mealagh valley

	MEALAGH VALLEY JIG SET
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	This set is from County Cork, Ireland. The set is also known as the WEST CORK PLAIN
	and the WEST CORK QUADRILLE.
	Ladies Chain: Ladies grasp right forearms in the center and dance on to the opposite
	gent (who has danced into his partner's position); couples grasp left forearms
	and dance anticlockwise around one another (no arch); ladies do not* chain*
	when dancing to home.
	Swing in waltz hold.
	Gents dance forward on the left foot and ladies begin forward on the right foot.
	Bar counts (quantities of measures) for patterns are shown in bold.
	The total bar count for each Figure includes an eight-bar introduction of music.
	First side couple is on the left of the first top couple.
	Documentation is based upon a video workshop led by Timmy (The Brit) McCarthy.
	Edition of October 11, 2006 -- Contact larryetaylor@hotmail.com

FIGURE 1 -- JIGS (72 BARS)

	*Dance an ordinary jig step--down 2-3.*
Top couples:	advance and retire twice in open waltz hold8;
	swing in waltz hold8;
	ladies chain (see heading)8;
	swing in waltz hold8.
Side couples:	repeat from 32.

FIGURE 2 -- JIGS (56 BARS)

	*Dance an ordinary jig step--down 2-3.*
All couples:	advance and retire once in open-waltz hold4;
	in waltz hold, house halfway around to opposite4;
	repeat the preceding eight bars to home8;
	swing in waltz hold8;
	repeat from 24.

FIGURE 3 -- JIGS (136 BARS)

	*Dance an ordinary jig step--down 2-3.*
Top couples:	first top gent and second top lady advance to the center2; swing in waltz
	hold (two revolutions) and end with each dancer facing the opposite
	position4; reverse (dance backward) to-place2;
	crossover anticlockwise, holding left hands in front and right hands at the lady's
	right shoulder4; still holding both hands, slowly turn-the-lady-under
	clockwise to-place at opposite4;
	first top gent and second top lady (same couple as above) again advance
	to the center2; swing in waltz hold (two revolutions) and end with
	each dancer facing the opposite position4; reverse (dance
	backward) to-place2;
	crossover anticlockwise, holding left hands in front and right hands at the lady's
	right shoulder4; still holding both hands, slowly turn-the-lady-under
	clockwise to-place at home4.
All couples:	repeat from with second top gent/first top lady, first side gent/second
	side lady, then second side gent/first side lady leading96.

FIGURE 4 -- JIGS (200 BARS)

	*Dance an ordinary jig step--down 2-3.*
Top couples:	ladies chain8;
	swing in waltz hold8;
	slide in and out once, in waltz hold, with no turns4;
	dance one turn in-place2;
	second top couple dance across and turn the lady clockwise beside the first top
	gent; the first top gent takes both ladies' outside hands across-the-
	shoulders and the second top gent holds the ladies’ inside hands in front4;
	advance (solo gent dances backward)2; dance on-the-spot2; retire
	(solo gent dances forward)2; dance on-the-spot and pull the ladies’ inside
	hands to other gent’s across-the-shoulders hold2; advance as above2;
	dance on-the-spot2; dance on-the-spot and pull the ladies’ inside hands
	to a circle-of-four2;
	little Christmas; when tops repeat, they reverse to place on the final two bars to
	clear the center for the side couples initial ladies chain8.
All couples:	repeat from with second top gent, first side gent then second side
	gent leading (dancing in the trio first); end the figure with side couples in
	the center following the final little Christmas144.

FIGURE 5 -- JIGS (96 BARS)

	*Dance an ordinary jig step--down 2-3.*
All couples:	lead around anticlockwise in open waltz hold8;
	slide in and out once in waltz hold4;
	house half-way around to opposite4;
	slide in and out once in waltz hold4;
	house half-way around to home4;
	ladies place right hands in the center (a pinwheel) and dance on to
	her *opposite* gent4; couples left-arm hook around (no arch)
	and ladies again grasp right hands in the center as they dance
	to home4;
	swing in waltz hold8;
	repeat from 40;
	lead around anticlockwise in open waltz hold8.

FIGURE 6 -- POLKAS (232 BARS)

	*Dance an ordinary polka step--down 2-3.*
All couples:	lead around anticlockwise holding crossed-hands (rights on top)6; form
	an arch with all four hands and the lady dances under the arch
	clockwise to-place (turn the lady under)2;
	hop quarterhouse in waltz hold: couples stamp or jump on heels and
	kick/lift the outside foot (gents’ right, ladies' left) toward the center of
	the set1; dance in-place1; dance clockwise to the next position on
	the right2; repeat the preceding four-bar pattern three times to reach
	home12;
	house around the set, still in waltz hold8;
	ladies pinwheel clockwise with the right hand3; change hands and
	direction1; pinwheel anticlockwise with the left hand and dance
	inside to the next position on the right4;
	gents pinwheel clockwise with the right hand3; change hands and
	direction1; pinwheel anticlockwise with the left hand and dance
	to home to meet a new partner4;
	swing new partner in waltz hold8;
	repeat from three times144.
	original partners :
	hop quarterhouse16;
	house around the set in waltz hold8.

FIGURE 6 Alternate -- POLKAS (264 BARS)

	*Dance an ordinary polka step--down 2-3.*
All couples:	lead around anticlockwise holding crossed-hands (rights on top)6; form
	an arch with all four hands and the lady dances under the arch
	clockwise to-place (turn the lady under)2;
	hop quarterhouse in waltz hold : couples stamp or jump on heels and
	kick/lift the outside foot (gents’ right, ladies' left) toward the center of
	the set1; dance in-place1; dance clockwise to the next position on
	the right2; repeat the preceding four-bar pattern three times to reach
	home12;
	house around the set, still in waltz hold8;
	ladies pinwheel clockwise with the right hand3; change hands and
	direction1; pinwheel anticlockwise with the left hand and dance
	inside to the next position on the right4;
	gents pinwheel clockwise with the right hand3; change hands and
	direction1; pinwheel anticlockwise with the left hand and dance
	to home to meet a new partner4;
	swing new partner in waltz hold8;
	repeat from three times168.
	original partners :
	lead around as above8;
	hop quarterhouse16;
	house around the set in waltz hold8.