Simone Verheyen wrote

> I'm looking for the instructions for a dance by Bob Lilley, entitled "the
> Beginner's Nightmare", or "the Beginners' Nightmare".
> Years ago, a friend gave them to me. It's a 4-couple longways dance.  It's
> fun to do, it works, but I think there's something wrong in the progression.

I always assumed it was the first of these titles, but I'm not sure:

Beginner's Nightmare by Bob Lilley

Longways 4 couple set, 1s and 3s improper. 48-bar jigs.

A1 Lead up a double and back: back-to-back right shoulder.

A2 Lead down a double and back: back-to-back left shoulder.

B1 In fours at each end half right-and-left through (ie two changes): 
middle four half right-and-left through.

B2 Top four (only) half right-and-left through: middle women cross, 
take right hand with partner, and lead out a bit to form a square set.

C1 Grand chain halfway round, giving right hand to partner to start.

C2 Right hand turn partner halfway; left hand turn partner halfway: 
head ladies chain across, and the heads move in a bit.

If you now pair up with your *original* partner, then you're in a 
longways set with the head at the original ladies' wall, in the order 
2341. Repeat the dance with "up" in that direction throughout, and 
so on. Do the dance 4 times and you're home .. maybe!

All the rights-and-lefts start with your partner. C2 looks a bit odd but 
it really does make sense in the dance. Remember that when "up" 
changes direction so does "heads". A full stop (colon, semicolon) 
indicates an 8 (4, 2) bar phrase. Please ask if anything's still unclear. 
Have fun,

Thomas Bending

Thomas Bending