John Sweeney's Dances

A diverse and motley collection of Terpsichorean intricacies and perambulations, inspired by archaic tomes and palimpsests, filtered through wild imaginings to bring you joy.

Please note: These are NOT the type of dances that we do at Barn Dances/Ceilidhs. These are more interesting/challenging dances suitable for regular dance clubs. If you want to try dances like these then please come along to any of our Sunday afternoon or Tuesday afternoon sessions if you are in Kent.

Contra and Longways dances are all Duple Minor unless stated otherwise. "Improper" is short for "First Couples Improper".

My Favourites

Dance Name	Formation	Notes
Quintilinear Added July 2 2018	Five Assorted Dancers, in a Line	A fun dance with a Double Dolphin Hey and a Traveling Thread the Needle.
Sun Skip Added April 17 2023	Three Couples in a Circle	Petronellas and Allemande Orbits.
May the Serpent Be With You Added May 1 2023	Double Contra - Mescolanza - Four Facing Four	This dance, with its Serpentine Hey, was the winner of the "Dance-writing Competition" at May Heydays April 2023.
The Mad Gypsy	Contra; Becket (CW)	A contra with no swing.
Four Light Winds Added May 8 2018	Three Couples; Longways; Proper	A easy setting for Pat Shaw's Four Winds move.
Maybe We Can Hey This Way Added May 4 2022	Three Couples; Longways; Proper	Interesting moves: Hey for six across the set, Double Ovals and Dolphin Hey.
The Knightrider Waltz Added Nov 8 2023	Longways; Becket; Waltz	A flowing dance with Chevrons, Chains, and Heys.

Easy Barn Dance & Ceilidh Dances

Dance Name	Formation	Notes
Big Wheel Added May 13 2024	Four Couples; Longways	Easy dance with a rotating line of eight.
Cantia Canter Added March 23 2024	Sicilian Circle	Galloping around the big circle, Zig-Zag to progress.
Come Hey With Me Added February 3 2025	Scatter Mixer	Hey with different people each time.
Diver's Delight Added May 8 2018	Sicilian Circle	Dip 'n' Dives, Gallops and Inside Baskets.
DosiMow Added March 3 2024	Sicilian Circle	A ceilidh dance with Mow the Wheat and Dosido as a Couple.
A Hothfield Welcome Added Nov 8 2023	Sicilian Circle	A simple ceilidh dance with clapping to start the evening.
Newington Applause Added July 5 2023	Sicilian Circle	An easy barn dance with clapping.
Serendipitous Seven Added March 12 2023	Circle Mixer	An interesting variant of Lucky Seven.
Trenchmore Added May 4 2022	Longways; Proper Seven or Five Couples is best, but any number will work	1551 dance with Dip 'n' Dive and Strip the Willow.
Virginia Reel Circle Mixer #24 Added July 12 2018	Circle Mixer	An easy dance for beginnners.
Waltz Country Dance Added July 2 2018	Sicilian Circle; Waltz	The traditional dance, with a different ending to make the dance easier for non-waltzers.
Wee Willie II Updated Nov 6 2017	Four Couples; Longways; Proper	Heel & Toe, Gallop, Zig-Zag Poussette.
The Witch's Fortune Added December 18 2024	Four Couples; Longways; Proper	A mashup of two other dances with Thread the Needle and Galloping.

Circle Mixers

Dance Name	Formation	Notes
Calliope Added July 2 2018	Circle Mixer	California Twirls, Lasso the Man, Grand Petronella, Roll the Lady.
David's Jig Added Nov 8 2023	Circle Mixer	An easy dance with an opportunity for some footwork.
Hazlitt Meltdown Added May 8 2018	Circle Mixer	An easy dance with a Gypsy Hey.
Insectitwirl Added Nov 8 2023	Circle Mixer	California Twirls, Box the Gnats and Swat the Fleas.
Pa' Bailar III	Circle Mixer	Mirror Grapevines with Latin styling.
Rolling Waves	Circle Mixer	Roll-Aways and Alamo Waves.
There & Back Again Added June 7 2024	Circle Mixer	A lively, easy dance with opportunities for footwork..
Twirl & Go Added Nov 8 2023	Circle Mixer	An easy dance to practise California Twirls.
Two & Four Added July 12 2018	Circle Mixer	Rollaways, Rory O'Mores and Swing Throughs.
The Winsome Waltz Added Nov 5 2023	Circle Mixer; Waltz	Wheels, Twirls and a Gypsy Hey. Joint composer: Karen Sweeney.

Sicilian Circles

Dance Name	Formation	Notes
The Jasoomian Jaunt Added August 25 2024	Sicilian Circle	Ladies' Chains flowing into Mad Robins and a Dosido as a Couple.
The Pepper Shuffle Added January 2 2020	Becket Sicilian Circle	Shuttles, Draw Possettes and Travelling Right Hand High and Left Hand Lows.
Sicilian Ladies Added Nov 8 2023	Sicilian Circle	A simple, standard Sicilian Circle to practise Ladies' Chains and Swing & Change.

Longways Dances

Dance Name	Formation	Notes
Another Knole Park Added August 16 2018	Longways Improper	A version of Knole Park, made easier for beginners.
Blue Egg Waltz Added November 27 2024	Longways; Improper; Waltz	An easy 16-bar dance in waltz time.
Bombast One Added November 18 2019	Longways; Improper	A vey interesting interlocking figure called a Bombast!
Circular Mirrors Added Jan 15 2020	Longways; Improper; Waltz	A flowing dance in waltz time.
Demon's Maggot	Longways; Improper	A duple minor dance where the A music cycles through Up a Double, Siding, Arming.
The Dolphin's F8 Added July 2 2018	Longways; Improper; (Waltz)	An easy dance with a Dolphin Hey and a Figure Eight.
Hey Down Added May 8 2018	Longways; Improper	An easy dance with Heys for Three across the set.
Karen's Parrot	Longways; Proper	Double Figure Eights and North Country Ladies' Chain.
The Knightrider Waltz Added Nov 8 2023	Longways; Becket; Waltz	A flowing dance with Chevrons, Chains, and Heys.
Loop the Loop	Longways; Proper	A simple Playford style dance with some modern moves.
March the 21st Added April 28 2025	Longways; Improper	A waltz-time dance with Allemandes flowing into Orbits..
Plain Hamburger Added May 8 2018	Longways; Improper	A fun dance using Pat Shaw's Double Arch Dosido.
Rogue's March Added May 8 2018	Longways; Improper	The first half of Devil's Dream, but with a different ending.
The Shuttle Flies Out Added July 12 2018	Longways; Improper	A longways dance with the Shuttle movement from Picking Up Sticks.
The Slithy Dance	Longways; Becket; Double Progression	A fun, no-swing dance with the whole set setting and spinning right.
Turquoise Waltz Added May 8 2018	Longways; Improper; Waltz	A flowing waltz-time dance with a Celtic Hey.
Whole Hannikin	Longways; Proper or any gender	32-bar version of Halfe Hannikin.

Contra Dances

Dance Name	Formation	Notes
Apples & Ice Cream Added Nov 8 2023	Contra; Improper	Rory O'Mores, Swing Through & Petronella.
Balancing Act Added May 8 2018	Contra; Becket	Easy Wave Dance: Pass the Ocean, Swing Through, Extend.
Cumberland Contra	Contra; Improper Double Progression — 64 bars	The dance is based on Cumberland Square Eight, using all the figures in a contra dance.
Dixie Doo-Dah	Contra; Improper	An easy contra dance with a Dixie Twirl.
Dopeca	Contra; Improper	An easy contra dance with lots of Petronellas.
DosiAll Added July 9 2018	Contra; Becket	A fun dance with four-person Dosidos.
DosiWhat? Added July 9 2018	Contra; Becket	"Dosido" has been used to mean many completely different moves; this dance has three of them!
Galway Swing Added July 9 2018	Contra; Improper	Same gender swings, using a great swing variant.
Girls of Oakhill Added July 2 2018	Contra; Improper	A version of Boys of Oakhill with a smoother entry to the Gallops.
The Honking Swan King Added Nov 8 2023	Contra; Improper	A contra dance with a Gypsy flowing into a Gypsy.
Irish New Year Added July 2 2018	Contra; Improper	Box Circulates with an easy progression.
Life is But A Melancholy Flower	Contra; Improper	A lively dance with gallops and petronallas.
The Pattern Unfolds Added July 12 2018	Contra; Becket	Unfolding a circle to a line using a modified Half a Slice.
Trip to Hazlitt New Dec 7 2015	Contra; Improper	An easy, flowing dance with a couples Weave the Line and a Mad Robin.
Trip to Willesborough Added July 2 2018	Contra; Improper	Easy Contra with Tidal and Ocean Waves.

No-Swing Contras

Dance Name	Formation	Notes
Cheekbone City Added May 8 2018	Contra; Improper	Easy dance with lots of Petronellas.
Duck!	Contra; Improper; Double Progression	An easy no-swing contra.
Farewell To The Taliban Added Nov 8 2023	Contra; Improper	An easy contra with lots of simple action.
FlutterRing Added May 8 2018	Contra; Becket	Easy dance with a Flutterwheel.
Grapevine Jig II Added July 9 2018	Contra; Improper	Grapevine steps in long lines, with an easier ending than the original.
Hothfield Hey Added July 9 2018	Contra; Improper	An easy no-swing contra.
The Mad Gypsy	Contra; Becket (CW)	A contra with no swing.
Pestchye	Contra; Becket (CW)	A no-swing contra dance with Petronellas and Ladies' Chains.
Rotafl	Contra; Becket	A flowing, no-swing contra dance.

Mescolanza/Double Contra/Four-Facing-Four

Dance Name	Formation	Notes
Four Squared Added April 25 2024	Double Contra	A Double Contra with a Grand Square.
May the Serpent Be With You Added May 1 2023	Double Contra	This dance, with its Serpentine Hey, was the winner of the "Dance-writing Competition" at May Heydays April 2023.
The Lichfield Mescolanza Added March 24 2025	Double Contra	A Mescolanza with a Lichfield Hey.
The Slithy Serpent Added July 2 2018	Double Contra	A Mescolanza with a Serpentine Hey.

Playford Square Dances

Dance Name	Formation	Notes
Murry 21 Added July 2 2018	Square	A pre-Playford Square Dance re-cast into a modern style.
Saint John's #4 Added May 8 2018	Square	A pre-Playford Square Dance re-cast into a modern style.

Solo/Duo Dances

Dance Name	Formation	Notes
Duo Shapes Added May 26 2020	One or Two Dancers	A Lockdown Dance with interesting patterns. Joint composer: Karen Sweeney.
Sides Of Mutton Added April 9 2020	A Solo Dance	Sheepskin Heys and Siding Variations for those alone in Coronavirus Lockdown.
Solo Shapes Added May 26 2020	One or Two Dancers	A Lockdown Dance with interesting patterns. Joint composer: Karen Sweeney.
Steps Back In Time Added April 14 2020	A Solo Dance, or Two Dancers	Original Petronellas and Stepping Variants for those alone in Coronavirus Lockdown.

Dances for Three Dancers

Dance Name	Formation	Notes
KJ's Birthday Waltz Added July 9 2018	Three Dancers in a Circle; Waltz	Some rare and interesting moves.Joint composers: Karen Sweeney & Lani Graham.
Tricylic Updated Jun 21 2016	Three Dancers in a Circle	A fun dance with Travelling Right-Hand High, Left-Hand Lows and a three-person Basket.

Dances for Four Dancers

Dance Name	Formation	Notes
Queen of Diamonds Added Dec 11 2023	Four dancers in a diamond; Waltz	A challenging, flowing waltz-time dance with a Dolphin Hey.

Dances for Five Dancers

Dance Name	Formation	Notes
Doubled Five Added October 21 2024	Five Dancers in a Qunicunx (Dice)	A fun dance with lots of Heys, one of them Doubled Up!
F-Lock Updated Dec 7 2015	Five in a Circle (Five Assorted Dancers)	A fun, challenging dance with Shoot the Owl, Devil's Backbone and a five-person Basket.
Quintilinear Added July 2 2018	Five Assorted Dancers, in a Line	A fun dance with a Double Dolphin Hey and a Traveling Thread the Needle.
Will-o'-the-Wisp Added May 8 2018	Five Dancers in a Quincunx	Fun dance where the Wisp gets to dance all over the place!

Dances for Nine Dancers

Dance Name	Formation	Notes
Not So Solitary Added Nov 8 2023	Nine dancers in a 3 x 3 grid	Lots of Heys!

Dances for Three Couples

Dance Name	Formation	Notes
Doom Added June 2nd 2025	Three Couples in a Circle; Waltz	A smooth waltz-time dance with Star Orbits.
Four Jolly Sheepskins	Three Couples; Longways; Proper	A simple Playford style dance with lots of Sheepskin Heys.
Four Light Winds Added May 8 2018	Three Couples; Longways; Proper	A easy setting for Pat Shaw's Four Winds move.
Gypsy A Trois	Three Couples in a Circle	With a DosiAll — a three person Dosido!
Hey! That's My Slice Added July 2 2018	Three Couples; Longways; Proper	Rare and interesting moves!
Lover's Waltz Added May 8 2018	Three Couples in a Circle; Waltz	A waltz-time dance with some interesting moves. Joint composer: Karen Sweeney.
Maybe We Can Hey This Way Added May 4 2022	Three Couples; Longways; Proper	Interesting moves: Hey for six across the set, Double Ovals and Dolphin Hey.
Morrford	Three Couples; Longways; Proper	A simple Playford style dance with Heys on the Ends.
Ovalflow Added Mar 17 2024	Three Couples; Longways; Proper	A flowing dance with a Double Oval and a Grimstock Hey.
Scado Added April 26 2019	Three Couples; Longways; Proper	A lively dance with a couple of unusual moves.
Six Jerseys Reel Added Nov 8 2023	Three Couples; Longways; Proper	Tieing bootlaces and counter-rotating circles.
Sun Skip Added April 17 2023	Three Couples in a Circle	Petronellas and Allemande Orbits.
Two Doors Down Added Nov 8 2023	Three Couples; Longways; Proper	Little Back Door (Back Door Key) chase figures.
Wake Up Added Nov 8 2023	Three Couple; Longways; Proper	Tieing Bootlaces and three-person Stars.

Dances for Four Couples

Dance Name	Formation	Notes
Dargason 21	Four couples in a single line	The dance is based on Dargason, but re-choreographed for the 21st Century so that most people are moving most of the time.

Dances for Five Couples

Dance Name	Formation	Notes
The Cantia Rose Added August 19 2024	Five Couples in a Circle - Waltz Time	Grand Blossoms, Chevrons, Open Ladies' Chains.
Doubly Grand Added July 1 2025	Four Couples in a Square - Waltz Time	Grand Blossom, Grand Square, Open Ladies' Chains.
Fivepenny Piece Added Nov 8 2023	Five Couple Square - One Couple in the Middle	Grimstock Hey, Handy Hand Stars, Arching to progress.
Up Tails All Round	Five Couples in a Circle	An updated version of the 1650 dance with more couples active more of the time.

Dances for Seven Couples

Dance Name	Formation	Notes
Serene Seven Added Nov 8 2023	Seven Couples in a "Square" (one in the middle)	One of the easier seven-couple dances.

Training Dances

Dance Name	Formation	Notes
Allie's Man Added Nov 8 2023	Contra; Improper	A dance for practising American technique and styling - see the notes.
Chain 'n' Hey	Contra; Becket	An easy contra for practising Ladies' Chains and Heys.
The Exchange Swing Added July 9 2018	Circle Mixer	A simple dance that is mainly for practice at swinging and at ending with the man on the left, lady on the right.
Finding Your Balance	Contra; Becket (CW)	An easy dance for teaching four changes.
Little Boxes Added December 27 2024	Scatter Mixer	A fun dance for practising Box Circulates.
To Move or Not to Move Added July 12 2018	Contra; Becket	An easy contra to practise Right & Left Throughs and Ladies' Chains.
Training Wheels Added May 8 2018	Contra; Improper	Easy Down-the-Hall dance with a Gate.

Dances from English Dance & Song have been moved to a new page.

Feedback is very welcome on any aspect of these dances or Web pages.

Please contact John Sweeney with your comments.