Shropshire Morris

This dance was written by Chris of Hunters Moon.

The Music

This dance can be done by any even number of dancers from four to twenty, though it works best for around eight dancers.

Forward and Back (A)
Start dance around the edge of the audience in a large circle.
Count	Moves
1-4	Four steps in to form a smaller circle.
5-8	Four steps back.
9-12	Four steps into smaller circle.
13-16	Four steps to form into two lines.

Chorus (B)
Hold stick two-handed. No stepping. Feet shoulder-width apart. If there is no dancer in the position described, then strike your stick on the ground. Where it says "tap", you bounce back in the direction the stick came from, rather than following through beyond your partner's stick.
Count	Moves
1	Forehand tap with dancer opposite you on your left.
2-3	Backhand strike, forehand tap with partner
4	Backhand tap with dancer opposite you on your right.
5	Backhand tap with dancer opposite you on your right.
6-7	Forehand strike, backhand tap with partner.
8	Forehand tap with dancer opposite you on your left.
9-16	Repeat beats 1-8

Across the Set (A)
Count	Moves
1-4	Pass right shoulder with partner to cross the set.
5-8	Right hand turn on spot, three steps on the spot.
9-12	Starting with a good "whoosh" movement, surge back across the set, passing right shoulder with partner about half-way across.
13-16	On the first count, right hand turn to face across set. Two steps to get back to place, one step on the spot facing partner.

Step Up (A)
Count	Moves
1-4	Turn out to face up the set, towards the band, and go four steps up the set with your partner.
5-8	Go four steps backwards with your partner.
9-12	Four steps up the set.
13-16	Four steps back to place.

Step Down (A)
Count	Moves
1-4	Turn out to face down the set, away from the band, and go four steps down the set with your partner.
5-8	Go four steps backwards with your partner up the set.
9-12	Four steps down the set.
13-16	Four steps back to place.

Cast Down (A)
Count	Moves
1-4	Face up the set and take four steps forward.
5-12	Dancers 1 and 2 cast out, dancing down the outside of the set, taking eight steps to get to the bottom of the set and turn in with everyone else following them. 1 and 2 will need to use some initative to vary their speed and how far out they go depending on the number of dancers in the set.
13-16	Take four steps back to place.

Cast Up (A)
Count	Moves
1-4	Face down the set and take four steps forward.
5-12	Dancers 1 and 2 cast out and dance up the outside of the set, taking eight steps to get to the top of the set and turn in with everyone else following them. 1 and 2 will need to use some initative to vary their speed and how far out they go depending on the number of dancers in the set.
13-16	Take four steps back to place.

Circle and Finish (AB)
Count	Moves
1-2	Right hand turn on spot until facing out, moving forwards as you do so. Some dancers will have to turn further than others.
3-4	Move out two steps to form a large circle facing clockwise.
5-16	Circle round clockwise. Squire will do a twirl and each dancer in turn will do a twirl after him.
17-31	Squire (dancer 1) breaks the circle and dances inside it to lead the dancers in a spiral that gets smaller and smaller.
5-16	Everyone faces inwards, raises their sticks and gives a loud yell. Everybody accept the applause, until the band restarts.

Lead Off (A)
Count	Moves
1-16	The last person into the spiral turns left and leads off. Everyone else follows, uncoiling the spiral as they go.

Unless otherwise specified, the following general rules apply:

Always start right foot first.
There are 4 beats to a bar. This works out as two steps.
The top of the set is towards the band. Likewise, the bottom of the set is away from the band.
When resting stick on shoulder, the tip of the stick should be level with the middle of your ear.
Turns on the spot will usually be right-hand turns (clockwise). Common exceptions are when dancers need to turn in or out of a set the shortest way.
When passing shoulders with another dancer, the first pass will be a right-shoulder pass. Many dances will have figures that alternate right and left shoulders.
Where a fast turn on the spot is needed, it will be on the first beat of the bar. E.g. If you need to turn and then move across the set, you can count it as 'turn, two, three, four'.
Swings with a partner will be right-hand (clockwise), with the stick held in the left hand, unless otherwise specified.
Figures are usually in multiples of four beats. If you mentally keep counting 'one, two, three, four', then you'll have a good idea of when to move and change.