Cutting off Three, Two, and One ~ Quicksand

Cutting off Three, Two, and One ~ Quicksand Divide the Ring and Cut Away Four

The Kentucky Running Set is the name Sharp gave to a style of dancing he found in the Southern Appalachians when he visited in 1917. The locals called the dances square dances even though they were often danced in large circles. Sharp, however, describes squares, and this is an attempt to follow his description.

I have, however, changed the calls into modern terms because I find the old terms confusing. "Swing corners" seems to mean "allemande left" rather than what "swing" means to me.

Sharp mentions that these dances are always called: Normally, the caller recites certain prescribed verbal phrases, a mixture of prose and doggerel rhyme that, in the course of time, has become stereotyped. Sharp provides an appendix with the calls used at one of the dances he saw. Sadly the calls he gives for the introduction don't appear to match the figure he describes.

This style of dance begins with a common introduction:

• Circle left
• Circle left
• Partner two hand turn
• Corner two hand turn
• Promenade home
• Heads forward and back, change with opposite, forward and back, change with opposite
• Sides forward and back, change with opposite, forward and back, change with opposite

Each time a new figure is called, it begins with a "Grand Promenade." Sharp defines this as: partner two hand turn, corner two hand turn, promenade with partner half round, reverse direction (turn inward, without releasing hands), promenade back, partner two hand turn, corner two hand turn, partner promenade all the way around.

Then starts the first figure: the first couple moves right to the 2nd couple and does some figure with them. Then they move on to the next couple (3s) and do the same figure. Then on to the last couple and do the same figure. Then they do a do-si with that couple and promenade home.

Most of the time the "Little Promenade" comes between repetions of the figure.

Then the 2nd couple repeats the whole thing, starting with the 3rd couple.

Another "Little Promenade"

Then the 3rd couple.

Another "Little Promenade"

Then the last couple.

At this point they would do the grand promenade again, and the 1st couple would start with a new figure, and so forth.

Sharp writes that the "Little Promenade" consists of:

Men turn their partners half-way round (four steps), turn their contraries half-way round (four steps), rejoin their partners, cross hands, and move once round the circle, with them, counter-clockwise to places, men on the inside (i.e. on the left of their partners).

For this figure, Sharp writes:

As danced at Quicksand (Breathill Co., Ky.) and explained by Mr. Sewell Williams.

The first couple moves forward four steps toward the third couple and falls back four steps to places.

First man and first woman again move foward, pass between third man and third woman ("cutting off three") and cast off to places, the man to his left behind the third couple, the woman to her right behind the second couple.

All partners turn.

The first couple moves forward and back toward the third couple as before.

First man passes between third woman and fourth man; while first woman passes between second woman and third man ("cutting off two"); whereupon both cast off to places, the first man to his left, the first woman to her right.

All partners turn.

The first couple moves forward and back toward the third couple as before.

First man passes between fourth man and fourth woman; while first woman passes between second man and second woman ("cutting off one"); whereupon both cast off to places, the first man to his left, the first woman to her right.

All partners turn.

< Prev Top Next >