Playford's Progeny

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====== The Shrewsbury Lasses ======
As in "The Playford Ball"  Longways for 3 couples\\
Peter Thompson, 1765\\
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpyl54cXFPk\\
(This Swedish video chosen because it shows the geometry pattern of
the dance, though the dancers are rather wooden and trying to dance
on stone pavers that are slippery!)\\
Recordings: {{ ::music:shrewsbury_lasses--009.mp3.zip |}}\\
{{ :music:shrewsbury_lasses-bnah5-06.mp3.zip |}}\\
{{ ::music:shrewsbury_lasses-054-engech-11.mp3.zip |}}\\
{{ ::music:shrewsbury_lasses---010.mp3.zip |}}

   
<code>
A1 1-4   1st man slow set and honor, right, then left, to 2nd woman. 
   5-8   1st man turn 2nd woman two-hands.
A2 1-8   1st woman the same to 2nd man.
B1 1-2   1st couple cast down to middle place, 2nd couple moving up.
   3-6   1st and 3rd couples circle four-hands once around.
   7-10  1st man skip up outside and around top couple, 
         to end in middle place improper whlle 1st woman skip 
         down outside and around bottom couple, to end 
         in middle place, improper. 
   11-12 1st couple turn two-hands half-way.
B2 1-2   3rd couple cast up to middle place, 1st couple moving down. 
   3-6   3rd and 2nd couples {at top} circle four-hands once around.
   7-10  3rd man skip up outside and around top couple, to end 
         in middle place, improper whlle 3rd woman skip down outside 
         and around bottom couple, to end in middle place, improper. 
   11-12 3rd couple turn two-hands half-way.
   Repeat dance twice more
</code>
   
See an [[http://www.dancekaleidoscope.org.au/dance.html#ShrewsburyLasses|animation of this dance]].\\   
From **John Garden**, who gives an AAB arrangement of the tune as the music for a triple minor.\\
   
====== Shrewsbury Lasses ======
 to own tune  \\ 
A triple minor longways dance \\
Thompson, Twenty-four Country Dances 1765 and (text used)\\ 
Thompson's Compleat Collection, vol.4, 1780.\\
   
<code>
   A1 First Man set forward to the 2d Wo. ,
      turn single back to place over r.sh. 
      then come forward to take hs with corner 
      and turn all the way round with 8 steps, starting r.f.)
   A2 1st Wo. do the same with the 2d Man
   B  With 12 steps 1s Cast off & hands round four with 3s at bottom. 
      With 12 counts of skipping The Wo. go cw round the bottom Cu. 
      the Man cw round the top Cu. ('orbits below and above') to meet 
      improper in the middle and turn (partner with 2h 1/2 way) into 
      your own Places in progressed position, 1M, by releasing his r.h. 
      before his l.h. can open out easily to face new 2W or, when one 
      place from end of set and needing to go to the bottom, the 1M&1W 
      can let their 1/2 2h turn send them out behind and around the couple below them.
</code>
   
This dance was possibly used by the P&P director for the dance between Mr Collins and Lizzy as it gives Mr Collins a very good opportunity to go wrong.... but recover. The Apted editors change the dance to a 3 couple dance, with an additional B music to repeat the "chase" and progress the couples.

Notes:\\
In the BBC series, Elizabeth danced with Mr Collins, and had to give him dance instructions.
They performed a different version of the Al and A2 music.
<code>
Al 1-4 First man set forward right and left, to the second lady,
       do not fall back, both step right & honor.
   5-8 Two hand turn to places.
A2 First lady repeat to second man.</code>

**THE SHREWSBURY LASSES**\\
Celebrated in dance for its cakes, rakes, and lasses, the
old town of Shrewsbury (pronounced "shrozebree®) was
home to the renowned dancing master, choreographer and
scholar, John Weaver. Mr. Weaver, continued to keep open his boarding 
school with the assistance of the beautiful Mr,
Weaver & his daughters; taught dance, & had an Annual Ball