Dancing Round the Maypole

Book and CD set, £20

Maypole and country dance instruction manual 

This 96-page book has been used by thousands of schools across the country since it was first published in 1999 (current revised edition, 2004) and continues to be extremely popular.

Contents include instructions for 10 maypole dance figures, a ribbon dance and 12 country dances, all fully illustrated with photographs and diagrams, and a teaching script for the absolute beginner.

The book also contains a wealth of helpful tips and suggestions; historical information and background to the dances; tunes for the dances; and full instructions on how to make your own wooden maypole, as well as advice on buying ready-made maypoles.

Although written with teachers in mind, this book is also appropriate for dance leaders working with groups of all ages in many community contexts as well as with children and young people in schools. Maypole dancing is suitable and enjoyable for children and adults of all ages from around 5 years up.

The book is accompanied by a CD of music specially chosen to support the teaching of the dances.

Maypole dance figures included in the book are:

Barber’s Pole; Single Plait; Double Plait; Spider’s Web; Gypsy’s Tent; Three in Hand; The Chrysanthemum; The Suttlecock; Roundabout; Accumulator; Ribbon dancing without a maypole

Country dances included are:

The Swing; Black Jack; French Weeding; Green Stockings; Lucky Seven; Circassian Circle; Russian Ballet; Tom Pate; Ffarwel Marian; Pines Parade; Ideal Schottische; Danish Double Quadrille; Wring Out the Dishrag

Music on the accompanying CD by Light Fantastic & Devil Among The Tailors

Helen Morris; Vic Godrich; Leigh Dyer; Rachel Taylor; David Bradley

CD tracks are:

1. Introduction to Traditional Music Structures  
2. Entrance: May Day: Miss McLeod's 
3. Taking the Ribbons: Speed the Plough 
4. Barber's Pole: Sweets of May 
5. Single or Double Plait In and Out the Windows: Kitty McGee 
6. Spider's Web: Twenty Ninth of May 
7. Gypsy's Tent: Haste to the Wedding, Hundred Pipers 
8. Three in Hand: Hey Ding a Ding, Moll O' the Wood 
9.  Additional Maypole Music: Merry Month of May 
10.  Lead off: May Day: Miss McLeod's
11. Black Jack: Black Jack 
12. French Wedding: La Bastringue, Les Fraises et les Framboises 
13. Green Stockings: New Rigged Ship, Pet of the Pipers 
14. Lucky Seven: Ap Shenkin, The Flight, The Quaker's Wife 
15. Circassian Circle: Good Humour, The Irish Washerwoman 
16. Russian Ballet: Lady Hepburn Belches, The British Grenadiers 
17. Tom Pate: The Nutting Girl, The Tempest 
18. Ffarwel Marion: The Greenwood Tree, Cease your Funning 
19. Pines Parade: Heel and Toe Polka, Hunt the Squirrel 
20. Ideal Schottische: Shetland Polka, Laddie 
21. Danish Double Quadrille: Double Quadrille, Dublebska Polka, Honey Harbour, Double Quadrille 
22. Wring Out the Dishrag: Hestleyside Ride, Liverpool Hornpipe 

Book and CD can be bought as separate items:

Dancing Round the Maypole Book

Dancing Round the Maypole CD

Written by Diana Campbell Jewitt (with input from Chris Turner)

ISBN: 978-0-85418-189-6

EDCD02