Three Legged Horse - figure 2
Tune: Bobby Shaftoe
Play A,B right through until the end of the dance.
The count for the moves is in steps, not bars.
Triangles
Start with swords touching ground in centre of set. Raise to high touch on first beat after intro, then lower into circle.
(If doing this figure on its own, there is the option of coming on in a line with swords on shoulders, circling and then bringing the swords together for the initial high touch.)
1-8 Circle.
9-32 Three slow triangles each move taking 8 steps.
The dancers form a triangle.
Each move of the figure moves the dancers one position anti-clockwise round the triangle - the aim is to end up exactly where the previous dancer was standing.
The sequence of arm movements is 'left arm up', 'right arm up', 'both arms up'.
Number one begins with 'left arm up'. (1 and l look very similar, so easy to remember)(they will be passing right shoulder with the dancer to their right and going under an arch) The dancer to the right of 'number one' begins with 'right arm up' (which is nice and easy to remember)(turns clockwise while moving onto next position). The dancer to the left of number one starts with 'both arms up' (raises both hands together and spins anti-clockwise while moving to his next position).
Make sure the move uses up all the available time - it leads to much better contrast when we change to fast triangles.
1-32 Eight fast triangles taken 4 steps each.
When doing triangles, remember to move one place anti-clockwise with your feet. (ie. Each dancers moves on one position)
Circle
1-16 Circle for 16 steps, leading into:
Over the Stars
16-32 Numbers 2 and 3 lower the sword between them. They should bend forward facing towards number one, with the end of the sword close to their inside toes. Number one goes over the sword and does a figure of 8 round the other two dancers, going round the right hand dancer first. Aim to go over the sword on the beginning of a musical phrase.
33-64 Dancers 3 and 2 repeat the above move. (Propagate anti-clockwise.)
Steeplechase (This figure is currently omitted from the dance as it's difficult for dancers who don't have very flexible legs)
1-8 Shoulders, circling clockwise. On last two beats, 1 and 3 lower their swords down, aiming for a 45 degree angle (3 has the lower end)
9-32 Starting with number 1, each dancer in turn (propagating anti-clockwise) goes over their own sword from inside to outside, turning before they go over. Each dancer has four steps to complete the move. The step over is on the third step and is with the left foot.
After going over your sword, raise it high to assist the next dancer.
The timing is one step, two step, over sword, next dancer dips sword. (One, Two, Over, Dip)
Pancakes
1-32 Keeping swords linked in circle, while standing still, swing swords up in a big wide move and clash in a high triangle in the centre (right hand over left) on the 4th beat. Then swing the swords up, out and down to and clash (right hand over left) on the 4th beat, in a waist height triangle. Repeat as long as music allows.
Overhead Triangular Lock
From a linked circle, each dancer lifts their hands over their head and turns 180 degrees clockwise, so that they end up back to back in the centre.
They form the triangular lock as normal (see instructions for figure 1), but over their heads.
Pass the Parcel
As each dancer completes their corner of the lock, they need to call 'done' so that number one will know when it's ready. With practice, it will be possible to complete it within one A (or B) of the music.
Once the lock is completed, number one waits until the music is close to the end of an A (or B) and lifts the lock to hold in front at a height where he's looking through the middle.
On the first beat of the next A (or B), the sequence begins as follows:
1 - dancer holding the lock raises it up high.
2 - he lowers it down to roughly 'looking through it' height (which is basically elbows at waist and forearms going up).
3 - he tilts the lock to his left
4. - the dancer to number one's left takes the lock to hold it in front of them
So, a continuing sequence of 'up, down, tilt, grab'
When the music ends an A or B (probably allow an A and a B for this move) the dancer holding the lock raises it up and leads the team off.
Campfire Lock
1-16 Form lock. (2 holds out parallel swords, about half a metre apart. 3 places parallel swords on top at right angles to number 2's swords. 1 places first sword in-between 2's swords, parallel with them and with hilt the same way round. 1 places second sword at right angles to his first sword, weaving it into the lock (with hilt on same side as swords parallel to it).
1 and 3 take hold the the two sword points on the corner away from the top of the lock. When they are firmly held, 2 grips the two hilts on a corner and holds tight to them. 1 and 3 now take the three points on their side of the lock and pull them together in a corner as far as is practical. Make sure the lock looks symmetrical.
17-32 Display lock in circle
Lead Off
March off, and form line for final bow. (If using live musician, use own discretion as to when/where to face audience)
If carrying on with Figure 3, fold up lock after displaying it, and swords formally to dancers, and form up for next figure.
The count for the moves is in steps, not bars.
Triangles
Start with swords touching ground in centre of set. Raise to high touch on first beat after intro, then lower into circle.
(If doing this figure on its own, there is the option of coming on in a line with swords on shoulders, circling and then bringing the swords together for the initial high touch.)
1-8 Circle.
9-32 Three slow triangles each move taking 8 steps.
The dancers form a triangle.
Each move of the figure moves the dancers one position anti-clockwise round the triangle - the aim is to end up exactly where the previous dancer was standing.
The sequence of arm movements is 'left arm up', 'right arm up', 'both arms up'.
Number one begins with 'left arm up'. (1 and l look very similar, so easy to remember)(they will be passing right shoulder with the dancer to their right and going under an arch) The dancer to the right of 'number one' begins with 'right arm up' (which is nice and easy to remember)(turns clockwise while moving onto next position). The dancer to the left of number one starts with 'both arms up' (raises both hands together and spins anti-clockwise while moving to his next position).
Make sure the move uses up all the available time - it leads to much better contrast when we change to fast triangles.
1-32 Eight fast triangles taken 4 steps each.
When doing triangles, remember to move one place anti-clockwise with your feet. (ie. Each dancers moves on one position)
Circle
1-16 Circle for 16 steps, leading into:
Over the Stars
16-32 Numbers 2 and 3 lower the sword between them. They should bend forward facing towards number one, with the end of the sword close to their inside toes. Number one goes over the sword and does a figure of 8 round the other two dancers, going round the right hand dancer first. Aim to go over the sword on the beginning of a musical phrase.
33-64 Dancers 3 and 2 repeat the above move. (Propagate anti-clockwise.)
Steeplechase (This figure is currently omitted from the dance as it's difficult for dancers who don't have very flexible legs)
1-8 Shoulders, circling clockwise. On last two beats, 1 and 3 lower their swords down, aiming for a 45 degree angle (3 has the lower end)
9-32 Starting with number 1, each dancer in turn (propagating anti-clockwise) goes over their own sword from inside to outside, turning before they go over. Each dancer has four steps to complete the move. The step over is on the third step and is with the left foot.
After going over your sword, raise it high to assist the next dancer.
The timing is one step, two step, over sword, next dancer dips sword. (One, Two, Over, Dip)
Pancakes
1-32 Keeping swords linked in circle, while standing still, swing swords up in a big wide move and clash in a high triangle in the centre (right hand over left) on the 4th beat. Then swing the swords up, out and down to and clash (right hand over left) on the 4th beat, in a waist height triangle. Repeat as long as music allows.
Overhead Triangular Lock
From a linked circle, each dancer lifts their hands over their head and turns 180 degrees clockwise, so that they end up back to back in the centre.
They form the triangular lock as normal (see instructions for figure 1), but over their heads.
Pass the Parcel
As each dancer completes their corner of the lock, they need to call 'done' so that number one will know when it's ready. With practice, it will be possible to complete it within one A (or B) of the music.
Once the lock is completed, number one waits until the music is close to the end of an A (or B) and lifts the lock to hold in front at a height where he's looking through the middle.
On the first beat of the next A (or B), the sequence begins as follows:
1 - dancer holding the lock raises it up high.
2 - he lowers it down to roughly 'looking through it' height (which is basically elbows at waist and forearms going up).
3 - he tilts the lock to his left
4. - the dancer to number one's left takes the lock to hold it in front of them
So, a continuing sequence of 'up, down, tilt, grab'
When the music ends an A or B (probably allow an A and a B for this move) the dancer holding the lock raises it up and leads the team off.
Campfire Lock
1-16 Form lock. (2 holds out parallel swords, about half a metre apart. 3 places parallel swords on top at right angles to number 2's swords. 1 places first sword in-between 2's swords, parallel with them and with hilt the same way round. 1 places second sword at right angles to his first sword, weaving it into the lock (with hilt on same side as swords parallel to it).
1 and 3 take hold the the two sword points on the corner away from the top of the lock. When they are firmly held, 2 grips the two hilts on a corner and holds tight to them. 1 and 3 now take the three points on their side of the lock and pull them together in a corner as far as is practical. Make sure the lock looks symmetrical.
17-32 Display lock in circle
Lead Off
March off, and form line for final bow. (If using live musician, use own discretion as to when/where to face audience)
If carrying on with Figure 3, fold up lock after displaying it, and swords formally to dancers, and form up for next figure.
