This page contains dance descriptions only. For tunes, follow the links for individual dances.
Bean Setting
Style: Headington (Cotswold) Tune: Bean Setting Dancers: 6 Sticks: one 19“ (short) stick Stepping: Headington single-steps, foot-together-jump Source: traditional Chorus: dib-dib-clash (across, low), dib-dib-clashes: 1→3 3→5 5→6 6→4 4→2 2→1 across (high). Repeat? Sequence: foot up & up, chorus, crossover, chorus, back-to-back, chorus, whole hey, chorus & all up.
The Blue-Eyed Stranger
Style: Headington (Cotswold) Tune: The Blue-Eyed Stranger or Brighton Camp (The Headington Quarry Morris Men have used both tunes) Dancers: 6 Hankies: bagged Stepping: Headington double-steps, cross-backs, foot-together-jump Source: traditional Chorus: sidestep right (“crossback” hankies), sidestep left (“crossback” hankies), double-step, 2 plain capers, half-hey. Repeat. Sequence: foot up & up, chorus, crossover, chorus, back-to-back, chorus & all in
Constant Billy
Style: Headington (Cotswold) Tune: Constant Billy Dancers: 6 Sticks: two 19“ (short) sticks Stepping: Headington double-steps, cross-backs, foot-together-jump Source: Lionel Bacon, A Handbook of Morris Dances Chorus: sticking together-right-together-left-together-right-left-right, half hey. Repeat. Sequence: once to yourself, foot up & up, chorus, cross over, chorus, back-to-back, chorus, whole hey, chorus & all up
Getting Upstairs
Style: Headington (Cotswold) Tune: Getting Upstairs Dancers: 6 Hankies: bagged Stepping: Headington double-steps, cross-backs, foot-together-jump Source: traditional Chorus: 2 plain capers (“crossback” hankies), double-step, 2 plain capers (“crossback” hankies), double-step, half-hey. Repeat. Sequence: foot up & up, chorus, crossover, chorus, back-to-back, chorus & all in
Haste to the Wedding
Style: Headington (Cotswold) Tune: Haste to the Wedding Dancers: 6 Hankies: bagged Stepping: Headington double-steps, cross-backs, foot-together-jump Source: traditional Chorus: 3 bars sidesteps (R-L-R) with arms down-up, foot-together-jump; half-hey, but with stepping: 2 plain capers (R-L) with arm circles, double-step, cross-backs, foot-together-jump; repeat Sequence: foot up & up, chorus, crossover, chorus, back-to-back, chorus & all in
Hunt the Squirrel
Style: Headington (Cotswold) Tune: Hunt the Squirrel Dancers: 6 Sticks: one 19“ (short) stick Stepping: Headington double-steps, cross-backs, foot-together-jump Source: Lionel Bacon, A Handbook of Morris Dances Chorus: 2\ bars sticking: OT/EB1) ET/OB OT/EB ET/OB bar #3: two steps back (bowing), bar #4: caper and clash (tips). Repeat. Sequence: once to yourself, foot up & up, chorus, cross over, chorus, back-to-back, chorus, whole hey, chorus & all up
Laudnum Bunches
Style: Headington (Cotswold) Tune: Laudnum Bunches Dancers: 6 Hankies: bagged Stepping: Headington double-steps, cross-backs, foot-together-jump Source Sharp Morris Book I Bacon A Handbook of Morris Dances Chorus: each corner meet (2\ double steps), cross (2\ double steps or 2\ whole capers; see below), 4\ plain capers (arm circles) & back to place. D.F. are #1 & #2: double steps; #3 & #4: whole capers Sequence: once to yourself, foot up & down, chorus/double-steps, cross over, chorus/double-steps, back-to-back, chorus/whole capers, whole-hey, chorus/whole capers & all-in
Oak Apple Day
Style: Headington (Cotswold) Tune: The Twenty-Ninth of May Dancers: 6 Hankies: bagged Stepping: Headington double-steps, cross-backs, foot-together-jump Source: Oak Apple Morris via Damaris Rosenow Chorus: #1 & #3: “birdcage”: #1, 2, 5, & 6 dance clockwise around the set while #3 & #4 dance around each other (like a whole gyp) in the center counter-clockwise; half hey. Repeat. #2 & #4: “cannons” or “explode”: 4 double steps.
Sequence: once to yourself, foot up, chorus/birdcage, crossover, chorus/cannons, back-to-back, chorus/birdcage, whole hey, chorus/cannons & all-in
Rigs O'Marlow
Style: Headington (Cotswold) Tune: Rigs O'Marlow Dancers: 6 Sticks: one 19“ (short) stick Stepping: Headington single-steps, foot-together-jump Source: Lionel Bacon, A Handbook of Morris Dances Chorus: sticking while hopping: bar #1: 4 hops L–L–L–L; on last two hops, masters strike OT→EB OT→EB bar #2: 4 hops R–R–R–R; on last two hops, apprentices strike ET→OB ET→OB bar #3: 4 hops L–L–L–L; on last two hops, masters strike OT→EB OT→EB bar #4: 4 hops L–R–L–R; strike ET→OB OT→EB ET→OB clash (across) Repeat. Sequence: once to yourself, foot up & up, chorus, cross over, chorus, back-to-back, chorus, whole hey, chorus & all up
Tobin's Favorite
Style: Headington (Cotswold) Tune: Tobin's Favorite Dancers: 6 Hankies: bagged Stepping: Headington double-steps, cross-backs, foot-together-jump Source: Damaris Rosenow Chorus: each cross on 4\ double steps or 2\ whole capers, then sidestep right, sidestep left, 4\ plain capers D.F. are #1 & #2: double steps; #3 & #4: whole capers Sequence: once to yourself, foot up & down, chorus/double steps, cross over, chorus/double steps, back-to-back, chorus/whole capers, whole-hey chorus/whole capers & all-in
Trunkles
Style: Headington (Cotswold) Tune: Trunkles Dancers: 6 Hankies: bagged Stepping: Headington double-steps, cross-backs, foot-together-jump Source: traditional Chorus: each corner challenge (3~double steps, stamp & kick corner's foot); then each corner cross and back to center on distinctive figure, then cross-backs, FTJ back to place. D.F. are #1: double steps; #2: sidesteps; #3 & #4: whole capers Sequence: once to yourself, foot up & down, challenge, chorus/double-steps, cross over, challenge, chorus/sidesteps, back-to-back, challenge, chorus/whole capers, whole-hey, challenge chorus/whole capers & all-in
Bacca Pipes
Style: Headington (Cotswold) Tune: Bacca Pipes Dancers: 1 or 2 Equipment: bagged hankies, crossed clay pipes Stepping: Headington single-steps, cross-backs, foot-together-jump Source: Cecil Sharp, The Morris Book, Lionel Bacon, A Handbook of Morris Dances Setup: the pipes are set up as shown below. Dance positions are numbered 1-8, with the dancer's head facing in the direction of the >. Toe/heel taps occur in positions A-D. (The image is from The Morris Book, by Cecil Sharp.) Distinctive Figures: Sequence:
