BACKGROUND INFORMATION Informant
Old Cornwall Society (1937 - 39) The Old Cornwall Society Journal, 1937 to 1939 records Christmas Customs at Lands End "Dancing around the candles, a basket was filled with sand and a dozen gaily painted candles were put in it. The candles were then lighted and the basket placed on the floor where the children danced around it singing". The editors came across this reference ten years before the present publication and hoped to come across further information concerning this dance. Unfortunately none materialised, so this slip of information was used by Merv and Alison Davey to preserve ideas from other dancing customs: the Coinage Hall dance and The Grampound Furry, and a brief reference to a dance called 'Kiss in the Ring' found in the 'Penzance Natural History Society Magazine Transcripts' (Volume One page 150). The dance is in keeping with the style of the Cushion Dance, hence the music has been music from two tunes thought to be of a similar antiquity. The Old Waits Carol provides an ideal andante for the first part of the dance and the Hal and Tow lends itself well to modification for the faster, second part of the dance. Both are associated with Christmas and May day festivities. DANCE NOTATIONS Formation
Four to six Couples promenading in a circle Step
(a) Brisk walk for promenade
(b) Slip steps for circle Hold
Couples hold hands Bars (A)
1 - 8
Couples promenade in circle anti clockwise around the set 9 - 16
Dancing Couple lead back through arches made by other couples (B)
17 - 32
Head Couple swing (or kiss) in centre whilst others gallop eight slip steps in circle to left then eight slip steps in circle to right The dance is then repeated with the new top couple. The length of music and time taken for parts A and B could be varied according to the number of people and occasion TUNE/SONG The suggested tune for this dance is An Gantol
