Figure Eight - Dozier

Chase the Squirrel ~ The Running Set Figure Eight - Dozier Lady Around the Lady, and the Gent Also ~ Smoky Mountains Lady Around the Lady ~ Kentucky Square Dances Lady Round Lady ~ Dunlavy The Lady Round the Lady ~ Shaw

Published in American Folk Dances, edited by Lynn Rohrbourgh, 1939; in section "Alabama Country Dances"

Rohrbourgh writes:

Learned by Mr. Z. A. Dozier, Alabama from his grandfather, who knew these figures before 1850.

TUNES: Leather Breeches, Alabama Gal, [Buffalo Girls], Old Molly Hair, etc.

FORMATION: Any even number of couples, four, six, eight, ten or twelve couples. The caller and his partner are head couple. The couple directly opposite is foot couple. Lady at gentleman's right. In large sets, the head and foot couple execute the figures simultaneously, each moving counter-clockwise.

THE STEP is a light walking step, sometimes a shuffle.

THE SWING is always with hands joined, never the waltz position.

FIGURE EIGHT

1. First couple out to the right and make a figure eight.
2. Lady around the lady, gent so lo,
3. Lady around the gent, gent don't go.
4. Four hands aound, break and swing.
5. On to the next, etc. (With each couple)
6. Everybody home and balance.
7. Balance again.
8. Swing your partner and run away.

(1) First couple move to second couple, girl leading. (2) Both go between second couple, and return to the middle of the set around the girl of Couple 2. (3) First girl goes between Couple 2 again and circles to the right around second man, while her partner stops in front of second girl. (4) First and second couple join hands and circle once around in place; then each man swings the opposite girl in place. (5) Repeat 2, 3, and 4 with each couple in the set. (6) When first couple has gone entirely around the set, all join hands in a single circle and walk four steps toward the center, and retire. (7) Repeat balance. (8) Partners all swing, then join hands across and promenade around the set counter-clockwise, lady on the outside. Each couple repeats.

Personally, I find it hard to believe this figure was extant "before 1850".

< Prev Top Next >