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Houston Area Traditional Dance Society

Houston Area Traditional Dance Society

Advanced English Country Dances

At HATDS ECD we teach as much as is needed at every regular 1st and 3rd Sunday dance, where everyone is welcomed regardless of dance experience or skill. However, two or three times a year we have a dance for dancers who are not just experienced but who are also advanced ECD dancers.

Please read this page carefully. If you do not meet all of the criteria listed below, do not attend an advanced dance. You will not receive the help that you normally receive at a regular dance, and you will only frustrate the dancers who are there to learn dances that are more complex than those we usually do.

If you do not meet all of the criteria and know all of the basics listed below—no matter how experienced you are—please do not attend an advanced dance.

Clearly, an advanced dance is not for new dancers. Do not invite them!

Criteria for Attendance

In order to attend an advanced ECD, dancers should be able to

  • execute all of the common figures listed below without review,
  • remember the pattern of most dances after a few times through,
  • dance without constant prompting from the caller or other dancers,
  • switch roles (such as a 2nd couple becoming a 1st couple) with little or no difficulty,
  • adjust their dancing to fit the phrase of the music, and
  • dance with good connection (giving weight) in circles, one- and two-hand turns, gates, etc.

Basics That Are Not Taught

Every dancer who attends an advanced event is expected to know these terms and be able to dance these figures. They will not be taught.

Formations, Orientation, and Positions

  • Duple minor longways (hands 4) and its progression
  • Triple minor longways (hands 6) and its progression
  • Up/down the hall or set
  • Top/head and bottom/foot of the set
  • Proper and improper positions
  • Partner, Neighbor, Corner positions

Basic Dance Figures

Dancers are expected to execute these figures without review in both duple and triple time.

  • A double, as in up a double and back.
  • Siding (into line or straight siding)
  • Arming, which we do with a forearm hold
  • Back to back / do-si-do
  • Cast
  • Circle
  • Circular hey (no hands)
  • Crossing (either straight across or up/down through another couple)
  • Figure 8, both half and whole
  • Double Figure 8
  • Gate
  • Gypsy or right/left shoulder round
  • Hands across star
  • Hey for 3 or 4 (basic heys), both across the set and on the sides
  • Mirror hey
  • Lead down/up
  • Poussette, both straight and draw
  • Rights and lefts (a circular hey with hands)
  • Right/left hand turn
  • Setting
  • Step and honor
  • Slipping / chasse step
  • Turn single
  • Two hand turn