Pirates

Tune: Theme from Pirates of the Caribbean, by Klaus Badelt Source: Banbury Cross Morris (2011) Chorus: clashes, run around (see detailed description), two half heys, “Musketeers”, “Swords” Figures: dance on, , , , , with “stab”

Detailed Description

This dance was written by Banbury Cross Morris in 2011.

Chorus

Chorus #1: Beats 1-4: dancers clash low (backhand)-high (forehand)-low-high. Beats 5-7: first corners run halfway around to their corner's place while the other dancers clash low-high-low on a diagonal. Then all clash across on beat #8. Two half heys. “Musketeers” clashes:

First corners step in & clash high (forehand)-low (backhand) while middles step out and clash high-low with 2nd corners. 1st corners return to position.2nd corners step in in clash high-low while middles clash high-low with 1st corners. 2nd corners return to position.All dancers clash across high-low-high (forehand)-high (backhand)“Swords”:

First corners toss (shouting “Sword!”) while middles step out and clash high-low with 2nd corners. 1st corners return to position.2nd corners toss (shouting “Sword!”) while middles clash high-low with 1st corners. 2nd corners return to position.Middles toss (shouting “Sword!”) while tops & bottoms clash across high-lowAll clash across high (forehand)-high (backhand).Chorus #2: Same as Chorus #1 except that 2nd corners run around instead of 1st corners.

Chorus #3: Same as Chorus #1 except that middles run around instead of 1st corners. Instead of clashing diagonally, tops clash with bottoms while middles are running around.

Chorus #4: “Birdcage”. Tops & bottoms run halfway around the set clockwise while middles do a whole gyp counter-clockwise, clashing aggressively backhand-forehand-backhand-forehand. Then two half heys, “Musketeers” and “Swords” as above.

Figures

Dance On

Dancer #6 wanders on looking wary. Dancers #1-5 each run in from the corner opposite their position, screaming and clashing aggressively with #6 as they pass, ending up in their positions. When all dancers are in position, the dancers shout in unison, “Drink up, me hardies, yo ho!” and all clash with #6's stick.

Once to Yourself

Hankie dances: stand in position, trying not to look stupid. Five beats before the end of the tune, bring the hankies up to chest-level and rise onto your toes. Then two hop backs and a foot-together-jump. Stick dances: stand in position, trying not to look stupid. Two beats before the end of the tune, do a foot-together-jump.

Foot Up & Down

Face up. Two double steps in the “up” direction (one stationary, one in place). Galley (out from the center). Foot-together-jump to face down. Face down. Two double steps in the “down” direction (one stationary, one in place). Galley (out from the center). Foot-together-jump ¾ of the way around to face across.

Half Gyp

Face across. Two double steps, one to cross to your partner's position (starting on the left foot1) this will be the outside foot as you pass and passing by the right shoulder) and one in place. Hop backs to return to place. Foot-together-jump. Face across. Two double steps, one to cross to your partner's position (starting on the right foot2) this will again be the outside foot as you pass and passing by the left shoulder) and one in place. Hop backs to return to place. Foot-together-jump.

Back-to-Back

Face across. Two double steps: on the first one cross to your partner's position (starting on the left foot and passing by the right shoulder), and on the second one slide to your right. Hop backs to return to place, this time passing your partner by the left shoulder. Foot-together-jump. Face across. Two double steps: on the first one cross to your partner's position (starting on the right foot and passing by the left shoulder), and on the second one slide to your left. Hop backs to return to place, this time passing your partner by the right shoulder. Foot-together-jump.

Rounds

On the catch-step (“and”) before the downbeat, hop into a circle and face clockwise. Middles will need to move outwards (“bulge”). One double step around the circle (clockwise). On the second double step spiral into a clump, ending halfway around the circle but closer to the center. Hop backs to your corner's place (halfway around the circle). Foot-together-jump. On the catch-step (“and”) before the downbeat, all dancers turn a little more than 180° over their left shoulders (“hard turn”) and go back the way they came (counter-clockwise). Again, on the second double step spiral into a clump, ending halfway around the circle but closer to the center. Hop backs to your original place. Foot-together-jump.

On the third beat of the second double step, dancers “stab” their stick like a sword, aiming for just behind their corner's back.

Tune