(A dance devised by Val Lefrere)
This is a dance for 4 using the large garlands and uses counts of 4. It is danced to ‘Bath Medley’. The step is skipping all the way through
“Garlands over” means each dancer is holding her own garland in both hands over her head.
“Garlands between” means each garland is shared between 2 dancers.
Walk on in pairs, 1 and 2, 3 and 4, to form a diamond with garlands over and white ribbon in left hand
Right and Left hand Stars:
4 skips for right-hand star
4 skips to cast out and make a left-hand star with
4 skips for left-hand star, end facing inwards
4 skips to change to garlands between.
Over and Under 1:
4 skips – 1 and 2 dance towards 3and 4 passing their garlands over 3 and 4 who dance towards 1 and 2 passing their garlands under – dancers facing out of the set.
4 skips dancers move forward
4 skips dancers move backwards
4 skips – 1and 2 dance towards 3 and 4 passing their garlands under 3 and 4 who dance towards 1 and 2 passing their garlands over – all dancers back in home positions with garlands between
Right and Left hand Stars:
4 skips to change to garlands over
4 skips for right-hand star,
4 skips to cast out
4 skips for left-hand star
Double Arch:
4 skips 2 and 3 dance towards each other and face each other holding both garlands, while 1and 4 cast out
4 skips. 2 and 3 together with both garlands in left hands dance to the other’s position forming an arch, facing anti-clockwise, while 1and 3 skip clockwise round the outside of the set
4 skips. 1 and 4 meet under the arch, meet touching garlands, dance a half turn, while 2 and 3 dance on the spotw
4 skips 1and 4 turn single while 2 and 3 dance back to place – keeping white ribbon in left hand
The Rose:
4 skips each dancer brings her garland down to waist level in order 1,2,4,3, to make the ‘rose’ shape
4 skips in a circle
4 skips each dancer in turn swings her garland up, out , down and over , in order 3,4,2,1
4 skips to return to place
Right and Left hand Stars: as 1
Over and Under 2:
4 skips 1 and 2 dance towards 3and 4 passing their garlands over 3 and 4 who dance towards 1 and 2 passing their garlands under
4 skips 1 and 2 dance towards 3 and 4 passing their garlands under 3 and 4 who dance towards 1 and 2 passing their garlands over –
4 skips. 1 and 2 dance towards 3and 4 passing their garlands under 3 and 4 who dance towards 1 and 2 passing their garlands over –
4 skips. 1 and 2 dance towards 3 and 4 passing their garlands over 3 and 4 who dance towards 1 and 2 passing their garlands under –all dancers back in home positions with garlands between
Gazebo into Coronet
4 skips Dancers bring the ends of the 2 garlands that they are holding in front of them and dance round these ends, carefully crossing them once as they do so.
4 skips Each dancer reaches across to her right neighbour and takes the garland with the white ribbon -.
4 skips Dancers lift the garlands high,
4 skips dance round in the circle
4 skips Dancers then drop the garlands out,
4 skips lift them back and dance round
4 skips lower them and reach for the garland on dancer’s left releasing the garland on dancer’s right
4 skips dance half way round the ends of the garlands, facing out, with a garland in each hand, and open arms to finish the dance.
To walk off, 1 and 4 meet to make a line, 2 leads off with 3 taking up the rear