TAN HA DOWR
Some Examples of Tan Ha
Dowr Dances
The Bucca Dance
This dace was choreographed by Cornish youth music and dance group 'Tan ha Dowr'
in 1998 It was the first original dance choreographed by the group, and goes to
the tune of the 'Bucca' Song. Bucca's were mythical little people (imps/elves/piskies)
who supposedly lived in the mines in Cornwall, and came out at night to cause
trouble in Cornish towns and villages.
Formation : 2 couple progressive dance. Sicilian circle (couple
facing couple around the room). Step
'One, two, three hop' furry dance step and a side step with a swinging kick.
Bars (A)
1 - 4
All step right, close left, right again and kick left foot across to the right.
Repeat to the left. 5 - 12
Give right hand to opposite and grand chain back to your original place (right
hand across to your opposite and change places, left hand to your partner and
changes places, right hand again to your opposite and change places, and left
hand back to your partner leading straight into the below swing). 13 - 16
Swing partner (using 1 2 3 hop step) (B)
17 - 20
Men change places (right hands) 21 - 24
Ladies change places (right hands) 25 - 28
Advance to opposites and retire 29 - 32
Couples facing clockwise raise arms. Advance and progress to the next couple.
TUNE/ Bucca Song.
Cock in Britches / The Weedin Paddle
Formation Solo dance for ladies holding a weeding
paddle or similar implement. Steps
On toes, step right, left, right, kick the floor beside right toe with left
heel. Repeat starting with left foot etc. Bars 1 - 2
Begin with four steps on the spot. 3 - 4
Place paddle across shoulders holding with left hand to imitate the yoke. Use
right hand to imitate throwing seed from the seedlip whilst taking four basic
steps as above travelling forward. 5 - 6
Lift paddle down with two hands and use to imitate raking haystack waste over
seeds whilst taking four steps backwards. (Chorus)
Stand paddle on floor, keeping steady and upright
throughout with right hand. 7 - 8
All on toes: weight on right foot point left foot to left and return to centre;
weight on left foot point right foot to right and return to centre. 8
Step back with left foot, then bring right back to left. Step forward with left
foot bring right to meet. 9
Swing once around the paddle pivoting on right foot and pushing with left. 10
Weight on right foot point left foot to left and return to centre. Weight on
left foot point right to right and return to centre. 11 - 12
Now swing round the paddle as per bar 9 but twice this time. using free left
hand to carry skirt up and down in a wave pattern. Repeat the complete dance but
imitate a scythe in bars 1 - 6 Repeat the dance again but imitating a flail in
bars 1 - 6
Broom Dance
Formation
Two dancers, facing each other, holding either end of a broomstick. Step
The basic step for this dance goes as follows,
Right foot is crossed over left and (still stepping on left foot) tapped:
1. Beside left foot
2. In front and to left of left foot
3. To right of left foot
4. Stepping finally on both feet at once side by side. Bars 1 - 4
Both dancers begin with the basic step (as detailed above) repeated four times.
5 - 8
Dancer 'A' now does eight steps over the broom stick, weaving the stick under
and over alternate legs while dancer `B` repeats basic step as per 1 4 above. 9
- 12
Dancer 'B' does weaving step whilst `A` does basic step. 13 - 16
Dancer 'A' now turns slowly using the basic step and passing the stick from hand
to hand behind back. 17 - 20
Dancer 'B' turns while 'A' does the basic step 21 - 24
Dancer 'A' goes down on haunches and kicks alternate feet out eight times whilst
dancer 'B' does the basic step. 25 - 28
Dancer 'B' goes down on haunches to kick alternate feet whilst 'A' does the
basic step. 29 - 32
Dancers finish doing the same basic four steps they started with. The whole
process is now repeated using the weaving step over the broomstick as the base
step alternating with the turning step and the 'haunches' step (bars 25 - 28).
In recent years the 'haunches' step has often been substituted with the slightly
less athletic 'kick' step, in which each dancer kicks the right foot, followed
by the left foot in front of the with the heel to the floor and the ball of the
foot facing upwards (as per Mrs Parkyn's Jig). This is repeated twice on each
foot alternatively. TUNE/SONG The suggested tune for this dance is We Be.
Mrs Parkyns
Formation: dance for at least two dancers.
Steps: The steps for this dance frequently alternate
between: (1) The basic shuffle step (2) Three other steps: (a) Shuffle right
foot, shuffle left foot. Right foot back and tap toe on floor, then left foot
back and tap toe on floor.
(b) Shuffle right foot shuffle left foot. Right foot to right side, left foot to
left side] this step
(c) Shuffle right foot, shuffle left foot. Right heel forward, left heel forward
(this step should be a strong contrast to the basic step)
Bars 1 8 All form a circle performing step 1 (Dancers divide into 2
sides during last couple of bars) (A)
9 16 Side 1 (a) step (B)
17 24 Side 2 (a) step
25 32 Side 2 (b) step (A)
33 40 Side 1 (b) step
41 48 Side 1 (c) step (B)
49 56 Side 2 (c) step
57 64 Side 2 (a) step (A)
65 72 Side 1 (a) step
73 80 Side 1 (b) step (B)
81 88 Side 2 (b) step
89 96 Side 2 (c) step (A)
97 104 Side 1 (c) step (All reform circle during last couple of bars)
105 112 All perform step 1
TUNE Mrs Parkin's Jig.
If you are interested in coming
along to Tan ha Dowr, you want more information or you would like to book Tan ha
Dowr for an event, please contact Alison at:
Meneghyjy, Withiel, Bodmin,
Cornwall, PL30 5NN
01208 831642
alison@an-daras.com