JENNY LIND SET

Newcastle Irish Set Dancers was first introduced to this set by Christy Mac Gearailt, set dance instructor from Dingle in West Kerry. Other published instructions for this dance include Terry Moylan's "The Piper's Set & Other Dances", Pat Murphy's "Toss the Feathers" and Tom Quinn's "Irish Dancing". Both the Brooks Academy and Joe O'Hara have online versions of the Jenny Lind Set.

FORMATION

Square Set of four couples, Gents on the left of their partners. 1st Top Couple have their backs to the band, with 2nd Top Couple opposite them. 1st Side Couple are on the left of 1st Top Couple (when facing into the set) and 2nd Side Couple are opposite them (to the right of 1st Tops).

FIGURE 1: JIGS (296 BARS)

All Couples	Lock and lead around: Partners take Open Waltz hold, face anticlockwise around the set and Gents place their left hand on the shoulder of the gent in front - All lead around to place	8 bars
All Couples	Square the set: Waltz hold with Ladies facing into the set/Gents facing out - All couples slide to the next position (1-2-123) + Balance in and out in place (123 123) making a 1/4 turn clockwise (Ladies facing out/Gents facing in) [4 bars] + Slide into Opposite place + Balance in and out + Repeat to home position	16 bars
All Couples	House the set	8 bars
1st Top Couple	House inside + Square inside	16 bars
All Couples	Top Couples face Side Couple on the left - Right hand star to place [8 bars] + Swing Partner	16 bars
All Couples	Lock and lead around + Square the set + House	32 bars
1st Side Couple	(On left of 1st Top Couple) House inside + Square	16 bars
All Couples	Side Couples face Top Couple on your left - Right hand star + Swing Partner	16 bars
+ Repeat x 2	with 2nd Top Couple, then 2nd Side Couple dancing House + Square inside	128 bars
All Couples	Lock and lead around + Square the set + House	32 bars

FIGURE 2: JIGS (328 BARS)

All Couples	Lock and lead around + Square the set + House the set	32 bars
1st Top Couple	House inside + Square	16 bars
Top Couples	Slide and Cross: Right hand in right - Slide into centre and back [4 bars] + Ladies cross turning anticlockwise to pass back to back [2 bars] + Gents cross turning clockwise to pass back to back [2 bars] + Repeat to go back home [8 bars] + Swing Partner [8 bars]	24 bars
All Couples	Lock and lead around + Square the set + House	32 bars
1st Side Couple	House inside + Square	16 bars
Side Couples	Slide and Cross + Swing Partner	24 bars
+ Repeat x 2	with 2nd Top Couple, then 2nd Side Couple dancing House + Square inside	144 bars
All Couples	Lock and lead around + Square the set + House	32 bars

FIGURE 3: JIGS (328 BARS)

Note: In this version only the Top Ladies get to dance the House inside + Square. A variation that allows all Ladies to dance the House inside + Square requires the Ladies to Advance and retire (one place to the right) + Advance and retire (a second place to the right), that is moving on two places altogether.

All Couples	Lock and lead around + Square the set + House the set	32 bars
1st Top Couple	House inside + Square	16 bars
All Couples	Circle - Advance and retire twice	8 bars
All Ladies	Advance joining hands and retire + Advance and retire to position on the right	8 bars
All Gents	Advance and retire twice without taking hands	8 bars
All Couples	Lock and lead around + Square the set + House	32 bars
1st Side Couple	House inside + Square	16 bars
All Couples / Ladies / Gents	All: Circle - Advance and retire twice + Ladies: Advance and retire twice moving to the right + Gents: Advance and retire twice	24 bars
+ Repeat x 2	with 2nd Top Couple, then 2nd Side Couple dancing House + Square inside	144 bars
All Couples	Lock and lead around + Square the set + House	32 bars

FIGURE 4: JIGS (328 BARS)

All Couples	Lock and lead around + Square the set + House the set	32 bars
1st Top Couple	House inside + Square	16 bars
All Couples	Give right hand to Partner - Chain all round and back to home [16 bars] + Swing Partner [8 bars]	24 bars
All Couples	Lock and lead around + Square the set + House	32 bars
1st Side Couple	House inside + Square	16 bars
All Couples	Chain all round + Swing Partner	24 bars
+ Repeat x 2	with 2nd Top Couple, then 2nd Side Couple dancing House + Square inside	144 bars
All Couples	Lock and lead around + Square the set + House	32 bars

FIGURE 5: SLIDES (232 BARS)

Top Couples	House around	8 bars
Top Couples	Slide and change: Slide to the centre and back + House around half way + Repeat to home	16 bars
Top Couples	House around + Slide and change - across and back + House	32 bars
Side Couples	House + Slide and change x 2 + House + Slide and change x 2 + House	56 bars
+ Repeat x 2	Top Couples and Sides Repeat - House + Slide and change + House + Slide and change + House	112 bars

FIGURE 6: REELS (272 BARS)

All Couples	Lower promenade hold - Lead around finish with Gents backs to the centre	8 bars
All Couples	Left hand in left - Turn lady under 4 times turning clockwise	8 bars
All Couples	Waltz hold - Swing	8 bars
Top Couples	Square the set using 'sevens' steps	8 bars
Top Couples	House around each other	8 bars
Top Couples	Both Gents across to opposite [2 bars] and Swing in waltz hold [6 bars]	8 bars
Top Gents	Left arm hook in centre - Dance around 123s x 6 then double 1-2-3-4	8 bars
All Couples	Lead around + Turn Lady under x 4 + Swing	24 bars
Side Couples	Square the set (sevens) + House around each other + Gents swing Opposite	24 bars
Side Gents	Left arm hook in centre	8 bars
All Couples	Lead around + Turn Lady under + Swing	24 bars
Tops Repeat	Square + House around + Gents Swing Opposite + Gents - left arm hook	32 bars
All Couples	Lead around + Turn Lady under + Swing	24 bars
Sides Repeat	Square + House around + Gents Swing Opposite + Gents - left arm hook	32 bars
All Couples	Lead around + Turn Lady under + Swing	24 bars
All Couples	Square the set using 'sevens' turning 90 degrees at each corner + House	16 bars

NOTES

The version of this set contained in Tom Quinn's "Irish Dancing" generally has shorter figures and omits the Figure 5 as detailed in Pat Murphy's "Toss the Feathers". For Figures 1 to 4 when each Couple is the dancing Couple they House inside but do not Square inside. In Figure 3 of the version in Quinn's book everyone Swings their Partner each time at the end of the sequence.

REFERENCES

Murphy, Pat (1995). Toss the Feathers. Cork: Mercier Press. 200-201.

Quinn, Tom (1977). Irish Dancing. Glasgow: Harper Collins. 245-250.

Created: 5 May 2002/ Updated: 29 September 2002