Headington | dolphin

Headington This year, I plan to simplify the Headington teaching and keep the sessions moving by concentrating on a very small number of points. There will of course be some details that are specific to individual dances, but the following shows four sets of three simple rules or guidelines. I will focus almost entirely on these, plus, of course, the sequences for each dance.

Headington should be unfussy, look smart, and be danced with spirit.

Step, Look, & Listen
Step:

Dance every step including the single steps or back steps and the jump. Even a small jump is better than no jump.

Look:
•Make eye contact with your opposite, or corner.
• Actively move your head to look up and down the set to check the lines are straight.

Listen:
There’s more to music than speed and a 1 2 3 hop beat. Listen to the surge and flow of the phrases. Dance to the pulse of the tune, not just to the count.

Keeping the shape of the set

Be definite:
In every figure, go to a definite place with each step.

Lines:
• Everyone should work together to straighten the lines.
• If necessary, straighten lines by moving forwards.
• Where possible, use the back steps/single steps to adjust the line.

Don’t fade into turns:
• Foot up and down: turn on the last jump (last caper in Laudnum Bunches). Choruses: finish the movement facing across the set, then turn into the half hey on the first beat of the next phrase.

3 details of style

Feet:
Right foot lead throughout. All the choruses make more sense if you don’t have to do a fudge step before or after.
Hands:
• No higher than shoulders in doublesteps or capers.
• Above head height in twists or circles, and when landing from jumps.
Timing of the snatch:
• Twist, twist-snatch, raise and high
• Doublestep-snatch, feet together jump

Stick dances
Raise sticks only to face height on 2 notes.
End dance with sticks at the same level.
When waiting to be tapped, present your stick horizontally at chest height. It’s easier to keep it horizontal if you hold it loosely.

When clashing your own sticks together, or clashing with your opposite, do so just above eye level.

There are a dozen other points I could have chosen, but with 5 teachers and 6 core traditions, plus Badby, Bledington, Upton and others, I want to focus on the smallest number of things that we need to do in order to dance Headington well.

Being definite: Every Headington figure is made up of two equal phrases of 4 bars. One “bar” is exactly enough music for one of the following: • one double step • or two single steps • or two capers • or a “feet together jump” (or “jump & land”).

For each of those sets of four bars, you should have a definite idea where you’re going to before you set off — not just a direction, but a destination.