Dashing White Sergeant
"The Dashing White Sergeant" is a Scottish country ceilidh dance. A ceilidh is a Scottish or Irish social gathering where people do traditional dances, similar to a Barn Dance. There may also be a "caller" who announces the steps.
The dance is in 4/4 time and is performed by groups of six dancers.
The lyrics of this specific song are usually not sung as part of the dance.
Dashing White Sergeant
Ceilidh Dance Song
Now the fiddler's ready, let us all begin!
So step it out and step it in.
To the merry music of the violin
We'll dance the hours away.
(Repeat)
Katey and Peggy and Patsy and Coll,
Callum and Peter and Flora and Moll,
Dance, Dance, Dance, Dance,
Dance away the hours together,
Dance till dawn be in the sky,
What care you and what care I?
Hearts a-beating, spirits high,
We'll dance, dance, dance.
(Repeat)
Notes
"...traditionally attributed to the 18th century General, John Burgoyne. It was set to music by the English composer, Sir Henry Rowley Bishop in 1826… It has been suggested that it was the inspiration for 'I Wish I Was in Dixie', as the opening bars bear a resemblance. The dance steps come from the tradition of Swedish circle dancing, that was popular in Victorian Britain. The better known lyrics shown (above), were written by the Scottish Composer, Sir Hugh S. Roberton for the Glasgow Orpheus Choir." -Wikipedia
Comments
Steps (from Wikipedia)
"The six dancers form a circle, traditionally of three men and three women standing alternately, which will break apart into two sets of three dancers. All six join hands and the circle turns anti-clockwise for eight counts, then clockwise for eight counts.
The circle then separates into the two sets of three. The dancer in the middle (leader) of the three turns to the partner on the right, sets to (dances with) them for four counts and turns them for four counts, then repeats this with the partner on the left.
The leader then turns the partner on the right again, followed by the partner on the left, the partner on the right, the partner on the left. He then joins hands with both partners so the three form a straight line facing the other set of three.
Both sets walk towards each other for two steps, and stamp their feet three times (over the course of two counts, therefore including one off-beat), then retreat for two steps and clap their hands similarly to the stamping. They then walk towards each other again (again holding hands), and one set raises its arms to form archways under which the other dancers pass to meet the next set of three coming from another circle, with whom the dance is repeated."
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