The Morris Book, Part 1: A History of Morris Dancing, With a Description of Eleven Dances as Performed by the Morris-Men of EnglandSharp, Cecil J. (Cecil James)
History
The Morris Book, Part 1: A History of Morris Dancing, With a Description of Eleven Dances as Performed by the Morris-Men of England
Sharp, Cecil J. (Cecil James)
Morris dance
To change Front to Column, in Position 2, Nos. 1, 3, and 5 will make a
half-turn to the left; Nos. 2, 4, and 6 a half-turn to the right.
In changing from Column to Front when the column is reversed--that is,
the dancers having their backs to the music--the half-turns as given
above will be reversed also.
As for the distance to be maintained between individual dancers, whether
in Column or Front, the files (i.e., odd and even numbers) should stand
so far apart that, when arms are extended, the hands of each will overlap
his neighbour's hands.
The distance between the files will vary according to the nature of the
dance. In the Stick and Handkerchief dances, pairs (Nos. 1 and 2, &c.)
stand near enough to clap hands or tap sticks with each other. In the
Corner dances, as will readily be seen from the descriptions and
Notation, the files must be well apart to give plenty of room for the
necessary movements. The right distance will easily be found; roughly,
the side should form a square measuring some twelve feet each way.
In the Notation, the term "Partners" is used to denote the pairs as they
stand fronting or abreast, Nos. 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6.
The term "Opposites" is used in referring to couples when they must
change places, or re-change, as in Corners and Capers, Nos. 1 and 6, 2
and 5, 3 and 4. The latter couple, the centres, it will be noticed, will
have both terms applied to them, according as the movement described is
Corners or Capers, or another, such as hand-striking.
In some dances, as, for instance, in "Bean-setting," the side forms a
ring, and many dances end in this formation. Instructions for this, as
and where it occurs, will be found in the Notation, and will be marked
under Formation, thus:--Ring.
EVOLUTIONS.
Here follows a detailed description, with diagrams, of the various
evolutions necessary to the dances which we have embodied in this series;
to each evolution a Notation word is attached.
The best way for a teacher who has never seen the dances performed, yet
wants to teach them from the book, is to study the diagrams and learn by
heart the Notation word for each. He should then stand a side upon the
floor, make them go through the evolutions by word of command, or
Notation word, slowly, as described; counting the beats, but without
music.
This manner of beginning is advised only when the teacher has nothing but
the book for guide: where an experienced dancer is available we have
found it best for the novices to set to at once upon the dance; the
practised one showing steps, evolutions, &c, as they occur.
DOWN-AND-BACK; AND UP-AND-BACK.
This movement occurs at the beginning of so many dances that to simplify
matters it will be described here, and symbols will be attached to the
description and used in the Notation. The movement is executed as
follows:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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