BACKGROUND INFORMATION Informants:
Cecil Sharp
Jojo Davey (Cornish Dance Competitions 2002) Cecil Sharp collected information about the Grampound Furry during his visit to Cornwall but was unable to stay for the actual dance. His informants were Mr Phillip Luke (82) his son, and a lady called Mary Goodman (86). They described the dance much as it was done in Helston except that couples held hands across when they danced forward. They also explained that the procession would stop every so often and the dancers would reform in a ring, going first clockwise then anticlockwise around the circle. Whilst doing this some dancers would perform another figure in the middle of the circle such as a six-hand reel. The Grampound Furry took place on Whit Tuesday. A dance based on the movements in the Grampound Furry, as well as the St Day Furry and Can Tol Dance, was created and choreographed by Jojo Davey for the Cornish Dance Competitions in 2002, winning first place having been performed by Tan ha Dowr, a Cornish youth dance and music group. The dance was named the 10 Bar Furry due to it’s unusual 10, rather and 4 or 8 bar, '1 2 3 Hop' introduction. DANCE NOTATIONS Formation
Couples 2 behind 2 in a circle around the room Step
1 2 3 hop, furry dance step Bars TUNE ONE TWICE THROUGH (A)
1 - 10
1 2 3 hop step forward for 10, man on left lady on right inside hands held. On the 10th 123 hop step turn to face the people behind you to make a circle of 4 holding hands. 11 - 14
4, 1 2 3 hop steps, 1 into the middle of the circle, 1 out, 1 into the middle of the circle again, and on the 4th 1 2 3 hop out of the circle the 2 men in the circle of 4 split hands and all participants step back to form one big circle. 15 - 19
Again 1, 1 2 3 hop step into the circle, 1, 1 2 3 hope step out. Repeat. 20 - 24
1 hand turn with partner back into promenade places TUNE TWO TWICE THROUGH (B)
1 to 10
Repeat the 10 1 2 3 hop steps forward as detailed in part A, but for part B on the 10th 1 2 3 hop step the lead couple take 1, 1 2 3 hop step into the middle of a circle which is formed by all other participants. 11 - 14
The couple in the circle centre hold hands across and dance 4, 1 2 3 hops left, while all other participating couples creating the circle dance 4, 1 2 3 hops to the right. 15 - 19
Bars 11 - 14 of Part B above are repeated only directions are reversed, the centre couple turning right, and all other couples turning left.
20 - 24
All couples return to promenade including middle couple. The next couple to go into the centre will be those behind the lead couple. The dance as choreographed is alternated between Parts A and B, the central couple in Part B changing each time. TUNE/SONG
