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: , , , ,

Detailed Description

This dance was written circa 2000 by Jeff Bigler for MOTley Morris.

Chorus

Beat 1: #1 & #4 clash high while #2 and #3 dib Beat 2: #1 & #4 clash low while #2 and #3 toss Beat 3: #1 & #4 clash high while #2 and #3 dib Beat 4: #1 & #4 clash low while #2 and #3 toss Beats 5-8: dance through the set, all four dancers passing their corner by the right shoulder with an all-in clash as they pass on the “and” after beat 5. The dancers have now changed places with their corners.

Repeat the chorus, this time with #1 & #4 dibbing and tossing, and #2 and #3 clashing high-low. At the end of the chorus, the dancers are back in their original positions.

Figures

Dance On & Rounds

The dancers enter from the sidelines. When they get to the center, they continue in a circle, forming the set in time for the chorus.

Staggered Back-to-Back

Beats 1-2: first corners (dancers #1 and #4) cross by the right shoulder. Beats 3-4: second corners (dancers #2 and #3) cross by the right shoulder. Beats 5-6: first corners return (backwards), passing by the left shoulder. Beats 7-8: second corners return (backwards), passing by the left shoulder. Beats 9-10: first corners (dancers #1 and #4) cross by the left shoulder. Beats 11-12: second corners (dancers #2 and #3) cross by the left shoulder. Beats 13-14: first corners return (backwards), passing by the right shoulder. Beats 15-16: second corners return (backwards), passing by the right shoulder.

J-Loops

Beat 1 (right foot): dancers step in place Beat 2 (left foot): dancers surge forward to just past their partner Beat 3 (right): dancers slide to the right, passing behind their partner Beat 4 (left): dancers move slightly backward into a single straight line Beat 5 (right): dancers move backward, with the right foot crossing behind the left so that the motion is diagonally back toward their original place. Beats 6-8: dancers pass by the right shoulder to their partner's place, then turn around over the stick (right) shoulder to face their partner.

The figure repeats on beats 9-16, with the dancers ending up back in their original positions.

Out to the Left

Each dancer turns 90º to the left (starting from facing center) and dances for beats 1-2, then turns 180º (over the right shoulder) and backs up (moving in the same direction but facing the opposite way) on beats 3-4. Then the dancers turn slightly so that when they move in, they will pass their corner by the right shoulder. The dancers come in on beats 5-8, clashing with everyone on the “and” between beats 7 and 8.

Then the dancers continue forward on beats 9-10, turning again over the right shoulder and continuing in the same direction but backward on beats 11-12, then coming in on beats 13-16, clashing with each other again on the “and” between beats 15 and 16.

(Square) Bombast

We sometimes describe this as “hookers and sliders”. On beats 1-4, the dancers in positions 1 and 4 (“sliders”) move straight along the sides of the set, #1 heading for position #3, and #4 heading for position #2. The dancers in positions 2 and 3 (“hookers”) hook around each other (and also around #5), with #2 ending up in position #1 and #3 ending up in position #4. On beats 5-8, the same thing happens. Note that the dancers who were “sliders” on beats 1-4 are now “hookers”, and the dancers who were “hookers” on beats 1-4 are now “sliders”.

The same happens on beats 9-16, at which point the dancers are back in their original positions.

Tune

Over the Top (played by Jeff Bigler)