Ovalflow

Source: Composed by John Sweeney
Formation: Three Couples; Longways; Proper

A1	Set R/L to Partner, falling back slightly; Set R/L to Middles (Middles turning to face the person on their Left) Double Oval: Same-Gender Ends Gypsy each other around the middle person
A2	Middles move out slightly and join in: Single File Circle Left Halfway Partner Cross Over by the Right Shoulder, Wide Turn Single Left
B1	Long Lines go Forward & Back Partner Two Hand Turn - finish ready for...
B2	Grimstock Hey from the Top - Top Four do one extra change to progress

Music:
Mclaughlin's Strathspey or any suitable 32-bar tune. I use the version by Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas, but my dancers prefer it slowed down to around 112 bpm. The coda can be used to honour everyone.

Notes:
A1: Setting back a little allows more room for the two people passing through the middle simultaneously during the Double Oval.

In the Double Oval #1 Man is doing a Gypsy with #3 Man around a stationary #2 Man, the Ladies likewise. #2s can interact by dancing on the spot, making eye contact, spinning, etc. The Double Ovals is a figure from Thomas Wilson's "The Complete System of English Country Dancing" (1815) (page 123). We have yet to find a documented dance with this figure, but, since Wilson's book was a tutorial to allow dancers to create their own dance sequences, it may have been used extensively in that period... or not at all!

The intention is that, once the Single File starts the dancers should keep moving, each move flowing into the next. Make the Turn Singles wide to use up all the music and flow into the Forward & Back; time your Turn so that you flow into the Hey.

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