NEWMARKET MEZERTS SET

Members of Newcastle Irish Set Dancers first danced the Newmarket Mezerts Set at the Harp Irish Pub in Tempe (Sydney) taught by Trish McGrath. Other published instructions for this dance include Pat Murphy's "Toss the Feathers" and Tom Quinn's "Irish Dancing". Joe O'Hara has a version of this set online.

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 (256 BARS) - Swing All the Ladies

All Couples	Open Promenade hold - Lead around to place	8 bars
All Couples	Waltz hold - Square the set moving to the next position on the right [Slide 1-2-123 turning a 1/4 turn on the 123] + Repeat 3 more times to place	8 bars
1st Top Couple	House inside	8 bars
1st Top Gent + Each Llady	Swing all the Ladies: Waltz hold - Swing Partner [6 bars] + Drop Partner + Turn once and pick up next Lady on the left + Swing each Lady in turn [6 bars] + Drop Lady in front of her Partner + Turn once and pick up the next Lady [while previous Lady steps across to the Gent on her left] + Swing the 4th Lady to own position	32 bars
All Couples	Lead around + Square the set	16 bars
1st Side Couple	House inside	8 bars
1st Side Gent + Each Lady	Swing all the Ladies	32 bars
All Couples	Lead around + Square the set	16 bars
2nd Top Couple	House inside	8 bars
2nd Top Gent + Each Lady	Swing all the Ladies	32 bars
All Couples	Lead around + Square the set	16 bars
2nd Side Couple	House inside	8 bars
2nd Side Gent + Each Lady	Swing all the Ladies	32 bars
All Couples	Lead around + Square the set	16 bars
All Couples	Square the set with Sevens [Dancing hop-1234567 + 1/4 turn repeated 4 times to place]	8 bars

FIGURE 2: JIGS (224 BARS) - Swing in Threes

All Couples	Lead around + Square the set	16 bars
1st Top Couple	House inside [6 bars] + Waltz hold - Raise hands in front of 1st Side Lady who advances and joins the dancing couple in a Basket of Three	8 bars
1st Top Couple + Each Lady	Swing in Threes: Swing / Basket left [6 bars] + Raise hands to release Lady + Turn once and pick up next Lady + Repeat with each Lady in turn	24 bars
All Couples	Lead around + Square the set	16 bars
1st Side Couple	House inside	8 bars
1st Side Gent + Each Lady	Swing in Threes	24 bars
All Couples	Lead around + Square the set	16 bars
2nd Top Couple	House inside	8 bars
2nd Top Gent + Each Lady	Swing in Threes	24 bars
All Couples	Lead around + Square the set	16 bars
2nd Side Couple	House inside	8 bars
2nd Side Gent + Each Lady	Swing in Threes	24 bars
All Couples	Lead around + Square the set	16 bars
All Couples	Square the set with Sevens	8 bars

FIGURE 3: JIGS (160 BARS) - Under the Finger

All Couples	Lead around + Square the set	16 bars
1st Top Couple	House inside	8 bars
1st Top Couple	Right hand in right - Lady turns under Gent's arm as he dances the Mezerts Step	8 bars
All Couples	Lead around + Square the set	16 bars
1st Top + 1st Side Couples	House at home + Turn the Lady under / Gent dances the Mezerts Step	16 bars
All Couples	Lead around + Square the set	16 bars
Both Tops + 1st Side Couples	House at Home + Turn the Lady under / Gent dances the Mezerts Step	16 bars
All Couples	Lead around + Square the set	16 bars
All Couples	House at Home + Turn the Lady under / Gent dances the Mezerts Step	16 bars
All Couples	Lead around + Square the set	16 bars
All Couples	Square the set with Sevens	8 bars

FIGURE 4: JIGS (160 BARS) - High Gates

All Couples	Lead around + Square the set	16 bars
Top Couples		8 bars
Top Couples		8 bars
Side Couples		16 bars
All Couples		16 bars
New Partners		16 bars
Top Couples		16 bars
Side Couples		16 bars
All Couples		16 bars
Top Couples		24 bars
Side Couples		16 bars
All Couples		16 bars
Top Couples		16 bars
Side Couples		16 bars
All Couples	Lead around + Square the set	16 bars
All Couples	Square the set with Sevens	8 bars

FIGURE 5: JIGS (112 BARS) - The Stalling

All Couples		16 bars
Top Couples		8 bars
Top Couples		8 bars
Side Couples		16 bars
All Couples		16 bars
New Partners		16 bars
Top Couples		16 bars
Side Couples		16 bars
All Couples		16 bars
Top Couples		24 bars
Side Couples		16 bars
All Couples		16 bars
Top Couples		16 bars
Side Couples		16 bars
All Couples		16 bars
All Couples		24 bars

FIGURE 6: HORNPIPE (160 BARS)

All Couples		16 bars
Top Couples		8 bars
Top Couples		8 bars
Side Couples		16 bars
All Couples		16 bars
New Partners		16 bars
Top Couples		16 bars
Side Couples		16 bars
All Couples		16 bars
Top Couples		24 bars
Side Couples		16 bars
All Couples		16 bars
Top Couples		16 bars
Side Couples		16 bars
All Couples		16 bars
All Couples		24 bars

MEZERTS STEP

In Figure 3 the Gent dances the Mezerts Step (4 times) as the Lady turns under his right arm (4 times).

L = Left / R = Right / h = Heel / t = Toe
The Emphasised toe or heel is weight bearing.
The other steps brush the floor with a small motion away from the body.
In the Lh step the left toe should not leave the floor, merely raise the heel and bring is down again.

Lh   Rh Rt    Lh    Rh Rt    Lh    Rt Rt    Rh    L-stamp        =2 bars / Repeat 3 more times

 

REFERENCES

Murphy, Pat (1995). Toss the Feathers. Cork: Mercier Press. 166-168.

Quinn, Tom (1977). Irish Dancing. Glasgow: Harper Collins. 329-336.

Page created by: Arthur Kingsland