playford

This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong.
====== Elephants Stairs ======

Longways, duple minor proper\\
Walsh, 1727. \\
Interpreted by Andrew Shaw 2017\\
Tune: Elephants Stairs
<code>
A1 1-8 1st cpl. figure 8 around the standing 2nd cpl., starting by casting down and 
       finishing by turning out into original place, taking 6 steps to cast down, 6 
       to cross up, 6 to cast down again, and 6 to cross up and turn out into place.
A2 1-8 2nd cpl. figure 8 around the standing 1st cpl., starting by casting up and 
       finishing by turning out into original place, the timing of the movement as 
       in AI.
B1 1-4 Men lead through the we. and cast back to place (6 + 6 steps). 
   5-8 1st cpl. lead down through 2nd cpl. and cast back to place (6 + 6 steps).
B2 1-4 Women lead through the men and cast back to place (6 + 6 steps). 
   5-8 2nd cpl. lead up through 1st cpl., cast back to place and lead up again into 1st 
       place, as 1st cpl. cast down, lead back to place and cast down again into 2nd 
       place (unphrased). </code>
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZZUj1uYz5Y\\

Note on the title:\\ 
Watermen's Stairs were part of the river transport system on the Thames in London, used at high tide 
to pick up and put down passengers. Elephant Stairs are on the south bank of the river, at the foot of 
Elephant Lane in Rotherhithe. They are shown on Rocque's map of 1746 and Greenwood's map of 
1827, amongst others, and are pictured in one of Avery Illustration's photographic riverscapes 
commissioned by the Port of London Authority in 1937. Surprisingly, despite the total redevelopment 
of this area since then, a modern set of steps still gives access to the foreshore from Elephant Lane.

Note:\\ 
In contrast to the measured nature of the rest of the dance, B2 5-8 should be danced with drive, as a 
continuous movement. 1st cpl. should be able to move effortlessly into the next turn of the dance.

Note on the dance: \\
The figure is that of the dance Valiant Jockey set to a different tune. Valiant ]ockey was first published 
by Henry Playford in The Dancing-Master ... The Ninth Edition, in 1695.

For history buffs:
https://knowyourlondon.wordpress.com/2019/01/04/elephant-stairs/\\
From at least Tudor times until the 19th century, one way for a pedestrian in London to travel was to be rowed on the Thames. River stairs were once to found every few hundred yards along both sides of the Thames...
playford

User Tools

Site Tools

Page Tools
