Mr. Beverige's Maggot

Background Source

In 1695, Playford wrote:

The 1. man cross over and go back to back with the 2. wo. then the 1. wo. cross over and go back to back with the 2. man at the same time: Then meet and turn S. then 1. man turn the 2. wo. with his right hand, and 1. wo. turn the 2. man with her right hand at the same time, then 1. cu. take left hands and turn into their own places: The 1. cu. cross over into the 2. cu. place, and go back to back with their Partner, then all four lead up hands abrest, then go the Figure through, and cast off into the 2. cu. place.

---

Note: The first Strain is to be played twice, and the second but once.

Interpretation

This dance did not change as people danced it, but instead changed as people reexamined the original text.

Over the years Playford's text has remained constant, but what people thought it meant has altered. Colin Hume's interpretation built upon Shaw's, who in turn built upon Sharp's. Colin Hume describes why he thinks it means what he has come up with.

Some dance examples

Cecil Sharp's original interpretation from 1922.

Pat Shaw's interpretation from 1960.

Jean Gibson's interpretation from 1995.
Altered from Sharps to fit the requirements of the BBC's adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.

Colin Hume's interpretation from 2011.

This website is copyright © 2021-2026 by George W. Williams V
My work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Most of the dances have more restrictive licensing, see my notes on copyright, the individual dance pages should mention when some rights are waived.