BACKGROUND INFORMATION Informant
Old Cornwall Society Magazine The dance Harvey Darvey was recalled by R J Noall in the Old Cornwall Society Magazine as a game he knew as a child. There are other short references to the same or similar dances/games dotted through the Old Cornwall Society Magazines with children using various kicks and steps and singing further rhymes. In order to preserve these fragments a compilation was created using Harvey Darvey as a base. Children preserve traditions through games long after adults have lost interest, witness modern day children playing ring a ring a roses which commemorates an event some 350 years old the great plague. It is suspected suspect that these snatches of children's games record steps for scoot dancing long forgotten in Cornwall DANCE NOTATIONS Formation
Dance for couples, hands held crossed behind backs, the lady on the man's right facing the same direction. Steps
The basic steps for this dance are running step, which are elaborated with further steps described in the 'bars' section below: Bars 1 4
Eight small running steps forward 5 6
Tap outside foot heel twice and toe twice (i.e. Lady's right foot Man's left). 7 8
Turn away from each other, still holding hands to face opposite direction using small running steps on the spot. Repeat seven more times, bars 1 4 and 7 8 remaining the same, effectively a chorus, but bars 5 6 change each time as follows: Second
Turn back to back, stamp two feet, tap lady's right to time man's left foot. Stamp and repeat with opposite feet. Third
Two jumps forward and two jumps back Fourth
Stamp two feet, tap right heel on the floor, stamp again, tap left heel. Fifth
Turn back to back, jump with feet apart, jump with feet crossed. Repeat the second time. Sixth
Jump sideways to the right, to the left, again to right and to the left. Seventh
Heel and toe with right foot, heel and toe with left. Eighth
Man dancing on the spot, the lady dances right around him still holding hands. TUNE/SONG The suggested tune for this dance is Harvey Darvey. The words to the song recalled by R J Noall is as follows: Harvey Darvey Dressed in Black
Silver Buttons down his back
Every Button cost a crown
Harvey Darvey turn around. References made to rhymes in other Old Cornwall Society Magazines were: Heel to Heel and Toe to toe
Turn around and away we go and Anna Maskee, Anna Maskee
Lock the door and turn the key
