English Folk Dance and Song Society

Walton’s Parade

Information Video Audio

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Introduction

This is from the North West Morris dance tradition which, as the name implies, comes from the North West of England, particularly Lancashire and Cheshire. Originally derived from the Rushcart Processions common to the area they developed through the period of the Industrial Revolution and the social change that went with it. Each town would develop their own dance and the rivalries were quite fierce.

The dance Walton’s Parade was composed by Ed Sanders of Leyland Morris Men, for Whitby Folk Week 1986.

Watch the full dance (video 12), and then watch how it breaks down into sections as described below.

Formation

Standard set of 8

Steps

In this dance all the figures start on the Inside Foot.

The main step is the Polka or Rant Step. This is a syncopated step similar to the double step. It is described fully in the video, so please refer to that for learning it.

Hand Movements

The hands are either down by your sides or raised to just above your head (the arms can be straight or bent – choose what works best for you), fists clenched and knuckles out. Many sides will have “wavers” which are short decorated sticks with ribbons and bells at each end. If you have these, then shake them when your hands are raised. There are other movements in the figures but these are described when we get to them.

The Sequence of the Dance

The Chorus

Walk forward for 4 steps
(NB in the DVD Fool’s Gambit do this on the spot because there was not enough room.)

2 polka steps with hands raised (turning 90° to face out on the 1st & another 90° on the 2nd).

4 walks towards the back of the set.

2 rants turning as before.

Middle Stars

The 2nd and 3rd couples dance forward and make a right-hand star with right fists touching and the other hands raised. Dance round for 4 polka steps turn and dance 4 steps back to place.

At the same time the first and 4th couples dance 2 steps forward to meet, 4 steps in place and 2 to drop back.

Back to Back

The odds line dance around the evens with their hands raised while the evens dance on the spot.

Then the evens dance around the odds.

Into Line

All dance one step on the spot and one step in, to go right shoulder to right shoulder with your partner. Dance one step on the spot, turn round 180° to the right.

Dance one step on the spot again, facing out, one step out to your place.

One more step on the spot, turn to face the front for the chorus (hands raised throughout).

Diagonal Cast

All Turn Right and from here follow the person at the front of your line, the Leaders.

Leaders you now cast right and go back along your line to invert the set.

Turn right again to cross the set in a diagonal line passing the other line with left shoulders.

Cast left at the opposite corner and take your line along the side to invert it once more.
(The second time you dance Diagonal Cast you finish the figure at this point and go straight into Rounds)

Cast left again, to cross on the diagonal passing left shoulders, heading for your original place. There is not quite enough music to finish this and the dancers at the end of the line will have to head almost directly to their places once they have done the final cast.

Side Stars

The dancers at each end of the lines turn left towards the middle (2 steps), while the middles move slightly anticlockwise to create a left hand star, 4 steps to take star round, 2 to drop back.

Note: The video on SIde Stars does not have separate videos full instructions, these can however be accessed by watching the whole dance and using fast forward to get to the section you want to see.