Gallant Hussar
Ithaca-on-Hemp Tradition (Heartwood Morris)
A dance in the (modern) tradition of Ithaca-on-Hemp for 4 or 6 dancers with hankies. This dance is notable for its distinct "6 person set" formation, which passingly resembles a traditional Morris set at first, but is in fact two Ithaca-on-Hemp 3-person "line" sets.
Dance Notes
Start the dance in two 3-person Ithaca-on-Hemp set lines, facing towards the musician.
For the purposes of the hey only, the bottom set is considered to be oriented towards a "ghost" musician opposite the real one. When danced for 4, the bottom set has two "ghosts" who are always in the outer two positions, and the solo dancer in this set may dance whatever suits their fancy in place of the hey.
The figures are "standard" Ithaca-on-Hemp hanky dance figures, except the unique combination of a 3-person set with hankies means that only the middles of each set, facing in, dance the usual figure. The other 2-4 dances on the outsides of the set lines all face out and dance the figure with a ghost.
The chorus is repeated twice, and consists of the middles (facing in) cross the set with two single steps, a hand-shake, and then backing into place with two more single steps. This is followed by a unique 3-person line hey, in which the middle begins forward to their left. The person to the middle's left (facing out) begins forward to their left. The person to the middle's right (facing out) begins forward to their right. All dancers follow this "figure 8" pattern until they have progressed to their new position, as follows:
- The middle will end up in the place of the person who started to the middle's right
- The person who starts to the middle's left will end up as the new middle
- The person who starts to the middle's right will end up in the place of the person who started to the middle's left
Ends on one rounds (fly around), with all dancers forming a single big round.
When danced for 6, the dancers may choose to "prank" the audience by milling out in the traditional 6-person set manner, but with the top of the set facing to the musician's left or right. After this "traditional" mill-out, the caller may then make a joke, as if this was all a mistake, followed by the dancers turning to face the musician.
Sheet Music
Download: gallant-hussar.abc