Tetherball – English country dance

Tetherball started as an anti-Valentine’s Day dance, as partners start together, then interact with other people, and then end up together again. I think it’s grown a bit beyond that now. The tune is The Gale, by Susan Conger, available on the album Along the River. Choreographed January 2019.

Tetherball

An English Country Dance by Renée Camus
© January 23, 2019
Final Version – February 3, 2020
Tune: The Gale, by Susan Conger

Duple minor longways, proper
Easy/Intermediate
AABB ad lib
4/4 (quarter = ~115)

A1	1-4 (8 cts)	1s (small loop in and) cast to second place, then change places quickly (on beats 7-8, like Hole in the Wall cross), ending close together, WHILE 2s come together (4 cts) then lead up (4 cts), ending close together, facing each other
	5-8 (8 cts)	All fall back with (opposite gender) neighbor, and come forward turning single (optional)
A2	1-4	Two changes of Rights and Lefts starting with partner across (4 cts each)
	5-8	Partner 2-hand turn once around
B1	1-4	Double Mad Robin figure CW along the sides (facing partner across); on last beat, turn to face neighbor on side
	5-8	Double Mad Robin CCW across the set (facing neighbor above or below)
B2	1-4	All turn Neighbor 2-hands once and a half (skipping if you want) to progress
	5-8	1s turn partner 2-hands once round (finish proper) WHILE 2s turn partner 2-hands halfway, ending close (4 cts), and push away to fall back (4 cts)

Notes:

B1: The easiest way to remember the direction of the Mad Robins is that the 1st diagonal people (the gents) go in front of the 2nd diagonal people (the ladies) both times.

Point out transition from B2 into A1: 1s two hand turn, then come together and push off into cast. 2s push away from each other to fall back, only to come forward again in A1.

See more of my English country dance choreographies.