Fain I Would if I Could
A dance for 8, arranged in a square
This dance is distinguished by the Switches halfway through and and the end of each figure. All switches are 2-handed CW exchanges.
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Turn your back on the set, take hands with partner, out a double, turn in as you face each other and continue to face in (easy turn), in a double.
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Switch with neighbor. Switch across the line of dance, flow into square formation.
Start:
| 2 | 1 | ||
| 5 | 8 | ||
| 6 | 7 | ||
| 3 | 4 |
After first switch:
| 5 | 8 | ||
| 2 | 1 | ||
| 3 | 4 | ||
| 6 | 7 |
After second switch:
| 8 | 5 |
| 1 | 2 |
| 4 | 3 |
| 7 | 6 |
You are with your second partner after the second switch. Out a double, easy turn, in a double. Switch with neighbor and switch across the line of dance to end at home, flowing into square formation.
Second half start:
| 8 | 5 | ||
| 1 | 2 | ||
| 4 | 3 | ||
| 7 | 6 |
After first switch:
| 1 | 2 | ||
| 8 | 5 | ||
| 7 | 6 | ||
| 4 | 3 |
After second switch:
| 2 | 1 |
| 5 | 8 |
| 6 | 7 |
| 3 | 4 |
Tops and Bottoms (#1, 2, 3, 4) take hands, in a double, pick up sides, all back a double in lines.
| 5 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
| 6 | 3 | 4 | 7 |
Turn by 2 hands with second partner. 2 1
Reform square:
| 5 | 8 | ||
| 2 | 1 | ||
| 3 | 4 | ||
| 6 | 7 |
Sides (#5, 6, 7, 8) take hands, in a double, pick up Tops and Bottoms, all back a double in lines.
| 2 | 5 | 8 | 1 |
| 3 | 6 | 7 | 4 |
Turn by 2 hands with first (original) partner.
Reform original square set when you get home.
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Side partner. First set of switches. Side second partner. Second set of switches.
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Tops and Bottoms are chased out the top and bottom of the set by their neighbors, casting all the way around to back into place. Take hands and walk CW all the way around the 4-person ring.
| 2 | 1 |
| 5 | 8 |
| 6 | 7 |
| 3 | 4 |
Sides are chased out their side of the set by their neighbors, casting all the way around to back into place. Take hands and walk CW all the way around the 4-person ring.
| 5 | 2 |
| 6 | 3 |
| 1 | 8 |
| 4 | 7 |
Arm R partner. First set of switches. Arm L second partner. Second set of switches.
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Tops and Bottoms slow backhand ring CW in center 1-½ times to end at corner’s position WHILE Sides skip CCW 1-½ times around to end at corner’s position.
Exchange places with your neighbor by L shoulders.
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Sides slow backhand ring CW in center 1-½ times to home WHILE Tops and Bottoms skip CCW 1-½ times around to home. Allow time for everyone to get home before breaking center backhand ring. Honor all.
Confesse
A longways dance for 6 (mixed lines)
As the directions below will use numbers to identify dancers, here is the starting configuration:
| 1 | 2 |
| 3 | 4 |
| 5 | 6 |
All take hands in line, forward a double and back, twice
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Middles move to their R (#3 is between #5 and #6, and #4 is between #1 and #2), taking hands also with the person on their L, out a double up/down the set (4 beats)
All turn around CW, in a double with hands (4 beats),
take 2 hands and exchange (4 beats)
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Out a double in lines with hands, all turn around CW, in a double with hands,
take 2 hands and exchange.
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All face Left (evens face odd line and odds turn around to face the same direction), take hands in lines and walk 8 steps. All turn around CW, return to set in 8 steps.
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All turn single CW.
#1 and #4 set away from each other and toward each other, leaning in to make a double-handed arch WHILE the other 4 dancers turn CCW. Then the 4 dancers ring quickly with hands under the arch around #4.
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All turn single CW.
#3 and #5 set away from each other and toward each other, leaning in to make a double-handed arch WHILE the other 4 dancers turn CCW. Then the 4 dancers ring quickly with hands under the arch around #3.
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All face Right (odds face even line and evens turn around to face the same direction), take hands in line and walk 8 steps. All turn around CW, return to set in 8 steps.
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#1 and #2 take hands facing up the set, likewise #5 and #6 take hands facing down the set, they walk out a double up/down the set, turn around by facing each other (Easy Turn), walk in a double WHILE #3 and #4 cast in a large circle to their CCW out of the set and back to home. #1, #2, #5, #6 take hands and ring CW back to home while #3 and #4 turn single CW and turn single CCW.
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Repeat entire figure, except #3 and #4 ring after their cast while #1, #2, #5, #6 turn single CW and turn single CCW.
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Take hands in lines, in a double and back, twice.
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#1 and #2 cast down the outside of the set WHILE #3 with #5 and #4 with #6 take hands and walk up a double. #3, #5, #4, #6 easy turn to take hands and form arches while walking down a double WHILE #1 and #2 walk up under the arches. Turn all the way around CW by 2 hands.
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#5 and #6 cast up the outside of the set WHILE #3 with #1 and #4 with #2 take hands and walk up a double. #3, #1, #4, #2 easy turn to take hands and form arches while walking down a double WHILE #5 and #6 walk up under the arches. Turn all the way around CW by 2 hands.
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Form the U shape, probably in #1-3-5-6-4-2 order, facing up and honoring as a curved line of six.
Argeers
A dance for 4; partners next to each other facing the other pair across the set line
Taking hands with partner, leap in (2 beats)
Taking 2 hands with neighbor, leap away from partner to move up/down set (2 beats),
Keeping 2 hands with neighbor, leap back down/up set (2 beats),
Leap back to place, taking R hand with neighbor (2 beats).
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R hand to neighbor, orbit 1-½ times to change places (8 beats, fast skipping)
R hand to partner, orbit 1-½ times to change places (8 beats, fast skipping)
R hand to neighbor, orbit 1-½ times to change places (8 beats, fast skipping).
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First corners cross by R shoulders while second corners turn single CW (4 beats)
Second corners cross by R shoulders while first corners turn single CW (4 beats)
Set and turn to partner (8 beats). Repeat crossing sequence.
In final set and turn figure you turn 1-½ times to face away from partner.
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Take hands with neighbor, out a double (up and down the set line)
Drop hands, back a double with Sail Arms (R arm swings all the way up in front and over on beat 3 to land in partner’s hand on beat 4.
Walk CW to place (4 beats), possible Odd courtesy turn for Even turn single CW.
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Take hands with partner, back a double, forward a double, set and turn to neighbor.
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Slip (shuttle) past partner with arms straight out to sides, evens in front of odds.
Slip (shuttle) past partner with arms straight out to sides, evens behind odds.
R hand with neighbor, walking around to place.
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Evens step forward, head toss/nod, turn single back to pace. Odds skip fast around neighbor by L shoulder, then partner by R shoulder (passing each other by L), end figure taking 2 hands with neighbor.
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Pairs move CW to partner’s position by moving across line of dance (leap for 2 beats), up/down line of dance (leap for 2 beats) so all 4 are lined up, continue up/down line of dance (leap for 2 beats), and return across line of dance (leap for 2 beats).
Set and turn to neighbor.
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Slip (shuttle) home, evens in front of odds. Half pousette moving with neighbor across line of dance and returning to home position.
Set and turn to neighbor.
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All face up, take hands with neighbor. Cast (8 beats) to invert the set, keeping it big.
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All face up, take hands with neighbor. Cast (8 beats) to invert the set back, keeping it big.
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Cross neighbor by R shoulders.
Cross partner by L shoulders with R Sail Back arm,
Odds move to their L as they give their partner a courtesy turn to end in a line of 4.
Honor all together, with hands.
* Difficulty: spicy
* Shape: pair facing pair
* Number of Dancers: 4