More Figure Eights From Herefordshire

The Weobley Figure Eight

Source: More Figure Eights From Herefordshire; submitted by Pat Shaw from Cecil Sharp's manuscripts; published in English Dance & Song, Autumn 1967, Volume XXIX No. 3
Formation: Three Couples; Longways; Proper

A1	#1 Man Full Figure Eight Down through #2s WHILE #1 Lady Full Figure Eight on the Side, starting Left Shoulder with #2 Lady
A2	#1 Man Full Figure Eight on the Side, starting Right Shoulder with #2 Man WHILE #1 Lady Full Figure Eight Down through #2s
B1	#1s Take Right Hand in Right Hand: Lead Down, Turn Alone With Crossed Hands: Dance to the Top, Separate and Cast to the Bottom - #2s & #3s Move Up with a Turn Single Up
B2	All: Partner Swing

The Madley Figure Eight

A1	#1s Cast out into Full Figure Eight on the Side - finish by crossing into each other's places and continue outside #2s into…
A2	#1s Full Figure Eight on the Side - cross home to finish
B1	#1s Take Right Hand in Right Hand: Lead Down, Turn Alone With Crossed Hands: Dance to the Top, Separate and Cast to the Bottom - #2s & #3s Move Up with a Turn Single Up
B2	All: Partner Swing

Figure Seven

A1	#1s Cross Down: #1 Man Full Figure Eight on the Ladies' Side - start Right Shoulder with #3 Lady WHILE #1 Lady dances 2 & 1/2 times CW around #2 Man - finish in each other's places
A2	#1s Cross Down: #1 Lady Full Figure Eight on the Ladies' Side - start Right Shoulder with #3 Lady WHILE #1 Man dances 2 & 1/2 times CW around #2 Man - finish at home
B1	#1s Take Right Hand in Right Hand: Lead Down, Turn Alone With Crossed Hands: Dance to the Top, Separate and Cast to the Bottom - #2s & #3s Move Up with a Turn Single Up
B2	All: Partner Swing

Music:
32 bars.

Notes:
See The Peterchurch Figure Eight for Weobley Version 2. See Loxley Figure Eight for another Figure Eight dance.

I suspect that, in Figure Seven, Man #2 can have a lot of fun interacting with the person dancing around him!

Original page from English Dance & Song, Autumn 1967

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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