Country: Tønsberg, Vestfold, Norway
Type: longways progressive set dance
Formation: as many couples 'as may' in 2 lines, M to the R and W to the L as seen from the music, numbered 1-2-3 etc from the top of the set.
Steps: chassé (change-step)
Sheet music: Bruu, Johannes/ Nogle engelske dantzer med
sinne thourer. Tønsberg 1777. facs. ed. (Norsk musikksamlings publikasjon nr. 10, 1980). p. 30.
Recordings: [any reel or polka (2/4-time) with AABB structure (ie a 32-bar reel/polka)
| Bars | Part | Dance progression: |
| 1-8 | (a) | Figure-8s: Couple 1 dances figure-8s around couple 2. M1 begins by dancing outside, CCW around M2.
Meanwhile, W1 begins dancing CW outside W2.
Finish above couple 2 on opposite side, ie in order 1-2-3. [8 chassé steps.] |
| 1-8 | Couple 2 dances figure-8s around couple 1. M2 begins by dancing outside, CW around M1.
Meanwhile, W2 begins dancing CCW outside W1.
Finish below couple 1 on opposite side, ie in order 1-2-3. [8 chassé steps.] |
|
| 9-10 | (b) | Chain: Couple 1 takes R-in-R hold and turns 1/2 turn CW. [2 chassé steps.] |
| 11-16 | Couples 1 and 2 dance R-hand chain 3/4 round. [8 chassé steps.]
Finish on own side in order 2-1-3. |
|
| 9-16 | Circle: Couples 1 and 2 form closed circle, and circle CW (9-12) [4 chassé steps.].
Ditto CCW (13-16) [4 chassé steps.].
Finish on own side in order 2-1-3. |
|
| Repeat from (a) as desired.
When the dance repeats (from (a)), couple 1 dances with couples 3 and 4, while couple 2 rests. In the second repeat, couple 1 dances with couples 5 and 6 and couple 2 dances with couples 3 and 4. [If many couples are dancing, every 4th couple may start. If done in sets of 3 couples, couple 1, at the end of part (c) dances outside couple 3, and finishes at the bottom of the set.] |
Provenance:
From the oldest dance book with diagrams of the dance figures currently known in Norway. Johannes Bruu (1752-1830)
was Habour and Pilot Master, and active in the cultural life of Tønsberg. His manuscript notebook contains
18 contredançes anglaises (longways progressive set dances) with diagrams, some explanatory text, and sheet music.
Sheet music varies among 2/4, 4/4 and 6/8 tempos.
[Translator's note: although no information about steps is given, the accompanying sheet music is 2/4-time, wherefore the translator suggests the dance
be done with chassé steps.].
Printed source: Bruu, Johannes/ Nogle engelske dantzer med
sinne thourer. (Norsk musikksamlings publikasjon nr. 10, 1980) facs. ed. Tønsberg 1777. pp. 30, 57-58.
See also:
-- Cordray, Alix Bruu #12.
s.l.: s.n., 2014-07-25.
Description: Laine Ruus, Oakville, 2022-02-25, rev. 2022-03-17.
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