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RATHGORMACK LANCERS—1 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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House in ceili hold -- except in Figure Six, wherein a waltz hold is often taken. |
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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 a workshop and ceili |
| at Rathgormack, Ireland on September 16-18, 2005. The set was revived | |
| during the Dance 'Neath the Comeraghs festival by Mary and Bronagh | |
| Murphy with help from Michael Hassett, Nelly Gough, John Tobin, Mary | |
| Halpin and Helen Conlon. A slightly different version of the set was | |
| revived in September 2004 by Helen Conlon (Rathgormack, Ireland) | |
| and Michael Drohan (also of Rathgormack, Ireland but then a resident of | |
| Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania USA). | |
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Dance the Waterford four-step and an ordinary hornpipe step (lift-2-3-4) |
| in the final figure. Ceili hold is sometimes danced for the hornpipe figure. | |
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Edition of December 25, 2008 — Contact larryetaylor@hotmail.com |
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FIGURE 1 -- POLKAS
(104 BARS) The Swing |
| 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 near-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) The Charge |
| Dance an ordinary polka step, down-2-3. | |
| First top couple: | house inside in ceili 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; lines of sets sometimes link with lines from |
| other sets making long lines across the floor8. | |
| 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 |
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| leading; top couples split-off when a side couple leads72. |
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FIGURE 3 -- POLKAS
(72 BARS) The Push |
| Dance an ordinary polka step, down-2-3. | |
| Top couples: | first top couple
house inside, in ceili hold, ending near second top6; |
| second top couple gently push the first top couple toward home2; | |
| swing in ceili hold8. | |
| All couples: | repeat from with second top couple, first
side couple, then second side |
| couple leading48. |
| FIGURE 4 -- POLKAS (104 BARS) The
Gates |
| Dance an ordinary polka step, down-2-3. | |
| Top couples: | first top couple house inside in ceili
hold8; |
| pass through an arch; second top couple form the arch and first | |
| top couple dances under with arms at backs4; | |
| 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; |
| the couple opposite the leading couple makes the arch for both | |
| pass-throughs (to opposite and to home)72. |
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FIGURE 5 -- MUSIC (144 BARS) The
Dag |
| Dance an ordinary polka step, down-2-3. | |
| Top couples: | dancing a lively
polka-batter step (1 & 2 & 1-2-3; no
slide) in ceili hold, |
| balance in and out once4; | |
| still in ceili hold, house to opposite4; | |
| repeat the eight bars above to home8; | |
| house each other in ceili hold8; | |
| ladies chain8. | |
| Side couples: | repeat from
32. |
| All couples: | repeat from
64. |
| swing in ceili hold8. |
| FIGURE 6 -- HORNPIPES (144 BARS) The
Fourstep |
| Dance ordinary hornpipe steps, lift-2-3-4 and 1-2-3-4-5-6-7. | |
| First top couple: | in waltz* hold, dance sevens in and out once4; |
| still in waltz hold, dance two revolutions while moving toward the first | |
| position on the right; double the last two bars ( lift-2-3-4, lift-2-3-4 | |
| then step1-step2-step3-step4); change ladies, with the new lady | |
| stepping out to meet the dancing gent as his partner dances backward | |
| into the position of the lady originally on the right of the leading couple4; | |
| 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. * Ceili hold is sometimes danced in this Figure. |
