This is primarily a teaching dance, but will also be used for some performances.
The dance is flexible on the number of dancers required. You can probably get away with 5-8 dancers.
The aim was for a dance that could be broken down into individual moves and parts of moves that could be taught and built up in sections. Also, to avoid all use of the words ‘left’ and ‘right’. Try and avoid referring to the dancer’s number. Try and avoid even giving them numbers, apart from number 1.
If time allows, teach them to sing ‘Bobby Shafto’. This will aid timing and understanding how long a move lasts. Emphasise that each section will end on ‘Bonny Bobbie Shafto’ so they can anticipate the change of move.
If less time, settle for teaching them to clap and count to 16 for the A and B melody.
If even less time, just dive right in!
Explain the terms ‘hilt’ and ‘point’. (Hilt is the rounded end that you hold. Point is the other end.)
Form the children up in a line, one behind the other.
Walk on
Left foot start.
16 steps to walk on, turn in the direction of the swords (ie. clockwise) and form a circle. Stop with a firm stamp on 16 (Shafto).
If they have a long walk to get to where they have space to dance, then they can do the music twice before stopping. The key points are to keep walking in time with the music and to and up in a circle, with a firm stamp on the final ‘Shafto’.
Raise Swords to High Touch
1-2 Number one raises his sword high in the air (full stretch of the arm – aim for the sky!), and brings it down again. ‘UP, DOWN’.
3 Number 1 takes a small step towards the centre of the circle. If there are a lot of dancers, it will need to be a big step. ‘STEP’
4 He moves his sword down a little, to position for a high basket. ‘TUCK’
5-8 The dancer BEHIND number one does the same but tucks the end of his sword under Number 1’s. UP, DOWN, STEP, TUCK
It’s very important that the dancer behind goes second, as this makes it easier for him to copy what number 1 has just done.
Continue this pattern for each dancer in turn, with four beats for each dancer. Each dancer (if young) should call out the words to help them keep in time to the music.
When all dancers have their swords in the high basket, hold position until the next phrase of the music begins.
Circle and Clash
Walk round in a circle, ending on ‘Shafto’.
If all swords are correctly tucked behind each other (as they should be if everyone followed the ‘under’ instruction correctly), then they can do a gentle sword clash as they walk round.
Lower Swords
Everyone carries out this action at the same time.
1-2 DOWN AND- Lower your hand to hip height, while keeping the sword pointing vertically upwards
3-4 REACH GRAB – Grab the point of the sword in front of you.
5-6 LEVEL SWORD – Pull the sword down and towards you, until it is horizontal.
7-8 AND CLASH – Clash hilt over point on the last beat. Circle with the swords resting on shoulders for until the end of a suitable phrase in the music.
Feel free to clash the hilts on the points in time to the music.
Shoulders (basic version)
1-2 SWORDS GO UP – all the way up, swords should remain horizontal and must remain hilt over point – If dancers are of mixed heights, the shortest dancer should lift their swords as high as possible (the word ‘halo’ can help here) , and the others should lift theirs to whatever height feels sensible.)
3-4 SWORDS GO DOWN – Swords come crisply down on the outside shoulder (it helps if you take a small step towards the inside of the circle)
5-6 SWORDS GO UP – Remember to keep a continuous ring by maintaining hilt over point and keeping the each dancer’s hands close together.
7-8 SWORDS GO DOWN – Swords come down on the inside shoulder
9-10 SWORDS GO UP
11-12 SWORDS GO DOWN – Arms come down on the outside shoulder.
13-14 SWORDS GO UP
15-16 TURN (in). Swords come down on the inside shoulder and the dancers turn inwards to end up going the other way round the circle. ie. They are now going anti-clockwise.
Repeat the same set of moves 1-14, but turn inwards to face clockwise on 15-16 and open into a ring. (ie. this replaces the final ‘inside shoulder’)
Circle for 16 steps
Start large and gradually make the circle a bit smaller (this makes the ‘over own sword’ move easier)
Over Own Sword (aka Snake)
Each dancer should in stand the circle facing clockwise (looking at the person in front of them), each in turn, progressing clockwise, will step over the sword in their right hand (it helps to bring the hand forward of the hip), raise their arms, turn to face forward and bring their left arm down in a sweeping movement to aid the next dancer.
1-2 Lift your right foot over sword (it will be the foot closest to the sword)
3-4 Lift your left foot over sword
5-6 Lift your arms and turn around
7-8 Swing your left sword (holding the point of your neighbour’s sword) down in a half-circle movement. (it should end in the correct place for the next dancer to be able to easily step over it)
Depending on preference, this move can go once or twice around the circle.
Circle 16 +When everyone has gone over their swords, circle to use up any remaining music, and then continue circling for another 16.
Lock
Facing into the centre of the circle.
Cross your right wrist over your left wrist. (ie. with the hand holding a sword hilt passing over the hand holding a point) At this point, with children who are still learning the dance, pause and ask each group of children to check that everyone has their hands crossed the same way. Call ‘CHECK’. Then double check yourself – after you’ve found hands crossed the wrong way a couple of times, the children learn to check as a group and will help correct each other.
Push your hand towards the next persons hand until you are touching fists.
Again, call ‘CHECK’. Are all fists touching, and is the star a sensible shape? If some children push harder than others, it will be lopsided.
Let go with your right hand (the one on top, holding a hilt).
Call CHECK. Has everyone let go with the correct hand?
Gasp the X where two swords cross in front of you.
Call CHECK – is everyone holding the correct swords?
Use your left hand to tuck the point it is holding under the hilt of the other sword. There needs to be about 5cm of each sword sticking out when you have finished.
Provided you introduce the checks from the very beginning, children will learn to get this lock correct very quickly, and get a real sense of achievement from it.
Number one takes the completed lock and lifts it in the air vertically (hold with two hands well apart – place hands where swords cross).
Pause for applause, for one A or B of the music.
Rose
Number 1 lifts up the lock for every one to see, leads the dancers round in a final circle and then off into the audience.