Written by mostly by Chris with lots of patience and input from the side. This is a double-stepped dance. The set formation for the chorus alternates between two parallel lines of 4 and two crossed lines of 4

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Overview

A - Circle

B - Schiehalli-On

A - Chorus X to =

B - Reel (Hey)

A - Chorus = to X

B - Diagonal (Hey)

A - Chorus X to =

B - Chasing (Hey)

A - Chorus = to X

B - Celtic (Hey)

A - Chorus X to =

B - Right and Left (Hey)

A - Chorus = to X

B - Left Clash (Hey)

 

Chorus

No stepping.

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The chorus changes the formation of the set either from a cross to two parallel lines, or vice versa.

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The following instructions are the same for both versions of the chorus except where noted. Sections specific to the version that goes from an X to = are highlighted in blue and sections specific to the version that goes from = to X are highlighted in orange.

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Regardless of which formation the chorus starts in, dancers should always begin with ends facing middles along their lines (either diagonal or parallel).

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1-4: Everyone clashes with their partner forehand on 1. Ends ground strike on 2, stick flip on 3 and shoulder their stick on 4. Meanwhile, across 2-4, the Middle slowly bring their stick down to their shoulder.

5-8: Middles flourish their stick in the air on 5, ground strike on 6, flip their stick on 7 and then shoulder their stick on 8. Meanwhile the Ends cast to change formation, either turning away from each other, walking to meet each other and turning in to face their partner at the ends of new parallel lines, or turning towards each other and casting out to face their partner at the end of new diagonal lines (as appropriate). The formation of the set has now changed.

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9-10: End and middles remain facing each other as everyone takes two steps clockwise the centre point between them, forming either two parallel lines on the other axis, or a circle/octogon (as appropriate). This is a good space for some style, with a hunched stalking step looking particularly good. This is the best spot to call the name of the next figure.

11-12: Everyone spins to their right 3/4 and returns to where they just came from back in their new lines. Flare those tatters!

13-16: Everyone clashes on 13, ground strikes on 14, flips their stick on 15 and punches the air shouting "Hey" on 16, completing the name of the figure.

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Figures

Circle (Intro)

The dance starts with a full A introduction as the dances walk in a circle. 

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For a set that will end up in the formation

                    4a 3a 2a 1a

                    1b 2b 3b 4b

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Dancers should line as follows

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                         4b 2a

                    3b           1a

                    1b           3a

                         2b 4a

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One way to remember this is that dancers alternate End Middle End Middle around the circle. My hope is that eventually, moving between the various end positions or various middle positions if fairly easy, and dancers who have learnt one End position can dance any of the 4 End positions with minimal extra effort, but some dancers may like to learn just one particular position out of the 8 at least initially.

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As the music starts, dancers walk once around the circle, ideally in large slow steps in time with the music, but realistically however feels most comoftable for you getting around in time. Check at the half way point in the music whether you're half way around the circle and adjust your tempo accordingly. As the music enters the 4th quarter of the A part, a call of either "Schiehalli-on" or "This Time" indicates that the figure is almost over. 

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On the last beat of the music (beat 16), every shouts "Hey" as we move into the dance-on figure.

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Schiehalli-On

As the circle completes it's full rotation, the 1s lead us in the dance on. This figure is easiest if you always start on the right foot when it's your turn to join the formation. This figure is quick, and the best solution we've found to making it work smoothly is for the people dancing in to the centre to dance a fairly straight line (as they have farther to go), and the people dancing out to the corners to dance around them, and turn to face back in. Other than that, it's mostly a question of confidence and being sure about where you're going.

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Each double step takes you to the next place in a clover leaf style pattern. I'll temporarily name the places on the floor as follows, with the 1s staring in position a and everyone else still in a circle around the outside

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     c           a

         b  d

         d  b

     a           c

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1-2: 1s dance in towards each other and veer right, sort of passing each other left shoulder in the middle (they'll end in position b). Everyone else continues walking around the outer circle such that the 2s have reached a.

3-4: The 2s follow the ones, towards each other and veer right, sort of passing each other left shoulder in the middle (b). Meanwhile, the 1s dance out to the corner position in front of them and turn around to face back in (position c). The other keeping walking forwards to that the 4s have reached a.

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5-6 The 1s and 2s pass right shoulders, with the 2s turning around and ending in c, and the 1s passing each other left should in the middle to reach position d. Meanwhile the 4s start dancing in, passing each other left shoulder to position b, forming a tight square with the 1s. The 3s walk forward and have reached position a.

7-8: Now the figure is in full flow - everyone passes right shoulder and either turns around to face back in (if now on the corners), or past each other left shoulder into a small square (if now in the centre).

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9-16: This pattern continues on for the remaining four changes - everyone passes right shoulder and either turns around to face back in (if now on the corners), or past each other left shoulder into a small square (if now in the centre). You should always be chasing the same person around the set.

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Reel (Hey) [= shape]

1-16: Two parallel heys for 4 along the lines, starting by passing your partner right shoulder, once double-step per change.

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Conceptually simple, try to stay level with the other line. Pretty much the only issue we tend to have with this figure is coming back in too early. You will have ages to perform the turn around at the ends, with one double step to pass right, the a double step to loop around to your right, then another double step passing right shoulder again as you head back in, effectively dancing in a large tear drop shape.

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Diagonal (Hey) [x shape]

1-16: Two crossed diagonal heys for 4 along the lines, starting by passing your partner right shoulder, once double-step per change. You will effectively dance a small circle half way around in the centre on the left hand pass.

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As with the Reel Hey, the biggest issue is not coming back in too early, you've got loads of time to loop on the end, so use it.

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Chasing (Hey) [= shape]

1-16: Everyone turns to their left. If someone is in front of you, you are following them through a single giant hey 'for 4' (4 pairs of people, in this case). If no one is in front of you, good luck! you're leading the person behind you.

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As with the previous two heys, there's plenty of time at the ends so don't start coming back in too early. A good way to learn this is to just have the leaders dance the figure through, then add their followers in afterwards. Unlike some similar figures in contra or other dances by other sides, you don't change who's leading at the ends, the same person will lead throughout. Bonus style tip, follow slightly closer than the standard set distance apart would suggest, it helps visually separate the figures from others in the dance.

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Celtic (Hey) [x shape]

Now things start to heat up. This is like in the dance Windmills, but wor-, I mean slightly harder.

 

1-2: Everyone passes right shoulder with their partner. People coming in to the middle should aim to end up one place further round the inner square than their partner started, cheating 1/4 of the 3/4 left (spoilers!) early. This is similar to the movement done in the Schehalli-on figure. 

3-4: The current middles dance 1/2 way around left, making a total of 3/4 left with their cheated half in the first double step. Meanwhile, the current ends dance 1/4 to their right around the outside of the set to the next end of a diagonal. They should find themselves meeting their partner again. Yes, this is quick. Outsides should not go out as far and dance a smaller circle arc if needed. They can also have started that move around the outside early, stealing a hop or so from the first double step. The important thing is that everyone finished this second double step on the next spoke around from where they started and facing their partner.

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5-6: Everyone passes right shoulder, ends turn right (and maybe start their next move if needed), middles go one place further around the inside to get a head start.

7-8: Middles go half way around the inside (for 3/4 total) and Ends go 1/4 around the outside. Everyone should be facing their partner again.

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9-16 Repeat those 4 double steps again to get back to place.

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Figure 8 (Hey) [= shape]

A Bavarian hey? A bow tie hey? Not quite a toffee paper hey. Possibly "I can't believe it's not __"

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1-2: Everyone passes their partner right shoulder up and down (getting bored of this yet?)

3-4: Those now on the end turn and pass each other left shoulder, swapping lines. The four people in the middle go half way left around their little circle, also swapping lines. Bonus points if you remain with your shoulder facing up and down while doing it.

5-6: Everyone apsses right shoulder up and down

7-8: Ends pass left shoulder to swap lines, middle dance half way left around each other.

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9-16: Repeat back to place.

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Left Clash (Hey) [x shape]

Okay, this isn't really a hey in the same sense, but I'm not going to ask the final chorus the skip the shouted "Hey" now am I?

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1-2: Everyone dances to their left around a circle either on the inside or the outside. The shape is going to change from an x to a +, so the people on the outside circle are only going a little way (1/8th) while the people on the inside circle go a bit further around (3/8ths). As you meet someone, clash on the hop beat.

3-4: Dance around the person you clashed with, right shoulder to right shoulder so you've swapped places (similar to in Rotating Reel from Fair Janet).

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5-6: Insides dance 3/8ths around their circle (anti clockwise) back into an x shape. Outsides dance 1/8th around their circle (clockwise) back into an x shape. You should be meeting your partner. Clash on the hop.

7-8: Dance around this person, right should to right shoulder, to swap places.

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9-16: Repeat these four steps. On the final swapping on place across 15-16, on the '16 and' punch the air and shout one final "Hey" as the dance finishes.

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