(Allsop figure 1, Kennedy figure 1, Dommett Figure 1)
Tune: Bobby Shafto
High Salute
Short intro from band. On the last beat of the intro, raise swords to touch in a ‘tent’.
High Clash (16 steps)
Walk (this should be a springy walk, almost a run) round clockwise, clashing swords in time to music. 16 clashes. Aim to clash against the sword of the dancer behind you.
Shoulders and Elbows (48 steps)
1-16 Lower swords to inside shoulder on first beat. Move round clockwise in a faster, more springy walk. Your right hand should be on your own shoulder, and your left hand should be fairly close to your right hand.
17- 32 On the first beat, lift sword over head (make sure to lift both hands up and down, so that the other sword you’re holding clears the owner’s head) and bring down on your outside shoulder.
33-48 On the first beat, bring sword down onto your elbow.
Over Your Own Sword
1-4 On the first beat, lift right hand over your head and form a ring, running clockwise.
5-6 Lower sword. The dancer going over, holds their sword in front of the body and then lowers it to mid-shin height (the sword should be horizontal, so the person holding the other end needs to lower it as well.)
7-10 Step-hop left, step-hop right. The right foot step is the one that goes over the sword. (You’re moving from the outside of the circle to the inside.
11-14 Raise left hand over head and turn counter-clockwise under it. l/r l/r. Swing left hand down.
The circle keeps rotating clockwise while the dancers are going over their swords and each dancer in turn (going clockwise around the set) does the sequence of 2 steps to lower sword, step-hop left, step-right (over sword), 4 steps to turn anti-clockwise under sword
Number 1 goes over his sword first, followed by the other dancers going clockwise around the set.
Hilt and Point Ring (ideally 16 steps if previous figure was perfect… or to the end of a convenient phrase)
This allows a bit of overflow time if anything went wrong with Over Your Own…
Double Under Twice (+ Short Open Ring) (32 steps)
Number 1, and the dancer to his left, stand shoulder to shoulder hold their common sword in front of their chest. The arch is made by the couple opposite them – the sword should be raised with a full arm swing to well above the head level. Number 1 and his partner go under the arch, turn away from each other on 7, and go back to their own position making an arch over the other dancers.
The couple on the side follow (shoulder to shoulder) behind the first couple going under the arch.
The couple who initially made the arch will have walked forward going over number 1 and his partner. When they reach the other side of the set, they will turn towards one another, hold their sword in front of them and go back to their own place underneath the arch.
As soon as this has been done, do the same move reversed, with number 1 and partner forming the arch and the opposite couple going under (and then coming back again).
If both double unders are done with dancers turning on the count of 7, this will take 28 steps, leaving 4 steps for a short Open Ring.
Hilt and Point Ring (4 steps, or to end of convenient phrase)
The left over time from the figure above. If the double under fits exactly to the music, feel free to skip this Ring, or include it if you need to recover before Arches Down.
Arches Down and Open Ring Twice (Double Over) (16 steps)
This is similar to the double under, but with some important differences.
The first couple lower their common sword and the couple opposite (holding their common sword in front of them) go over it, (followed by the side couple). Both couples move towards each other at the same time.
It’s important that couples go over the sword at exactly the same time. They hold their common sword horizontally at mid-chest height.
First couple over: left, right, left, right, right-hop, left foot over over sword, left-hop, right, left, etc.
Second couple over: left, right, left, right, left, right, left, right, right-hop, left foot over over sword, left-hop, right, left, etc.
As soon as the second couple have gone over the sword, the third couple holding the lowered sword turn inwards to reverse direction and start back towards their own side of the set. This makes the move easier when they have to go over the sword themselves.
Third couple over: left, right for thirteen steps, then step-hop right, step hop left over sword and return to their place in the ring. (they will need the first two steps of the Open Ring to straighten up) (Or, the same thing in different words: As soon as the second couple have done their second step-hop, the third couple go right, left, right, right-hop, left foot over sword, left-hop.)
The first couple that went over the sword, turn away from each other and make an arch over everyone else to go back to their own place, followed by the second (side) couple.
Open Ring (16 steps)
Repeat Arches Down with the opposite couple lowering their sword.
Hilt and Point Ring (16 steps, or to the end of a convenient phrase)
Right over Left Lock (16 steps)
All move to the centre of the circle placing right hand over left hand. Then, tie the lock by taking the left-hand neighbour’s point and locking it over own hilt. Try and complete this within one phrase of the music, but keep going if you get stuck. (Bonus points are gained for continuing to rotate in a ring while making the lock)
The Rose (16 steps)
Number 1 raises the lock over his head with his right hand. The other dancers follow number one, moving around in a clockwise circle, each placing their left hand on the right shoulder of the man in front. (Number one keeps his left hand free)
The Draw (16 steps)
Number 1 lowers the lock to face height, each man takes hold his own hilt in his right hand, still moving around in a clockwise circle with the left hand on the right shoulder of the man in front. The lock is held at shoulder height until it is drawn on the last beat of the music.
Number 1 must ensure that every dancer is holding the hilt of a sword and that everyone is pulling along the line of their sword.
The swords then come down, ending up touching the ground near the dancer’s feet.
Everyone stops, facing centre.
Link to Figure 2