The Morris Book, Part 1 by Cecil J. (Cecil James) Sharp

Author:Cecil J. (Cecil James) Sharp [Sharp, Cecil J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Google: LhB6ygEACAAJ
Publisher: Project Gutenberg
Published: 2004-01-15T03:53:41+00:00

POSITIONS, AND CHANGE OF POSITION.

The Morris side, when in position for dancing, stands in, or returns to, the positions as shown hereunder. The only exception to these is the Ring, as explained below.

POSITION 1 (COLUMN). POSITION 2 (Front).

^ ^

1 2 1> <2

^ ^

3 4 3> <4

^ ^

5 6 5> <6

Thus the six stand in two parallel lines of three each. The top, as the rule is in dancing, is set towards the music. The angles represent the dancers: the apex of each angle points as the dancer's face is turned; the numbers within the angles will be used throughout in describing movements of individual dancers.

The dancer at the top left-hand corner, No. 1, is invariably the leader of the side. No figure is completed, and no dance can end, until No. 1 has returned to his place at the top left-hand corner.

It is the duty and privilege of No. 1 to call loudly and clearly the name of each figure or part of a figure as each falls due for performance—"Corners," "Chain," "Back-to-back," and so forth, and to announce the end of the dance by the call of "All in."

In Position 1, or Column, the dancers stand in two files, and all face the same way.

This is called in the Notation—Column, or Col.

In Position 2, or Front, the dancers are turned inward, and face each other in pairs.

This is called in the Notation—Front, or Fr.

The change of position, from Column to Front, or vice versa, whether made by jumping or by stepping to measure, is executed invariably thus:—

To change Column to Front the dancers turn inward. Thus, in Position 1, Nos. 1, 3, and 5 make a half-turn to the right; Nos. 2, 4, and 6 make a half-turn to the left.

To change Front to Column, in Position 2, Nos. 1, 3, and 5 will make a half-turn to the left; Nos. 2, 4, and 6 a half-turn to the right.

In changing from Column to Front when the column is reversed—that is, the dancers having their backs to the music—the half-turns as given above will be reversed also.

As for the distance to be maintained between individual dancers, whether in Column or Front, the files (i.e., odd and even numbers) should stand so far apart that, when arms are extended, the hands of each will overlap his neighbour's hands.

The distance between the files will vary according to the nature of the dance. In the Stick and Handkerchief dances, pairs (Nos. 1 and 2, &c.) stand near enough to clap hands or tap sticks with each other. In the Corner dances, as will readily be seen from the descriptions and Notation, the files must be well apart to give plenty of room for the necessary movements. The right distance will easily be found; roughly, the side should form a square measuring some twelve feet each way.

In the Notation, the term "Partners" is used to denote the pairs as they stand fronting or abreast, Nos. 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6.

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