Our Dances
These are the dances that we currently perform. Some we have danced since the side started up because we feel that they are good 'Slubbing Billy' dances, particularly suited to our style. Some have been learnt fairly recently, and we are always on the lookout for more dances that we think we will enjoy. New dances are tried out in the winter when we don't dance out much, and are introduced when we think we've got them right (which can be some time!)
The dance name usually gives you a good clue where it originated from, although some are a little more obscure. Tunes are ones that we've picked to go with the dance - unlike some traditions there are no set tunes that have to be played for each dance. Originally popular tunes of the day or familiar tunes that were old when the dances were first devised would have been played, and we keep fairly true to the tradition.
| Dance name | From | Step | Tunes (5) | | Alderley Edge | Cheshire | Stepping | Jigs (Oyster Girl/John of Paris/Roisin the Beau) | | Ashfield | Cheshire | Stepping | Polkas (Aiken Drum/Uncle Bernards or Jack Come Kiss Me/Jack's Alive) | | Banks Village | Cheshire | Stepping | Polkas (Clow Bank/Rochdale Coconut Dance | | Carr Lodge Polka (1) | Slaithwaite | Rants | Polkas (Davids Rant/Astleys Ride) | | Failsworth | Lancashire | Rants | Polkas (Rakes of Mallow/Winster Galop) | | Hepples | Lancashire | Step/Rant | Jigs (100 Pipers/Cock O' th North) | | Horbury (2) | Wakefield | Rants | Polkas (Huntsmans Chorus/Donkey Riding) | | Mobberley | Cheshire | Stepping | Jigs (Ten Coney Walk/St Georges Day) | | Nine Mans Morris (3) | Ripon | Rants | Polkas (Dorset 4 Hand Reel/Krakovice Polka) | | Waltons Parade | Manchester | Rants | Polka (Rattling Bog) | | Westwood (4) | Golcar | Rants | Polkas (Wards Brae/Rose Tree/Bonny Breast Knot) |
Notes -
1. The only traditional dance we know that comes from our neck of the woods
2. A dance by Trefor Owen, one time Wakefield Morris Man, and still a clog maker of high repute!
3. Learnt from our mates Ripon City Morris
4. Our own dance, named after Westwood Chapel in Golcar where we used to practice a long, long time ago.
5 To clarify the issue for 'serious' musicians, the term 'Jig' or 'Polka' is used very loosely to define whether a tune is 6/8, or 4/4. The odd 2/4 may creep in as a 4/4 in disguise but who cares!
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