ins_happy_clown
The Happy Clown
Dance was devised by Marjorie Heffer and William Porter in 1932
Published in “Maggot Pie”.
Proper four couple longways dance with no progression.
It is a USA dance.
Tune: Happy Clown
PART 1.
A1 1—4 Partners lead up and back a double.
5-8 The dancers at the ends of the files—i.e.,
1st and 4th men and women—cast out
and dance round to places, each followed
by his or her neighbour. (As in Broom,
the Bonny, Bonny Broom).
A2 1-4 Partners lead down and back a double
5-8 As in Al.
Bl 1—2 Ist couple, facing down, and 4th couple,
facing up, take inside hands and meet,
while 2nd and 3rd men lead out a double
to the left wall, and their partners do
the same to the right wall, thus forming :
two horizontal lines.
3-4 These horizontal lines take hands and fall
back a double away from each other.
5-8 The dancers at the end of the lines,
retaining their neighbours’ hands, swing
them once round, 2nd man and 3rd
woman turning clockwise, 3rd man and
2nd woman counter-clockwise ; the 1st
and 4th couples skipping.
B2 1—2 2nd and 3rd men take inside hands and
meet their partners who do the same,
while 1st couple lead up and 4th couple
lead down to places.
3-4 The files take hands and fall back a double
away from each other.
5-8 As in BI, 4th man and 1st woman swinging
their neighbours clockwise, the others
counter-clockwise ; the 2nd and 3rd
couples skipping.
Part 11.
A1 1-4 Partners side,
5—8 As in Part I.
A2 1—8 All that again.
B1 1-4 Ist couple face down, join inside hands to
make an arch, and dance to the bottom
of the set, while the other couples lead
up to the top under the arch made by the
Ist couple ; and each couple, on arriving
at the top, turn, make a similar arch.
and dance down the set.
5-8 Ist couple, on reaching the bottom of the
set, turn and lead back to places under
the arches made by the other couples,
each of whom in turn, on reaching the
bottom, does the same—except, of
course, the 4th couple.
B2 1-4 4th couple face with inside hands still
joined to form an arch. and dunce up to
the top of the set, while the other couples
lead down to the bottom under the arch
made by the 4th couple. and each
couple, on arriving at the bottom.
turn, make a similar arch, and dance up the set
5-8 4th couple, reaching the top of THE SET
turn and lead back to places under the
arches made by the others, each of whom
in turn, on reaching the top. Does the
same—except, of course, the ist couple.
Part III
Al 1—4 Partners arm with the right.
5—8 As in Part I
A2 1—4 Partners arm with the left.
5-8 As in Part I
Bl 1-2 1st couple, giving both hands, slip down
four steps into third place, passing inside
4th couple, who simultaneously slip up
four steps into second place ; meanwhile
2nd and 3rd men give both hands and
slip four steps out to the left wall, and
their partners do the same to the right wall.
3—4 1st and 4th couples change places (sl.s.),
4th couple giving both hands and passing
inside Ist couple, while 2nd couple
cast up to top places, and 3rd couple
cast down to bottom places (r.s.)-
5-8 2nd and 3rd couples do as lst and 4th
couples did in bars 1—4, while 1st and
4th men, and Ist and 4th women give
both hands, slip out to their respective
walls, and turn single—thus forming
two horizontal lines.
B1 1-2 Ist and 4th men, giving both hands
slip four steps to the right wall, passing
between their partners, who simul-
taneously slip four steps to the left wall ;
meanwhile 2nd couple lead up to top
place and 3rd couple lead down to
bottom place.
3-4 1st and 4th women change places with
their partners (sls.), the women giving
both hands and passing between the men,
while the others cast off to the end
places of two horizontal lines.
5-8 2nd and 3rd couples do as 1st and 4th
couples did in bars 1—4, while 1st and
4th couples lead respectively up and
down to places and turn single.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpvIPUdYc6o
Not many dances were devised in the 1920s and 30s.
ins_happy_clown.txt · Last modified: by 127.0.0.1
