As danced by Sullivans Sword.

Music & Step

Dancing on:- Nelly the elephant; Getting into position, 1^st and 4^th figures: The Lass of Dallowgill; 2^nd Figure: Bobby Shaftoe; 3^rd Figure: The Keel Row; 5^th Figure: The Oyster Girl.

Dancing: 2 steps to the bar. In the following directions one beat is taken to be one step regardless of the musical nicities.

Introduction

Dancing on

Line up one behind the other in the order 1,6,5,4,3,2, with sword on the right shoulders, hand close to the body and forearm horizontal.

Introductory tune from musician and then all start off on right foot on first beat

No.1 leads onto stage and then circle clockwise as long as desired.

No.1 leads out of circle and forms line along one side of stage. On reaching position, march on the spot until music stops.

Song

One note from musician and then all sing 4 verses of song unaccompanied.

During the last line of the song on the word “up” turn left foot to the left.

On the word “play” turn right foot and body to the left.

Getting into position

Musician plays last 4 beats of tune. All start off on first beat of next tune.

16 beats – No.1 leads round into a circle moving clockwise.

16 beats – On first beat of next tune No.1 & 4 clash swords together and hold in high basket.

On 5^th beat No. 2 & 5 clash onto the 1^st 2 swords and on 9^th beat No.s 3 & 6 clash onto the other 4 swords.

(All hands should be about 9 ins. From centre and swords should cross about 9 ins. From the point.)

First Figure

Clash Shoulders & Elbows

8 beats – Starting on 1^st beat of next tune clash 8 times on every beat.

8 beats – On the 9^th beat place sword horizontally on right shoulder, grasp the point in front with the palm of the left hand over the top and dance round for 8 beats.

(The hilt should be held 9 ins. In front of the shoulder and the dancer behind should be allow to level the sword.)

8 beats – on the next 1^st beat, lift the hilt above your head and on the second beat put the sword on the left shoulder. Carry on the 8^th beat.

8 beats – On the next first beat move the hilt out away from the shoulder and on the second beat move it down and in to the left elbow. On 5^th beat start to open out, lifting the hilt over the head, so that on the 7^th beat the hilt is down on the right hand side and on the 8^th beat turn to face inwards with point and hilt on the outside of the hips.

Single Over

4 beats x 6    – On 1^st beat No.2 bends down to put hilt hilt 6 ins. From the ground. Simultaneously No.1 drops his left hand, raises his right hand up in front of his face and moves his right foot in front of the sword on the ground.

On the 2^nd beat he moves his left foot to in front of the sword, while turning to face No.6 and moving his right hand across the front of his face and down to the side of his right thigh.

On the 3^rd beat he lifts his right foot over the sword back into position, while standing up.

All the other dancers mark time on the spot. No.6 needs to lean across with his left hand to allow No.1 to get over the sword easily.

Repeat the movement with No.s 2,3,4,5 and 6 each going over their neighbour’s sword in turn.

Circle

8 beats – Circle clockwise, facing over the left shoulder of the dancer in front with both hands next to the body, the left hand by the crutch and the right hand by the back of the right buttock.

Right Over Left Lock

8 beats – Keep circling throughout. On 1^st and 2^nd beats cros right hand over left and push both diagonally away from the body while moving inwards slightly.

On 3^rd beat receive the point of the next sword with the out stretched fingers of the right hand and release the point in the left hand.

On the 4^th beat take the new point in the left hand and hold the 2 hands apart from one another.

On the 6^th beat cross left hand over right and on the 7^th beat pull the point back onto the hilt. Then rest the swords on the palms so that the lock can be rested without interference.

Display & Draw

24 beats – On the last beat No.1 lifts the lock with the right hand straight up in the air and the plane of the lock tangential to the circle. All circle round facing forward until No.1 calls “Look for your swords”

16 beats – On 1^st beat No.1 drops the lock into the middle of the circle and the other dancers catch their handles on their outstretched right palms at waist level.

Drop right hands so that they are fully extended downwards and continue circling facing forwards.

No.1 will call “This time” towards the end of the tune. On the penultimate beat lift the handles to shoulder level and on the last beat down and across the front of the body so that the point touches the floor just outside the circle.

Getting Into Position

1 beat – As the musician plays one extended note move the sword back across the front of the body, so that the point touches the floor in the middle of the circle.

8 beats – In the next 4 beats swing the sword out and up across the front of the body into a high basket, clashing once on the 5^th beat. Stand for the next 3 beats and prepare to start clashing in the next figure on the 9^th beat.

Second Figure

Clash, Shoulders and Elbows

32 beats as 1^st figure

Double Under

8 beats – On 1^st beat No.s 3 & 4 raise the sword between them to just above head height with the hands about 6 ins. Outside the shoulder and slowly move across the set forwards.

Simultaneously No.1 & 6 raise the sword between them to nose level with the hands 12 ins. Directly in front of the shoulders and briskly move forward and go underneath the sword carried by No.s 3 & 4. As soon as they go under the sword they turn sharply outwards round No.s 3 & 4 and raise the sword between them over the heads of the other dancers while returning to their original positions. Their other hands should be kept behind the middle of their bodies.

No.s 2 & 5 follow 1 & 6 under the sword and immediately they go under they also turn sharply outwards round 3 & 4 and go back to place.

As soon as 2 & 5 have gone under the sword No.s 3 & 4 turn round inwards, drop the sword between them down onto the swords in their other hands, initially making two right angles with the swords and move back to place. On the 7^th and 8^th beats they turn round outwards to face the middle.

Repeat the movement five more times with No.s 2,3,4,5 and 6’s swords successively going under first.

Circle

16 beats – As first figure

Nippit Lock

12 beats – On first beat lift both hands in the air above the front of the head, about 3 inches apart. Turn all the way round clockwise on the spot, dropping the hands down when facing inwards again and push the hands diagonally away from the body while moving inwards slightly. On the 7^th beat receive the point of the next sword with the out streched fingers of the right hand and make a lock in the same way as in the first figure, crossing hands on the 10^th beat and locking on the 11^th beat. Circling should resume on the 9^th beat.

Display & Draw

36 beats – As 1^st figure

Getting into position

9 beats – As 1^st figure

Third Figure

Clash Shoulders and Elbows

2 beats – As first figure

Double Over

8 beats x 6    – On 1^st beat No.s 3 & 4 drop forward onto right knees with the sword at ground level, level with their right knees and all their bodies outside the sword. Simultaneously Nos1 and 6 raise the sword between them (as in double unders) and step forward briskly on the right foot. Go over the sword between 3 and 4 with the right foot on the 3^rd beat and the left foot on the 4^th beat.

Then turn sharply round 3 and 4 and return to position(as in double unders).

Again the trailing swords should should be kept behind the middle of the bodies.

Nos 2 and 5 follow 1 and 6, going over the sword with the right feet on 5^th beat and left feet on 6^th beat and then turning sharply round3 and 4 to go back to place.

Nos 3 and 4 go back to their original positions on 7^th and 8^th beats.

Repeat the movement 5 more times with Nos 2,3,4,5 and 6’s swords successively going over first.

Circle

16 beats – As first figure

Back Lock

12 beats – In 4 beats pass the point of the sword in the right hand to the person 2 placesbehind you, round the small of the back of the person inbetween while moving in slightly and circling crab-wise with the body facing the centre of the circle. Simultaneously look to the left and collect the sword coming towards you with the left hand.

(It is important that the point of the sword you are passing is angled inwards and kept horizontal so that the other person can collect it.)

Circle crap-wise for a further 4 beats.

On the next 1^st beat start lifting the sword over your head without ducking and on the 4^th beat lock the point on to the hilt.

Display & Draw

36 beats – As 1^st figure

Getting into Position

9 beats – As 1^st figure

Forth Figure

Clash, Shoulders & Elbows

32 beats – As 1^st figure

Double Under and Over

16 beats x 3      – Nos 1 and 6 go under Nos 3 and 4 and back to place with Nos 2 and 5  following, exactly as in the Double Under in the 2^nd figure.

Nos 3 and 4 then go over Nos 1 and 6 and back to place with Nos 2 and 5 following, exactly as in the Double Over in the 3^rd figure.

(For this to work to the music, it is essential that Nos 3 and 4 turn round very quickly at the end of the Double Under, so that they are ready to step off on the next beat and go over the sword on the 3rd and

4^th beats.)

This movement is repeated twice more with:

     Nos 2 and 3 going under 5 and 6, followed by 5 and 6 going over 2 and 3 andNos 4 and 5 going under 1 and 2, followed by 1 and 2 going over 4 and 5.

Circle

16 beats – As 1^st figure

Overhead Lock

12 beats – On 1^st beat raise both hands in the air, above the front of the head.

Turn clockwise until facing outwards, move in slightly towards the middle of the circle until touching shoulders with both neighbours and with hands crossed hilt over point.

On 5^th beat start clock-wise, crab-wise circling and push both hands diagonally away from the body.

On the 9^th beat push your hilt underneath the point that is being pushed towards you and lock it onto the handle. Support the hilt and point on both palms, allowing No1 to lift the lock freely. No1 will keep asking “OK?” until there is no immediate reply of “No”.

Display and Draw

36 beats – As 1^st  figure

Getting into Position

1 beat – As the musician plays 1 extended note place the sword on the right shoulder with the hand close to the body and forearm horizontal.

8 beats – Stand facing clock-wise round the circle.

Fifth Figure

Lining Up

32 or 64 beats – Start circling on 1^st beat. Widen the circle slightly and let a gap form between Nos 1 and 6. Nos 7 and 8 then join into the circle, No 8 behind No1 and No7 behind No8. Continue circling until No1 calls and then form 2 lines, length wise across the set, facing the person opposite and marking time thus:-

                                                8              1              2              3

                                Top                                                                         Bottom

                                                7              6              5              4

                                                1^st            2^nd           3^rd            4^th

Clash-booms

16 beats – 1) 1^st Verse

A. Change (1^st 4 beats):

 8, 7, 2 and 5 move 4 paces sideways down the set.

1 and 3 turn sharply to their left, move round 8 and 2 and end up in 8 and 2’s original positions.

6 and 4 turn sharply to their right move round 7 and 5 and end up in 7 and 5’s original poisitions.

B. Change (2^nd 4 beats):

1,6,3, and 4 move 4 paces sideways down the set.

8 and 2 turn sharply to their left, move round 1 and 3 and end up in their own original poisitions.

7 and 8 turn sharply to their right, move rounf 6 and 4 and end up in their own original positions.

C. Stand (3^rd 4 beats):

All step on the spot, facing the person opposite. On 1^st beat present the sword forward, holding arm horizontally out-stretched from the shoulder with the sword upright. On the 3r^d beat clash swords with the person opposite, 9 ins from the point. On the 4^th beat return sword to shoulder.

16 beats – 2) Chorus

A. Change (1^st 4 beats): as 1^st verse A

B. Change (2^nd 4 beats): as 1^st verse B

C. & D. Clash, Clash, Clash  (3^rd and 4^th 4 beats):

All step on the spot, facing the person opposite. Clash on 1^st, 3^rd and 5^th beats. Return sword to shoulder on 6^th beat.

16 beats – 3) Repeat 1^st Verse

16 beats – 4) Repeat Chorus

16 beats – 5) 2^nd Verse

A. Change (1^st 4 beats): as 1^st verse A

B. Clash (2^nd 4 beats): as 1^st verse D

C. Change (3^rd 4 beats): as 1^st verse B

D. Clash (4^th 4 beats): as 1^st verse D

16 beats - 6) Chorus

16 beats – 7) Repeat 2^nd verse

16 beats – 8) Repaet Chorus but after 3^rd clash drop the sword down to the horizontal at waist height and grasp the point of the sword of the dancer opposite in the left hand, holding the 2 swords parallel, about 3 ins apart.

Roll

32 beats x 2      – Throughout this movement keep the pairs of swords horizontal and parallel, ideally 3 ins apart the whole time.

1^st 4 beats : 1^st couple go over 2^nd, 3^rd go over 4^th         1 2 3 4         >2 1 4 3

2^nd 4 beats : 1^st go over 4^th, 2^nd and 3^rd roll once away from set.     >2 4 1 3

3^rd 4 beats : 2^nd go over 4^th 1^st go over 3^rd                                          >4 2 3 1

4^th 4 beats : 2^nd go over 3^rd , 4^th and 1^st roll once away from set.    >4 3 2 1

5^th 4 beats : 4^th go over 3^rd, 2^nd go over 1^st                                         >3 4 1 2

6^th 4 beats : 4^th go over 1^st, 3^rd and 2^nd roll once away from set      >3 1 4 2

7^th 4 beats : 3^rd go over 1^st 4^th go over 2^nd                                          >1 3 2 4

8^th 4 beats : 3^rd go over 2^nd, 1^st and 4^th roll once away from set      >1 2 3 4

Repeat the whole movement.

Notes:- 1) When moving down the set roll over the other couple.

2) Each time you get to the end of the set, roll once away from the set.

3) Rolling over : Roll towards the other couple, swords kept about 9 ins above the head the whole time. If rolling over 2 consecutive couples still keep the swords up between rolls. Throughout the movement keep the whole body well outside the handle of the sword and avoid wobbling in and out.

4) Rolling under : On the 1^st 2 beatsmove up the set with large steps under the oncoming sword with shoulder touching your partner and swords in front at waist height. On 3^rd and 4^th beats roll rapidly round forwards on the spot.

5) Rolling at the end : start with swords at waist height and roll once in an even movement in 4 beats, finishing up facing each other, ready to move in the opposite direction.

Circle

16 beats – Join up in hilt and point position and circle clockwise as 1^st figure.

Back Lock

12 beats – All 8 dancers form lock as in 3^rd figure except that when crossing the swords, leave the point sticking out about 12 ins more than the hilt.

Display and Dance Off

36 beats – Circle clockwise at least 2 or 3 times with No1 displaying the lock. No1 lead off stage with others following, keeping dancing until well off the stage.