WEXFORD  HALF  SET
       © 2008   Larry E. Taylor

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    This set is from County Wexford, Ireland.  Two-plus versions are documented below.
    Gents dance forward on the left foot and ladies begin forward on the right foot except
              when dancing the steps.  When dancing in-place, the Wexford Reel Step traditionally
              is danced to the POLKAS and the Wexford Jig Step (danced multiple ways) is 
              traditionally danced to the JIGS.
    Wexford Jig Step, version 1:  all begin forward (the treble-down) on the right foot;
              bounce down twice on the heel of the left foot while simultaneously dancing a
              treble-step then down with the right foot; repeat the preceding with heel-bounces
              on the right and the treble-down on the left; repeat for either four or eight bars.
    Bar counts for dance patterns are shown in bold.
    The total bar count for each Figure includes an eight-bar introduction of music.
    Swing in waltz  and elbow ceili hold.
              Elbow ceili hold:   Partners grasp right thumbs at shoulder-height and place
              left hands under the right elbows;  position of feet and swing action are the same
              as those of the waltz, hug or ceili hold swing — that is, keep the ball of the right
              foot much like a pivot-point and push around one another with the left foot.
    First Couple begins each Figure with the partners' backs to the music.                          
    Documentation is based upon a fall 1999 workshop led by Mary Friel in Dublin, Ireland.
              Notes by Tom Quinn and Pat Murphy and a web-posted video were also used
              for this edition.
    Edition of December 25, 2008 — Contact larryetaylor@hotmail.com 
   
    FIGURE 1 -- POLKAS (48 BARS)   THE CROSSOVER
Dance an ordinary polka step (down-2-3) and the Wexford Reel Step.
Both couples: dance in-place, facing into the set and holding inside (closest) hands8;
REPEAT  "MARKER" crossover anticlockwise with the lady turning once clockwise under an
          arch (lady's left in gent's right)2;
dance in-place as above6;
swing in waltz hold6; dance out2;
repeat from   REPEAT  "MARKER"   16.

 


    ALTERNATE FIGURE 1 -- REELS (72 BARS)
Stamp the last beat of the introduction.  Dance reel trebles and threes.
Both couples: dance in-place, facing into the set, holding crossed hands (rights on top)8;
crossover anticlockwise with the lady turning clockwise once under the
          couples' arched arms2; dance in-place as above6;
repeat the preceding crossover and dance in-place8;
swing in elbow ceili hold (see heading)8;
chain and crossover :
          ladies give right hands at waist-height to one another in the center then
          left hands to the opposite gent (who has danced into his partner's place);
          partners dance anticlockwise around one another (no arch) and the ladies
          dance back to home without chaining then give right hands to their
          original partner8;
          ladies lead their partner anticlockwise to opposite2; dance in-place
          as above6;
crossover anticlockwise with the lady turning clockwise once under the
          couples' arched arms2; dance in-place as above6;
swing in elbow ceili hold8.

 

    FIGURE 2 -- JIGS (168 BARS)   THE CHAIN
Dance an ordinary polka step (down-2-3) and the Wexford Jig Step.
Both couples: REPEAT  "MARKER" ladies chain (see heading); end with lady's left hand in her original
          partner's right hand8;
crossover anticlockwise with the lady leading and turning clockwise once under
          an arch (lady's left in gent's right)2; dance in-place as in Figure One6;
repeat the preceding crossover and dance in-place8;
swing in waltz hold; the first couple cross as they swing and the first lady
          ends beside the second gent8;
without touching, the trio faces first gent and all dance in-place as in Figure One8;
first gent dances anticlockwise to face his home position (that is, out of the set)2;
all again dance in-place as in Figure One6;
first gent dances anticlockwise to face the trio2;
all again dance in-place as in Figure One6;
little Christmas6; reverse to place2;
repeat from   REPEAT  "MARKER"   with second couple leading64;
ladies chain (see heading); end with lady's left hand in her original
          partner's right hand8;
crossover anticlockwise with the lady leading and turning clockwise once under
          an arch (lady's left in gent's right)2; dance in-place as in Figure One6;
repeat the preceding crossover and dance in-place8;
swing in waltz hold6; dance out2.

 


    ALTERNATE FIGURE 2 -- JIGS (104 BARS)
Stamp the last beat of the introduction.  Dance jig trebles and walk.
Both couples: REPEAT  "MARKER" first lady and second gent walk anticlockwise around each other then face
          in the center8;
first lady and second gent swing in elbow ceili hold6; reverse to place2;
chain and crossover as in Figure One :
          ladies give right hands at waist-height to one another in the center then
          left hands to the opposite gent (who has danced into his partner's place);
          partners dance anticlockwise around one another (no arch) and the ladies
          dance back to home without chaining then give right hands to their
          original partner8;
          ladies lead their partner anticlockwise to opposite2; dance in-place
          as above6;
crossover anticlockwise with the lady turning clockwise once under the
          couples' arched arms2; dance in-place as above6;
swing in elbow ceili hold8;
repeat from   REPEAT  "MARKER"   with second lady and first gent leading48.

 


    SECOND ALTERNATE FIGURE 2 -- JIGS (128)
          This alternate was adapted from a June 5, 1977, video which
          was posted to the internet.
Dance an ordinary jig step (down-2-3) and steps.
OPPOSITE PARTNERS DANCE AROUND—STEPS—SWING
Both couples: first lady and second gent crossover (walk) right-shoulder-to-right-shoulder
          to end facing in the center with backs to their respective opposite2;
          dance the steps6
swing in old (elbow) ceili hold6; reverse to-place (at home)2;
LADIES CHAIN, ENDING IN A CROSSOVER—STEPS
ladies take right hands in the center then dance on to the opposite gent
          (who has danced into his partner's position); couples take left
          hands and form an arch; while the gent continues to face into the
          set, the lady dances under the arch and around the gent; ladies give
          left hands to original partner's right hands and form an arch; ladies
          turn clockwise under the arch as she returns to opposite; gents
          crossover to opposite also as ladies turn to-place under the arch;
          both couples end at opposite, facing in, holding inside hands (that is,
          don't release hands after arch/under)8;
still holding inside hands and facing the opposite couple, dance the
          steps8;
CROSSOVER—STEPS—SWING
still with gent's right hand holding lady's left, crossover anticlockwise to home;
          while crossing, form an arch and the lady passes clockwise under the
          arch and the gent dances inside the set as both partners end facing one
          another4;
holding uncrossed hands, dance the steps as above in this alternate4;
swing in old (elbow) ceili hold8;
R e p e a t    LADIES CHAIN, ENDING IN A CROSSOVER—STEPS
repeat the ladies chain and steps16;

 

    FIGURE 3 -- POLKAS (48 BARS)   THE SIDESTEP
Dance ordinary polka steps (down-2-3, sidestep-sevens — 1-2-3-4-5-
          6-7) and the Wexford Reel Step.
Both couples: dance in-place, facing into the set and holding inside (closest) hands8;
sidestep (sevens, gents dance right--rear, ladies left)2;
take right-hand-in-right with opposite partner and dance in-place6;
swing opposite partner in waltz hold and reverse to their partner's place6;
dance two bars in-place, without touching2;
sidestep (sevens, gents dance left, ladies right-rear)to home places2;
dance in-place, facing partners, but without touching6;
swing in waltz hold6; dance out2.

 


    ALTERNATE FIGURE 3 -- REELS or JIGS (136 BARS)
Stamp the last beat of the introduction.  Dance jig  and/or  reel trebles.
Both couples: REPEAT  "MARKER" chain and crossover as in Figure One :
          ladies give right hands at waist-height to one another in the center then
          left hands to the opposite gent (who has danced into his partner's place);
          partners dance anticlockwise around one another (no arch) and the ladies
          dance back to home without chaining then give right hands to their
          original partner8;
          ladies lead their partner anticlockwise to opposite2; dance in-place
          as above6;
crossover anticlockwise with the lady turning clockwise once under the
          couples' arched arms2; dance in-place as above6;
swing in elbow ceili hold; REPEAT  "MARKER"REPEAT  "MARKER"  first couple cross as they swing and the first lady
          ends beside the second gent8;
with the first gent facing the trio, all dance in-place without touching8;
little Christmas8;
repeat from   REPEAT  "MARKER"  with the second lady swinging across to the first couple48;
repeat from   REPEAT  "MARKER"   through    REPEAT  "MARKER"REPEAT  "MARKER"  that is, end the repeat swinging at home32.

 

    FIGURE 4 -- POLKAS (88 BARS)
Dance an ordinary polka step (down-2-3) and the Wexford Reel Step.
Both couples: REPEAT  "MARKER" dance in-place, facing into the set and holding inside (closest) hands8;
crossover anticlockwise with the lady leading and turning clockwise once under
          an arch (lady's left in gent's right)2; dance in-place as in Figure One6;
swing in waltz hold at opposite6; dance out2;
repeat the preceding crossover and swing, ending at home16;
repeat from   REPEAT  "MARKER"  40.

 


    ALTERNATE FIGURE 4 -- REELS (56 BARS)
Stamp the last beat of the introduction.  Dance reel trebles and sevens.
Both couples: REPEAT  "MARKER" sidestep (sevens, gents dance right--rear, ladies left)2;
take right-hand-in-right with opposite partner and dance in-place6;
swing opposite partner in elbow ceili hold and reverse to their partner's place6;
dance two bars in-place, without touching2;
sidestep (sevens, gents dance left, ladies right-rear)to home places2;
dance in-place, facing partners, but without touching6;
repeat from   REPEAT  "MARKER"   24.

 


    FIGURE 5 -- JIGS (72 BARS)
Stamp the last beat of the introduction.  Dance jig trebles.
Both couples: REPEAT  "MARKER" dance in-place, facing into the set, holding crossed hands (rights on top)8;
pass through (ladies in the center) and turn into one another at opposite4;
repeat the preceding pass through to home4;
again dance in-place, facing into the set, holding crossed hands (rights on top)8;
swing in elbow ceili hold8;
repeat from   REPEAT  "MARKER"   32.

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