Please email me if you have a dance you have written that you would like to appear on the website

DUTCH COURAGE

Composed by Keith Orchard and first danced at Milverton Folk Dance Group, Warwick, 28th February, 2008 and danced for the second time at the Folk Group Easter Meet at Thirsk on 25th March 2008

2 couples facing 2 couples

Music: Dutch Crossing original tune 4 x 64 bars

Think RIGHT

A1: Give R to opposite, L to partner and pull by (=square through 2 hands)
1/2 reel of 4 started by 2 middle people passing RSh (while ends turn L)
B1: In 4's circle R 1/2 way, fall back, set and turn single coming forward

Think LEFT

A2: Give L to opposite, R to partner and pull by
1/2 reel of 4 started by 2 middle people passing LSh (ends turn R)
B2: In 4's circle L 1/2 way, fall back, set and turn single coming forward

All now home

C1: The 'Dutch Crossing Figure' becomes the 'Trip to Bavaria Figure'
Middles RHS 1/2 way while ends pull by your opposite RH
All pull by neighbour LH (same sex)
1/2 RHS or pull by RH
All pull by LH
C2: Repeat to place

All now home

D1: All 2 hand turn partner
DCD partner
D2: In 4's circule L ONCE round - All still home
All cast RSh one couple's place clockwise round the set. Progression

REPEAT 3 MORE TIMES

Notes:

1. The dance is a simplification of Dutch Crossing, which needs 16 people in a grid of 4 x 4, two couples facing two couples, twice over.

2. A1, B1 and A2, B2 are exactly the same as in Dutch Crossing.

3. C1 and C2: In Dutch Crossing, while 8 people (those on the long diagonals) do half stars back to these places, the remaining 8 do a grand chain all the way round the outside. In Dutch Courage, the two figures are combined to produce the same figure as used in Trip to Bavaria, where everyone is doing half a star (in the middle of the set) or half a RH turn (if you are on the end), followed by a LH pull by with your same-sex neighbour on the side, four times in total.

4. D1: as in Dutch Crossing.

5. D2: In Dutch Crossing you circle L once and a quarter (i.e. 5 places) so that next time through the reels are at right angles to the first time through. In order to get a progression, the original DCD in Dutch Crossing is replaced by a casting figure in Dutch Courage.

6. The dance is intended to give you the courage to attempt Dutch Crossing (some right arm exercise with a beer glass might help!).

Composed by Keith Orchard and first danced at Milverton Folk Dance Group, Warwick, 28th February, 2008 and danced for the second time at the Folk Group Easter Meet at Thirsk on 25th March 2008