Playford 1651, 1652, 1657, 1665, 1670, 1675, 1686, & 1690 A Square Dance for eight
“Hands all and meet a D. backe againe set and turne S.. That againe: Men meet & go back againe, We. as much, men meet hands and goe round . We meet and goe backe, men as much, We. hand and go round : Sides all. Set and turne S. . That againe : The two Cu. against each other meet and back, the other foure as much. The first foure hands and goe round . That againe, the last foure beginning : Armes all : Set and turne S. . That againe : Men meet, turn back to back, the We. go round about, the men to their places. We meet, turn back to back, men go about the We. :”
Music AABB 3X
AA Hands all, meet a double left, back again, set & turn single left ; repeat right.
BB Men step in & out*, ladies step in & out, men circle left hands four; ladies step in and out, men step ………..in & out, ladies circle left hands four.
AA Split siding
BB Heads step in & out*; sides step in & out; Heads circle left hands four; Sides step in & out; heads step ………..in and out; Sides circle left hands four.
AA Split arming
BB Men meet in center turning back to back; woman circle clockwise around them home; and the ……….reverse.
Music: “Country Capers” (New York Renaissance Band); “The English Dancing Master” (The Broadside Band & Jeremy Barlow)
*There is only one measure (8 beats total) for these meet & back figures so it is easier to think of it as a quick step inward & back (Dancers trying to use doubles here are always late)