Brimfield

Hook Eagle Morris Men

What a fine bunch of men!

Brimfield

Source:

Traditional dance. (1992)

Music:

Nameless. Second part apparently heard in a pub session in Whitby but only remembered in a dream. Other people at the session didn't recognise it, so could be entirely dreamt. First part written when fully awake, so not as good.

Formation:

4 dancers (2 pairs) in a line, facing partners. Short sticks.

Step:

Single step (cycle step)). Stick on shoulder when not sticking.

Sequence:

Napping
Ho
Napping
Left arm swing / Right arm swing
Napping
Hey
Napping
Right hand star / Left hand star
Napping
Ho
Napping
Napping, getting faster to finish.

Napping:

In each pair, the one in the middle of the set stands still, holding stick knob-cracking style. Other partner (ends) keeps stepping hitting partner's stick alternately forehand and backhand, on the beat, for 16 steps/taps. When starting napping after a figure, the middles finish the figure with the regulation Stomp-Stomp, ends just keep stepping.

Ho:

Middles start stepping and keep stepping on the spot for 16 steps. Meanwhile ends do a reel around the middle two, No 1 starting by passing right shoulders with No 2, No 4 starting by passing Left shoulders with No 3, so that they both go through the gap between 2 and 3 from the same side. No.1 goes through the gap first, both times.

Left arm swing / Right arm swing

Couples do a left arm swing for 8 steps, then turn round and do a right arm swing for 8 steps, swapping stick to left hand/shoulder.

Hey:

All 4 do a hey, starting by passing Right shoulders with partner. Do a whole hey plus a bit so that at the end partners swap places.

Right hand star / Left hand star

Two in the middle turn to their right and take two steps to get into a line across the set. Meanwhile ends move in on two steps to make the star, on step 3 all thrust hands into the middle and continue the star for the 6 steps (8 steps in all). The all turn round and do left hand star for 8 steps and back into place.