BACKGROUND INFORMATION Alison Davey and Kirstie Crewes composed this dance in the summer of 1988 with the tune being penned by Merv Davey. Having been commissioned to present a Droll style production concerning Cornish mining for the Lowender Peran Festival in 1988 Cam Kernewek found that few, if any, dance or song traditions were associated with this industry. Considering the quite extensive tradition of men's dances associated with farming and fishing this has probably more to do with the privations suffered by the miner throughout much of the last century and the exhaustive nature of the work. The strong association of miners with Methodism in the latter half of the century might also have discouraged such 'devices to promote intemperance'. This dance has been modelled on the Boscastle Breakdowns, which has at least some association with slate quarrying. The footwork is intended to emulate the noise made by the tin stamps were quite spectacular in areas behind Redruth and Camborne. The stamps were large Oak beams that were used to crush the ore. DANCE NOTATIONS Formation
When originally composed the dance required two or more women facing each other, although since its composition both men and women are now equally involved in the dance. Steps
The steps for this dance were drawn from Lattapouch, 4 Hand Reel, Mr Martins Reel and Boscastle Breakdown. Bars 1 8
Step left foot, hard shuffle right, then right (normally) and shuffle left. [The step on the left foot is always hard thus producing a sound which imitates the Tin Stamp] Repeat four times ending with two stamps. 9 16
Beginning with right foot the girls dance eight basic four hand reel steps whilst turning in a clockwise circle on the spot. 17 24
Participants dance 7 Mr Martin's reel steps to their own right, then with both toes in contact with the floor click heels together to form 8th beat. Repeat to left 25 32
Repeat bars 17 to 24 33 40
Repeat bars 1 8 41 48
Repeat bars 9 16 49 56
Repeat bars 17 to 24 but on this occasion the 8th beat is provided by jumping and tapping both feet together in the air. 57 64
The dance ends as it began with the rhythm of the Tin Stamp at work i.e. bars 1 8 TUNE/SONG The tune originally used for this dance was the Tin Stamp. In order to enhance the effect of the Oak beam, the suggestion for this dance is that the first 8 bars are played with only drum accompaniment, and again when the same part of the dance is repeated.
