Mad Robin Ball Program

12 Mulberry Garden

longways, duple minor

H. Playford, 1695;
interpretation Cecil Sharp

Introduction (also Finale)
A	Partners lead up a double and back; repeat.
B	Face partner: fall back a double and come forward; partners two-hand turn.
Dance
A	Partners back to back; neighbors back to back.
B	Circle L halfway, then partners two-hand turn halfway, to end facing up; 2s (above) cast down and lead up, as 1s lead up and cast down

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13 Rich Delights

three-couple long set

dance by Philippe Callens, 2003

A	Partners set, 1s cast into second place, as 2s lead up (turning out into first place), as 3s turn single down; 1 going out to own R half heys for three across (start L shoulder), to end in lines of three facing up and down; lines forward to meet and fall back; circle six L three-quarters.
B	1s cross R shoulder and move R around one person, to end again in lines of three facing up and down; lines forward to meet and fall back; circle six L three-quarters easing out into set formation; partners back to back.

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14 Shandy Hall

four-couple long set

dance by George Middleton
(first published 1977)

A1	Top three couples circle six L half, as bottom couple R-hand turn once; bottom three couples circle six L half, as top couple R-hand turn once.
A2	Repeat A1, all finishing improper.
B1	1s and 2s R-hand star half, into 1s and 3s L-hand star half; into 1s and 4s R-hand star half; then all face partner and step R and honor.
B2	Partners L shoulder back to back; they set and turn single.

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15 Trip to Virginia

three-couple long set

Johnson, 1758;
interpretation Philippe Callens

A1	All set to partner and cross R shoulder; repeat.
A2	1s cross R shoulder, move down outside into second place (2s lead up) and quick two-hand turn halfway, to end facing down; 1s lead down through 3s and cast back to middle place.
B1	1st corners set (1s traveling forward) and two-hand turn; 2nd corners set (1s traveling forward) and two-hand turn, 1s finishing in middle place, improper.
B2	Circle six L half; 1s lead up through couple above and cast back to middle place (2s and 3s cross R with partner in bars 7-8).

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Dance Sources

The Astonished Archaeologist. Philippe Callens, 1992, published in Continental Capers

Barr a Barr. Young, 1710 - as interpreted by Friend DeMetz Herman, published in Legacy (CDSS 2002)

The Bishop. Thompson, 1778 - W. Porter, M. Heffer, A. Heffer, modern description in Keller & Shimer, The Playford Ball (1990)

De'Il Take the Warr. Young, 1721 - as interpreted by Andrew Shaw, published in The She Favorite

The Female Saylor. Feuillet, 1706, as interpreted by Pat Shaw, modern description in Keller & Shimer, The Playford Ball (1990)

Kill him with Kindness. Young, 1710 -modern instructions in Frank Van Cleef's book

Mad Robin. H. Playford, DM 9, 1695 - as interpreted by Cecil Sharp, modern description in Keller & Shimer, The Playford Ball (1990)

Mr. Isaac's Maggot. H. Playford, DM 9, 1695 - as interpreted by Cecil Sharp, modern description in Keller & Shimer, The Playford Ball (1990)

A1
1-2 Partners set (moving slightly forward to each other)
3-4 Ones cast down into second place, as twos lead up turning out into first place, as threes turn single downwards.
5-8 Half heys for three across the set, first man passes third lady by the left, as first lady passes second man by the left, to finish in lines of three facing one another (ones turn left to finish their heys)
A2
1-4 Taking hands in lines of three, forward to meet and fall back (up and down the set).
5-8 Join hands in a ring of six and circle to the left, three-quarters around.
B1
1-4 Ones (now improper in middle place) cross over right shoulder and go individually to the right around one person to form new lines of three.
5-8 Taking hands in lines (man with the men, lady with the ladies), forward to meet and fall back (up and down the set)
B2
1-4 Join hands in a ring of six and circle to the left three-quarters around, easing out into longways formation.
5-8 Partners back to back.

Comments: in this dance, each forward and back is up and down the set and each circle six three-quarters around finishes at the side of the set, facing across; the movements, however, happen during different parts of a phrase. The first circle six finishes with the ones in the middle (improper), second and third men at the top and second and third lady at the bottom; the second one leaves the set proper (and progressed).

Barbara Ruth (New Haven, Connecticut) commissioned Philippe Callens to write this dance for Rich Galloway (Silver Spring, Maryland). The dance written spring 2003 is based on “Ted’s Triplet #40”, a dance by the late Ted Sannella, and as such is an implicit tribute to an outstanding caller and a good friend.

Trip to Virginia. Johnson, Source: Two Hundred Favourite Country Dances ... Vol. 8, published by J. Johnson, London: [1758?]
Interpretation: Philippe Callens.Formation: three-couple longways. Progression 3-1-2.
Tune: in “Barnes”
A1
1-4 All set to partners, then cross over passing right and turn right to face.
5-8 Repeat to places.
A2
1-4 Ones cross over passing right, move down below the twos (who lead up) and two-hand turn halfway in middle place.
5-8 Ones lead down through the threes and cast back to middle place.
B1
1-4 First corners set and two-hand turn.
5-8 Second corners set and two-hand turn, ones finishing in middle place improper.
B2
1-4 Taking hands in a ring of six, all circle left halfway around.
5-8 Ones lead up through the threes (now above them) and cast back down to middle place, end couples crossing over passing partner right and turn right to face in bars 7-8.Note: in B1 the ones set traveling forward to their corners (who set in place). When the ones move from first to second corners they take the shortest route, i.e. they pass one another by the left.A dance by the same name appears in Thompson’s Compleat Collection, vol. 4 (London: 1780). The choreography and the tune are however different. An interpretation of that dance by Kitty Keller and Chip Hendrickson can be found in George Washington: a biography in social dance.

Zephyrs and Flora. Walsh, 1715, as interpreted by Bernard Bentley, 1965. modern description in Keller & Shimer, The Playford Ball (1990)

A1	1st corners cast L around neighbors, pass each other L shoulder in the center and cast R around partner to end in each other’s place.
A2	Similarly, 2nd corners cast R, pass R and cast L around neighbor (end with all progressed and improper).
B1 (12 bars)	Neighbors fall back a double and partners cross R shoulder to own side; neighbors back to back; partners back to back.
B2 (12 bars	Rights and lefts (with hands), four changes, partner start R; partners two-hand turn.

A1	All four meet on the diagonal and turn single R; in fours, circle L.
A2	Neighbors lead out to the wall, change hands and lead back; partners back to back.
B (10 bars)	1st corners cross, 2nd corners cross; ladies lead through men and cast back; facing up and down, partners lead forward a double and back to meet other couple; 2s cast down, as 1s lead up, then all two-hand turn halfway; half poussette counterclockwise.

A1	Top couple long cast to middle place (middles lead up); they turn two-hands; they lead down through bottom couple and cast back to middle; they turn two-hands again.
A2	New top couple repeat. All finish home.
B1	Three men hey; top man “zigzag chain”: change R-hand with partner, change L-hand with person on the L diagonal, change R-hand with person across, change L-hand with person on the L diagonal, change R-hand with person across and turn single L. All improper now.
B2	Three ladies hey; top lady “zigzag chain”: change R-hand with person across, change L-hand with person on the L diagonal, change R-hand with person across, change L-hand with person on the L diagonal, change R-hand with partner and turn single L.
	Note: in the final bar of the dance all turn single L.

A1	Neighbors lead out to the wall, change hands and lead back, then partners cross R shoulder (“Hole in the Wall” style)
A2	Repeat A1 to other wall.
B	In fours circle L halfway, cloverleaf turn single (1s down, 2s up) to end facing neighbor on the line; rights and lefts (with hands), three changes, neighbors start R.

A1+A2	Slip ring to the L; and back to the R.
B	Partners set and turn single.
C	Partners half R-hand turn and acknowledge, with next half L-hand turn and acknowledge; with next two-hand turn once (new partner).
	Repeat twice more, substituting siding twice (Sharp style) and arming R and L in the A part.

2004 Program

Dances

Dance Descriptions (sources listed below)

1 The Astonished Archaeologist

2 Barbarini’s Tambourine

3 Barr a Barr

4 The Bishop

5 De’Il Take the Warr

6 An Early Frost

7 The Female Saylor

8 Kill him with Kindness

9 I Care not for These Ladies

10 Mad Robin

11 Mr. Isaac’s Maggot

12 Mulberry Garden

13 Rich Delights

14 Shandy Hall

15 Trip to Virginia

16 Zephyrs and Flora

Dance Sources

The Astonished Archaeologist	I Care not for These Ladies
Barbarini’s Tambourine	Mad Robin
Barr a Barr	Mr. Isaac’s Maggot
The Bishop	Mulberry Garden
De’Il Take the Warr	Rich Delights
An Early Frost	Shandy Hall
The Female Saylor	Trip to Virginia
Kill him with Kindness	Zephyrs and Flora

A1	All set to partner and R-hand turn half; all set again and L-hand turn half.
A2	R diagonals back to back; all two-hand turn partner three-quarters into line of six, then about turn R so that partners are standing back to back.
B1	Hey for six (ends start by looping L, others pass R) until you meet you partner with whom you gypsy L three-quarters to end facing across.
B2	Lines fall back a double and come forward; top two couples circle L half and cross R with partner, as bottom couple two-hand turn once.

A1	1st man cast down a place (2nd man move up) and set to 3rd lady; they turn two-hands.
A2	Similarly, 1st lady cast down (2nd lady move up) and set to 3rd man; they turn.
B1	In sixes, top two couples gates up, as 3s gypsy at bottom; circle six L half.
B2	Again, top two couples gates up, as 2s (now in bottom place) gypsy; circle six L half.

A	Men turn single R, partners R-hand turn half; ladies turn single L, partners L-hand turn half; all turn single R, R-hand star easing out to face neighbor, then pass through R shoulder up and down.
B	All set to partner and cross R shoulder (“Hole in the Wall” style); in fours, circle L once; half poussette clockwise; 1s cross and go below, as 2s two-hand turn half, then take two side-steps up the center.

A1	1s lead up through couple above and cast down to place (at top, lead through imaginary couple); 1s lead down through couple below and cast up to place.
A2	1s half figure eight down through 2s; 1s R-hand turn.
B1	Neighbors back to back; neighbors turn two-hands.
B2	Partners back to back; 1s turn two-hands halfway and cast down a place, as 2s turn two-hands once moving up the center.

A1	1st man turn 2nd lady R-hand; turn partner L-hand, then go below (2nd man move up).
A2	1st lady turn partner L-hand; turn 2nd man R-hand, then go below (2nd lady move up).
B1	1s dance clockwise around neighbor above; 1s two-hand turn.
B2	2s dance counterclockwise around neighbor below; 2s two-hand turn.

A1	1st man turn 2nd lady R-hand three-quarters, then return to place moving below and around 2nd man.
A2	Similarly, 1st lady turn 2nd man L-hand three-quarters, then return to place moving below and around 2nd lady.
B (12 bars)	Neighbors fall back six steps, come forward three steps and turn single R; rights and lefts (with hands), three changes, partners start R, to end in line of four facing up (1s between 2s); line of four lead up and back, 1st couple assisted cast to 2nd place.

A1	1st corners back to back; they take R hands, then L hands, and turn halfway.
A2	2nd corners the same.
B1	1s long cast up; then half figure eight down through 2s who lead down in bars 7-8.
B2	2s long cast up; then half figure eight down through 1s who lead down in bars 7-8.