On Fri, 17 Feb 2006 13:30:01 GMT, allisonthompson@juno.com wrote:
> Colin: Who is Peggy Hazell with 250+ dances? What kind of dances?
> Book titles?

You can see a list of her books at
http://www.barndancepublications.co.uk

Peggy is an amazing little old lady from Norfolk who is full of life
and just keeps writing dances.  They are English dances but they're
not Playford-style dances, so they probably wouldn't fit most
Americans' preconceptions.  They are simple dances, and by the law of
averages she occasionally comes up with one that I really like.

I published this one in my column in English Dance & Song magazine,
probably in 1991, so I don't think she would mind me reproducing it
here.

THE  CALLER'S  WIDOW

Dance:  Peggy Hazell.    Music:  5 x 48-bar reels.

Format: Square set plus one spare lady in the centre, known as "The
Caller's Widow".

A1:  All four couples join hands: into the middle and out.  Do-si-do 	
partner.

A2:  The "widow" dances a reel of three with 1st and 3rd men
(beginning 	right shoulder with 1st man) while 1st lady does the same
with 2nd couple (beginning right shoulder with 2nd man) while 3rd lady
does the same with 4th couple (beginning right shoulder with 4th man).
(Optionally giving hands in the reels)

B1:  "Widow" returns to the centre, the others join hands and go into
the middle and out again.  Do-si-do corner.

B2:  "Widow" reel of three with 2nd and 4th men while 2nd lady reels
with 3's while 4th lady reels with 1's (as in A2).

C1:  All five ladies right-hand star.  One man chains out the "widow",
the other men chain out any lady not their original partner, so
leaving a new "widow" in the centre.

C2:  Couples balance twice and swing.

Colin Hume

Email colin@colinhume.com      Web site http://www.colinhume.com