Social Dances – Collected in England

This page  contains information on specific dances .  In most cases, where a lot of information is known about a particular dance the name will link to a separate page containing the available information.  Please note that a separate listing exists for clog and step dances collected in Englansd and further pages are available covering Scottish material.

 

Barber Bell (Barbary Bell) – Longwise country dance known from oral tradition in Northumberland in 6/8 time.

Barn Dance – Social couple dance known from oral tradition in the southern Lake District.

Berlin Polka – Old-time couple dance.

Bonnets So Blue – Country dance in 6/8 time, known from oral tradition in Yorkshire.

Boston Two Step – Old-time couple dance devised by Tom Walton.

Bracelets – Social dance of unknown format, known from oral tradition in Lancashire in about 1920.

Brass Nuts – Social dance of unknown format, known from oral tradition in Lancashire.

Brush Dance – A solo dance, often involving percussive foot work,  around and over a brush or broom.

Buttered Peas – A Sicillian Circle formation country dance in 4/4 time.

Butterfly Dance – Speciality dance for girls, similar to skirt dancing.

Buy a Broom – Social square dance for two couples.

Caledonian Circle – Social dance of unknown format known from oral tradition in the south Lake District.

Caledonians – Social square dance based on the Quadrille known from oral tradition in the southern Lake District, Lancashire and Yorkshire.

Circassian Circle – Social circle dance, traditionally widespread in England.

Common Schottische – Social couple dance known from oral tradition in the southern Lake District and Dorset. Sometimes known simply as The Schottische.

Corkscrew – Social dance apparently similar to the Scandanavian Country Dance

Corn Rigs – Longwise country dance known from oral tradition in Northumberland.

Cottagers – A social dance for six, recorded from oral tradition from the southern Lake District where it featured in the repertoires of a number of dancing masters.

Cross Eight – Square dance for eight, known from oral tradition in Northumberland.

Cross Swords – Also known as the Sword Dance

Cumberland Reel – Longwise social dance.  Known from oral tradition in Northumberland.

Cushion Dance – Social dance known from oral tradition in the southern Lake District and Northumberland.  Also known from Scotland.

d’Alberts – Social square dance based on the Quadrille.  Recalled in oral tradition in the southern Lake District.

Derry Down Derry – Social dance known from oral tradition in the southern Lake District.

Drops of Brandy – Longwise social dance known from oral tradition in Northumberland.

Eightsome Reel – Probably a local version of the Scottish Eightsome Reel known from oral tradition in Northumberland.

Fan Gavotte – Probbaly a fancy dance for children.  Known from oral tradition in Yorkshire.

Flirtation Polka – Perhaps a social couple dance.  Known from oral tradition in Northumberland.

Frog Dance – A competition dance for two men or occasionally women.  Also known as the Kibby Dance and the Monkey Dance/Hornpipe.

Galop – Social dance known from oral tradition in the southern Lake District, Lancashire, Yorkshire and Cambridgeshire.

Garland Dance – Speciality dance, generally for girls, known from oral tradition in the southern Lake District.

Gavotte – Couple dance.

Grand Garland Redona – Apparently a fancy dance for children.

Grand March – A couple processional march, often used to start a dance event, and by its design to link up couples together ready for the next dance to follow.  Sometimes known as Napoleon’s Grand March.

Greensleeves – Two distinct dances are known by this name.  A comin dance from the Wyresdale area of Lancashire and a ocial dance of unknonw type from the southern Lake District.

Gypsy Dance – Probably another name for the Tambourine Dance or Tarantella.

Gypsy Gavotte – Couple dance known from oral tradition in the southern Lake District.

Haste to the Wedding – Longways social dance, known from oral tradition in many parts of the UK.

Heel and Toe Polka – Social couple dance known from oral tradition in the southern Lake District. Also known as the Heel and Toe Country Dance.

Highland Fling, England – Solo dance or couple dance known from oral tradition in the southern Lake District., the solo usually being taught to children.  The solo version is, of course, widely danced in Scotland.

Highland Four Reel – Social four hand dance from Scotland, occasionally finding it’s way into the repertoirses of dancers in the north of England.

Highland Laddie [Country Dance] – Longwise social dance known from oral tradition in Northumberland.

Highland Schottische – Social couple dance known from oral tradition in the southern Lake District, Yorkshire and Northumberland.

Holly Berry – Social dance known from oral tradition in Cumbria.

Hoop Strathspey – Speciality dance.  Presumably a version of the Hoop dance.

Hoop Dance – Speciality dance for girls  known from oral tradition in the southern Lake District., usually being taught to children.

Horse to Newmarket – Speciality or character dance for boys known from oral tradition in the southern Lake District, also known as the Jockey Dance.

Hullachan – Scottish social dance also known from the Borders.  Danced to various rhythms and in various formations.

Huntsman’s Chorus – Country dance in 2/4 time.

Ideal Schottische – Couple dance known from oral tradition in the north of England.

Irish Jig (England) – Character dance forming part of the repertoire of Dizzy Bryden, a dancing master from Whitehaven, Cumberland.

Irish Washerwoman – Social dance of unknown type known from oral tradition in Yorkshire.

Japanese Dance – Character or stage dance.

Jockey Dance – Speciality or character dance.  Almost certainly another name for the dance Horse to Newmarket.

Keel Row – Social dance known from oral tradition in Northumberland

Kendal Ghyll – Social dance known from oral tradition in Lancashire.

Kibby Dance – A competition dance for two men or occasionally women.  Also known as the Frog Dance and the Monkey Dance/Hornpipe.

La Russe – Social eight hand dance in a square formation.

La Tempete – Country dance.

La Varsovienne – Social dance known from oral tradition in the southern Lake District.  Also known as “La Va” and “Varsoviana”.

Lancers – Social eight hand dance known from oral tradition in the southern Lake District, Dorset and Scotland.  Effectively a named series of Quadrille figures.

Long Eight – Social longways dance for eight.

Long Reel – Social dance known from oral tradition in Cumbria.  Form unknown but perhaps synonymous with the Long Eight.

Mat Dancing – A performance of a clog, step, tap or even soft shoe dance on a dancing mat.

Maxina – Couple dance.

Mazourka – Social couple dance known from oral tradition in the southern Lake District.

Military Two-Step – Social couple dance known from oral tradition in the southern Lake District.

Minuet – Social dance, known from oral tradition in the southern Lake District where it was used as a fancy dance in children’s classes.

Monkey Hornpipe/Dance – A competition dance for two men or occasionally women.  Also known as the Kibby Dance and the Frog Dance.

Morpeth Rant – Longwise country dance.

Napoleon’s Grand March – another name for the Grand March.

Nigger Dance – Character dance for boys known from oral tradition in the southern Lake District.

Ninepins – Social dance known from oral tradition in the Lake District.

Over the Swords – Also known as the Sword Dance

Pedestal Dance – Clog or step dance performed on a raised pedestal, sometimes known as a “box”.  Pedestal dancing formed part of many competitions.

Petronella – Longwise country dance.

Plaidie Dance – Character dance known from oral tradition in the southern Lake District.

Polka – Social couple dance known from oral tradition in the southern Lake District, Dorset and Scotland.

Polka Mazurka (Mazourka) – Social couple dance known from oral tradition in the southern Lake District.

Pop Goes the Weasel – Longwise country dance.

Quadrilles – Social square dance known from oral tradition in the southern Lake District, Dorset and Scotland.

Quickstep – A ballroom dance, occasionally recorded from oral tradition.

Reel, Eight Hand – Dance for eight recorded from oral tradition in many parts of England.

Reel, Five Hand – Dance for five, recorded from oral tradition in the southern Lake District where it featured in the repertoires of a number of dancing masters and was danced in shoes or clogs.

Reel, Four Hand – Social dance known from oral tradition from England.

Reel, Six Hand – Dance for six (or in the Lake District apparently sometimes12), recorded from oral tradition in many parts of England.

Reel. Three Hand – Dance for three, recorded from oral tradition in many parts of England.

Ribbon Dance – Probably a dance for three in which the centre dancer is linked to the other two by a ribbon

Rifle Polka – Social dance of unknown type, known from oral tradition in the Lake District.

Rifleman – Longways country dance.

Roxburgh Castle  – Longways country dance.

Royal Redona Waltz – Social dance f unknown type.  Perhaps in the “OldTime” style.  Known from oral tradition in the Lake District.

Sailors’ Hornpipe – Solo character dance  from oral tradition in many parts of England.

Sarabande Waltz – Social couple dance in waltz time, also known as the Spanish Waltz.

Scotch Reel– Social dance for four known from oral tradition in the Lake District.

Sir Roger de Coverley – Longways country dance  known from oral tradition in the southern Lake District and Dorset.

Skipping Rope Dance – Speciality dance known in oral tradition roem the southern Lake District.

Skirt Dance – Solo character or speciality dance known from oral tradition in the southern Lake District where it was usually taught to children.

Spanish Dance – Demonstration dance known from oral tradition in Cumbria and Lancashire.

Spanish Fandango – Social dance known from oral tradition in Northumberland.

Spanish Waltz – Social couple dance, sometimes known as the Sarabande Waltz.

Speed the Plough – Longways country dance known from oral tradition in the southern Lake District.

Square Eight – Another naem for the Eight Hand Reel is some parts of the UK.

Steamboat – Longways social dance known from oral tradition in Yorkshire.

Swinging Six – Social dance for six, known fro oral tradition in Yorkshire, Lancashire and the southern Lakes.

Sword Dance – English version of the Scottish dance Gille Callum known from oral tradition in the southern Lake District.

Sylph –  Country dance known from oral tradition in Northumberland.

Tambourine Dance – Character or novelty dance for girls known in oral tradition from the Lake district.

Tempete, La – Social dance known from oral tradition in Cumbria.

The Hoop Strathspey – Speciality dance known from oral tradition in the southern Lakes.

Triumph – Social longways country dance known from oral tradition in the southern Lake District.

Turn-off Six – Social dance for siz, known from oral tradition in Yorkshire.

Veleta – Old Time couple dance in waltz time.

Waltz – Social couple dance known from oral tradition in the southern Lake District, Dorset and Scotland. Now a popular ballroom dance.

Waltz Cotillion – Social square dance known from oral tradition in the southern Lake District.

Waltz Country Dance – Social  dance known from oral tradition in the southern Lake District.

Washington Post – Old-time social couple dance.