The first three figures of this set are danced as half-sets and the fourth as a full set.

First Figure - Crossover (Reels)

120 bars

1

Crossover, ladies R to R (2 bars) and gents L to L (2 bars) and repeat the movement back to place (4 bars).

8 bars

2

Step it out: partners face each other and dance the step in place.

8 bars

3

Swing, with ceili hold.

8 bars

4

Ladies chain R hand in the centre, L to turn under the arm of the opposite gent who follows her round, R hand in the centre and L to turn under and round her partner who turns with her.

8 bars

5

Step it out.
Swing.

16 bars

6

Advance, retire and cross: with crossed hand hold couples advance (2 bars) and, as they retire, the lady dances across her partner under raised arms to finish alongside him on his L (2 bars).  Couples dance across the set, gents R to R (2 bars) and each dancer ½ turns inwards to face their own place (2 bars).  The whole movement is then repeated back to place.

16 bars

7

Step it out.
Swing.

16 bars

8

Advance, retire and cross.

16 bars

9

Step it out.
Swing.

16 bars

Second Figure - Ladies chain (Reels)

160 bars

1

Ladies chain.

8 bars

2

Step it out.
Swing.

16 bars

3

Dance around: 1^st lady and 2^nd gent dance a full circle clockwise around each other to end face-to-face in the centre.  The movement may be embellished according to individual taste.

8 bars

Swing: the dancing couple swing (6 bars) and fall back to place (2 bars).

8 bars

4

Advance, retire and cross.

8 bars

5

Dance around and swing:1^st lady and 2^nd gent repeat 3.

16 bars

6

Advance, retire and cross back.

8 bars

7

Step it out.
Swing.

16 bars

8

Dance around and swing: 2^nd lady and 1^st gent dance 3.

16 bars

9

Advance, retire and cross.

8 bars

10

Dance around and swing: 2^nd lady and 1^st gent repeat 3.

16 bars

11

Advance, retire and cross back.

8 bars

12

Step it out.
Swing.

16 bars

Third Figure - The Three and One (Reels)

160 bars

1

Ladies chain.
Step it out.
Swing.

24 bars

2

Three and One: 2^nd couple hold R hands while 1^st couple house within the set to leave the 1^st lady on the R of 2^nd gent, facing out of the set.  On the last 2 bars, 2^nd lady ½ turns anti-clockwise to face out of the set while 2^nd gent takes 1^st lady’s L hand in his L and 1^st gent dances in between the ladies, without taking hands, to form a line.

8 bars

The formation retires (4 bars), and advances (4 bars) and on the last 2 bars the ladies ½ turn inwards to give their free hands to the 1^st gent while keeping hands held with 2^nd gent.  The formation advances (4 bars) and retires (4 bars), ladies dropping hands and turning inwards to place their hands on the gents’ shoulders as they form a little christmas on the last 2 bars.

16 bars

Swing four: they swing clockwise (8 bars) and anti-clockwise (8 bars).

16 bars

3

Ladies chain.
Step it out.
Swing.

24 bars

4

Three and One: 2^nd couple lead to repeat 2.

40 bars

5

Ladies chain.
Step it out.
Swing.

24 bars

Fourth Figure - The Full Set (Polkas)

136 bars

1

Circle: all take hands in a circle and advance and retire twice.

8 bars

2

Dance at home.

8 bars

3

Circle, and ladies move on to the next gent on the R on the last 2 bars.

8 bars

4

Dance at home.

8 bars

5

Circle, and ladies move on.
Dance at home.
Circle, and ladies move on.
Dance at home.
Circle, and ladies move on to their own partners.
Dance at home.

48 bars

6

Advance, retire and crossover: keeping waltz hold,

7

Ladies chain, top ladies leading and side ladies starting 2 bars later.
Step it out.
Swing.

24 bars

STEPS
Traditionally, a doubled reel step, similar to the Connemara step but brushed with the ball of the foot rather than danced with the heel, was used to Step it out.  Nowadays dancers dance whatever step they wish.

SOURCE
Pat Murphy at his Bristol workshop, April 2000.