The Hair's Maggot (The Hare's Maggot)

Source: Playford 1703, Interpreted by Pat Shaw; published in English Dance & Song, June 1959, Vol. XXIII, No. 3
Formation: Longways; Duple Minor; Proper

A1	1st Corners wide Gypsy around each other & then around Neighbour (12) (Neighbours stand still) 1st Corners Two Hand Turn (6)
A2	2nd Corners wide Left Shoulder Gypsy around each other & then around Neighbour (12) (Neighbours stand still) 2nd Corners Two Hand Turn Anti-Clockwise (6)
B1	Neighbour Clap: T, R, L; T, R, L (6) #1s Cast Down - #2s Move Up (6) Four Changes - start Right with Partner (12)
B2	#1s Full (Double) Figure Eight Down through the next #2s (18) All: Partner Two Hand Turn (6)

Music:
"The Hair's Maggot" - this triple time tune has a six bar A-music and an eight bar B-music.

Notes:
It is in triple time and I always encourage the dancers to move with the music, using the number of steps for each move shown in brackets above.

Pat suggests in his notes that it is more fun if your corner joins in during A1 and A2. I would go further and suggest that, since there is plenty of time in the music, it is even better to start the move as a Gypsy with your Corner and continue outside your Neighbour.

Making the Two Hand Turn in A2 go anti-clockwise makes it flow much better out of the previous move.

You can choose any clapping you like since none is specified in the original. Pat gives two below; I give another one above.

Experienced daners can also have fun turning the Figure Eight into a Double Figure Eight. This dance appeared under the heading "Three Dances - Two New and One Old" together with Hillside Reel and Margaret's Waltz.

Original pages from English Dance & Song, June 1959

Pat Shaw was a leading figure in the 20th century dance world. As well as writing his own dances and interpreting dances from the 17th and 18th centuries he also researched traditional dances from the 19th and early 20th centuries. He was a regular contributor to the English Dance & Song magazine.

Pat Shaw 1917-1977 gives a flavour of this man of many talents.

The Pat Shaw Collection includes over 60 of Pat's own compositions.

Another Look at Playford has 120 of Pat's interpetations of older dances.

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