Sample Dances

Circassian Circle

Simple Dance
Bring a partner into a big circle.

  • Into the middle 4 steps and out 4 steps, twice.
  • Women go into middle, clap, and come back out; men do the same, turning to face partner as they come out.
  • All swing with partner, ending facing round the dance.
  • Promenade 8 steps anticlockwise.

To make the dance progressive, tell the men to pass on to woman in front at end of promenade.

Music: 32 bar jigs/reels
Listen to Circassian Circle by the Clarty Cloot Ceilidh Band.
View video clip of dance from dancilla.com the largest free online-resource of folk-dances.

Steamboat

A more complicated dance.
Bring a partner and make a long line of couples down the hall.

Start in lines of four facing down, 1st couple between 2nd. All link arms

  • Four abreast down the room and back (8 steps)
  • 1s down again this time followed by 2s; 1s turn and come up under arch made by 2s (moving back a bit). All finish in original places
  • RightHand star, LeftHand star
  • couples swing and change, going round each other anticlockwise one and a half times if possible. Swings can be cross-hand or elbow.

Music: hornpipes or similar
Listen to Steamboat from FSC Dance music (Dance 04 on Dance CD 1).