CAHERCIVEEN  SET
       © 2008   Larry E. Taylor

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    This set is from County Kerry, Ireland.  The dance was traditionally known as
              THE POLKA SET.   As there are several sets with the POLKA SET label,
              CAHERCIVEEN is used here to identify this particular set.  The set was danced
              at Caherciveen, Foilmore, Port Magee, Valencia Island, Ballinskelligs, Dromod,
              Waterville and Caherdaniel.  The variations for the set as danced on Valencia
              Island are not recorded.
    The dance is quite similar to the SOUTH KERRY SET.
    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.
    Documentation is based upon notes by Larry Lynch.  Only the traditional patterns and
              steps are shown below.
    Edition of April 1, 2008 Contact larryetaylor@hotmail.com .
 
  SET FORMATION   FIGURE 1 -- POLKAS (88 BARS)
Dance an ordinary polka step, down-2-3, and as shown below.
Top couples: REPEAT "MARKER" as ladies move left to the gents’ position, gents give right-hand-in-right at
          waist height and chain around one another then dance to home; dance
          walking/sliding steps (forward on left, slide right to heel of left,
          forward on the right, slide left to heel of right, and repeat)6;
swing in waltz hold10;
ladies crossover left-shoulder-to-left-shoulder2; give left hands to the
          opposite gent at waist level and dance around him (no arch)2;
          crossover to home right-shoulder-to-right (no touch in center);
          give right hand to original partner (who has danced to the lady’s
          position)2; dance around him and original partners take waltz hold;
          that is, ladies crossover twice2;
house around each other in waltz hold8;
advance and retire once (no slide), still in waltz hold4;
dance at home, still in waltz hold, turning clockwise once4.
Side couples: repeat from   REPEAT "MARKER"   except all gents stamp lefts in front on the last beat40.
  SET FORMATION   FIGURE 2 -- JIGS (152 BARS)
Dance an ordinary jig step (down-2-3) and as shown.
All couples: REPEAT "MARKER" back the lady quarterhouse in waltz hold :
          back the lady to the first position on the right2;
          turn clockwise into position2;
          repeat the preceding two patterns to home12;
Top couples: still in waltz hold, advance and retire once; ladies dance down-2-3 and gents
          dance lift step, lift step, lift step, step step4;
dance at home, still in waltz hold (one clockwise revolution)4;
advance and retire and dance at home again, as above8;
repeat from   REPEAT "MARKER"    as the top couples again dance the advance and retire and
          dance at home patterns32.
All couples: repeat from   REPEAT "MARKER"    as the side couples dance the advance and retire and
          dance at home patterns64.
back the lady quarterhouse as above except all gents stamp lefts in front on
          the last beat16.
  SET FORMATION   FIGURE 3 -- POLKAS (104 BARS)
Dance an ordinary polka step, down-2-3.
All couples: back the lady quarterhouse, as in Figure Two16.
Top couples: REPEAT "MARKER" ladies crossover twice, as in Figure One8;
swing in waltz hold8;
All couples: lead around anticlockwise holding right-hand-in-right8;
house anticlockwise to opposite (in waltz hold, four clockwise revolutions)8;
still in waltz hold, back the lady to the next position on the right2;
dance clockwise to-place2;
repeat the preceding two patterns (one-fourth of the back the lady
          quarterhouse) to home4;
Side couples: repeat from   REPEAT "MARKER"    except all gents stamp lefts in front on the last beat40.
  SET FORMATION   FIGURE 4 -- JIGS (144 BARS)
Dance an ordinary jig step, down-2-3 and as shown.
All couples: back the lady quarterhouse, as in Figure Two16.
Top couples: REPEAT "MARKER" advance and retire once, holding right-hand-in-right-hand; ladies dance
          down-2-3 and gents dance lift step, lift step, lift step, step step4;
crossover clockwise (gent leads, still holding right-hand-in-right-hand)4;
repeat the preceding advance and retire and crossover to home8;
swing in waltz hold8;
repeat from   REPEAT "MARKER"    24.
Side couples: repeat from   REPEAT "MARKER"    48.
All couples: lead around anticlockwise holding right-hand-in-right8;
house anticlockwise to opposite (in waltz hold, four clockwise revolutions)8;
still in waltz hold, back the lady to the next position on the right2;
dance clockwise to-place2;
repeat the preceding two patterns (one-fourth of the back the lady
          quarterhouse) to home; all gents stamp lefts in front on the last beat16.
  SET FORMATION   FIGURE 5 -- SLIDES (136 BARS)
Dance ordinary polka steps, down-2-3 and slide 1-2, 1-2.
All couples: back the lady quarterhouse, as in Figure Two16.
Top couples: REPEAT "MARKER" facing one another in waltz hold, slide in and out once4; house to opposite4;
slide in and out4; house to home4;
still in waltz hold, slide in and out4;
ladies crossover (no chain) to face the opposite gent, passing left-shoulder to-
          left-shoulder (ladies change places)4;
with new partners, house around each other in waltz hold8;
still in waltz hold, new partners slide in and out once4;
ladies crossover (no chain) to face her original gent, passing left-shoulder to-
          left-shoulder (ladies change places)4;
ladies crossover twice, as in Figure One8;
house around each other in waltz hold as original partners8.
Side couples: repeat from   REPEAT "MARKER"   except all gents stamp lefts in front on the last beat56.
  SET FORMATION   FIGURE 6 -- REELS (224 BARS)
Dance ordinary polka steps, down-2-3 and slide 1-2, 1-2.
All couples: take hands in a circle (gents hands on bottom) and advance and retire twice8;
swing in waltz hold8.
Gents: pinwheel with the right hands in the center  while  ladies dance to their partner’s
          position; original partners take waltz hold at the gent’s home8.
All couples: swing in waltz hold8;
lead around anticlockwise holding right-hand-in-right8;
house anticlockwise to opposite (in waltz hold, four clockwise revolutions)8;
still in waltz hold, back the lady to the next position on the right2;
dance clockwise to-place2;
repeat the preceding two patterns (one-fourth of the back the lady
          quarterhouse) to home4.
Gents: REPEAT "MARKER" pinwheel with the right hands in the center  while  ladies dance to the next
          position on the right; new partners take waltz hold at the gent’s home8;
All couples: swing new partner in waltz hold8;
lead around anticlockwise, holding right-hand-in-right8;
house anticlockwise to opposite (in waltz hold, four clockwise revolutions)8;
still in waltz hold, back the lady to the next position on the right2;
dance clockwise to-place2;
repeat the preceding two patterns (one-fourth of the back the lady
          quarterhouse) to home4;
repeat from   REPEAT "MARKER"   four times except all gents stamp lefts in front on the last beat120.

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