Duple Time Dance, a cornerstone of many folk and country dance traditions, offers a rhythmic and engaging experience for dancers of all levels. Characterized by its two-beat musical structure, duple time creates a lively and accessible foundation for a wide variety of dance figures and formations. This article will guide you through the fundamentals of duple time dance, focusing on duple minor dances and providing insights into popular examples.
Understanding Duple Minor Dances
Duple minor dances are a specific category within the broader world of set dances, typically performed in longways sets. In a longways set, couples are arranged in lines facing their partners, with men traditionally positioned to the left of their women. These dances are “minor” in the sense that they involve setlets – smaller groups of dancers within the larger longways formation – usually consisting of two couples.
A defining feature of duple minor dances is their progressive nature. Unlike dances where you remain with the same group throughout, duple minor dances involve movement up and down the set. “Ones” couples (typically those starting closer to the head of the set) progress downwards, while “twos” couples move upwards. Each repetition of the dance sequence brings dancers into a new setlet, providing opportunities to dance with different partners within the set. This dynamic progression adds a social and ever-changing element to the dance experience.
In duple minor dances, unless otherwise specified, men will offer their right hands, palm up, to the women, generally aiming for hand placement at waist level. For those new to these dance forms, understanding basic dance figures is essential. Resources like introductory guides to basic steps can be incredibly helpful in building a foundation for more complex duple time dances.
Let’s explore some popular examples of duple minor dances, each offering a unique blend of figures and musicality:
Childgrove
Childgrove is a duple minor longways dance, categorized as “improper,” which refers to the initial arrangement of couples not being in the typical “proper” order (men on one side, women on the other initially).
A1: Begin by siding right with your partner, moving to the right and back to place. Then, perform a back-to-back movement with your partner, passing right shoulders first.
A2: Side left with your corner (the person diagonally across in your setlet), moving to the left and back. Follow this with a back-to-back with your corner, passing left shoulders first.
B1: Execute a two-hand turn with your corner, completing one and a half rotations to end in their spot, facing into the setlet. Immediately proceed to a two-hand turn with your partner, rotating once around.
B2: In this figure, the “inactives” (Couple 2 initially) remain stationary. The “actives” (Couple 1 initially) perform a full figure eight around the inactives, starting above them in the set and with the active woman crossing in front of the inactive couple first.
End Childgrove
Dressed Ship
Dressed Ship is another engaging duple minor longways dance.
A1: The first diagonal pair (Man1 and Woman2) initiates the figure. They set to the left and right while moving forward on the diagonal into the setlet. Then, they set left and right again while moving backward to their original places. Conclude with a two-hand turn with your partner.
A2: The second diagonal pair (Man2 and Woman1) mirrors the A1 figure. They set left and right while moving forward diagonally into the setlet, then set left and right moving back to place. Finish with a two-hand turn.
B1: Couple 1 casts down the set (moves around Couple 2 and down), while Couple 2 simultaneously moves up. All dancers then join right hands with their partners. Set to the left and right, and the man turns his partner under his right arm.
B2: Couple 1 casts back up to their original place, while Couple 2 moves down. Again, all join right hands with partners, set left and right, and Man 1 turns Woman 1 under his arm as they move down, while Couple 2 casts up.
End Dressed Ship
Female Sailor
Female Sailor is a duple minor longways dance with distinctive traveling figures.
A1: Couple 1 leads up through Couple 2, moving outside the setlet above them. Then, Couple 1 casts back to their original place.
A2: Couple 1 leads down through Couple 2, moving outside the setlet below them. Couple 1 then casts back up to place.
B1: Couple 1 performs a half figure eight through Couple 2 below them. Following this, all dancers do a two-hand turn with their partner.
B2: Perform a back-to-back with your corner (the other people in your original setlet). Immediately follow with a two-hand turn with your corner.
C1: Back-to-back with your partner. Couple 1 then executes a half two-hand turn with their partner and casts down, while Couple 2 simultaneously performs a two-hand turn with their partner, moving upwards while turning.
End Female Sailor
Hole in the Wall
Hole in the Wall is a duple minor longways set dance where couples face each other. Form sets of four, taking hands from the top of the set. The couple closest to the head of the hall is designated Couple 1, and the other couple is Couple 2.
A1: Couple 1 reverences (bows or curtsies) to their partner, casts down around Couple 2, takes inside hands with their partner, leads up between Couple 2, and reverences partner again.
A2: Couple 2 mirrors Couple 1’s movements. They reverence their partner, cast up around Couple 1, take inside hands, lead down between Couple 1, and reverence partner again.
B1: The first diagonal pair (Man1 and Woman2) reverences, then changes places, passing left shoulders. Both diagonal pairs reverence.
B2: The second diagonal pair (Man2 and Woman1) changes places, passing left shoulders. Both diagonals reverence.
C: Take hands in a circle of four and circle halfway clockwise. Couple 1 drops hands, reverences their partner, and casts to Couple 2’s place, while Couple 2 leads up to Couple 1’s place. All dancers perform a small reverence to their new partner.
Repeat entire dance until music ends.
End Hole in the Wall
Jack’s Maggot
Jack’s Maggot is a duple minor longways set dance, starting with couples facing each other. Form sets of four, taking hands from the top of the set. Couple 1 is closest to the head of the hall, Couple 2 is the other couple.
A1: Man 1 moves between Woman 1 and Woman 2 to initiate a three-person hey with the women. He starts by heading around Woman 2.
A2: Woman 1 moves between Man 1 and Man 2 to perform a three-person hey with the men. She begins by heading around Man 2.
B1: Form a right-hand star with your setlet (all four dancers) and move approximately ¾ of the way around.
B2: Form a left-hand star and return to your original places.
C1: The first diagonal pair (Man1 and Woman2) crosses, leading with the left shoulder.
C2: The second diagonal pair (Man2 and Woman1) crosses, leading with the left shoulder.
D1: Take hands in a circle of four and circle halfway clockwise.
D2: Couple 1 drops hands and casts down to the next position, while Couple 2 (keeping inside hands) leads up into Couple 1’s position.
Repeat entire dance until music ends.
End Jack’s Maggot
Juice of Barley
Juice of Barley is a simpler duple minor longways set dance where couples face each other. Form sets of four, with Couple 1 closest to the head of the hall and Couple 2 the other couple.
A1: Perform a back-to-back movement with your partner.
A2: Execute a two-hand turn with your partner.
B1: Men perform a half figure eight through the women, with Man 1 leading. All dancers clap and circle hands-four clockwise.
B2: Women perform a half figure eight through the men, with Woman 1 leading. All dancers clap and circle hands-four clockwise.
Repeat until the music ends.
End Juice of Barley
Lilliburlero
Lilliburlero is a duple minor longways set dance with couples facing each other. Form sets of four, with Couple 1 closest to the head of the hall and Couple 2 the other couple.
A1: Couple 1 leads down between Couple 2 and casts back to their original place.
A2: Couple 2 leads up between Couple 1 and casts back to their original place.
A1: The first diagonal pair (Man1 and Woman2) changes places, leading with left shoulders. The second diagonal pair (Man2 and Woman1) changes places, leading with left shoulders.
A2: Face across the set and perform a double back step, followed by a double forward step, incorporating a turn single as part of the double forward movement.
A1: Pass your partner by the right shoulder, facing away from your corner. Pass your corner by the left shoulder, executing a double back step (moving back past each other), and face your partner.
A2: Perform three changes of a circular hey without hands to progress in the set.
End Lilliburlero
Mad Robin – 1686
Mad Robin, dating back to 1686, is a duple minor longways set dance. Couples face each other in sets of four, with Couple 1 closest to the head and Couple 2 the other couple.
A1: Man 1 turns Woman 2 by the right hand, then turns Woman 1 by the left hand halfway around. He continues across the top of the setlet and casts down to Man 2’s position, while Man 2 moves up.
A2: Woman 2 crosses down to Man 1 and turns him by the left hand once around. She then turns Man 2 by the right hand halfway (he continues the turn into his new place). She continues above the setlet and casts down into Woman 2’s spot, while Woman 1 moves up.
B1: Without Woman 1 pausing, Couple 1 performs a pattern similar to a back-to-back, but Woman 1 moves forward while Man 1 moves backward (face to face). They move up the set (Man 1 moving left and going behind Man 2, Woman 1 moving right and going between Couple 2). Then, the couple shifts to go down the set (Man 1 moving right and going between Couple 2, while Woman 1 moving to her left and going behind Woman 2). They maintain a face-to-face position throughout. Couple 1 then joins hands and does a two-hand turn.
B2: The same figure is repeated, but with Couple 2 active. Man 2 passes behind Man 1, below him, and up between Couple 1, while Woman 2 moves down between Couple 1, below Woman 1, then behind Woman 1. Couple 2 then performs a two-hand turn.
End Mad Robin
Mr. Isaac’s Maggot
Mr. Isaac’s Maggot is a duple minor longways set dance. Couples face each other in sets of four, with Couple 1 closest to the head and Couple 2 the other couple.
A1: Man 1 turns Woman 2 by the right hand, casts around Man 2, and returns to his place.
A2: Woman 1 turns Man 2 by the left hand, casts around Woman 2, and returns to her place.
B: Take inside hands with the same gender (Man 1 with Man 2, Woman 1 with Woman 2). Perform a double back step, double forward step, and turn single.
C: Perform three changes of a circular hey with hands, ending in a line facing up the set with Couple 1 in the center of the line (Man 2, Man 1, Woman 1, Woman 2).
D1: Double forward step, single back step. Couple 2 gates Couple 1 down the set to progress.
Repeat entire dance until music ends.
End Mr. Isaac’s Maggot
Take a Dance
Take a Dance is a duple minor longways set dance where couples face each other. Form sets of four, with Couple 1 closest to the head and Couple 2 the other couple.
A1: Couple 1 takes inside hands, leads down between Couple 2, casts back to place, performs a two-hand turn, and drops hands.
A2: Couple 2 takes inside hands, leads down between Couple 1, casts back to place, performs a two-hand turn, and drops outside hands, facing up the set.
B1: Couple 1 passes by the right shoulder and casts down below Couple 2.
B2: Couple 2 leads up to Couple 1’s original place, drops hands, and faces their partner.
C1: Couple 1 performs a half figure eight around Couple 2 (who are now above them).
C2: Perform three changes of a circular hey with hands.
End Take a Dance
Wakefield Hunt
Wakefield Hunt is a triple minor longways set dance. Set up with couples facing each other in setlets of three couples (hands-six from the head of the hall). Triple minor dances have a different progression pattern compared to duple minor dances.
A1: Man 1 casts around Man 2 (who moves up), performs a two-hand turn clockwise with Woman 3, and falls back into Man 2’s position.
A2: Woman 1 casts around Woman 2 (who moves up), performs a two-hand turn clockwise with Man 3, and falls back into Woman 2’s position.
B1: All dancers join hands in a circle of six and perform eight slip steps to the left. Keeping hands joined, perform eight slip steps to the right.
B2: Couple 3 (at the foot of the setlet) keeps inside hands with Couple 1 and gates them down and around the bottom of the set. Drop hands. Couple 1 then takes Couple 2 by inside hands. Couple 2 gates Couple 1 up and around the top of the set.
C1: Couple 1 and Couple 3 perform a right-hand star once around. Couple 1 and Couple 2 perform a left-hand star once around (no turn from the right to the left star for Couple 1).
C2: Couple 1 and Couple 3 perform three changes of a circular hey with hands. Couple 1 continues out of the 3rd change to cast around Couple 2 (from a different setlet) below them. Couple 2 moves up. If there are two inactive couples, Couple 1 needs to cast around both.
End Wakefield Hunt
Well Hall
Well Hall is a duple minor longways dance performed at a slow waltz tempo.
A1: Couple 1 turns by the right hand one and a half times, casts down while Couple 2 moves up. Couple 1 crosses to end in a proper position (men on one side, women on the other).
A2: Couple 2 turns by the right hand one and a half times, casts down while Couple 1 moves up. Couple 2 crosses to end in a proper position.
B1: First corners cross, then second corners cross. Circle clockwise halfway. Perform a cloverleaf turn single (top couple turns up the hall, bottom couple turns down).
B2: Second corners cross, then first corners cross. Circle clockwise halfway. Couple 1 casts down, and Couple 2 leads up.
End Well Hall
Zephirs and Flora
Zephirs and Flora is a duple minor longways set dance where couples face each other. Form sets of four, with Couple 1 closest to the head and Couple 2 the other couple.
A1: The first diagonal pair (Man1 and Woman2) performs a back-to-back, then takes right hands, then left hands, and turns halfway into each other’s place.
A2: The second diagonal pair (Man2 and Woman1) performs a back-to-back, then takes right hands, then left hands, and turns halfway into each other’s place.
B1: Couple 1 casts up, and Couple 2 moves down. Couple 1 performs a half figure eight through Couple 2.
B2: Couple 2 casts up, and Couple 1 moves down. Couple 2 performs a half figure eight through Couple 1.
End Zephirs and Flora
Embracing the Rhythm of Duple Time Dance
Duple time dances offer a rich and varied landscape for dancers to explore. From the intricate figures of Childgrove to the simpler joys of Juice of Barley, each dance provides a unique experience rooted in the fundamental rhythm of duple time. Whether you are a seasoned dancer or just beginning your journey, delving into duple time dances opens up a world of social connection, musicality, and joyful movement.
