Cumberland Galopede

Source: Traditional?, from Michael Bell; published in English Dance & Song, December 1954 January 1955. Vol XIX. No. 3
Formation: Longways for 4 or 5 Couples; Proper

A1 Long Lines Go Forward & Back; Cross Over
A2 Repeat
B1 Bottom Couple Arch, everyone else dance down through the arch, separate, dance back to your own starting position
B2 Top Couple Swing to the Bottom

Music:
32 bars.

Notes:
This dance was published as part of Keith Uttley's "TEEN-A-PAGE… for younger sets".

I can't find any other references to this dance, so I don't know if it is traditional or was written by Michael Bell or someone else in the 1950s. It may have been sourced from Cumberland, or just named for Cumberland since it was a popular name with dances like Cumberland Square Eight, Cumberland Reel and Cumberland Long Eight.

B1 is unusual in that the lowest couple only have a few steps to take, while the top couple have to go all the way to the bottom and back up the outside to the top.

Of course, in Cumberland it was probably just known as Galopede rather than Cumberland Galopede. It is one of many versions of Galopede. The earliest version I know was the Galopade Country Dance from 1905. Cecil Sharp published a simpler version in The Country Dance Book Part 1. His version is from Warwickshire and was later published in the Community Dances Manul 2 (1949).

Galopede (Warwickshire)

Source: Traditional. The Country Dance Book Part 1 - Second Edition
Formation: Longways - CDM specifies for 4, 5 or 6 Couples; Proper

A1 Long Lines, holding hands or linking elbows, Forwards a Double, Honour Partner on first beat of second bar, Back a Double - Walking Step
Cross Over by Right Shoulder - Walking Step
A2 Repeat
B All: Partner Swing with Change Step (1-2-3 no hop) or Skipping Step
C Top Couple Swing to the Bottom - others move up

Music:
Galopede or any suitable 32 bars - CDM specifies a "rant tune".

Notes:
CDM changes the Walking Step in A1 & A2 to a Double Step (1-2-3-hop) and specifies that the other dancers must clap during C.

A common variant today is for the Top Couple to Gallop to the Bottom instead of Swinging. The Polka is also a good way to get to the bottom. Beware: don't try to travel using a Ballroom-Hold Swing - it doesn't work unless you Polka!


Original page from English Dance & Song, September 1959


Cumberland Galopede

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