Valiant Soldier
Taken from the dancing of Hunters Moon and Paradise Islanders, with a few tweaks of our own. The Paradise Islanders call it Uncle Ned, and use it to end their local mummer’s play.
The Dance
Printer friendly dance instructions.
This is a dance for four dancers.
General rules of thumb apply: right foot forward first, single step throughout unless otherwise stated.
Stick rests on right shoulder when not otherwise in use.
Walk on (AB)
| Count | Moves |
|---|---|
| 1–32 | Dancers line up in an order of 1,3,4,2. Hold sticks near the top with the butt resting vertically on the ground. |
| Tap sticks in unison as you walk forward. Squire leads dancers onto the dance area, ending by walking in a clockwise circle to get everyone into place in a square, facing their partner. |
Tips and Butts (A)
No stepping for this figure.
| Count | Moves |
|---|---|
| 1–4 | Holding the middle of the stick in your right hand, turn in crisply to face your opposite (1 should face 3, 2 faces 4). |
| Tap the tip of the stick with the person facing you, then tap the butts together. | |
| Repeat. | |
| 5–8 | Turn in to face your partner (1 faces 2, 3 faces 4). |
| Tips and butts, tips and butts. | |
| 9–12 | Face opposite. Tips and butts, tips and butts. |
| 13–16 | Face partner. Tips and butts, tips and butts. |
Hey (B)
| Count | Moves |
|---|---|
| 1–12 | Meet right shoulders with partner to make a line along the centre of the set and immediately turn right, everyone facing partners in a line. |
| Do a hey of four along the set for a total count of 12 steps, passing alternate shoulders, first past right and then left, right left and so on. When you are on your own at the end of the set, do a left turn of 180 degrees back into the line, instead of passing a left shoulder. | |
| End up in a straight line in the position where you started the hey. | |
| 13–14 | Two steps on the spot, making sure the line is straight. |
| 15–16 | Stand still while striking the stick twice to the ground on your right. |
Sticking (A)
No stepping in this figure.
| Count | Moves |
|---|---|
| 1–16 | Stand facing partner with your feet planted firmly, shoulder width apart. |
| Hold the bottom of the stick firmly in both hands. | |
| Clash sticks 16 times forehand/backhand, alternating right to left and left to right. |
Swing (B)
| Count | Moves |
|---|---|
| 1–4 | Hold your stick in your left hand, tip resting on your left shoulder. Swing your partner one and a quarter turns clockwise with your right arm around your partner’s waist. |
| 5–8 | Spin out, doing a solo clockwise turn to follow on from the swing, and dance 4 steps, including the spin, to the farthest reach of your partner’s side of the dance. |
| 9–12 | On the first count, do a right hand turn on the spot and, with a strong positive movement, take four steps back into line. |
| 13–16 | Swing three fast steps with your partner for one full turn, move back into place in the square set and turn right, bringing your stick to your right hand ready to begin the dance again. |
Do the whole dance three times in total. At the end, raise your stick into the air and yell.