The Northern Lass
Dance was devised by Marjorie Heffer and William Porter in 1932
Published in “Maggot Pie”.
Four couple longways dance with 2s+4s improper and no progression.
It is a USA dance.
Tune: Northern Lass
Part I.
Al 1-4 Partners lead up and back a double.
5-8 All turn single and change places with partners.
A2 1—4 Files take hands and go back and forward a double.
5-8 As in Al, to places.
B1 1-8 Ist couple cast off, meet below 2nd couple,
lead through 4th couple, cast up, meet
above 4th couple, and lead through
2nd couple to places; while 3rd couple
lead up through 2nd couple, cast off to
places, lead down through 4th couple
and cast up to places (sk.s.).
32 1-8 4th couple cast off, meet above 3rd couple
lead through 1st couple, cast off, meet
below 1st couple, and lead through 3rd
couple to places; while 2nd couple lead
down through 3rd couple, cast up to
places, lead up through 1st couple and
cast off to places (sk.s.).
PARTI
A1 1—4 Partners side.
5—8 As in Part I.
A2 1—4 1st and 4th couples side again, while 2nd
man sides with 3rd woman and 3rd man
with 2nd woman.
5-8 All turn single and change places with
those with whom they have just sided.
(This leaves the 2nd and 3rd couples in
each other's places).
B1 1-4 1st and 3rd couples hands-four once round
clockwise, while 2nd and 4th couples do the same.
5-6 Neighbours, but not partners, retain Inside
hands. 1st man swings 3rd woman three-
quarters way round counter-clockwise,
while 4th man does the same to 2nd
woman ; and 1st woman swings 3rd man
three-quarters way round clockwise, while
4th woman does the same to 2nd man.
They all end in two horizontal lines
facing each other.
7-8 These lines take hands and meet.
B2 1-4 Ist and 2nd men hands-four with 3rd and
4th women, once round clockwise, while
1st and 2nd women do the same with
3rd and 4th men.
5-6 Neighbours, but not opposites, retain inside
hands. 38rd woman swings lst man
three-quarters way round clockwise, while
2nd woman does the same to 4th man
and 2nd man swings 4th woman three-
quarters way round counter-clockwise,
while 3rd man does the same to lst
woman. They all end in two vertical
lines facing partners.
7-8 These lines take hands and meet, in the
places in which they started the figure,
Part 111
Al 1—4 Partners arm with the right.
5-8 As in Partl Il
A2 1-4 1st and 4th couples arm with the left, while
2nd man does the same with 3rd woman,
and 3rd man with 2nd woman.
5-8 All turn single and change places with
those with whom they have just armed.
(This restores 2nd and 3rd couples to
their own places).
Bl 1—4 Ist couple cast off to the bottom of the set,
while the others go a half-hey on each
side, 2nd couple passing inside the 3rd
and outside the 4th (sk.s.).
5—8 1st man, followed by the other dancers on
his side, casts up to place, while Ist
woman does the same, followed by the
others on her side (sk.s.).
B2 1—4 4th couple cast up to the top, while the
others go a half-hey on each side, the
Ist couple passing inside the 2nd and
outside the 3rd (sk.s.).
5-8 4th man, followed by the others on his
side, casts down to place, while 4th
woman does the same, followed by the
others on her side (sk.s.).
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY6RhmE_7kE
Not many dances were devised in the 1920s and 30s.
At least one “North Country Lass” refers to Betty Maddocks, the 'fair maid of Doncaster', who (according to The Strand Magazine, 1906, p. 220) was “a heroine of the seventeenth century, who, being much sought after, bargained that she would only wed the man who could tire her out in dancing. A hundred gallants made the attempt, only to retire, utterly wearied, before the terrific energy of the young lady, who, presumably, lived single ever after.”
