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RATHGORMACK LANCERS SET |
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© 2008 Larry E. Taylor |
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This set is from County Waterford, Ireland. The set is similar to the KILENAULE LANCERS, |
| the TIPPERARY LANCERS and the KILMANAGH LANCERS. | |
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Chain: Low follow -- With hands at waist-level for all contacts, the ladies give |
| right-hand-in-right in the center then left-hand-in left with the opposite gent | |
| as they dance around one another (no arch). The ladies do not chain with | |
| one another when dancing to home. | |
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Swing in ceili hold. |
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Gents dance forward on the left foot and ladies begin forward on the right foot. |
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Bar counts (quantities of measures) for patterns are shown in bold. |
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The total bar count for each Figure includes an eight-bar introduction of music. |
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First side couple is on the right of the first top couple. |
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Documentation, created in September 2004, is based upon information from |
| Helen Conlon (Rathgormack, Ireland) and Michael Drohan (also of | |
| Rathgormack, Ireland but then a resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA). | |
| Helen and Michael remember dancing the set "decades ago" in and nearby | |
| Rathgormack. A slightly different version of the set was revived at the | |
| Dance 'Neath the Comeraghs set dancing festival at Rathgormack, | |
| Ireland in September 2005. | |
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Dance the Waterford four-step and an ordinary hornpipe step (lift-2-3-4) |
| in the final figure. | |
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Edition of December 25, 2008 — Contact larryetaylor@hotmail.com |
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FIGURE 1 -- POLKAS
(104 BARS) |
| Dance an ordinary polka step, down-2-3. | |
| Top couples: |  first top gent and
second top lady: swing in the center in ceili
hold |
| (dance in2; swing4 one and one-half revolutions, ending facing home; | |
| dance to home2)8. | |
| All couples: | swing corner partner in ceili hold8; |
| swing original partner in ceili hold8; | |
| repeat from
with second top gent/first top lady, first side gent/second |
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| side lady, then second side gent/first side lady leading72. |
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FIGURE 2 -- POLKAS
(104 BARS) |
| Dance an ordinary polka step, down-2-3. | |
| First top couple: | house inside in waltz hold; on bar six, side couples split-off
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| for four-facing-four and all place arms at backs8. | |
| Lines of four: | advance and retire twice8. |
| All couples: | swing original partner at home (ends of lines dance to home in two bars |
| and swing for six bars)8. | |
| repeat from
with second top, first side, then second side couples leading; |
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| top couples split-off when a side couple leads72. |
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FIGURE 3 -- POLKAS
(104 BARS) |
| Dance an ordinary polka step, down-2-3. | |
| Top couples: | first top couple
house inside in waltz hold8; |
| pass through an arch holding inside hands; second top couple form the arch | |
| and first top couple dances under4; | |
| partners turn to one another, change hands and pass through to home with | |
| second top again forming the arch4; | |
| swing in ceili hold8. | |
| All couples: | repeat from
with second top, first side, then second side couples leading; |
| all couples swing on the final eight bars72. |
| FIGURE 4 -- POLKAS (136
BARS) |
| Dance an ordinary polka step, down-2-3. | |
| Top couples: | slide in/out once in
waltz hold (1-2-1-2, 1-2-1-2)4; |
| still in waltz hold, house to opposite4; | |
| slide in/out4; | |
| house to home4; | |
| house each other8; | |
| ladies chain8. | |
| Side couples: | repeat from
32. |
| All couples: | repeat from
64. |
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FIGURE 5 -- HORNPIPES (144
BARS) |
| Dance an ordinary hornpipe step, lift-2-3-4 and as shown. | |
| First top couple: | Waterford four-step: |
| (gent’s right, ladies left) then slide three times (1-2, 1-2, 1-2, | |
| beginning forward with gent’s left, lady’s right) to the left-front | |
| (toward the position on the left)2; lift the opposite heel and repeat the | |
| slide movement to the right-front (toward the next position on the left, | |
| the dancing couple's original opposite)2; | |
| dance in-place (no turns, lift-2-3-4)2; | |
| double (1-2-3-4) to the next position on the left (the dancing couple's | |
| original right) and change ladies (new lady steps out to join the gent | |
| as the current (dancing) lady dances into the new lady’s former | |
| position)2; | |
| first top gent dances the eight-bar pattern above with each successive lady he | |
| has collected from his right, keeping the fourth lady at his home24. | |
| All couples: | repeat from with first side
gent, second top gent, then second side |
| gent and his new partner leading96; | |
| full house in waltz hold8. |
