John Sweeney's Dances

A diverse and motley collection of Terpsichorean intricacies and perambulations, inspired by archaic tomes and palimpsests, filtered through wild imaginings to bring you joy.

Please note: These are NOT the type of dances that we do at Barn Dances/Ceilidhs. These are more interesting/challenging dances suitable for regular dance clubs. If you want to try dances like these then please come along to any of our Sunday afternoon or Tuesday afternoon sessions if you are in Kent.

Contra and Longways dances are all Duple Minor unless stated otherwise. "Improper" is short for "First Couples Improper".

Dance Name	Composer	Formation	Notes
Allie's Man Added Nov 8 2023	John Sweeney	Contra; Improper	A dance for practising American technique and styling - see the notes.
Another Knole Park Added August 16 2018	John Sweeney	Longways Improper	A version of Knole Park, made easier for beginners.
Apples & Ice Cream Added Nov 8 2023	John Sweeney	Contra; Improper	Rory O'Mores, Swing Through & Petronella.
Balancing Act Added May 8 2018	John Sweeney	Contra; Becket	Easy Wave Dance: Pass the Ocean, Swing Through, Extend.
Big Wheel Added May 13 2024	John Sweeney	Four Couples; Longways	Easy dance with a rotating line of eight.
Bombast One Added November 18 2019	John Sweeney	Longways; Improper	A vey interesting interlocking figure called a Bombast!
Calliope Added July 2 2018	John Sweeney	Circle Mixer	California Twirls, Lasso the Man, Grand Petronella, Roll the Lady.
Cantia Canter Added March 23 2024	John Sweeney	Sicilian Circle	Galloping around the big circle, Zig-Zag to progress.
The Cantia Rose Added August 19 2024	John Sweeney	Five Couples in a Circle - Waltz Time	Grand Blossoms, Chevrons, Open Ladies' Chains.
Chain 'n' Hey	John Sweeney	Contra; Becket	An easy contra for practising Ladies' Chains and Heys.
Cheekbone City Added May 8 2018	John Sweeney	Contra; Improper	Easy dance with lots of Petronellas.
Circular Mirrors Added Jan 15 2020	John Sweeney	Longways; Improper; Waltz	A flowing dance in waltz time.
Cumberland Contra	John Sweeney	Contra; Improper; Double Progression — 64 bars	The dance is based on Cumberland Square Eight, using all the figures in a contra dance.
Dargason 21	John Sweeney	Four couples in a single line	The dance is based on Dargason, but re-choreographed for the 21st Century so that most people are moving most of the time.
David's Jig Added Nov 8 2023	John Sweeney	Circle Mixer	An easy dance with an opportunity for some footwork.
Demon's Maggot	John Sweeney	Longways; Improper	A duple minor dance where the A music cycles through Up a Double, Siding, Arming.
Diver's Delight Added May 8 2018	John Sweeney	Sicilian Circle	Dip 'n' Dives, Gallops and Inside Baskets.
Dixie Doo-Dah	John Sweeney	Contra; Improper	An easy contra dance with a Dixie Twirl.
The Dolphin's F8 Added July 2 2018	John Sweeney	Longways; Improper; (Waltz)	An easy dance with a Dolphin Hey and a Figure Eight.
Dopeca	John Sweeney	Contra; Improper	An easy contra dance with lots of Petronellas.
DosiAll Added July 9 2018	John Sweeney	Contra; Becket	A fun dance with four-person Dosidos.
DosiMow Added March 3 2024	John Sweeney	Sicilian Circle	A ceilidh dance with Mow the Wheat and Dosido as a Couple.
DosiWhat? Added July 9 2018	John Sweeney	Contra; Becket	"Dosido" has been used to mean many completely different moves; this dance has three of them!
Duck!	John Sweeney	Contra; Improper; Double Progression	An easy no-swing contra.
Duo Shapes Added May 26 2020	John & Karen Sweeney	One or Two Dancers	A Lockdown Dance with interesting patterns.
The Exchange Swing Added July 9 2018	John Sweeney	Circle Mixer	A simple dance that is mainly for practice at swinging and at ending with the man on the left, lady on the right.
F-Lock Updated Dec 7 2015	John Sweeney	Five in a Circle (Five Assorted Dancers)	A fun, challenging dance with Shoot the Owl, Devil's Backbone and a five-person Basket.
Finding Your Balance	John Sweeney	Contra; Becket (CW)	An easy dance for teaching four changes.
Farewell To The Taliban Added Nov 8 2023	John Sweeney	Contra; Improper	An easy contra with lots of simple action.
Fivepenny Piece Added Nov 8 2023	John Sweeney	Five Couple Square - One Couple in the Middle	Grimstock Hey, Handy Hand Stars, Arching to progress.
FlutterRing Added May 8 2018	John Sweeney	Contra; Becket	Easy dance with a Flutterwheel.
Four Jolly Sheepskins	John Sweeney	Three Couples; Proper	A simple Playford style dance with lots of Sheepskin Heys.
Four Light Winds Added May 8 2018	John Sweeney	Three Couples; Longways; Proper	A easy setting for Pat Shaw's Four Winds move.
Four Squared Added April 25 2024	John Sweeney	Double Contra - Mescolanza - Four Facing Four	A Double Contra with a Grand Square.
Galway Swing Added July 9 2018	John Sweeney	Contra; Improper	Same gender swings, using a great swing variant.
Girls of Oakhill Added July 2 2018	John Sweeney	Contra; Improper	A version of Boys of Oakhill with a smoother entry to the Gallops.
Grapevine Jig II Added July 9 2018	John Sweeney	Contra; Improper	Grapevine steps in long lines, with an easier ending than the original.
Gypsy A Trois	John Sweeney	Three Couples in a Circle	With a DosiAll — a three person Dosido!
Hazlitt Meltdown Added May 8 2018	John Sweeney	Circle Mixer	An easy dance with a Gypsy Hey.
Hey Down Added May 8 2018	John Sweeney	Longways; Improper	An easy dance with Heys for Three across the set.
Hey! That's My Slice Added July 2 2018	John Sweeney	Three Couples; Longways; Proper	Rare and interesting moves!
The Honking Swan King Added Nov 8 2023	John Sweeney	Contra; Improper	A contra dance with a Gypsy flowing into a Gypsy.
Hothfield Hey Added July 9 2018	John Sweeney	Contra; Improper	An easy no-swing contra.
A Hothfield Welcome Added Nov 8 2023	John Sweeney	Sicilian Circle	A simple ceilidh dance with clapping to start the evening.
Insectitwirl Added Nov 8 2023	John Sweeney	Circle Mixer	California Twirls, Box the Gnats and Swat the Fleas.
Irish New Year Added July 2 2018	John Sweeney	Contra; Improper	Box Circulates with an easy progression.
The Jasoomian Jaunt Added August 25 2024	John Sweeney	Sicilian Circle	Ladies' Chains flowing into Mad Robins and a Dosido as a Couple.
Karen's Parrot	John Sweeney	Longways; Proper	Double Figure Eights and North Country Ladies' Chain.
KJ's Birthday Waltz Added July 9 2018	John Sweeney, Karen Sweeney & Lani Graham	Three Dancers in a Circle; Waltz	Some rare and interesting moves.
The Knightrider Waltz Added Nov 8 2023	John Sweeney	Longways; Becket; Waltz	A flowing dance with Chevrons, Chains, and Heys.
Life is But A Melancholy Flower	John Sweeney	Contra; Improper	A lively dance with gallops and petronallas.
Loop the Loop	John Sweeney	Longways; Proper	A simple Playford style dance with some modern moves.
Lover's Waltz Added May 8 2018	John & Karen Sweeney	Three Couples in a Circle; Waltz	A waltz-time dance with some interesting moves.
The Mad Gypsy	John Sweeney	Contra; Becket (CW)	A contra with no swing.
May the Serpent Be With You Added May 1 2023	John Sweeney	Double Contra - Mescolanza - Four Facing Four	This dance, with its Serpentine Hey, was the winner of the "Dance-writing Competition" at May Heydays April 2023.
Maybe We Can Hey This Way Added May 4 2022	John Sweeney	Three Couples; Longways; Proper	Interesting moves: Hey for six across the set, Double Ovals and Dolphin Hey.
Morrford	John Sweeney	Three Couples; Longways; Proper	A simple Playford style dance with Heys on the Ends.
Murry 21 Added July 2 2018	John Sweeney	Square	A pre-Playford Square Dance re-cast into a modern style.
Newington Applause Added July 5 2023	John Sweeney	Sicilian Circle	An easy barn dance with clapping.
Not So Solitary Added Nov 8 2023	John Sweeney	Nine dancers in a 3 x 3 grid	Lots of Heys!
Ovalflow Added Mar 17 2024	John Sweeney	Three Couples; Longways; Proper	A flowing dance with a Double Oval and a Grimstock Hey.
Pa' Bailar III	John Sweeney	Circle Mixer	Mirror Grapevines with Latin styling.
The Pattern Unfolds Added July 12 2018	John Sweeney	Contra; Becket	Unfolding a circle to a line using a modified Half a Slice.
The Pepper Shuffle Added January 2 2020	John Sweeney	Becket Sicilian Circle	Shuttles, Draw Possettes and Travelling Right Hand High and Left Hand Lows.
Pestchye	John Sweeney	Contra; Becket (CW)	A no-swing contra dance with Petronellas and Ladies' Chains.
Plain Hamburger Added May 8 2018	John Sweeney	Longways; Improper	A fun dance using Pat Shaw's Double Arch Dosido.
Queen of Diamonds Added Dec 11 2023	John Sweeney	Four dancers in a diamond; Waltz	A challenging, flowing waltz-time dance with a Dolphin Hey.
Quintilinear Added July 2 2018	John Sweeney	Five Assorted Dancers, in a Line	A fun dance with a Double Dolphin Hey and a Traveling Thread the Needle.
Rogue's March Added May 8 2018	John Sweeney	Longways; Improper	The first half of Devil's Dream, but with a different ending.
Rolling Waves	John Sweeney	Circle Mixer	Roll-Aways and Alamo Waves.
Rotafl	John Sweeney	Contra; Becket	A flowing, no-swing contra dance.
Scado Added April 26 2019	John Sweeney	Three Couples; Longways; Proper	A lively dance with a couple of unusual moves.
Saint John's #4 Added May 8 2018	John Sweeney	Square	A pre-Playford Square Dance re-cast into a modern style.
Serendipitous Seven Added March 12 2023	John Sweeney	Circle Mixer	An interesting variant of Lucky Seven.
Serene Seven Added Nov 8 2023	John Sweeney	Seven Couples in a "Square" (one in the middle)	One of the easier seven-couple dances.
The Shuttle Flies Out Added July 12 2018	John Sweeney	Longways; Improper	A longways dance with the Shuttle movement from Picking Up Sticks.
Sicilian Ladies Added Nov 8 2023	John Sweeney	Sicilian Circle	A simple, standard Sicilian Circle to practise Ladies' Chains and Swing & Change.
Sides Of Mutton Added April 9 2020	John Sweeney	A Solo Dance	Sheepskin Heys and Siding Variations for those alone in Coronavirus Lockdown.
Six Jerseys Reel Added Nov 8 2023	John Sweeney	Three Couples; Longways; Proper	Tieing bootlaces and counter-rotating circles.
The Slithy Dance	John Sweeney	Longways; Becket; Double Progression	A fun, no-swing dance with the whole set setting and spinning right.
The Slithy Serpent Added July 2 2018	John Sweeney	Double Contra (Four Face Four)	A Mescolanza with a Serpentine Hey.
Solo Shapes Added May 26 2020	John & Karen Sweeney	One or Two Dancers	A Lockdown Dance with interesting patterns.
Steps Back In Time Added April 14 2020	John Sweeney	A Solo Dance, or Two Dancers	Original Petronellas and Stepping Variants for those alone in Coronavirus Lockdown.
Sun Skip Added April 17 2023	John Sweeney	Three Couples in a Circle	Petronellas and Allemande Orbits.
There & Back Again Added June 7 2024	John Sweeney	Circle Mixer	A lively, easy dance with opportunities for footwork..
To Move or Not to Move Added July 12 2018	John Sweeney	Contra; Becket	An easy contra to practise Right & Left Throughs and Ladies' Chains.
Training Wheels Added May 8 2018	John Sweeney	Contra; Improper	Easy Down-the-Hall dance with a Gate.
Trenchmore Added May 4 2022	John Sweeney	Longways; Proper; Seven Couples is best, but any number will work	1551 dance with Dip 'n' Dive and Strip the Willow.
Tricylic Updated Jun 21 2016	John Sweeney	Three Dancers in a Circle	A fun dance with Travelling Right-Hand High, Left-Hand Lows and a three-person Basket.
Trip to Hazlitt New Dec 7 2015	John Sweeney	Contra; Improper	An easy, flowing dance with a couples Weave the Line and a Mad Robin.
Trip to Willesborough Added July 2 2018	John Sweeney	Contra; Improper	Easy Contra with Tidal and Ocean Waves.
Turquoise Waltz Added May 8 2018	John Sweeney	Longways; Improper; Waltz	A flowing waltz-time dance with a Celtic Hey.
Twirl & Go Added Nov 8 2023	John Sweeney	Circle Mixer	An easy dance to practise California Twirls.
Two Doors Down Added Nov 8 2023	John Sweeney	Three Couples; Longways; Proper	Little Back Door (Back Door Key) chase figures.
Two & Four Added July 12 2018	John Sweeney	Circle Mixer	Rollaways, Rory O'Mores and Swing Throughs.
Up Tails All Round	John Sweeney	Five Couples in a Circle	An updated version of the 1650 dance with more couples active more of the time.
Virginia Reel Circle Mixer #24 Added July 12 2018	John Sweeney	Circle Mixer	An easy dance for beginnners.
Wake Up Added Nov 8 2023	John Sweeney	Three Couple; Longways; Proper	Tieing Bootlaces and three-person Stars.
Waltz Country Dance Added July 2 2018	John Sweeney	Sicilian Circle; Waltz	The traditional dance, with a different ending to make the dance easier for non-waltzers.
Wee Willie II Updated Nov 6 2017	John Sweeney	Four Couples; Longways; Proper	Heel & Toe, Gallop, Zig-Zag Poussette.
Whole Hannikin	John Sweeney	Longways; Proper or any gender	32-bar version of Halfe Hannikin.
Will-o'-the-Wisp Added May 8 2018	John Sweeney	Five Dancers in a Quincunx	Fun dance where the Wisp gets to dance all over the place!
The Winsome Waltz Added Nov 5 2023	John & Karen Sweeney	Circle Mixer; Waltz	Wheels, Twirls and a Gypsy Hey

Dances from English Dance & Song have been moved to a new page.

Feedback is very welcome on any aspect of these dances or Web pages.

Please contact John Sweeney with your comments.