Repertoire

A large tree silhouetted against the purple pre-dawn sky above the Belmont Plateau.

Stick Dances

Balance the Straw

Balance the Straw is a stick dance with standard Fieldtown figures. Chorus includes striking butt of stick on the ground twice, then striking forehand and backhand with partner. Sticking repeats, with different rhythm, and is followed with a half hey.

Craven Stomp

Craven Stomp is a stick dance with unique figures, dances in a square set of 8. Sticking chorus is always with partner and corner. Figures include heys on the sides, “ins and outs”, crossing heys, and a grand chain.

Steamfitters

Steamfitters is a stick dance with standard Fieldtown figures. Chorus includes crossing with partner, then extending sticks to the center and taking turns striking and being struck.

Upton

A very distinctive set dance, beginning and ending with a large circle (sticks pointing toward the center).
Each figure begins with a stick clash, and then backing-up before launching into the dance pattern.

Beardown Man

A 4-person set dance, often modified by Renegades for other numbers of dancers. In the chorus, dancers take turns striking corner 2x, then striking the ground 2x. The first and last figures are left-hand stars (with variations).

3 Musketeers

A 6-person set dance, with standard Fieldtown figures. The chorus imitates a swordfight: long diagonals strike each other while the others strike with neighbor on the sides, then diagonals switch.

Four Renegades doing a stick dance in the early morning sunlight.

Hanky Dances

Valentine

A 6-person set dance, with standard Fieldtown figures. The chorus is danced by one (corner) pair at a time, beginning with sidesteps, then dancing a distinctive movement before dancing around each other to trade places. Distinctive movements include hanky salutes and bows, galleys, and capers.

Cuckoo’s Nest

Cuckoo’s Nest is a Fieldtown jig, danced solo or double with hankies. Larger groups often dance in Circle.

Glorishears

Glorishears is a hanky dance with standard Fieldtown figures. Chorus has each couple in turn stepping away with bold hanky flourishes. A rarity: this hanky dance has no capers.

Lass of Richmond Hill

Lass of Richmond Hill is a hanky dance with standard Fieldtown figures. Chorus has each couple in turn doing a side-step sequence, then bottom couple dances to the top, with side-steps, capers, or leap-frogs!

The Nutting Girl

The Nutting Girl is a Fieldtown jig danced with hankies. As there is no set, it can be danced by any number. Renegades and Kingsessing often take turns, dancing with a first and second group.

Three dancers flinging hankies aloft.