Clare Lancers Set

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The Clare Lancers Set is one of the most popular dances in the Irish Set Dancing repertoire. As the name suggests it hails from the Clare area on the mid-west coast of the Republic of Ireland. Other published instructions for this dance include Larry Lynch's Set Dances of Ireland, Terry Moylan's Irish Dances, Pat Murphy's Toss the Feathers and Tom Quinn's Irish Dancing. Joe O'Hara and the Newcastle Irish Set Dancers have versions this set online.

Contents

Formation

Normal-L-Set.gif

Square Set of four couples, Gents on the left of their partners. 1st Top Couple have their backs to the band, with 2nd Top Couple opposite them. 1st Side Couple are on the left of 1st Top Couple (when facing into the set) and 2nd Side Couple are opposite them (to the right of 1st Tops).

Steps

Traditionally the figures are danced with smooth flowing steps pushing flat along the floor and minimal heel lift.

Dance Instructions

Figure 1: Reels 160 bars

All CouplesLower Promenade hold - Lead around + Turn the Lady under [8 bars] + Waltz hold - Swing [8 bars]16 bars
1st Top Gent + Opposite LadyPass left shoulder to left in the centre [2 bars] + Turn clockwise [2 bars] + Swing [4 bars] + Finish with back to own position8 bars
Top CouplesSquare - Pass Opposite (right shoulder to right) + Change places with Partner (left shoulder to left) + Pass back (right shoulders) + Change places with Partner (left shoulders) + Finish in own position facing Corner8 bars
All with CornersSwing Corner + Finish facing Partner8 bars
All CouplesDance back to Partner [2 bars] + Swing Partner8 bars
1st Top Lady + Opposite GentPass left shoulder to left + Turn clockwise + Swing8 bars
Top CouplesSquare8 bars
All CouplesSwing Corner + Dance back to Partner + Swing Partner16 bars
1st Side Gent + Opposite LadyPass left shoulder to left + Turn clockwise + Swing8 bars
Side CouplesSquare8 bars
All CouplesSwing Corner + Dance back to Partner + Swing Partner16 bars
1st Side Lady + Opposite GentPass left shoulder to left + Turn clockwise + Swing8 bars
Side CouplesSquare8 bars
All CouplesSwing Corner + Dance back to Partner + Swing Partner16 bars
All CouplesHouse the set doubling the last 2 bars8 bars

Figure 2: Reels 192 bars

All CouplesLower Promenade hold - Lead around + Turn the Lady under + Swing16 bars
1st Top CoupleHouse inside [8 bars] + Right hand in right - Lady turns under 4 times while Gent dances on the spot16 bars
1st Top CoupleFace each other - Pass right shoulders cross to opposite side + Turn clockwise + Pass Partner and cross with both Top Couples splitting to form Side Lines8 bars
All CouplesAdvance and retire + Advance and Side Couples retire while Top Couples dance in place8 bars
All CouplesSwing8 bars
2nd Top CoupleHouse inside + Turn Lady under 4 times + Cross to opposite + Turn and cross - Top Couple split to form Side Lines24 bars
All CouplesAdvance and retire + Advance and Side Couples retire while Top Couples dance in place8 bars
All CouplesSwing8 bars
1st Side CoupleHouse inside + Turn Lady under 4 times + Cross to opposite + Turn and cross - Top Couple split to form Side Lines24 bars
All CouplesAdvance and retire + Advance and Side Couples retire while Top Couples dance in place8 bars
All CouplesSwing8 bars
2nd Side CoupleHouse inside + Turn Lady under 4 times + Cross to opposite + Turn and cross - Top Couple split to form Side Lines24 bars
All CouplesAdvance and retire + Advance and Side Couples retire while Top Couples dance in place8 bars
All CouplesSwing + House the set doubling the last 2 bars16 bars

Figure 3: Reels 144 bars

All CouplesLower Promenade hold - Lead around + Turn the Lady under + Swing16 bars
All LadiesAdvance and retire twice8 bars
All GentsAdvance and retire twice8 bars
All CouplesGents form Left hand star in the centre and place right hand around Partner's waist - Wheel around + Belly to belly turn with Partner8 bars
All CouplesGents form right hand star with left hand around Partner's waist - Wheel around + Belly to belly turn with Partner to face into set8 bars
All CouplesBig Christmas left for 8 bars + Jump to place left foot in on first beat of the next 8 bars + Big Christmas right16 bars
All CouplesSwing Partner8 bars
All LadiesAdvance and retire twice8 bars
All GentsAdvance and retire twice8 bars
All CouplesGents form Left hand star and open ballroom hold with Partner - Wheel around + Belly to belly turn + Right hands across to Wheel back to place16 bars
All CouplesBig Christmas left + Jump to change supporting foot + Big Christmas right16 bars
All CouplesSwing + House the set doubling the last

2 bars

16 bars

Figure 4: Reels 192 bars

All CouplesLower Promenade hold - Lead around + Turn the Lady under + Swing16 bars
1st Top CoupleHouse inside8 bars
Top CouplesLead around clockwise (left first) through own position to meet the Couple on the left a second time8 bars
All CouplesTops with the Side Couple on their left - Right hand star + Left hand star8 bars
All CouplesRemaining in groups of 4 - Little Christmas left [8 bars] + Break and Swing Partner back to place [8 bars]16 bars
2nd Top CoupleHouse inside8 bars
Top CouplesLead around anticlockwise (right first) once + Meet Side Couple on the right8 bars
All CouplesTops with the Side Couple on their right - Right hand star + Left hand star + Little Christmas left + Swing Partner back to place24 bars
1st Side CoupleHouse inside8 bars
Side CouplesLead around anticlockwise (left first) once + Meet Side Couple on the left8 bars
All CouplesSides with the Top Couple on their left - Right hand star + Left hand star + Little Christmas left + Swing Partner back to place24 bars
2nd Side CoupleHouse inside8 bars
Side CouplesLead around anticlockwise (right first) once + Meet Side Couple on the right8 bars
All CouplesTops with the Side Couple on their right - Right hand star + Left hand star + Little Christmas left + Swing Partner back to place + House the set32 bars

Figure 5: Reels 192 bars

In this dance at the end of the Chain the Couples line up forming a Column of 8 dancers with each Lady in front of her Partner in the following order: 1st the Dancing Couple / 2nd the Couple on their left / 3rd the Couple on their right / 4th the Couple opposite - All facing out from the Dancing Couples place.

All CouplesLower Promenade hold - Lead around + Turn the Lady under + Swing16 bars
All Couples (1st Tops)Face Partner - Chain all round Ladies to the left / Gents to the right + Swing Partner one turn in Opposite position + Chain back to place and form Column facing out from 1st Top's position (1st Top Lady, 1st Top Gent, 1st Side Lady, 1st Side Gent, 2nd Side Lady, etc. with 2nd Top Gent last)16 bars
All CouplesLadies slip right / Gents slip left [4 bars] + Slip back passing Partner to form Ladies (on the left) and Gents lines facing across the set8 bars
Lines of fourJoining hands along the lines (and with the next set if possible) - Advance and retire twice8 bars
All CouplesDance back and face Partner [4 bars] + Swing [4 bars]8 bars
All Couples (2nd Tops)Chain around halfway + Swing Partner once + Chain back + Form Column (2nd Top, 2nd Side, 1st Side, 1st Top)16 bars
All CouplesLadies slip right / Gents slip left + Slip back passing Partner to form Ladies and Gents lines8 bars
Lines of fourAdvance and retire twice8 bars
All CouplesDance back and face Partner + Swing8 bars
All Couples (1st Sides)Chain around halfway + Swing Partner once + Chain back + Form Column (1st Sides, 2nd Tops, 1st Tops, 2nd Sides)16 bars
All CouplesLadies slip right / Gents slip left + Slip back passing Partner to form Ladies and Gents lines8 bars
Lines of fourAdvance and retire twice8 bars
All CouplesDance back and face Partner + Swing8 bars
All Couples (2nd Sides)Chain around halfway + Swing Partner once + Chain back + Form Column (2nd Sides, 1st Tops, 2nd Tops, 1st Sides)16 bars
All CouplesLadies slip right / Gents slip left + Slip back passing Partner to form Ladies and Gents lines8 bars
Lines of fourAdvance and retire twice8 bars
All CouplesDance back and face Partner + Swing + House the set16 bars

Notes

Big Christmas (Basket):

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References

Web versions of this set