Winterbourn Down Stick Dance

This is a dance for 8 people written by Ian, our first squire. It can also be adapted for 4–6 people.


STEPPING One hop, two hop, 1,2,3 steps, hop

 

     
 1                      2
 3                      4
 5                      6
 7                      8
1 faces 3, 2 and 4, 5 and 7, 6 and 8.
CHORUS Clash twice with opposite partner (//), once with person diagonally to the right (\). Then clash twice with person diagonally right (\\), once with opposite partner (/). Then once diagonally right (\), once opposite (/), once diagonally right (\). Turn in a small circle on the left shoulder for 4, back into position. Repeat
CROSSOVER 1 hop, clash with partner, 2nd hop on spot, 1,2,3,steps across set, passing right shoulder with opposite partner.
1 hop 2 hop, turn on right shoulder 180°, 1,2,3, steps back into set facing partner.
1 hop clash with partner, 2nd hop on spot, 1,2,3, steps across set, passing right shoulder.
1 hop, 2 hop, turn 180° back into set, 1,2,3 (small steps) back into place.
CHORUS
SQUARES 1 hop clash with partner opposite, turn on left shoulder 90°, stepping. The two lines are now moving in opposite directions (2 hop, 1,2,3 steps).
Hop turn 90° on right shoulder into set, so that both lines looking across the set.
1 hop across set to opposite side, 2nd hop turn 90° on right shoulder.
1,2,3 steps along opposite side of set.
1 hop, clash with partner, 2nd hop turn 90° into set on right shoulder.
1 hop across set, 2nd hop turn 90° on right shoulder.
1,2,3 steps, hop, along the side of set back to original place.
CHORUS
SWING

Steps must be kept small in this move.

Dancers 2,3,4,5,6,7 will do:

1 hop, clash with opposite partner.
2nd hop, grab person opposite and left for waist swing.
1,2,3 steps, hop, moving around in the swing for a ½ turn.
1 hop, 2 hop - release waists and move backwards slightly.
1,2 3 steps across set, keeping person you have swung with passing your left shoulder.
1 hop turn on right shoulder into next place down on your left.
i.e Dancer 2 moves to dancer 4 position, 4 moves to 6 position, likewise on opposite side
Repeat above but in reverse and turning back into original place on left shoulder.

Meanwhile, dancers 1 & 8 will do:

Clash with partner and cast out, stepping, and move to the opposite end of line i.e. 1 goes to 7th place, 8 goes to 2nd place.
1 clashes with 3, and 8 clashes with 6 when half the swing has been performed.
1 & 8 will then cast out and step back to their original places.

CHORUS
CIRCLE 1 hop, 2 hop to form circle, circle around once coming back into place.
CHORUS
LEAD OFF Everybody clash on 1st hop.
To lead off, couples come through middle of set, starting with 1 & 2, 1 hop, 2 hop in position and 1,2,3 steps, hop, then joined by 3 & 4, then 5 & 6, finally 7 & 8 join in.