 The dance below is one of a small number composed in the 1930s/40s in
Christchurch, New Zealand. It commemorates the town of Warrington near Liverpool where one
Francis Shurrock was born, and from where he emigrated to New Zealand in 1924. More
details of his life can be found here: Francis
ShurrockHe was also one of the few New Zealand male morris dancers in the 1940s. The dance is remarkable in that it was composed when prevailing attitudes in English 'folk' dancing were that Sharp's interpretations of the Playford country dances were the only ones to be taught and performed.
WarringtonThe dance to the tune below can be seen performed by the ladies of
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'Warrington' is apparently from 22:54 to 25:30 (two
performances); |
Set: square set, 4 couples
Step: light skipping, music is a jig
Music: As below played AB x 4 [conjecture: add an additional B at the end to complete the grand chain?]
Dance: all hold hands at about arm height, turn slightly towards direction of travel
[Intro: honour your partners - conjecture]
A - Men dance single file outside the ring clockwise / women inside anticlockwise (away from partner); turn R about and return to places
B - All promenade around set to placesA - Head couples (promenade hold) - dance forward and around the side couple on the right
B - Sides repeat; sides split and make 2 lines of 4 with heads in middleA - Head lines (i.e facing up or down) fall backwards then forwards; face partner and set and turn single; heads split and make 2 lines of 4 with sides in middle
B - Side lines (i.e. facing across) fall backwards then forwards; face partner and set and turn singleA - Partners right hand turn, left hand turn; corners repeat
B - Grand chain(*) starting right hand to partnerNote: (*) there appears to be only 8 bars for the grand chain which was a scramble for the 1987 dancers in the film; maybe the chain could be for 12 bars or maybe an additional B can be played to end the grand chain followed by honour your partners?
Email: Chris Brady |
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