Red Herring Border Dances

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Note: Dances created by Red Herring Morris are published under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. This license gives you permission to perform, share, distribute, adapt and/or modify our dances, provided that you credit Red Herring Morris as the author, and that you share our dances with others under the same terms. The copyrights for dances created by other teams or individuals are retained by those teams or individuals.

Dances with titles that are crossed out are not in Red Herring Morris's current repertoire.

This page contains dance descriptions only. A separate version of this page plus tunes (Red Herring Border Dances With Tunes) is also available. A more compact collection of tunes is also available, but it is from 2012 and is missing tunes for dances we've added to our repertoire since then.

For PDF and MIDI files of individual tunes, follow the links for the individual dances.

Alexandra Park Road Stick Dance No. 22.5

Tune: Durham Rangers Set: 6 dancers, 32“ (long) sticks, single steps Source: New St. George Morris, with modifications by the Bassett Street Hounds Chorus: wind up and circle on beats 7-8. Dib back on beat 1, then partner F-B (beats 2-3), back (4), partner (5-6), back (7-8). Then swapping: circle around person diagonally to left, clashing on beat 3, then continue circling to partner's place by beat 6. Repeat entire chorus. Figures: Once to Yourself (back up on beats 1-4), Cross Into Rounds, Interlocks, Solar System, Spaghetti Junction, Cross Into Rounds & Off

Belligerent Blue Jay

Tune: Carpathian Tune Set: 4 dancers, 28“ (medium) sticks, single steps Source: Bassett Street Hounds Chorus: Figures: linear bombast, linear hey, square hey, solar system

Border Crossing

Tune: I Fought the Law, by Sonny Curtis Set: 5 dancers, 32“ (long) sticks, single steps Source: Red Herring / Jeff Bigler, Rickland Powell & Jeff Keller (2007) Chorus: motorcycle hey for 5, then center clashes with #1, #2 (“I fought the law”), #1-4 clash with center (“and the law won”), center clashes with #3, #4 (“I fought the law”), #1-4 clash with center (“and the law won”) Figures: “barrier” (or “barricade”) rounds, out to the left (“choo-choo”), (square) bombast, starburst, tosses

Bromsberrow Heath

Tune: Cock of the North Set: long line, in pairs; 21“ (short) sticks; skipping (single steps) Source: traditional (via Mystic Garland) Chorus: stick F-B for 16 bars (32 beats) Sequence: hey for 8 bars (32 beats), chorus ; repeat getting gradually faster ad defessum.

Captain Bike

Tune: Captain Bike, by Jeff Bigler Set: 8 dancers; 32“ (long) sticks; skipping (single steps) Source: Red Herring / Jeff Bigler (2008) Chorus: (Bar 1) clash with partner. (Bar 2) clash with partner while crossing to partner's place. (Bar 3) Turn right and clash with partner. (Bars 4-6) Move along the line to the next person & clash. When you reach the end, loop around & head back toward the top of the set. (Bars 7-8) turn out from middle to face partner. Repeat. Figures: dance on & rounds (with sticks in, like spokes of a wheel), cross & swing, J-loops, "motorcycle" hey & off

Charlotte's Web

Tune: Charlotte's Web by Char Morgan (2009) Set: 6 dancers; 32“ (long) sticks; skipping (single steps) Source: Red Herring / Jeff Bigler, Rickland Powell & Rex Powell (2011) Chorus: 1. first triangles alternate toss (counterclockwise) and dib while second corners alternate dib & clash (all-in). 2. First triangle clash through (advance one spot in triangle) 3. second triangle clash through (advance one spot in triangle) 4. Everyone spins to advance one spot around circle. Repeat. (All spins over left (non-stick) shoulder.) Figures: asterisk on, there & back again, grand right & left, egg beaters, wake up & off

The Circle Dance

Tune: Glise à Sherbrook (The Big Ship)1) MOTley Morris often used a medley (MP3 played by Jeff Bigler & A.J. Liuba) Set: 4 dancers; 28 ¼“(medium) sticks2) The Not For Joes use shorter sticks ; skipping (single steps) Source: (Connecticut) Not For Joes Chorus: stick neighbor-partner-high/low, partner-neighbor low/high; repeat. Figures: dance on & rounds, staggered back-to-back, (diagonal) hey, starburst, (square) bombast, double time or rounds & off

Clockwork

Tune: The Bear Dance Set: 4 dancers, two 28 ¼“ (medium) sticks per dancer, single steps Source: Red Herring / Rickland Powell, Rex Powell & Jeff Bigler (2012) Chorus: clash self, clash circle, self, basket (right, forehand), self (facing out), basket (left, backhand), move one place counterclockwise, 1st corners (places, not faces) self, cross (with clash), 2nd corners self, cross (with clash), self, basket clash (left, backhand), move one place counterclockwise (back to home spot) Figures: dance on (corners), square hey, escapement, (square) bombast, tosses

Countercurrents

Tune: Joy by Jeff Bigler (2008; revised 2022) Set: 6 dancers; 28 ¼“(medium) sticks; skipping (single steps) Source: Red Herring / Jeff Bigler, Laura Bigler, Jon Pfeffer and Rex Powell (2017; revised 2022) Chorus: middles (#3 and #4) dance clockwise, clashing with stationary dancers on the downbeats of bars 1, 3, 5, and 7 as they pass. Everyone else starts with #1 clashing with #3, #6 clashing with #4, and #2 and #5 tossing diagonally across the set. Then the inner 4 dancers rotate one person to the left and clash forehand-backhand-forehand, then rotate left again and clash outwards or toss. Continue the pattern. Figures: grand right & left on, hex bomb (hexagonal bombast), staggered starburst, through & throw, triangles off

Dawley

Tune: Return from the Waterside, by Andy Anderson Set: 8 dancers; 21“ (short) sticks; skipping (single steps) Source: Shropshire Bedlams / John Kirkpatrick Chorus: EITHER clash with partner while stepping in place 1-2-123-, 1-2-123-, 123-123-, 1234567- OR clash (standing still) L L CL CR, R R CR CL, L CL CR R, CR CL L CL Figures: single hey, hey in pairs, circular hey, Lichfield hey

Donkey Riding

Tune: Riding on a Donkey, traditional work song (ca. 1857) Source: Red Herring / Ani Hopkins (2023) Chorus: clash partner (F-B), neighbor (F-B-H), basket clash high & pass, basket clash low after passing. Repeat. Figures: asterisk on, there & back again, bombast, pulsar, dragon's bane (with clashes), asterisk off

The Drunken Idiot

Tune: The Idiot, by Stan Rogers Lyrics: John Barleycorn, by Jon Berger Set: 4 dancers; 21“ (short) sticks; skipping (single steps) Source: Bassett Street Hounds / Karin Howe & Mike Miller Chorus: B(H)-F(L) in pairs, B(H), F(L) in square; 4x Figures: once to yourself/rounds, linear hey/square hey, linear bombast/square bombast

Five in a Bed

Tune: Five Inna Bed, by Andy Anderson (Red Stags) Set: 5 dancers; 29” (medium) sticks; skipping (single steps) Source: Red Stags / James Allwright Chorus: Set is always 4 dancers + 1 fool. Clash x-x-xxx- ground, then low, then high. “Roll over” (spin over your right shoulder) to the next place clockwise in the set. (#1 becomes the fool). Figures: dance on & rounds, cross & swing, “dog bones”, square hey, stars, bombast

The Flower in the Snow

Tune: Julian of Norwich Set: 6 dancers, two 28 ¼“ (medium) sticks per dancer, single steps Source: Red Herring / Jeff Bigler (2015) Chorus: 1st triangles clash self, right (basket), self, left (basket), spin & pass through beyond corner's place, loop & return to corner's place. 2nd triangles clash self, left (with right stick of dancer to your right), self while looping behind that dancer, left (with left stick of same dancer), twirl twice to advance one more place around the set. You are now corner-crossed (and triangles are switched). Repeat chorus to get home. Figures: dance on (triangles), grand right & left, solar system, vines

The Fool and the Bag

Tune: The Fool and the Bag, by Jeff Bigler Set: 8 dancers (can be done for 4); 29” (medium) sticks; skipping (single steps) Source: Red Herring / Jeff Bigler (2009) Chorus: clash, toss & cross, clash, clash 3x, clash, toss & cross, clash forehand-backhand-forehand Figures: dance on/rounds, cross & swing, starburst, "motorcycle" hey (or (square) bombast if done for 4) & off

Four Lane End

Tune: Four Lane End (MP3 played by Jeff Bigler), by John Kirkpatrick ? Set: 4 dancers; 28 ¼“ (medium) sticks3) many other teams use 19” ; bedlam stepping (step-hop-step-hop run-run-run-hop) Source: Shropshire Bedlams / John Kirkpatrick Chorus: sticking sequence by dancer #1, then #2, #3, #4: left-middle-right-middle-left-middle-right then forehand-back for next dancer to start sequence. End with repeated forehand-backhand, alternating between neighbor & partner. Figures: dance on & rounds, high-low, multiples, turn & toss, tosses

The Impossible Dance

Tune: William Taylor's Tabletop Hornpipe, by William Taylor Set: 6 dancers, 32“ (long) sticks, single steps Source: Boggart's Breakfast Chorus: spin & toss. Repeat. Figures: hot cross buns, collapse the set, swiss roll, spotted dick

Jolly Roger

Tune: Üsküdara Gideriken (traditional Turkish song) Set: 6 dancers, 28 ¼“ (medium) sticks, single steps Source: Beltane Border Morris (via YouTube video), with modifications by Red Herring Chorus: middles clash forehand-backhand with 1st corners, then spin over left shoulder and clash forehand-backhand-forehand with 2nd corners. Then spin over left shoulder back to 1st corners. Repeat a total of 4 times. Figures: square hey, implode & explode, solar system, (square) bombast, rounds & off

Mairie and Fiona's Wedding

Tune: Mairi's Wedding (traditional) Set: 4 dancers, 28 ¼“ (medium) sticks(?), single steps Source: Snowbelt Morris Chorus: (needs description) Figures: double hey, pinwheel, bent rounds, linear hey, binary hey

Mister Dolly

Tune: George Green's College Hornpipe, by George Green Set: 4 dancers; 21“ (short) or 28 ¼” (medium) sticks; skipping (single steps) Source: Red Stags / Andy Anderson Chorus: clash G-G-PPP4) G = ground; P = partner; L = left; R = right [low], R-L-PPP [high], repeat Figures: cross & swing, J-loops, mini-brook, dragon's bane, rounds (with sounds) & off

Moonstruck Marrow

Tune: Moonstruck Marrow, by George Martin Fell Brown Set: 8 dancers; 29“ (medium) sticks; skipping (single steps) Source: Red Herring / George Martin Fell Brown (2009) Chorus: 1. Outside four go 1/4 of the way around CCW while middle four go 3/4 around CW; all clash. (Set is now rotated 90°.) 2. Top & bottom sets of four each go half-way around CCW; all clash. Repeat steps 1 & 2 three more times. Figures: dance on/grand right & left, linear bombast (for 8), (slow) spaghetti junction, zipper hey & off

Morning Glory

Tune: Morning Glory, (MP3 played by Jeff Bigler) by Andy Anderson Set: 4 or 6 dancers; 21“ (short) sticks; skipping (single steps) Source: Red Stags / Andy Anderson (1991) Chorus: “four” (1-2-123 four times); “1-move-2” (1-2-123, move, 1-2-123, 1-2-123) Sequence: once to yourself, “four”, hey, “1-move-2”, cross & swing, “1-move-2”, hey, “1-move-2”, J-loops, “1-move-2”, hey, “four” & out with a “Hoy!”

The Ockington Stick Dance (Drowsy Maggie)

Tune: Drowsy Maggie (slightly modified) Set: 4 dancers; 28 ¼“ (medium) sticks; skipping (single steps) Source: Ockington Morris / Robert Harris (via Mike Miller / Bassett Street Hounds) Chorus: clash stick into the pile in the center center (on each beat), #1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4, Wump-Wump-Wump (ground). Figures: rounds, back-to-back (clash on beats #2 & 6), samurai (clash on beats #2 & 5), inside circle (clash on beats #1, 3, 5, & 7), square hey (clash forehand across, backhand up & down), right & left (clash on beats #1, 2, 3, 5, 6, & 7)

Over the Top

Tune: Over the Top (MP3 played by Jeff Bigler), by Jeff Bigler Set: 4 dancers; 32“ (long) sticks; skipping (single steps) Source: MOTley Morris / Jeff Bigler (2000) Chorus: (1) high-low while (2) dib & toss; then clash while dancing through to corner's space. Repeat with (2) high-low while (1) dib & toss. Figures: dance on & rounds, staggered back-to-back, J-loops, out-to-the-left, (square) bombast

Takking

Tune: Schottisch a Bethany Set: 6 dancers; 32“ (long) sticks; skipping (single steps) Source: Boggart's Breakfast Chorus: Clash across 3x. #1 & #6 cross over, #3 & #5 slide up, #2 & #4 slide down, clash 2x. Rotate new set 90 degrees so #1 & #6 clash (in middle) on beat 2. Reverse pattern. Repeat. Figures: rounds, zig-zag (cross over), hey (A music 2x), posts, through & off

Tinner's Rabbits

Tune: “Scotch Polka” (MP3 played by Jeff Bigler & A.J. Liuba) Set: groups of 3 dancers; 28 ¼“ (medium) sticks; skipping (single steps) Source: Martin Gosling, Grimspound Border Morris (brought to us via Orange Peel Morris) Chorus: clash around triangle: (1-2, 2-3, 3-1) 4 times, then everyone strike the ground 3 times. Figures: #1 hey (around #2 and #3), left-hand star, #2 hey, “rabbit traps”, #3 hey, rounds & off (If dancing with multiple sets, all sets join into one large rounds)

Twiglet

Tune: Thème Vannetais, by Tri Yann Set: 5 dancers; 32“ (long) sticks; skipping (single steps) Source: Boggart's Breakfast Chorus: (B music) While stepping, middle (#5) dibs ground, then clashes 2x with #1, then repeat with #2, #3, and #4 (anticlockwise around the set). Meanwhile, each of dancers #1-4 (while stepping) dibs the ground and then either clashes once or raises the stick in the air. The order for #1 is: clash with center, raise stick in the air, clash left (once), clash right (once). #2 starts clashing right, #3 starts clashing left, and #4 starts raising stick in the air. Sequence is repeated twice. Figures: (A music) once-to-yourself (A), cross over (B), reels (B), weave (B2), cross & pass (B), surreal (B), aardvark (instead of chorus)(A2), rounds & off (B vamp).

Weobley Hankie

Tune: Flowers of Edinburgh Set: 4 dancers; hankies; skipping (single steps) Source: via Debbie Lewis Chorus: dancers #1-#4 each wave & bow, then “small rounds” Figures: large rounds, star, crossover (“dog bones”), bombast, large rounds & out with a “Hoy!”

Woodhouse Bog

Tune: The Keel Row (MP3 played by Jeff Bigler) Set: 8 dancers; 28 ¼“ (medium) sticks; skipping (single steps) Source: Nick Beck of the Ironmen Chorus: H-L-H-L-H-L-FBF (all but last FBF while stepping) Figures: forearm swings, star, casting (mirror) hey, motorcycle hey, casting hey, star, forearm swings, final chorus speeding up and ending with one dancer chasing the other off