Oh! Susanna/O Susannah

Source: Traditional; provided by Keith Uttley; published in English Dance & Song, July/August 1956. Vol XX. No. 6
Formation: Square

A1	Head Couples go out to the Right, Circle Up Four Head Men go Home Alone (leave Lines of Three at the Sides) (8) Forward Six and Six Fall Back; Lonesome Men Go Forward & Back (8)
A2	Forward Six and Six Fall Back; Lonesome Men Cross Over (8) - Men check your new home Corner Swing (8) - this is your New Partner
B1	Promenade to Men’s New Home (16) - singing
B2	Partner Swing (8)
	The Head Men have swapped places; Ladies have moved one place to the Right Repeat for the Heads, then twice for the Sides

Music:
"Oh! Susanna" is a minstrel song by Stephen Foster (1826-1864), first published in 1848. It is among the most popular American songs ever written. So, of course there are multiple dances to this tune. The most common is a simple circle mixer with a Grand Chain.

The way I have written it above, the music is 32 beats for the Figure using the A Music twice, 16 beats for the Promenade, with everyone singing the chorus, using the B music, then an 8 beat bridge, repeating the last part of the B music, for the Swing. This is how it is often played for the song.

Notes:
To fit in with the tune, as described above, the Circle to a Line needs to be done quickly, and the Forward & Backs done overlapped. This is my interpretation of the timings. If you have a live band who can adjust the number of As and Bs easily then there are other ways to do it.

Original page from English Dance & Song, July/August 1956

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