Cleave Hill
Written by Chris, inspired by the Boggart's Breakfast dance Higger Tor. We may not be able to match the peaks of the Peak District, but we can still dance to celebrate our local geography.
Single stepped throughout the figures, chorus is walked. Each starting position is named for the figure that person is in the centre for.
Starting formation:
Overview
A - Intro
B - Chorus
A - Half Heys
B - Chorus
A - Right Round
B - Chorus
A - Rights and Lefts
B - Chorus
A - Chains
B - Chorus
A - Celtic Knot
B - Chorus and off
Chorus
No stepping, just a standard walking step throughout, unless otherwise stated. This chorus rotates everyone one position around, it's important that every dancers can dance this chorus from every position, and that dancers learn when they are in the centre for a figure, which person they will start the chorus with.
For the purposes of this write up, The dancer starting in the centre shall be numbered dancer 5, and the other four dancers are numbered 1-4, starting in the top right and going clockwise.
Each 4 beat section only two dancers are moving. The other three should be standing still and looking up and down.
First, dancers 5 and 1 are active (the dancer in the centre and the person in front of them to their right)
1: Dancers clash backhand high while taking a step forward to their right and turning right
2: Dancers ground strike while taking a step left back to back past each other (Stretch goals - ideally would be strike backwards over their heads with each other, to match Higger Tor, but other single beat flourishes also possible - punching the air, adding shouts, etc.)
3: Dancers clash backhand high while taking a step backwards to their left and turning to face one another, now in each others' positions
4: Dancer in the centre of the set turns right to face the next person round the set, while the two dancers clash forehand low. The dancer in the centre should mostly just hold their stick out still, and the other person takes responsibility for the clash happening.
5-8: Dancer 1 (the new centre) and 2 are now active and perform the same four steps
9-12: Dancer 2 (the new centre) and 3 are now active and perform the same four steps
13-16: Dancer 3 (the new centre) and 4 are now active and perform the same four steps, except dancer 4 turns slightly less to their right on the final step to face up, rather than dance 5. Potentially, on step 16, everyone steps back very slightly on their left foot to wind up for the start of the figure.
For the final chorus - as you reach a corner position having been in the middle, after the forehand clash low, turn and slowly walk off. The final two dancers may want to run off rather than walk.
Figures
As each figure ends, the central dancer should make eye contact with the correct corner dancer to start the chorus with, cuing them in. All four corners should glance towards the centre to see if they're the one being looked at, and if so, make eye contact and prepare to start the chorus. Ensuring the correct corner starts the chorus with the central dancer is critical.
Intro
1-16: Central dancer stands still, the other 4 walk slowly around them back to place. Music should be stripped back and sombre. As the figure ends, the central dancer makes eye contact with the person walking in front of them in the last 4 beats.
Half Heys
Now the dance really starts
1-4: The central dancer starts a half hey with the 1st corners by passing the person in front of them and to their right by the right shoulder. This will bring the central dancer back to the centre and swap the two 1st corners.
5-8: The central dancer flows into a half hey with the 2nd corners starting with the person facing them (should again be in front of them and to their right). This will bring the central dancer back to the centre and swap the two 2nd corners.
9-12: Central dancer starts half hey with the 1st corners by passing the same 1st corner again, swapping the 1st corners back
13-16: Central dancers starts half hey with the 2nd corners by passing the same second corner again, swapping the second corners back.
Central dancer finishes their final hey making eye contact with the dancer they started the first hey with.
Right Round
1: Everyone sets off stepping to their right
2: Everyone turns around, but keeps moving in the same direction
3-4: Everyone takes two small steps backwards, gradually decelerating (you should be close enough to where you started to get back in 2 steps)
5-6: Everyone surges forward back to their place
7-8: Corners flow into a quarter rotation of the set clockwise to faceup and down, central dancer spins 3/4 right on the spot
9: Everyone takes one step forward
10: Everyone turns around but keeps moving in the same direction
11-12: Everyone takes two small steps backwards, gradually decelerating.
13-14: Everyone surges forward back to a corner
15-16: Corners flow into a quarter rotation of the set counter-clockwise to take them home. Central dancer turns one whole turn left, catching the eye of the dancer who will end up in the appropriate position. This will be the person who was behind them to their right during 13 and 14.
Rights and Lefts
For the corners:
1: Corners step forward right should to right shoulder with their partner (ala Backs to Backs in DIY)
2: All clash forehand (optionally Rubik? - forehand high into backhand low while passing them)
3: Forward out to corner
4: Turn the easy way a quarter to face across
5: Corners step forward left shoulder to left shoulder with their partner
6: All clash backhand (optionally Rubik? backhand high into forehand low passing them)
7: Forward out to corner
8: Turn the easy way a quarter to face across
9-16: Repeat home
For the central dancer:
1-8: Perform a big loop right, around where the corner would be standing, aiming to pass back through the centre of the set on around step 8 or 9
9-16: Perform a big loop left, around where a corner would be standing, aiming to arrive back as late as possible to ensure you pass between the nearest dancers after they've finished their clash and moved into the corner position, around step 15. Catch the eye of the person who is stepping into the position in front and to the right of you.
Chains
For the corners:
1-4: Everyone come in for a right-handed staff star around the central dancer. Aim to get around 3/4 of the way around
5-8: Everyone flows into a loop to their left, aiming for the position diagonally opposite where they started.
9-16: Repeat home
For the central dancer:
1-16: Mostly just stand on the spot. Definitely stand on the spot during 1-4 and 9-12 to allow the staff star around you to be as tight as possible. during 5-8 and 13-16 freestyle it - could be turns on the spot - could do some stretches - could look around and pretend to start moving away before realising you need to be back in place. Catch the eyes of the person to your right as they finish the end of the figure.
Celtic Knot
For the corners:
1-2: 1st corners dance a quarter clockwise around the set (forward into a 2nd corner position), 2nd corners pass right should with a ghost to meet each other left shoulder to left shoulder in the centre of the set.
3-4: 1s dance another quarter clockwise, while the 2s do a 3/4 turn left in the middle
5-6: All corners pass right should with someone
7-8: 2s dance a quarter clockwise around the outside, 1s do a 3/4 turn left in the middle (this should now feel like the Celtic Reel from Windmills)
9-10: All pass right shoulder
11-12: 1s dance a quarter clockwise around the outside, 2s do a 3/4 turn left in the middle
13-14: All pass right shoulder
15-16: 2s dance a quarter clockwise around the outside, while the 1s back up into place.
For the central dancer:
1-16: Dance a cloverleaf starting by passing right, passing through the centre on 5, 9 and 13, while the corners are starting a RS pass. As you head into position on 15-16, you should have a 1st corner in front of you and backing away - catch their eye.
Half Heys | Chains | |
v | ^ | v |
Celtic Knot | ||
^ | ^ | |
Right Round | Rights and Lefts |