1;
first top couple swing3; leave first top lady beside the second top gent
          and the first top gent takes the ladies’ inside hands1;
trio dance to opposite as the second top gent dances in-place (no turns)2;
          the gent pulls the ladies’ hands up to an across-the-shoulders hold2;
          dance to the center2; form a circle-of-four (ladies hands on
                    the gents’ shoulders)2;
          little Christmas6; reverse to place2.
All couples: repeat from   R E P E A T " M A R K E R "R E P E A T " M A R K E R "    with second top couple, first side couple
          then second side couple leading (advance first)72.
R E P E A T " M A R K E R "R E P E A T " M A R K E R "R E P E A T " M A R K E R " swing in ceili hold6; face in and dance in-place (1 and 2 and 1-2-3)2;
take hands in a circle and advance and retire twice; on the sixth bar, gents 
          release partner’s left hand and take waltz hold with the lady on the left8;
in waltz hold, lead around anticlockwise7; face partner and dance in-place1;
repeat from   R E P E A T " M A R K E R "R E P E A T " M A R K E R "R E P E A T " M A R K E R "    until ladies are again with their original partners72;
swing in ceili hold8.
    FIGURE 2 -- JIGS (128 BARS)   
Dance sevens with even distribution on the feet.
Dance an up jig (and down-2-3) otherwise.
Top couples: R E P E A T " M A R K E R " ladies chain (1 and 2 and 1-2-3; see heading)8;
in facing-hold (see heading), dance sevens to opposite with gents passing
          left-shoulder-to-left2; half-turn clockwise (dancing  & 1-2-3 & 1-2-3-4)4;
as above, dance sevens to home and turn clockwise to-place4;
still in facing-hold, full house8.
Side couples: repeat from   R E P E A T " M A R K E R "   24.
All couples: in facing-hold, dance sevens around the house (gents back-to-back, tops dance
          clockwise and sides dance anticlockwise)8;
still in facing-hold, dance sevens in and out twice8;
Top couples: in facing-hold, they and the couple on their right house around each other8.
Side couples: in facing-hold, they and the couple on their right house around each other8.
Interlacing: as side couples, still in facing-hold, dance one revolution clockwise in-place,
          top couples dance sevens to opposite4;
as top couples dance clockwise one and one-half revolutions clockwise (and 1-2-3
          three times then 1-2-3-4), side couples dance sevens to opposite4;
as side couples, still in facing-hold, dance one and one-half revolution clockwise
          in-place, top couples dance sevens to home4;
as top couples dance clockwise one revolution clockwise, side couples
          dance sevens to home4;
All couples: still in facing-hold,:
         square-the-set dancing sevens8;
         full house twice, dancing the ordinary up-jig step16.
    FIGURE 3 -- POLKAS (232 BARS)   
Dance sevens with even distribution on the feet.
Dance an up polka (and down-2-3) otherwise.
Top couples: R E P E A T " M A R K E R " they and the couple on their right: 
          advance and retire once, holding crossed-hands4;
          ladies crossover (change places) right-shoulder-to-right4;
          swing in ceili hold6; face-in and dance in-place  (1 and 2 and 1-2-3)2;
          advance and retire once, holding crossed-hands4;
          ladies crossover (change places) right-shoulder-to-right4;
          swing original partner in ceili hold6; face-in and dance in-place2;
Side couples: they and the couple on their right:  repeat from   R E P E A T " M A R K E R "    32.
Top couples: R E P E A T " M A R K E R "R E P E A T " M A R K E R " first top gent and second top lady:
          dance to the center right-shoulder-to-right4;
          turn anticlockwise ending with backs to the couple originally on the right2;
          dance in-place2; swing in ceili hold6;
          dance in-place (no-touch), ending with backs to the couple
                    originally on the left2;
          dance to the center right-shoulder-to-right4;
          turn anticlockwise ending with backs to the couple originally on the right2;
          dance in-place2;
          swing in ceili hold6; reverse to-place2.
All couples: repeat from     R E P E A T " M A R K E R "R E P E A T " M A R K E R "     with the second top gent and first top lady, first side gent
          and second side lady then the second side gent and first side lady leading96.

in facing-hold:

          dance sevens in and out once (1-2-3-4-5-6-7, 1-2-3-4-5-6-7)4;

          dance to the next position on the right making two revolutions4;

          repeat the preceding eight-bar pattern three times24.

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