JULIA'S SURPRISE

This dance was written by Arthur Kingsland in a mixed Celtic tradition. It can be danced as an Irish Dance, as a square contra-style dance, and English Country dance - or whatever. Put it to your favourite music and away you go!

This dance was written as a surprise gift for Julia Smith for her birthday in 2009, and danced for her by Novocastrian dancing friends at the BMC Subscription Ball practice on 9 Aug 2009.

Formation

Square formation with all dancers dancing all the time, but with each Gent leading once through the dance. First Sides are on the left of first Tops.

Instructions

The Drawers	All: Start joining nearer hand with Partner Tops: Advance [2B], while Sides: Dance place Sides: Advance [2B], while Tops: Retire Tops: Advance, while Sides: Retire Sides: Advance, while Tops: Retire	8 bars
Arch & Cross Turn Corner	Sides: Retire, while Tops: Cross over with 1s making an arch Corners: Turn with free hand to make Side Lines (Tops in the middle)	4 bars
Advance & Retire	Side Lines: Advance & Retire once	4 bars
Arch & Cross Turn Corner	Tops: Cross with 1st Top Gent & Partner making an arch Corners: Turn with free hand to make Side Lines (Tops in the middle)	4 bars
Advance & Retire	Side Lines: Advance Tops: Retire, while Sides: Dance in place	4 bars
Swing	Partners: Swing Tops should be in Opposite Place / Sides at home	8 bars
		32 bars

Repeat with 1st Side Gent & Partner leading

The Drawers Arch, Cross Turn Corner & Advance & Retire	Advance & Retire [Sides / Tops / Sides / Tops] Sides: Cross with 1st Side Gent & Partner making an arch + Turn Corner All: Advance & retire Sides: Cross + Turn Corner All: Advance & retire	8 bars 16 bars
	Partners: Swing [All now in Opposite Place]	8 bars 32 bars
Repeat with 2nd Top Gent & Partner leading Repeat with 2nd Side Gent & Partner leading		32 bars 32 bars 128 bars

I would really like to thankour Newcastle & Central Coast dancing friends who studied the instructions and practised tha dance on the pavement outside our dance hall to keep this a surprise for Julia. Here's a piccy of Julia and our dance demonstrators for the first actual attempt of this dance...

Dance written by: Arthur Kingsland
Created: 10 January 2010 / Updated: 14 February 2010 / Viewed: