3 couples, longways set.
Foot Up with Galley | Ch 1 | Half Gyp | Ch 2 | Back to Back | Ch 3 | Rounds | Ch 4 [ending with] Caper x 3 All Up & Clash
4(Ax2+Bx2). A is 4 bars, B is 8 bars.
Long stick in Rh.
Start with Slipbacks & FTJ.
Clash sticks with partner at the end of each half of each verse, including at the end of the dance, in addition to in choruses etc..
Two triple steps forwards [starting RF] then two step-hops backwards [turning heel of free foot in on each hop so it looks a bit like a slipback] and FTJ [total 4 bars].
If using hankies, they go vertically down beat 1 and vertically up on the hop of the triple steps. Arms go out sideways during the 1st step-hop, come back in to infront of chest [moving in with a bit of dip down and up on the way, i.e. sort of like flat semi-elliptical paths [Lh acw, Rh cw]] during the 2nd, out again during the Foot Together and in again during the Jump.
If using a stick the hands move similarly to with hankies except that they don’t move in the triple step section.
Each of these is done in two basics.
Half a Hey on the Sides done in one Basic. Dances thrust their outside arms vertically up [whether or not that happens to be the one holding the stick, a hanky or nothing [in which case make a fist]] on the first beat of the 1st bar and the third beat of the 2nd bar.
All face up the set and dance two triple steps forwards then Galley out 180 deg then FTJ and clash. Repeat down the set.
Each half is done in one forwards Basic but instead of simply going in circle, the dancers spiral in to meet in the centre and back radially out. At the end of the first half they dramatically simultaneously turn 270 deg acw in the jump.
Pause [1 beat], hands up from chest to arms in high V-shape [1 beat], pause [1 beat], hands down [1 beat].
A pair of Down-Ups is two low capers in succession with both arms going down during the first caper and up in the second
A Rft Beetle Crusher is the slapping down of the Rft flat on the floor infront with the R leg stretched out straight about 45 deg from the vertical [As in Trei Pâjeste Batrinesque.] with weight remaining on Lft then raising the Rft a little [2 beat total].
A Rft one of these is touching toe to ground RABww + gently jump landing on both feet + jump dramatically with both hands going up & out from the chest [to theta = 45 deg, phi = ±90 deg] landing on both feet + raise LFww in the air with leg straight [45 deg from vertical] whilst lowering arms [total 2 bars].
Start all verses Lft except Foot Up & Rounds which start with inside ft [i.e. Dap 1, 3 & 5 start Rft & the others Lft] and Heys & Half Heys which start with the inside foot of the initial turn into the hey [i.e. Dap 1, 3 & 6 start Lft & the others Rft].
Dances described as ‘Long Fieldtown’ have a longer Basic. This is a whole normal Basic except that the FTJ is replaced with 2 more step-hops backwards and followed by 2 triple steps in place facing partner then Galley Round [direction determined by starting ft of course] & FTJ. [8 bars total]
In the Foot Up, it no longer needs a Galley Round added into the Basic because it already has one. From facing partner, turn 90 deg down at the end of the 1st half and 360 deg up at the end of the 2nd.
At the end of the 1st half of Rounds, do not skimp on the Galley Round. Galley Round 360 deg R then do the normal 270 deg acw jump in the FTJ immediately following it.
Fieldtown is very similar to Bleddington but slower and gentler in style [which unfortunately makes it both more difficult to do, because of the balance needed, and less entertaining for normal audiences]. Many dances are common to the two traditions.
Hands going up is often during the 3rd action in sequences of 4.
This page only contains features specific to this tradition. Where not specified, the features of this tradition are in common with Cotswold Morris in general.
[Fieldtown] [Different Traditions] [Abbreviations] [General Cotswold Morris Features]