Search for the following phrase within a dance name

Search for dances devised (or at least published) between the two years

Search for all dances devised or interpreted by

Search for all dances within a certain publication

Search for all dances of a given style

Search for all dances of a given level of difficulty
Warning: the level of difficulty is subjective, you may not agree, worse, most dances have yet to be evaluated.









Search for all dances with a certain starting formation
Search for all dances with the following figures:

Search for the following phrase within a dance's notes

Up a double, Siding, Arming
Country Dances, Ancient and Modern

12 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
The Birkshire Tragedy ~ SinglePat Shaw 1971no musicDuple Minor

16 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
The Birkshire Tragedy ~ DoublePat Shaw 1971no musicDuple Minor
The Broadstairs Barn-DanceColin Hume 1984Wild ThymeCircle as many as will
Nottingham SwingTraditional (date unknown)
Douglas Kennedy 1964
Colin HumeDuple Minor

18 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
Moll Peatly, the New WayHenry Playford 1701
Michael Barraclough ~2017
no musicDuple Minor

24 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
Bonnets So BlueEnglish Traditional ~1909
Cecil Sharp 1909
no musicDuple Minor
Brighton CampEnglish Traditional ~1909
Cecil Sharp 1909
no musicLongways as many as will
The ButterflyEnglish Traditional ~1909
Cecil Sharp 1909
no musicDuple Minor
Meg Merrilees ~ KarpelesJ. P. Boulogne 1827
Maud Karpeles 1936
no musicDuple Minor
Nancy's FancyEnglish Traditional ~1909
Cecil Sharp 1909
no musicDuple Minor
Ribbon DanceEnglish Traditional ~1909
Cecil Sharp 1909
no musicLongways as many as will permutation: 23451

32 Non-Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
Emerald IsleGary Roodman 1999no musicBecket
O'Donnell AnewTony Saletan ~1983no musicFacing Couples permutation: 21

32 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
4 for the Gospel MakersFried de Metz Herman 1994no musicDuple Minor
Adelè's DelightAnn Higley 1996Masquerade3 Couple Longways permutation: 231
Air PantsLisa Greenleaf (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor
All the way to BeckenhamColin Hume 1980KafoozalumDuple Minor
Always Love ContraJacqui Grennan 2019no musicBecket
And Now, the FourcastGary Roodman 1992no music4 Couple Longways Becket permutation: 4123
Anna Turns FiveGary Roodman 2012Cilantrio (Karen Axelrod, Peter Barnes, and Mary Lea)5 Couple Circle
Another Cure For The ClapsBob Isaacs (date unknown)
Rich Goss
no musicDuple Minor
Anton's SurprisePat Shaw 1964no musicDuple Minor
Apothecary ReelTed Sannella 1982no musicDuple Minor
AppetizerScott Higgs (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor
Appin's DanceJoseph Pimentel 2004no musicDuple Minor
Back Road to AyerLisa Greenleaf ~1993no musicDuple Minor
Back Road to BoltonLisa Greenleaf ~1993no musicDuple Minor
A Balanced TernJoseph Pimentel 1999no musicDuple Minor
Banjo in a Bear SuitBrooke Friendly/Chris Sackett 2010no musicSquare
Banks of the DeeRalph Page 1949
Rickey Holden 1956
no musicDuple Minor
BarbarellaTom Thoreau ~2008no musicBecket
Barry's BestAl Brundage 1952no musicTriple Minor
Baskets of BrewAl Olsen ~1983no musicTriple Minor
Bayswater BreakdownColin Hume 1980KafoozalumDuple Minor
Beaux of Oak HillElias Howe 1862
Smukler & Millstone ~2008
no musicDuple Minor
Becket ReelHerbie Gaudreau ~1957no musicBecket
Becky's BecketDavid Zinkin (date unknown)no musicBecket
The Beekeepers' DreamVic Ceder 2019no musicBecket
Bell of CreationPat Shaw ~1970no musicFour Face Four
Blackbird PieJoseph Pimentel 2001GoldcrestDuple Minor
Boiling MudGreg Bryne (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor
Boiling Mud ~ modifiedGreg Bryne (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor
Bonny Breast KnotEnglish Traditional (date unknown)
Maud Karpeles & Cecil Sharp ~1930
no music3 Couple Longways permutation: 231
Border ReelWright 1740
Bob Lilley ~2023
no musicDuple Minor
Bouncing Back AgainEric Black 2010no musicBecket CCW
Brenda's BrainbenderBob Lilley 1999no musicDuple Minor
The Bunch of FivesColin Hume 1985Wild ThymeCustom permutation: 41532
Butterfly ReelEric Black 2002no musicDuple Minor
Buzzsaw ReelHerbie Gaudreau ~1957no musicBecket
California Twirlin'Janet Levatin (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor
Camille's QuadrilleWalter Lenk ~1993no musicSquare
Castner's ContraRich Gardner ~1983no musicTriple Minor
Cellar DoorTimothy Grant 1989no musicBecket
ChampagneJenna Simpson 2014Odd Sundays Garage BandDuple Minor
Changeling IntuitionJoseph Pimentel 2004GoldcrestDuple Minor
Chinese New YearChris Page 2010no musicDuple Minor
Chippenham ChaserColin Hume 1996no music4 Couple Longways permutation: 3421
Chorus Jig (duple)Saltator 1802
Cracking Chestnuts
no musicDuple Minor
Church in the HighlandsFried de Metz Herman 1992no musicSquare
Circassian Circle ~ BurchenalG.M.S. Chivers 1822
Elizabeth Burchenal 1918
Colin HumeDuple Minor
Circassian Circle - CDMMaud Karpeles 1928
Colin Hume 2024
Colin HumeCircle as many as will
Coconut Cream PieLynn Ackerson (date unknown)no musicFour Face Four
Concordia ReelLou Shapiro ~1983no musicTriple Minor
The ConnectrixRick Mohr 2000no musicDuple Minor
Contra in a TeacupGeorge Williams 2019no musicFour Face Four
Contra RelayGeorge Williams 2019no musicFour Face Four
Cranky IngenuityBill Olson (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor
Crazy NellaVic Ceder 2019no musicDuple Minor
Cure For The ClapsBob Isaacs (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor
Dandies' Hornpipe ~ DupleTraditional ~1820
Ralph Page 1968
Cracking Chestnuts
no musicDuple Minor
Dandies' Hornpipe ~ TripleTraditional ~1820
Ralph Page 1968
Cracking Chestnuts
no musicTriple Minor
The David CircleGary Roodman 1987no musicLines of Four
David's Good ManDavid Smukler ~1995Bare NecessitiesDuple Minor
Debbie's DilemmaVic Ceder 2019no musicBecket
Dipping & Diving in the BrewAl Olson ~1983no musicTriple Minor
Double AllemandeVic Ceder 2019no musicShort Waves
Double ChocolateJim Kitch ~1993no musicQuadruple Minor
Double Chocolate for RenéeJoseph Pimentel 2019no musicDuple Minor
Double CircleVic Ceder 2019no musicBecket
Double Mud PigRick Mohr 2012no musicBecket
Double TroubleColin Hume 1993Masquerade4 Couple Longways permutation: 2341
Dudley's ReelGary Roodman 1987no musicRotated Triple Minor
Easy LivingAl Olson ~1983no musicTriple Minor
Easy SchmeezyVic Ceder 2019no musicDuple Minor
Equal OpportunityJeff Spiro (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor
Fair PlayJenna Simpson 2012no musicDuple Minor
Fast LivingDavid Kirchner (date unknown)no musicFour Face Four
First HeyPaul Balliet (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor
Flapjack ExpressJoseph Pimentel (date unknown)no musicShort Waves
The Flowers of Edinburgh ~ SharpEnglish Traditional ~1909
Cecil Sharp 1909
Colin HumeDuple Minor
Flying ButtressJean Gorrindo (date unknown)no musicBecket
Food, Sex, and BeerCarol Ormand 2008no musicDuple Minor
Forgotten TreasureBeth Parkes (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor
Four for FourGary Roodman 2018no musicFour Face Four
French FourElias Howe 1858
Smukler & Millstone ~2008
Cracking Chestnuts
no musicDuple Minor
The Friday SicilianFried de Metz Herman 1998no musicDuple Minor
Fuerst Things FuerstWill Mentor (date unknown)no musicBecket
GalaxCary Ravitz 2008no musicBecket
GalopedeEnglish Traditional ~1909
Cecil Sharp 1909
no musicLongways as many as will permutation: 23451
Genet's Recall ~ DupleTraditional 1799
Ralph Page ~1965
Cracking Chestnuts
no musicDuple Minor
Genet's Recall ~ TripleTraditional 1799
Ralph Page ~1965
Cracking Chestnuts
no musicTriple Minor
The Geud Contra of BallangighPeter Foster 2006Bare NecessitiesDuple Minor
David's Good ManDavid Smukler ~1995Bare NecessitiesDuple Minor
Goodman's FancyRichard Castner 1952Bare NecessitiesDuple Minor
The Geud Contra of BallangighPeter Foster 2006Bare NecessitiesDuple Minor
Golden GateJacqui Grennan 2017no musicDuple Minor
Golden Gate (Marr)Jacqui Grennan 2017
Frannie Marr
no musicDuple Minor
Good GirlJohn Schell 1890
Rickey Holden 1956
no musicDuple Minor
The Good LifeBob Isaacs (date unknown)no musicBecket
Goodman's FancyRichard Castner 1952Bare NecessitiesDuple Minor
Grand Square ContraJacob Bloom (date unknown)no musicFour Face Four
Green Mountain VolunteersElizabeth Burchenal 1918
Smukler & Millstone ~2008
no musicDuple Minor
The Green-Eyed GirlJim Kitch ~1993no musicDuple Minor
GreetingsToni Barone (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor
Halcyon DaysJoseph Pimentel 2020GoldcrestDuple Minor
Hale Bopp CircleFried de Metz Herman 1997no musicDuple Minor
Half MoonElias Howe 1858no musicTriple Minor
Haste to the Wedding ~ Sharp #1English Traditional ~1909
Cecil Sharp 1909
no musicTriple Minor
Haste to the Wedding ~ Sharp #2English Traditional ~1909
Cecil Sharp 1909
no musicDuple Minor
A Health to all Good DancersJoseph Pimentel 2014no musicDuple Minor
Heartbeat ContraDon Flaherty (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor
Hey is for HumpbacksGeorge Williams 2019no musicFour Face Four
Hey is for Humpbacks — Jacqui's versionGeorge Williams 2019
Jacqui Grennan
no musicFour Face Four
HeyallemandeJim Hemphill (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor
Hocus PocusLisa Greenleaf (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor
Hoedown on the Down LowJean Gorrindo (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor
The Hopatcong HopFried de Metz Herman 1991no musicDuple Minor
Hopkinton LassesGary Roodman 2012no musicDuple Minor
Hotpoint SpecialJoseph Pimentel 2005GoldcrestBecket CCW
Hull's Victory ~ (Swing)Essex Manuscript ~1830
Cracking Chestnuts
no musicDuple Minor
Hume Fogg ReelSusan Kevra (date unknown)no musicBecket
Hunt the Squirrel ~ 1909English Traditional ~1909
Cecil Sharp 1909
A Playford Ball
Bare Necessities
Triple Minor
Huntsmen's Chorus ~ ImproperElias Howe 1862
David Kaynor
Cracking Chestnuts
no musicTriple Minor
Huntsmen's Chorus ~ ProperElias Howe 1862
Cracking Chestnuts
no musicTriple Minor
I-95 BluesRich Goss & Chuck Abell (date unknown)no musicShort Waves
If I Had Maggie in the WoodColin Hume 1985Wild ThymeDuple Minor
Instant MixTom Cook 1993no musicCircle as many as will
Jack's Own CircleCathy Stephens ~1993no musicDuple Minor
Jacqui's Dolphin YeySeth Tepfer 2018Bonnie Insull and Susan McNeillBecket
Jamie Allen ~ ImproperElias Howe 1862
David Kaynor
Cracking Chestnuts
no musicTriple Minor
Jamie Allen ~ ProperElias Howe 1862
Cracking Chestnuts
no musicTriple Minor
Jealous SallyKeith Hunt 1970no musicDuple Minor
Jimmy Allen ~ ImproperElias Howe 1862
David Kaynor
Cracking Chestnuts
no musicTriple Minor
Jimmy Allen ~ ProperElias Howe 1862
Cracking Chestnuts
no musicTriple Minor
Johnson City CircleGary Roodman 2000Cilantrio5 Couple Circle
JoyrideErik Weberg 2007no musicDuple Minor
Jubilee JigFried de Metz Herman 1989no musicCircle of trios
Kernan's ContraKen Kernan 1977
Al Olson ~1983
no musicTriple Minor
Keys in the FridgeGary Roodman 1992no musicDuple Minor
Kim's GameColin Hume 1995MasqueradeFour Face Four
Kindred SpiritsChris Page (date unknown)no musicBecket
Kindred Spirits (variant)Chris Page (date unknown)no musicBecket
Kitchen HornpipeRalph Page 1958no musicTriple Minor
Kylie's HomecomingJean Gorrindo (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor
Labor of LoveKathy Anderson (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor
Lady of the LakeElias Howe 1858
Smukler & Millstone ~2008
Cracking Chestnuts
no musicDuple Minor
Lady Walpole's ReelElias Howe 1862
Smukler & Millstone ~2008
Cracking Chestnuts
no musicDuple Minor
Lamplighter's Hornpipe ~ DupleElias Howe 1858
Cracking Chestnuts
no musicDuple Minor
Levi Jackson RagPat Shaw 1974no musicCustom
Levi Jackson RoseBernard Chalk (and Berea College Dancers) 1984Colin Hume5 Couple Circle
Little Bug ReelGary Roodman 1987no musicDuple Minor
Little-Good HarborAl Olsen ~1983no musicTriple Minor
Lizzie's DelightDave Colstock (date unknown)no musicBecket
Long Live LondonPat Shaw 1971Bare NecessitiesDuple Minor
Loon on the LakeNathaniel Jack (date unknown)no musicBecket
Mad For YouVic Ceder 2019no musicShort Waves
The Mad HatterBob Lilley 1999no musicDuple Minor
Mad Robin in LoveGreg Frock (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor
Madly MadlyVic Ceder 2019no musicBecket
Manga TakRon Buchanan (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor
Marshmallows in FlightRich Goss (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor
Matthew Just In TimeDavid Kaynor (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor
The Merry Haymakers ~ BurchenalElias Howe 1858
Elizabeth Burchenal 1918
no musicDuple Minor
Mevagissey Car ParkGary Roodman 2011Cilantrio (Karen Axelrod, Peter Barnes, and Mary Lea)4 Couple Longways Becket
Mevagissey Car Park ~ RevisitedGary Roodman 2012Cilantrio (Karen Axelrod, Peter Barnes, and Mary Lea)4 Couple Longways Becket
MicrocasmicAnn Fallon (date unknown)no music3 Couple Longways permutation: 231
Midwest FolkloreOrace Johnson (date unknown)no musicBecket
Mirror TestGeorge Williams 2019no musicFour Face Four
Miss Sayers' AllemandThomas Budd 1781
Bernard Bentley 1962 Playford Ball
no music3 Couple Longways permutation: 231
Misunderstood LoonNathaniel Jack 2019
SBCDS 2019
no musicBecket
Monday Long 8Fried de Metz Herman 1998no music4 Couple Longways permutation: 2341
A Mooed PointErik Hoffman (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor
More MadnessVic Ceder 2019no musicDuple Minor
Morning StarElizabeth Burchenal 1918
Smukler & Millstone ~2008
no musicDuple Minor
Mountain HornpipeElias Howe 1862
George Williams 2021
no musicTriple Minor
Mrs. Saxton's Magic Carpet RideWendy Graham 2010no musicLines of Four
New England SweetheartsLinda Leslie (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor
The New Wood FloorGary Roodman 1992no musicLines of Four
NineteenBob Lilley 1987no musicDuple Minor
Now We Are FourEric Weberg (date unknown)no musicBecket
Ockham's RazorDon Lennartson ~1993no musicDuple Minor
October FlurryJoe Baker ~1993no musicDuple Minor
Oh Geez!Joseph Pimentel 2003no musicDuple Minor
Old Time Elixer #2Linda Leslie (date unknown)no musicBecket
One HundredVic Ceder 2019no musicDuple Minor
Party CircleFried de Metz Herman 1990no musicCircle as many as will
Pieces of EightMike Richardson ~1992no musicDuple Minor
Please Don't Call Me SurelyLynn Ackerson (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor
Pop Goes The Weasel ~ Sharp #1English Traditional 1852
Cecil Sharp 1909
Colin HumeDuple Minor
Pop Goes The Weasel ~ Sharp #2English Traditional 1852
Cecil Sharp 1909
Colin HumeDuple Minor
Poussette ReflectionVic Ceder 2019no musicDuple Minor
PoussettronellaCharlie Abell 2019no musicBecket
PromenheydeGeorge Williams 2019
Jacqui Grennan
no musicFour Face Four
Purple HeysMike Richardson ~1992no musicDuple Minor
Queen of HeartGary Roodman 1992no musicDuple Minor
Queen's FavoriteTraditional (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor
Ramsay ChaseJoseph Pimentel 1999GoldcrestDuple Minor
Rational ReelGary Roodman 1987no musicQuadruple Minor Becket
Rattlesnake RagJeff Spiro (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor
Read Between The LinesBob Isaacs (date unknown)no musicBecket
ReciprocityJenna Simpson 2014no musicDuple Minor
Rise and RunGary Roodman 1987no music4 Couple Longways Becket permutation: 2341
Rodney's EarringMerilee Karr ~1993no musicDuple Minor
Roll 'N GoVic Ceder 2019no musicBecket
Roll DownMike Richardson ~1992no musicDuple Minor
Rolling ShadowVic Ceder 2019no musicBecket
Rory O'More ~ ContraElias Howe 1858
Cracking Chestnuts
no musicDuple Minor
Rosemary Hills ReelJim Kitch ~1993no musicBecket
Round RobinColin Andrews ~1986no musicCircle as many as will
The Rumpus ~ DupleBob Lilley 1995no musicDuple Minor
Sasna's SwingJoseph Pimentel 2004no musicDuple Minor
Saturday Night FeverErik Hoffman (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor
The Saturday TriadFried de Metz Herman 1998Bonnie Insull & Susan McNeil3 Couple Longways permutation: 231
Say “I Do”Gary Roodman 2005Anna Patton, Erica & Naomi Morse, and Peter Barnes4 Couple Longways Becket
ScooterTom Hinds (date unknown)no musicBecket CCW
Shirley's JigColin Hume 1980Kafoozalum4 Couple Longways permutation: 2341
Sicilian Circle ~ BurchenalG.M.S. Chivers 1822
Elizabeth Burchenal 1918
Colin HumeDuple Minor
Slide and SlamAmWeek Choreography Wkshp 2017no musicBecket
Social SymmetryGary Roodman 2012no music4 Couple Longways Becket
Soldier's Joy ~ ChestnutsElias Howe 1858
Smukler & Millstone ~2008
Cracking Chestnuts
no musicDuple Minor
SparkleVic Ceder 2019no musicDuple Minor
Speed the PloughEnglish Traditional ~1909
Cecil Sharp 1909
no musicDuple Minor
Spinner's DelightVic Ceder 2019no musicBecket
Spring BloomsLinda Leslie (date unknown)no musicFour Face Four
Square Line SpecialGary Roodman 1987Anna Patton, Naomi Morse, and Peter Barnes4 Couple Longways permutation: 2413
Star BirthMichael Fuerst ~1993no musicDuple Minor
Star TrekMike Richardson (date unknown)no musicBecket
Step and Fetch HerEnglish Traditional ~1909
Cecil Sharp 1909
no musicTriple Minor
String of SwingsRick Mohr & Bob Isaacs (date unknown)no musicShort Waves
Summer CircleFried de Metz Herman 2000no musicBecket
Summer Wedding JigJenny Beer 2009Odd Sundays Garage BandDuple Minor
SunflowersOrly Krasner 2022no musicDuple Minor
Sunset LimitedRick Mohr 2007no musicBecket CCW
A Sure ThingChris Page (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor
Swinging in the HeyFamily Week, Pinewoods 1989no musicDuple Minor
Take the GentVic Ceder 2019no musicBecket
Take the LadyVic Ceder 2019no musicBecket
Ted's TempestTed Sannella ~1983no musicTempest
La Tempete Originale ~ HoferMari Ruef Hofer 1917
George Williams 2024
no musicFour Face Four
Ted's TempestTed Sannella ~1983no musicTempest
Tom PateJoseph Binns Hart ~1819
Sibyl Clark 1954
no musicFour Face Four
La Tempete Originale ~ HoferMari Ruef Hofer 1917
George Williams 2024
no musicFour Face Four
Textiles or FursMike Richardson 1989no musicDuple Minor
There is no Way to Peace; Peace is the WayErik Hoffman 1992no musicBecket
There You GoSue Rosen (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor
There's your ShadowVic Ceder 2019no musicDuple Minor
Three Meet or The Pleasures of the TownEnglish Traditional ~1909
Cecil Sharp 1909
no musicTriple Minor
Tica Tica TimingDean Snipes (date unknown)no musicBecket
Tilt-A-WhirlMartha Wild (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor
Timber Salvage ReelRalph Page 1938no musicDuple Minor
Tink-A-TinkEnglish Traditional ~1909
Cecil Sharp 1909
no musicTriple Minor
To Have and to HoldDon Flaherty (date unknown)no musicBecket CCW
Tom PateJoseph Binns Hart ~1819
Sibyl Clark 1954
no musicFour Face Four
Top of the DeckGary Roodman 1992Kate Barnes, and Mary Lea4 Couple Longways permutation: 2341
Trip to LambertvilleSteve Zakon-Anderson (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor
Trip to RidgewoodFried de Metz Herman 1977no musicDuple Minor
Triple Play - CederVic Ceder (date unknown)no musicBecket
The Triumph ~ SharpPreston 1793
Cecil Sharp 1909
no musicTriple Minor
Turns GaloreVic Ceder 2019no musicBecket
Twiddley DiddelyWalter Lenk ~1993no musicDuple Minor
Two for the RoadJim Kitch ~1993no musicDuple Minor
Two Hands Here, Two Hands ThereVic Ceder 2019no musicBecket
Two Steps ForwardChris Page (date unknown)no musicBecket
The Valentine's Day MassacreColin Hume 1986The RampionsCircle as many as will
The Vet's RevengeColin Hume 1992Colin Hume4 Couple Longways permutation: 3142
Waiting on the CornerGary Roodman 1992no music4 Couple Longways Becket permutation: 4123
WalkawayPat Skelton 1980KafoozalumDuple Minor
The WampececkTimothy Grant ~1993no musicDuple Minor
Washington QuickstepElias Howe 1858
Smukler & Millstone ~2008
Cracking Chestnuts
no musicDuple Minor
We Won't Go Home Until MorningEnglish Traditional ~1909
Cecil Sharp 1909
no musicDuple Minor
The Wedding RingErik Hoffman (date unknown)no musicCircle as many as will
What Goes Around Comes AroundBob Isaacs (date unknown)no musicBecket
What the Hey?Vic Ceder 2019no musicBecket
Whip-poor-willJoseph Pimentel 2004no musicDuple Minor
Whirl and ChaseVic Ceder 2019no musicBecket
Will Ye No Come Back?Mike Richardson ~1992no musicBecket
Will You Dance With Me?Seth Tepfer (date unknown)no musicBecket
Winter in SummerlandJeff Spero & James Hudson (date unknown)no musicBecket
Witches' CauldronKiston Koths 1988no musicDuple Minor
Wizard's WalkRuth Unger 1993no musicDuple Minor
Woven WavesCary Ravitz 1999no musicDuple Minor
You're among FriendsBob Isaacs (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor
The Young Widow ~ SmuklerJohn Griffiths 1788
David Smukler 2005
Cracking Chestnuts
Bare NecessitiesTriple Minor
The Zen of DanceChris Page (date unknown)no musicDuple Minor

40 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
La Belle FrêneHezekiah Cantelo 1785
George Williams 2022
no musicTriple Minor
Brace YourselfScott Higgs 2016no musicDuple Minor
The Clockmender's JigColin Andrews ~1986no music6 Couple Rectangle permutation: 612345
Old Dan Tucker ~ LinkCharles Link 1893
George Williams 2022
no musicCustom
Ten Year TestedColin Hume 1989The Rampions5 Couple Longways permutation: 54213

48 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
40 Years of Penguin PamSeth Tepfer ~2019no musicBecket
Arkansas TravellerElias Howe 1858
George Williams 2022
Colin HumeTriple Minor
The Corkscrew JigColin Andrews ~1986no musicTriple Minor
The New ManColin Hume 1987The Rampions3 Couple Longways
The Original Tampete ~ BurntonBurnton 1851
George Williams 2024
no musicFour Face Four
Virginia RoundaboutColin Andrews ~1986no musicCircle as many as will

64 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
The American HusbandPat Shaw 1977Colin HumeTriple Minor
Her ManPat Shaw 1977Colin HumeTriple Minor
The InstallationThompson 1772
Tom Cook 1979 Playford Ball
Bare Necessities3 Couple Longways permutation: 231

72 Non-Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
Kettle DrumJohn Playford 1651
Scott Pfitzinger ~2019
MGM and ReunionSquare

84 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
Buffalo GalsTommy Dandurand 1927no musicSquare

96 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
Swing Two LadiesRalph Page 1949no musicSquare

106 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
Swing Like ThunderRichard Kraus 1956no musicSquare

112 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
Four Ladies to the Center ~ FordBenjamin B Lovett 1925no musicSquare
Right and LeftLloyd Shaw 1939no musicSquare

128 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
The Albert Memorial SquarePat Shaw ~1971no musicSquare

136 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
Le Carillon de DunkerqueElias Howe 1862no musicSquare

144 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
Four Gents Lead OutLloyd Shaw 1939no musicSquare

145 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
Dip and DiveRichard Kraus 1956no musicSquare

160 Non-Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
The Boys of WexfordMarjorie Heffer & William Porter 1932no music3 Couple Circle

160 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
Texas StarLloyd Shaw 1939no musicSquare

176 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
Old ArkansawLloyd Shaw 1939no musicSquare

182 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
Independence DayDarren Gallina (date unknown)no musicSquare

188 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
Grapevine Twist - CoffmanCharlotte Coffman ~1930
Lloyd Shaw 1939
no musicSquare

192 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
The Twist of FateColin Hume 1980KafoozalumSquare
Wait for the WagonRalph Page 1949no musicSquare

208 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
Divide the Ring and Cut Away FourLloyd Shaw 1939no musicSquare

224 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
John's FavoritePinewoods class & John Krumm 1989no musicSquare

228 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
The Crooked Stovepipe #1Ralph Page 1949no musicSquare
Three Hand StarRalph Page 1949no musicSquare

240 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
Peter's MazeColin Hume 1985Wild ThymeSquare

256 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
Lady Round the Lady - FordBenjamin B Lovett 1925Colin HumeSquare
Going at SixtyColin Hume 2007Colin HumeCustom
Lady Round the Lady - FordBenjamin B Lovett 1925Colin HumeSquare
Right Hand Star ~ ShawLloyd Shaw 1939no musicSquare

268 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
Grapevine Twist ~ StandardLloyd Shaw 1939no musicSquare

272 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
Adam and EveLloyd Shaw 1939no musicSquare
The Lady Round the Lady ~ ShawLloyd Shaw 1939Colin HumeSquare
The Lady Walks AroundLloyd Shaw 1939no musicSquare
Star by the RightLloyd Shaw 1939no musicSquare

276 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
The Girl I Left Behind Me #1Duke Miller 1949
Ralph Page 1949
no musicSquare

284 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
Him and Her ~ ShawLloyd Shaw 1939no musicSquare

296 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
The Ocean Wave ~ ShawLloyd Shaw 1939no musicSquare

320 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
Lady Round the Lady - HumeRalph Page 1956
Colin Hume 2022
Colin HumeSquare
Lady Round the Lady - PageRalph Page 1956
Colin Hume 2022
Colin HumeSquare
Lady Round the Lady - HumeRalph Page 1956
Colin Hume 2022
Colin HumeSquare
Lady Round the Lady - PageRalph Page 1956
Colin Hume 2022
Colin HumeSquare

328 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
Forward up sixLloyd Shaw 1939no musicSquare

336 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
Lady Round Lady ~ DunlavyTressie Dunlavy 1932Colin HumeSquare

344 Progressive

Dance TitleTypeDeviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date,
Interpreter
Music
Performers
Formation
Birdie in a CageLloyd Shaw 1939no musicSquare
Number
of dances
Number
of versions
Number
with music
33233255

Warning: The figures for each dance is generated programmatically by regular expression matching and may be in error. Also, for old dances, they reflect the figures used by the interpreter which may not match those of the deviser.


Swing

Bars: 2,4,6 or 8.

A couple stands in ballroom position and turns clockwise about their center, using either a walking step or a buzz step.

History

The partner swing is an essential part of a modern Contra Dance or Square Dance. A dance without a swing is greeted with dismay in our local contra group.

But the swing did not exist in Playford's day, nor in the early Regency period.

I assume the swing is a simplified offshoot of the waltz, a waltz without steps as it were. As far as I know people did not stand in what is now called "Ballroom Position" before the waltz, I'm sure that would have been quite shocking (as indeed the waltz was).

But when did the swing evolve?

Well, it is NOT in Wilson's list of country dance figures from 1808. And as I mentioned earlier there's nothing like it in Playford.

The Regency Dance site says that a dance from 1807 called The Russian Ambassador's Waltz was the first country dance where couples waltz briefly as part of the dance.

There was a style of quadrilles called "Waltz Quadrilles" where waltzing was treated as a figure of the quadrille, Chivers describes Les Valse Quadrilles as early as 1821 in "The Dancer's Guide".

The Complete Ball-Room Hand-Book, Elias Howe, Boston, 1858 includes a category called "Waltz Contra Dances" (page 97) where waltzing is an integral part of the dance, but the waltzing usually seems to involve going somewhere rather than the stationary partner swing.

Cinderrela Waltz
Form as for common Contra dance First lady and second gentleman balance and turn First gentleman and second lady balance and turn two couples waltz down the centre and back right and left four.

Wilson's list does define "Swing Corners" (page 33), this is not a "Swing" in the modern sense, just a turn. Swing is often used in the sense of a hand turn, David Wall's The Russian Dance from 1775 is the earliest example I've found so far.

Hillgrove, in The scholars' companion and ball-room vade mecum, New York, 1857, also uses uses "swing" to mean a hand turn in his descriptions of Contra Dances (page 78):

First couple give the right hand, and swing once and a half round;

Howe, in The Complete Ball-Room Hand-Book, Boston, 1858, uses "swing" in a number of senses:

He does not define his terms, and uses the word "swing" in so many senses it can be hard to understand exactly what is meant, there are a few cases where he doesn't provide any context, and the word might have it's modern meaning. In the last case above, the dance is Arkansas Traveller and 60 years later Burchenal's version of that dance does have a partner swing in the same place, so perhaps Howe intends the modern meaning.. On the other hand Schell's Prompting: How to do it (Boston, ~1890) does not have a partner swing in this dance.

The term "swing" was still being used in the sense of a hand turn in Cowboy Dances, Lloyd Shaw, 1939 (page 50) when he discusses teaching allemande left to square dancers:

The caller will explain that the complete call is usually given in some such form as:

Allemande left with your left hand,
Then right hand partner and right and left grand,

but that until they get more used to the call and the idea he will use a simpler form which goes:

Swing your left hand lady with your left hand,
Then right hand partner and right and left grand,

And even today Square Dance uses "Swing through" to describe a series of pull-bies.

The first clear record I have of "swing" in the modern sense comes from Cecil Sharp's The Country Dance Book, part 1, 1909 where it is used in every single one of the dances in that work. He defines it as:

Partners meet, engage in waltz fashion, and dance round in a small circle between the lines of the General Set. At the beginning of the last bar they disengage, return to places, and bow to each other.

The step varies with the rhythm of the music, and may take any one of the three following forms: (1) The waltz step: (2) the polka step or a modification of it: (3) step and hop on alternate feet.

Country dancers sometimes, though very rarely, substitute for the Swing the more conventional Set or Set-to-partners, a figure which is familiar to all quadrille dancers. This was the invariable custom in the ball-room where the Swing, as described above, was quite unknown.

There was, however, a figure known to fashionable dancers as the Swing, but this was performed in quite another manner: Partners met, joined right hands, turned slowly round from right to left and returned to places.

Emma Burchenal in American Country Dances, 1918, defines Partner Swing (and Balance and Swing) on page xii.

The most usual way of executing the "Balance and Swing" to-day, is for partners to meet, take "ordinary dance position" (the usual way of holding partner for waltzing), and swing around vigorously with the buzz-step. Originally the "Balance" was executed before the swing, but for some reason this has been almost universally abandoned, so that the expression "Balance and Swing" now means nothing more that "Swing Partners".

If you look up Burchenal's dances in Howe you will find that many of the places where she has a "Balance and Swing" Howe has a simple "Balance" (Circassian Circle, The Merry Haymakers, etc.). Burchenal defines five different ways to "Balance" and perhaps this flexibility allowed it to become a swing?

In the square dance world the picture is mixed. Cecil Sharp does not describe it as part of The Kentucky Running Set (an early square dance) in 1918. Henry Ford/Lovett defines it in Good Morning (a collection of dances, including squares and contras) in 1925, and uses it in both squares and contras.

TURN PARTNERS—(4) Lady and gentlemen join both hands (shoulder high) and turn once around. To swing partner in waltz position, weight of body should rest on half of right foot, turning with toe of left foot.

Ida Levin does not use it in Kentucky Square Dances in 1928. Lloyd Shaw uses it in Cowboy Dances in 1939.

In summary

The word swing was not used (or very rarely) in the modern sense in the 1850s on either side of the Atlantic, but was used that way around 1910 on both sides. Swinging was an integral part of the English Country Dance tradition that Cecil Sharp found still extant, but after his revival that figure seems to have died away. It is almost never used in modern ECDs, though waltzing does occasionally get a look in. The Contra and Square Dance traditions of the US have continued to count swinging as an integral part of their repertory.

Mary McNab Dart in Contra Dance Choreography, a Reflection of Social Change, 1995, has an interesting discussion of how the swing continued to grow in popularity between 1950 and 1990.

Petronella Turn

The dance Petronella was devised by Nathaniel Gow in about 1820, and involved a signature movement which became known as the Petronella Turn. This has become integral to both modern Scottish and American Contra dancing (and is occasionally seen in English).

In modern Scottish a Petronella turn involves a pas-de-basque step to the right (ending facing out), followed by another pas-de-basque step which turns round 180 in place to face back in.

In modern Contra, the figure involves moving right while spinning approximately 360.

But if you look at the Lowes, who published in Edinburgh in 1831 they describe the figure as First couple chassé round to the right.

By ~1868 in Glasgow Wilcock says: First couple turn round to the right which might be a description of the modern contra way of doing it.

The first description I know of from the US is in The Pianist's Matinee: A Collection of Music for the Piano-Forte, Howe, Boston, 1868, where it is described as First couple turn round to the right, and set in centre of dance.

See Also

This website is copyright © 2021-2026 by George W. Williams V
Creative Commons License My work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Most of the dances have more restrictive licensing, see my notes on copyright, the individual dance pages should mention when some rights are waived.