Category: Irish Set

Description:

This is a polka set from Baile Bhúirne, in West Cork.
Notes from Toss The Feathers by Pat Murphy. Reproduced with permission.
Additional notes from Set Dancing News. The normal polka step is used throughout, except when dancing the sidestep in the fourth figure. This movement is danced using the same sidestep, and following the same passing rule of moving left in front of and right behind your partner, as in ceili dances but omitting the ‘cut’ on the first step.

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Figure 1: The star (Polka)

72 Bars + 8 bar lead-in

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1	Everyone Lead around Holding crossed hands, all couples lead around anti-clockwise.	8
2	Star R and L Top couples join right hands with the side couple on their left and dance around (4b) then join left hands and dance back to place.	8
3	Quarterhouse In waltz hold, dance one step to the centre and back then turn clockwise to the position on their right. Repeat the movements three times, going around the set to home positions.	16
4	House around Dance around the house.	8
5	Star R and L Top couples join right hands with the couple on their right and dance around (4b) then join left hands, dancing back to place.	8
6	Repeat 3 and 4	24

Figure 2: Hand over the shoulder (Polka)

88 Bars + 8 bar lead-in

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1	Everyone Lead around	8
2	Lead Across Holding right hand in right with their partners, ladies dance anticlockwise to the centre and out, finishing outside their partners with the gents’ arm over their shoulder in lead around position (4b) then all couples lead around to the opposite side (4b).	8
3	Lead Back Still holding right hands, the ladies dance clockwise to the centre to face out (2 bars) then dance out anticlock wise into the lead around position again, with the gents’ arm over their shoulder (2b) and all lead around to their own side (4b).	8
4	Quarterhouse	16
5	House around	8
6	Repeat 2 to 5	40

Figure 3: Swing the ladies (Polka)

88 Bars + 8 bar lead-in

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1	Everyone Lead around	8
2	Swing Corner Gents swing the lady on their left.	8
3	Swing partner Swing their own partners.	8
4	Quarterhouse Dance the body, as in figure 1.	16
5	House around Dance around the house.	8
6	Repeat 2 to 5	40

Figure 4: Sidestep (Polka)

72 Bars + 8 bar lead-in

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1	Everyone Lead around	8
2	Sidestep Facing into the centre side by side, all dancers side step past their partner. Ladies dance to the left, passing in front of the gents who dance to the right (2b) and all dance two ‘threes’ (2b). All sidestep back in the opposite direction, with gents passing in front of the ladies this time (2b) and dance two ‘threes’ again (2b).	8
3	Quarterhouse Dance the body, as in figure 1.	16
4	House around Dance around the house.	8
5	Repeat 2 to 4	32

Figure 5: Half chain (Polka)

88 Bars + 8 bar lead-in

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1	Everyone Lead around	8
2	Half chain All dancers face their partners taking right hand in right. They dance a half-turn around each other so that the gents are facing to their left and ladies are facing to their right. Giving their left hand to the next person, they chain around to meet their partners at the opposite side.	8
3	Swing Swing in opposite positions.	8
4	Quarterhouse Starting and finishing in opposite positions, all couples dance the body as in figure 1.	16
5	House around Again starting and finishing in opposite positions, all dance around the house.	8
6	Repeat 2 to 5 Starting the half chain from the opposite position and ending back home.	40

Figure 6: Ladies in (Polka)

104 Bars + 8 bar lead-in

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1	Everyone Lead around	8
2	Ladies dance in Taking hands in a circle, the ladies advance and retire twice.	8
3	Gents R and L hand star The four gents join right hands in the centre and dance around clockwise (4 bars) then they join left hands and dance back to their own side.	8
4	Wheel Leaving their left hands in the centre, the gents place their right arms around their partners, who place their left hands on the gents’ shoulders and all lead anticlockwise around the set.	8
5	Quarterhouse Dance the body.	8
6	House around Dance around the house.	16
7	Repeat 2 to 6	48

Added on 2013-03-15 16:28:03.
Modified on 2013-11-19 20:52:46.
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