ProperLine
Proper Lines
TOP TO TAIL
By Dottie Welch, inspired by Special Needs Students at Ian Forsyth, 2005
Suitable with guidance for age 6 and up. Idea from Quebec "Reel du Castor"
Formation: Contra lines of four to six partner pairs facing each other
Music: Something with a clear 8-beat phrasing
A1 (8) Lines Forward and Back with a Whoop;
(8) Two-hands joined Partners Switch places (turn either way);
A2 (8) Partners Switch back;
(8) Top Couple Walk down the Center 8 steps;
B1 (8) Turn and come back;
(8) Top couple leads big left loop;
B2 (8) All the way around;
(8) Leaders become the tail and end at the bottom, 2nds become top;
REEL DU CASTOR (BEAVER REEL)
Traditional Quebécois dance (from Step Lively 2 -- Canadian Dance Favourites
Formation: Contra lines of four to six partner pairs facing each other
Music: Quebécois Reels
A1 (8) Turn Partner Right;
(8) Turn Partner Left;
A2 (8) Top Couple Sashay Down the Center;
(8) Separate and return up the outside;
B1 (8) All Swing Partners;
(8) Face up and Grand Gallop (Promende to left);
B2 (8) All the way around;
(8) Leaders become the tail and end at the bottom, 2nds become top;
(If time, Everybody Forward and Back)
Dive Through
CUMBERLAND REEL
Traditional
Formation: Proper Lines of four couples
A1 (8) Couples 1 and 2 Star by the Right*;
(8) Same folks Star by the Left;
A2 (8) Top couple (#1) sashay down the center;
(8) Sashay back and Cast Off (man to left and lady to right);
B1 (8) March down the outside, others following;
(8) Top couple up the center, others follow the leader (hands joined);
B2 (8) Bottom three couples arch, Top couple dive to the bottom (both hands joined);
(8) Everybody two-hand turn your partner.
* Some versions have each foursome making the Stars.
FOLLOW THE LEADER
By Dottie Welch, 2005 for DANS School CD (simplified Virginia No Reel)
Formation: Contra lines of four to six partner pairs facing each other.
Music: "Road to the Isles"
A1 (8) Long Lines Forward and Back;
(8) Two hands Partners Switch places;
A2 (8) Partners Switch back;
(8) Top Couple Strut down the Center;
B1 (8) Turn alone and Come Back;
(8) Top two separate and go down the outside and all follow their leader;
B2 (16) Leaders make a two-hand arch at the foot and the others go beyond
the arch and Dive Thru it to come up with the 2nd pair now leading.
JEFFERSON'S REEL
Traditional (perhaps by Dud Briggs based on Jefferson and Liberty)
Formation: Proper Duple or Alternate Duple
A1 (8) Circle Left with couple below;
(8) Circle Right;
A2 (8) Star Right;
(8) Star Left;
B1 (8) Actives (1s) Down the outside;
(8) Come back and into the middle to make a line of four;
B2 (8) Lines go down 6 steps and back up 2 steps;
(8) 1's Arch, 2's Dive Through;
Train Going Around
FOUR AROUND FOUR
Author: Unknown
Formation: 4 Couples Proper
Music: Spotted Pony
A1 (16) Top Man Lead the Men around the Ladies’ line; - ;
A2 (16) Top Lady Lead the Ladies around the Gents’ line; - ;
B1 (16) Top Couple Sashay down and up; - ;
B2 (8) Top Couple cast down while others move up;
(8) All Partner Swing;
(Note: This is nearly to same as Kingston Flyer)
KINGSTON FLYER
Author: Unknown
Formation: 4 Couples Proper
Music: Try "Wabash Cannonball"
A1 (16) Top Lady Lead the Ladies around the Gents' line; - ;
A2 (16) Top Gent Lead the Gents around the Ladies' line; - ;
B1 (16) Top Couple Strut down the center, turn alone and strut back up; - ;
B2 (8) Top Couple Separate and go down the outside to foot while others move up;
(8) Lines go Forward and Back;
THADY YOU GANDER
Author: English Folk Dance
Formation: Proper lines of 4 couples
Music: LS E15 or Folkcraft 1167 (Special 80 beat music) "Thady You Gander"
A1 (8) First couple down the center and cross over;
(8) First couple come up the outside;
A2 (16) First Lady leads the Gents around the opposite line and back to place;
A3 (16) First Gent leads the Ladies around the opposite line and back to place;
B1 (8) First Couple Reel the Set: First couple turns partner by the right,
then turns the next person of the opposite gender by the left;
(8) Actives turn partner by the right and the next opposite gender by left;
B2 (8) Actives turn partner by the right and last opposite gender by left;
(8) Actives turn partner right half-way and back up to stand in their same
gender lines at the foot.
WEAVERS CIRCLE
Similar to Weaver's Galopede
Author: Unknown
Formation: Proper Lines
Music: Any appropriate tune
Bottom couples join hands to make a U Shape
A1 (16) First two Gents Arch, First Lady leads long line under and around back to place;
(Two Gents do a dishrag turn)
A2 (16) First two Ladies Arch, First Gent leads long line under and around back to place;
(Two Ladies do a dishrag turn)
B1 (8) Top Couple Sashays down, after they pass, the others Pass Thru and U-Turn Back;
(8) Top Couple comes back up, others Pass Thru and U-Turn Back;
B2 (8) Top couple goes down again while others all Dosado;
(8) Long Lines Forward and Back if time allows;
Long Potato Circle
CHETICAMP LONG POTATO (Simplified)
By Dottie Welch, October 2011
Traditional idea from "Step Lively 2 - Canadian Dance Favourites" by Marion Rose
Formation: Proper Lines with Partners Facing, best for twelve dancers or less
(no gender differentiation necessary)
Music: Something with a French-Canadian flavor
A1 (16) Long Potato Circle Left (all dancers make one long, skinny circle);
A2 (16) Long Potato Circle Right;
B1 (8) Partners Left-hand Turn;
(8) Partners Right-hand Turn;
B2 (8) Long Lines Forward and Back;
(8) Top Couple Sashay (or Strut) to the foot;
PARKLAND STROLL
By Dottie Welch, March 2013 for Parkland at the Lakes Seniors
Formation: Contra lines of four to six partner pairs facing each other.
Music: "Gloucestershire Hornpipe" on Where'd You Get Them Great Chunes CD
A1 (8) Long Potato Circle Left;
(8) Long Potato Circle Right;
A2 (8) Turn Partner by the Left;
(8) Turn Partner by the Right;
B (24) Top Lady (or Gent) U-Turn Back then Wind and Weave to the bottom;
(Leader can choose their path around and through the other dancers.)
(8) Forward and Back;
JUNE BUG REEL
By Dottie Welch, June 2008 for Cole's June Bug Barn Dance
Formation: Proper Longways for 4-8 couples
Music: "Vinton and Rival Hornpipes" on Southerners Plus Two
A1 (8) Lines go forward, 2, 3 and stomp; back 2, 3, and stomp;
(8) Lines go forward, 2, 3 and stomp; back 2, 3, and stomp;
A2 (8) Long potato Circle Left (all dancers make one long, skinny circle);
(8) Long potato Circle Right;
B1 (8) Top couple separate down the outside, bottom couple up the center;
(8) Return inside out (original top up center, bottom down outside);
B2 (8) Top couple down the outside to the bottom, others two-hand turn;
(8) (Others may turn twice around if time allows);
Arch Over the Line
SHINDIG IN THE BARN
From Bob Howell in American Square Dance, April 1986
Formation: Proper Lines, preferably seven couples
Music: "Shindig in the Barn" on Wagon Wheel 921
Note: With six couples the Arch action will usually require 24 beats.
A1 (8) Forward 3 and Clap, Back up 4;
(8) Pass Thru and U-Turn Back;
A2 (8) Forward 3 and Clap, Back up 4;
(8) Pass Thru and U-Turn Back;
B1 (8) Top Couple Sashay Down;
(8) Same couple Arch back up over the Gents;
B2 (8) Arch down over the Ladies;
(8) Actives Swing at the foot, others move up;
NO NAME CONTRA
By Jerry Helt (from Dancing For Busy People)
Formation: For proper contra lines of six couples or less
Music: "Love in the Country", RB 1301 or "Dashing White Sergeant", Lloyd Shaw 193/194
A1 (8) Everybody Forward and Back;
(8) Forward and Back Again;
A2 (8) Turn partner Right-hand Around;
(8) Turn partner Left-hand Around;
B1 (8) The Top Couple strut to the foot;
(8) Same couple arch and Promenade over Ladies line (over one line);
B2 (8) Promenade arch over the Gents line (back over the other);
(8) Everybody Swing;
COUPLE ARCH OVER
By Dottie Welch, 2009, Variation on "Shindig in the Barn" by Bob Howell
Formation: Contra Lines of 4 to 6 partner pairs facing each other
Music: "Shindig in the Barn" on Wagon Wheel 921
Note: With six couples the Arch action will usually require 24 beats.
A1 (8) Forward 3 and Clap, Back up 3 and Stomp;
(8) Pass Thru and U-Turn Back;
A2 (8) Forward 3 and Clap, Back up 3 and Stomp;
(8) Pass Thru and U-Turn Back;
B1 (8) Top Couple Strut Down the Center to the foot;
(8) Same couple Arch up over one line;
B2 (8) Arch down over the other line;
(8) Active Couple joins lines at the foot, others all move up;
Top Couple Down the Center
SHATFORD PROMENADE
By Dottie Welch, December 2018 for Shatford Elementary, Nova Scotia
Music: Frosty the Snowman
A1 (8) Forward 3 and Clap, Back 3 and Stomp;
(8) Forward Again;
A2 (8) Dosado with Partner;
(8) Shake Right Hands, join left under;
B1 (8) Promenade Up;
(8) Reverse Promenade Down;
B2 (16) Top Couple or two go on down the center;
LOCKEPORT STRUT
By Dottie Welch, March 2012 for Lockeport Elementary, Nova Scotia
Formation: Proper contra lines, for elementary school children
Recorded music: "Donegal Jig" on Kalox 1216
A1 (8) Forward 3 and stomp, Back 3 and Clap;
(8) Partners Switch Places;
(pass right shoulders and turn alone to face in on the other side).
A2 (8) Forward 3 and stomp, Back 3 and Clap;
(8) Partners Switch Places;
B1 (8) Top two strut down the center (others clap to music);
(8) Next two strut down the center (rejoin line at the foot);
B2 (8) All solo turn to the right once around (right hand up);
(8) Solo turn to the left once around (left hand up);
BARLEY AND OATS
By Ken Kernen
Formation: Proper contra lines of six couples or less
A1 (8) Everybody Forward and Back;
(8) Gents Arch, Ladies Duck Thru, all U-Turn Back;
A2 (8) Everybody Forward and Back;
(8) Ladies Arch, Gents Duck Thru, all U-Turn Back;
B1 (8) Top Couple Sashay down;
(8) Sashay back and Separate;
B2 (8) All Promenade Single File to foot;
(8) Leaders make two-hand Arch, others Duck Thru and Promenade up;
GOTHIC DANCE
Traditional (in Contra Syllabus from 61st NSDC in Spokane, Washington)
The Gothic Dance gets its name from the gentlemen raising their arms for the dive through.
Their arms make a long line of pointed arches like a Gothic Cathedral.
Presenter: Gary Chamberlain, See for music information.
See for Old Glory Vintage Dancers at the
Dicken’s Christmas Ball in West Jordan, Utah, December 2010.
Formation: Proper contra lines of four to six couples
Music: "Civil War Ballroom" by Spare Parts (32 bar jig or reel)
A1 (8) Ladies Advance and Retreat;
(8) Men Arch (Ladies duck through, all turn alone);
A2 (8) Ladies Advance and Retreat;
(8) Men Arch (Ladies duck through, all turn alone);
B1 (8) Top Four Circle Left 3/4 (Gents facing up);
(8) Gents Arch, Ladies run (right shoulder) around partner to face him;
B2 (8) Partners join both hands and turn clockwise 1/4;
(8) Both couples Sashay to the foot;
Gothic Dance Description:
A1 (4) – All join hands, Ladies advance,
(4) – Ladies retreat as the men advance
(4) – Gents join hands and raise their arms along the line to make the arches as the
ladies release hands and dive under their partner’s right arm.
Ladies take 4 steps forward to reach the opposite side.
(4) – All turn right half around to face across (Flare to add some style to the turn.)
A2 (16) – Dancers repeat the actions in A1 to return to their own side.
B1 (8) – Top two couples Circle Left 3/4. This puts both gents facing the head and the ladies facing down.
(8) – Gents arch and the ladies pass their own partner by the right shoulder and
run around him to end facing him.
(Right-hand lady will dive down through the arch and run around her partner.
Left-hand lady will run around her partner and dive up through the arch.)
Ladies will face their partner, join two hands and turn clockwise one-quarter
to place ladies on the left and gents on the right.
B2 (16) – Top two couples will sashay down the center to the bottom.
Winning couple forms on the bottom of the line followed by the losing couple.
(It doesn’t really matter who forms on first – it’s all in fun.)
The dance continues at least until all couples have performed the figure and
the original head couples are back at the head position.
Four Dancer Action with Whole Set Progression
THE WANDERER
By Calvin Campbell and the Metro State Class
Formation: Proper Line of four couples
Music: LS 185, "The Happy Wanderer"
A1 (8) Head couple Separate to the foot;
(8) Weave the line; (Come in to the center of the set and weave out
between 3 and 4 and then weave in between 2 and 3.)
A2 (8) All Swing Partner and return to line;
(8) Lines go Forward and Back;
B1 (8) With the couple across Star Right;
(8) Star Left;
B2 (8) Arch and Sashay through the tunnel; (Couples 2, 3 and 4 form a tunnel
with two-hand arches and the top couple slide though the tunnel to the
foot of the set)
(8) Lines go Forward and Back;
FARMER'S JIG
Formation: Contra lines of four couples with partner’s facing each other,
ladies on the prompter’s left and gents on the prompter’s right.
When necessary, any partner combinations will work.
More than four couples cannot complete the figure in the time allowed.
Music: Any brisk 64 beat marching music, or a brisk jig.
A1 (8) March up 8
(8) Turn alone and march down 8
A2 (8) Join 2 hands, Sashay up in 8 (energetically or sedately as appropriate)
(8) Sashay back
B1 (8) Each four Star Right
(8) Same four Star Left
B2 (8) Top couple turn out and lead a Cast Down
(8) Leaders arch at foot, others come through
Description:
March: Dancers all face the prompter in two single file lines.
Join inside hands with partner and march forward 7 steps up the hall,
then turn on the 8th beat to face away from the prompter.
Rejoin inside hands with partner and march back down the hall 7 steps
and turn on the 8th beat to face partner and join both hands.
Sashay: With both hands joined, partners slide sideways in 8 quick Gallop
or Sashay Steps (Side and Close 7 times, then Side and Touch) up the hall.
Or dancers can sedately do Side, Close, three times, then Side, Touch.
Partners slide sideways the other way back down the hall.
Stars: Each box of 4 dancers Star Right for 8 beats.
Same 4 dancers Star Left the other way back for 8 beats.
Finish with all the ladies in the left line and all the gents in the right line.
Cast Down: All dancers turn individually to face the prompter.
Each dancer in the top couple (nearest the prompter) then turns away from the center
to lead a Single File Promenade down the outside of each line to the foot of the set.
The leaders join both hands to make an arch at the foot.
All the others come through the arch in pairs and move forward ready to
immediately begin the March up 8. The original leaders become the last couple
while the original second couple is now at the top.
OXO Variations
OXO REEL - 1975
As presented by Jack Hamilton at a dance in Wardhurst, England late September 1975.
Recorded at the time by Ed Moody of Hollis, NH.
Formation: 6 couples in contra formation
Couples 1 – 3 – 5 active but do Not cross over
Music: Suggest Jimmy Shand’s “The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh” on Parlophna extended.
A1 (8) All forward and back;
(8) All do si do right shoulder;
A2 (8) All do si do left shoulder;
(8) O X O - First two and last two couples Circle Left, while
Middle two couples Star Right;
B1 (8) Reverse the O X O - First and Last Circle Right, Middle Star Left;
(8) Top couple separate and lead everyone down the outside to foot;
B2 (8) Leaders make a two-hand arch under which all of the others pass through
and walk up to reestablish the lines with a new top couple.
OXO REEL - YANKEE DOODLE
Author: (Unknown)
Formation: Proper Contra lines of six couples. All the men in a line
on the caller’s right and all the ladies in a line on the caller’s left.
Record: Grenn 122241 “Yankee Doodle Dandy”
A1 (8) Top Couple Sashay Down inside, Bottom Couple Separate and Sashay Up outside;
(8) New Top couple Sashay down inside, new bottom couple Sashay Up outside;
A2 (8) Everybody Forward and Back;
(8) Circles and Stars; (Top two couples and bottom two couples Circle Left
while the middle two couples Star Left)
B1 (8) Reverse the Circles and Stars;
(8) All face up and Promenade to the foot;
B2 (8) First couple arch and others duck through;
(8) Promenade to the head of the set;
OXO REEL - TEATHER
By John Tether
Formation: Proper Lines of 6 couple longways
A1 (8) Lines Forward and Back;
(8) Top couple gallop to bottom;
A2 (8) Lines Forward and Back;
(8) New top couple gallop to bottom;
B1 (8) O X O -- Top two and Bottom two couples Circle Left, Middle two Star Left;
(8) Then back the other way;
B2: (16) Foot two couples gallop to top then separate and Promenade Single File
to the foot while the others Swing;
OXO REEL WITH ARCHES
Author: (Unknown)
Formation: Proper Lines of 6 couple longways
A1 (8) Lines Forward and Back;
(8) Forward again, Men arch, women duck under;
A2 (8) Lines Forward and Back;
(8) Forward again, Women arch, men duck under;
B1 (8) Top two couples Circle Left, Bottom two couples Circle Right;
Middle two couples Right-hand Star
(8) OXO! Then back the other way;
B2 (8) Top couple gallop to bottom;
(8) All Swing;
Virginia Reel
VIRGINIA NO REEL
By Calvin Campbell
Formation: For proper contra lines of seven or less couples, no gender difference.
Music: TNT 106 "Fiddler's Fancy" or LS 318 "Januray 7th Jig">
A1 (8) Everybody Forward and Back;
(8) Turn your partner right hand around;
A2 (8) Turn your partner left hand around;
(8) Turn your partner both hands around;
B1 (8) First couple slide to the foot;
(8) Same two slide back to the top;
B2 (8) Cast Off single file to the foot;
(8) Leading couple make a both-hands-joined arch and the others duck thru;
VIRGINIA REEL
Traditional
Formation: Four to six couples in a column, partners facing across the set,
all the men in a line on the caller’s right, all the ladies in a line on the
caller’s left, lines about four steps apart.
The number one couple is at the caller’s end of the set (head or top).
There are many variations of the partner interaction at the beginning.
The sashay down and back followed by the Reel the Set are the essential parts.
Depending on the number of dancers and their efficiency, the timing will often
not fit the 64-count musical sequence. Try to precue the 8-count musical phrase.
MUSIC: "Virginia Reel", Folkcraft 1456 or 1150
(Note: one couple takes at least 2 sets of 64 beats
so for six couples 2 x 6 = 12 repeats are needed)
A1 (8) All go forward and bow and back;
(8) Once more forward and back;
A2 (8) Turn your partner right hand around;
(8) Turn your partner left hand around;
B1 (8) Turn your partner both hands around;
(8) All go forward and do sa do;
B2 (8) First couple sashay down;
(8) Re-sashay come back to place;
A1 (8) *First couple reel the set; Turn Partner right 1 1/2, Left to 2nds;
(8) Left to 2nd couple, Right to partner;
A2 (8) Left to 3rd couple, Right to partner;
(8) Left to 4th couple, Right to partner;
B1 (8) Left to 5th couple, Right to partner to turn half and face up;
(8) Actives sashay or strut up the middle;
B2 (8) Actives Separate and lead all of their line in a Cast Down;
(8) First couple arch and the rest come up through the arch.
*Reel the Set: Top couple turn right arm once and a half around with each other,
then turn left arm around the next dancer in the opposite line,
back to partner right arm turn once around, left with the next down the opposite line, etc.
(The #1 man will turn each lady all the way down the line of ladies and the
#1 lady will turn each man all the way down the line of men.)
After reeling all the way to the foot the #1 couple will sashay back to the head of the set,
separate and lead all the dancers in their own line down the outside of their own line.
The #1 couples makes a two hand arch at the foot and the rest of the dancers go below
the arch and come up through the arch with the original second couple now at the top.