The Clare Lancers
This set comes from the Crusheen Set Dancers in the County Clare. It is generally kept low and easy.
| Figure 1 - 'Square', Reels - 160 Bars | |||
| 8 bar lead in | 8 bars | ||
| a | Lead around and Swing | All couples lead around widdershins (anti-clockwise) holding crossed hands in front. Upon returning home, the gent turns the lady under. (8 bars) All couples then swing for 8 bars. | 16 bars |
| b | Meet and Swing | First top gent and opposite lady dance in to the center, passing left shoulders (2 bars), turn deosil (clockwise) (2 bars) and then swing for the remaining 4 bars. They complete the swing with their backs to their own positions. | 8 bars |
| c | Square | Top couples square with the gents moving deosil and the ladies moving widdershins. They pass right shoulders with their opposites and left shoulders with their partners. | 8 bars |
| d | Swing the Corners, Swing your own | All dancers face their corners and swing for 8 bars. All dancers return to their partners (2 bars) and swing the remaining 6 bars. | 16 bars |
| e | Second Tops | Repeat steps b - d with the second top couple leading the figure. | 32 bars |
| c | First Sides | Repeat steps b - d with the first side couple leading the figure. | 32 bars |
| c | Second Sides | Repeat steps b - d with the second side couple leading the figure. | 32 bars |
| f | House | All couples house to finish, doubling the last two bars. | 8 bars |
| Figure 2 - 'Under the Wing', Reels - 192 Bars | |||
| 8 bar lead in | 8 bars | ||
| a | Lead around and Swing | All couples lead around, turn the lady and swing. | 16 bars |
| b | House In | First top couple houses inside. | 8 bars |
| c | Under the Wing | Holding right hand in right, the first top lady turns deosil four times under her partners arm, whilst he dances in place. | 8 bars |
| d | Line-up | Facing each other, the first top couple passes right shoulders to the opposite side, turn deosil and then pass again right shoulders to form a line with the side couples. (At this time the opposite couples break in the line with the sides as well. There should now be four facing four) | 8 bars |
| e | Advance | All advance and retire in a line twice. One the second retire, the top couples do not retire but rather dance in place for 2 bars. All couples swing for 8 bars. | 16 bars |
| f | Second Tops | Repeat steps b - e with the second top couple leading the figure. | 40 bars |
| g | First Sides | Repeat steps b - e with the first side couple leading the figure. | 40 bars |
| h | Second Sides | Repeat steps b - e with the second side couple leading the figure. | 40 bars |
| i | House | All couples house to finish, doubling the last two bars. | 8 bars |
| Figure 3 - 'Big Christmas', Reels - 144 Bars | |||
| 8 bar lead in | 8 bars | ||
| a | Lead around and Swing | All couples lead around widdershins (anti-clockwise) holding crossed hands in front. Upon returning home, the gent turns the lady under. (8 bars) All couples then swing for 8 bars. | 16 bars |
| b | Ladies Advance | All ladies advance in to the set and retire twice. | 8 bars |
| c | Gents Advance | All gents advance in to the set and retire twice. | 8 bars |
| d | Star | Gents take left hands with the opposite gent, place their right arm saround their partner's waist and lead around widdershins. Upon getting home, the gents drop hands, and all couples turn towards their partners. The gents then take right hands with the opposite gent, place their left around their partner's waist and lead around deosil to home. Once home all acouples turn in towards your partner again and the gents backs into place. All dancers then form a circle of eight for a big christmas. | 16 bars |
| e | Big Christmas | Swing deosil in a christmas for 8 bars. Reverse direction and swing for the remaining 8 bars | 16 bars |
| f | Swing | All couples swing their own. | 8 bars |
| g | Repeat | Repeat steps b - e | 56 bars |
| h | House | All couples house to finish, doubling the last two bars. | 8 bars |
| Figure 4 - 'Little Christmas', Reels - 192 Bars | |||
| 8 bar lead in | 8 bars | ||
| a | Lead around and Swing | All couples lead around widdershins (anti-clockwise) holding crossed hands in front. Upon returning home, the gent turns the lady under. (8 bars) All couples then swing for 8 bars. | 16 bars |
| b | House In | First top couple house inside | 8 bars |
| c | Lead Through | Holding crossed hands in front, both top couples lead around deosil inside the set dancing through their own positions to join right hands in a star with the side couple on their left. | 8 bars |
| d | Star | All star right for 4 bars, reverse and star left for 4 bars. | 8 bars |
| e | Little Christmas | Swing deosil in a christmas for 8 bars, then without stopping, the christmasses break apart and and all swing their partners back to home. | 8 bars |
| f | Swing | All couples swing their own. | 8 bars |
| g | Second Tops | Repeat steps b - f with the second top couple leading the figure. For the Lead Through figure (c), go widdershins and star with the could on the right. | 40 bars |
| h | First Sides | Repeat steps b - f with the first side couple leading the figure. For the Lead Through figure (c), go deosil and star with the could on the right. | 40 bars |
| i | Second Sides | Repeat steps b - f with the second side couple leading the figure. For the Lead Through figure (c), go widdershins and star with the could on the right. | 40 bars |
| j | House | All couples house to finish, doubling the last two bars. | 8 bars |
| Figure 5 - 'Line Up', Slides - 192 Bars | |||
| 8 bar lead in | 8 bars | ||
| a | Lead around and Swing | All couples lead around widdershins (anti-clockwise) holding crossed hands in front. Upon returning home, the gent turns the lady under. (8 bars) All couples then swing for 8 bars. | 16 bars |
| b | Chain and Line up | A couples face their partners and chain around. When they meet their partner at the opposite side, they swing for one turn and continue the chain back to home. The first top couple face out of the set, with the lady in front of her partner. All dancers form a line (lady in fron of her partner) behind the first top couple in the following order: First sides, second side and then second tops. | 16 bars |
| c | Side Step | From the line, the ladies side step to their right, and the gents to their left. Then they side step back, through the line untils they are on the opposite side. All turn on the last bar and join hands in a line. | 8 bars |
| d | Advance and Retire | Both lines advance and retire twice. | 8 bars |
| e | Dance Home and Swing | All dancers dance home for 4 bars, and then swing the remaining 4 bars. | 8 bars |
| f | Second Tops | Repeat steps b - e with the second top couple leading the figure. The order for the line up is: Second Tops, second sides, first sides and then first tops. | 40 bars |
| g | First Sides | Repeat steps b - e with the first side couple leading the figure. The order for the line up is: first sides, second tops, first tops and then second sides. | 40 bars |
| h | Second Sides | Repeat steps b - e with the second side couple leading the figure. The order for the line up is: second sides, first tops, second tops and then first sides. | 40 bars |
| i | House | All couples house to finish, doubling the last two bars. | 8 bars |