DARGASON, or Sedany

For as many as will; in three parts (2nd Ed., 1652). A line of men facing [down towards] a line of women [facing up, thus:]

… M4 M3 M2 M1 W1 W2 W3 W4

MUSICMOVEMENTS



First Part.
A11–4First man and first woman side (r.s.).
5–6They set to each other.
7–8They pass each other, by the left, turning single as they do so, the man clockwise, the woman counter-clockwise.
A21–8First man and second woman side, set, turn single and pass each other, as in A1; while second man and first woman do the same.
A31–8Same movements performed by three pairs of dancers, viz., first man and third woman, third man and first woman, and second man and second woman.
These movements are performed as many times as there are couples, that is, until the first man and first woman reach, respectively, the bottom and top of the line. At the conclusion of the last of these repetitions, all the dancers make a half-turn, men clockwise and women counter-clockwise, and face in the reverse direction. This ends the first half of the figure.
In the second half of the figure the same movements are repeated, but in reverse order, the men moving and facing up, the women down. At the end of the first change (danced by the same pairs as the last change of the first half) the last man and the last woman, having reached their own places, remain there and take no further part in their performance of the figure. In each subsequent change two dancers, one at each end, will, in like manner, reach their own places and become neutral; so that upon the conclusion of the final repetition (danced by the first couple only) all the performers will be in their original places.



Second Part.
Same as in First Part, except that dancers, instead of siding, arm with the right in the first half of the movement, and with the left in the second half.



Third Part.
First, third, fifth, etc., men, and second, fourth, sixth, etc., women face down; the rest face up.
Standing thus, all dance the straight-hey one complete circuit to places, handing as they pass (Fig.12, p.53).



Page transcribed by Hugh Stewart