Circle Dances for Couples

In all of these dances (unless marked otherwise), the man will be standing to the left of the woman he is partnering. Men offer their hands palm up to the women, generally aim to have the hands be at the woman's waist. For more explanation on the basic steps, see Basic Figures.

Gathering Peasecods

Circle Dance For Couples.
All form a circle as couples, each woman on partner's right.

A1
Take hands, 8 Slip Steps left, drop hands, Turn Single.
A2
Take hands, 8 Slip Steps right, drop hands, Turn Single.

B1
Men step into the center of the set, take hands, 8 Slip Steps left, turn over left shoulder as they return to place.
B2
Women step into the center of the set, take hands, 8 Slip Steps left, turn over left shoulder as they return to place.

C1
Men Double In, clap. Men Double Out while women Double In, clap. Women Double Out while men Double In and Reverence, turn over left shoulder coming out into place.
Pause
C2
Women Double In, clap. Women Double Out while men Double In , clap. Men Double Out while women Double In and reverence, turn over left shoulder coming out into place.

A1
Side right with partner, Turn Single.
A2
Side left with partner, Turn Single.

B1
Women step into the center of the set, take hands, 8 Slip Steps left, turn over left shoulder as they return to place.
B2
Men step into the center of the set, take hands, 8 Slip Steps left, turn over left shoulder as they return to place.

C1
Women Double In, clap. Women Double Out while men Double In , clap. Men Double Out while women Double In and reverence, turn over left shoulder coming out into place.
Pause
C2
Men Double In, clap. Men Double Out while women Double In, clap. Women Double Out while men Double In and reverence, turn over left shoulder coming out into place.

A1
Arm right with partner, Turn Single.
A2
Arm left with partner, Turn Single.

B1
Men step into the center of the set, take hands, 8 Slip Steps left, turn over left shoulder as they return to place.
B2
Women step into the center of the set, take hands, 8 Slip Steps left, turn over left shoulder as they return to place.

C1
Men Double In, clap. Men Double Out while women Double In, clap. Women Double Out while men Double In and reverence, turn over left shoulder coming out into place.
Pause
C2
Women Double In, clap. Women Double Out while men Double In , clap. Men Double Out while women Double In and reverence, turn over left shoulder coming out into place.

End Gathering Peasecods


Jenny Pluck Pears

3 (or 6*) Couple Circle Dance
Designate one couple as Couple1, number other couples clockwise.

A1
Join hands in a circle, 8 Slip Steps left, drop hands, turn to face your partner, Set and Turn.
A2
Rejoin hands, 8 Slip Steps right, drop hands, turn to face your partner, Set and Turn.

B1
Couple1 takes right hands. Man1 guides Woman1 into the center of the set in four steps while he moves in front of her (keep hands). End with Woman1 facing out and Man1 facing Woman1.
B2
Couple2 takes right hands. Man2 guides Woman2 into the center of the set in four steps while he moves in front of her (keep hands). Woman2 should end up very near Woman1.
B3
Couple3 takes right hands. Man3 guides Woman3 into the center of the set in four steps while he moves in front of her (keep hands). The Women should end up as a small inner circle facing their partners. All slowly reverence your partner (avoid the rump-bump in the center).

Pause for 4 drum beats - drop hands.

A1
Men circle clockwise around the women while skipping and flirting with the women.
A2
Men reverse (turning away from the women so that the audience can join in the fun), and circle the women counter-clockwise skipping and flirting, ending in front of their partners.

B1, B2, B3
Each couple in turn takes left hands, man guides woman out of the center and back to the edge of the circle in 4 steps (keep hands). Start with Couple1, then Couple2, then Couple3. All slowly reverence your partner.

Pause for 4 drum beats - drop hands.

A1
Side right with partner, Set and Turn.
A2
Side left with partner, Set and Turn.

B1, B2, B3
Each couple in turn takes left hands, woman guides man into the center of the set (he faces out) in four steps while she moves in front of him (keep hands). Start with Couple1, then Couple2, then Couple3. All slowly reverence your partner.

Pause for 4 drum beats - drop hands.

A1
Women circle men clockwise while skipping and flirting.
A2
Women reverse away from the men (sharing the fun with the audience). Women circle men counter-clockwise while skipping and flirting, ending in front of their partners.

B1, B2, B3
Each couple in turn takes right hands, woman guides man out of the center and back to the edge of the circle in 4 steps (keep hands). Start with Couple1, then Couple2, then Couple3. All slowly reverence your partner.

Pause for 4 drum beats - drop hands.

A1
Arm right with partner, Set and Turn.
A2
Arm left with partner, Set and Turn.

B1, B2, B3
Each couple in turn takes left hands, man guides woman into the center of the set in four steps while he moves in front of her (keep hands). Start with Couple1, then Couple2, then Couple3. All slowly reverence your partner.

Pause for 4 drum beats - drop hands.

A1
Men circle clockwise around the women while skipping and flirting.
A2
Men reverse and circle the women counter-clockwise skipping and flirting, ending in front of their partners.

B1, B2, B3
Each couple in turn takes left hands, man guides woman out of the center and back to the edge of the circle in 4 steps (keep hands). Start with Couple1, then Couple2, then Couple3. All slowly reverence your partner.

*if doing 6 couples, number 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3 and yielding 2 Couple1, 2 Couple2, 2Couple3.

End Jenny Pluck Pears


Official's Bransle

Circle Dance for Couples
All form a circle, woman on the partner's right side.
The music can go AABB or AAB or ABB depending on what the musician's and dancers want to do. AABB is the most common with AAB being second.

A
All join hands. Double bransle left, double bransle right. Often people will do a stamping motion (with some slide) on the close step.
B
All slip step left 6 steps. Drop hands. Men stop women continue for 2 more steps ending up in front of their partner with their hands on their waist. Men put their hands on the Women's hands. Women kick three times and jump up and slightly left. Men help guide the jump (it looks like they are throwing the Women but that is not recommended.
Repeat as desired. Usually around 4-5 times through the dance. End Official's Bransle


Sellinger's Round

Circle Dance For Couples
All form a circle, woman on partner's right side.

A1
Take hands, 8 Slip Steps left.
A2
Take hands, 8 Slip Steps right.

B1
Single Forward, Single Forward, clap. Double Back, face partner, Set and Turn.
B2
Single Forward, Single Forward, clap. Double Back, face partner, Set and Turn.

A1
All take hands, crouching down a bit, Double Forward into the center, standing up as you go, raise hands and yell 'Hey', Double Back.
A2
Crouching down a bit, Double Forward into the center, standing up as you go, raise hands and yell 'Hey', Double Back.

B1
Single Forward, Single Forward, clap. Double Back, face partner, Set and Turn.
B2
Single Forward, Single Forward, clap. Double Back, face partner, Set and Turn.

A1
Side right with partner.
A2
Side left with partner.

B1
Single Forward, Single Forward, clap. Double Back, face partner, Set and Turn.
B2
Single Forward, Single Forward, clap. Double Back, face partner, Set and Turn.

A1
Arm right with partner.
A2
Arm left with partner.

B1
Single Forward, Single Forward, clap. Double Back, face partner, Set and Turn.
B2
Single Forward, Single Forward, clap. Double Back, face partner, Set and Turn.

End Sellinger's Round

Washerwoman's Bransle

Circle of Couples

All join hands

A
Double bransle left, double bransle right
Double bransle left, double bransle right
Turn face your partner
B
All single bransle left and right while person facing clockwise shakes finger in scolding manner at partner
All single bransle left and right while person facing counter-clockwise shakes finger in scolding manner at partner
C
All turn to reform circle, double bransle left while clapping 4 times, join hands and double bransle right
Double bransle left while clapping 4 times, carefully kick while turning in a circle

End Washerwoman Bransle



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