Up the Middle and down the Sides

Set for 4 Couples

Tune: Shave the Donkey (from Shipdham in Norfolk)

A variant of this tune called Bob-Ridley-O was collected by Russell Wortley at Balsham, Cambridgeshire. See English Dance and Song, Vol.40, No.2. Summer 1978.

A1 First couple take both hands and dance 4 sideways steps down the middle and 4 side steps back, all that again, face up on the last bar holding inside hands. (8 bars) Slip Step
B1 First couple make an arch, turn down, and dance round the set - man inside - with the arch over the heads of the men first, "cut across the corner" and over the heads of the women; so back to places. (8 bars) C/P
A2 All take both hands with partners, first couple weave to the bottom of the set, first man pushing and then pulling while the other 3 couples move back and forward, keeping together in line, the men pulling and pushing (i.e. half-oussettes). (8 bars) W/S
B2 The 2 couples at the top dance round each other once while the 2 bottom couples do the same. (8 bars) P/R
  Repeat the dance with a new top couple.  

The last dance round can be performed by everyone dancing round in a circle to represent a Polka round the room, which was a feature of the Feast Dances.