The Mazurka Set

The Mazurka Set.  Copyright © 1984, 1999 Brooks Academy.

Mazurka Set - Figure 1

Figure 1 - Little Christmas Reels - 144 bars
Opening Position: All dancers face to centre, joining hands in a circle.
A Circle Advance and retire twice. 8 bars
B Figure (a)  SWING:  All four couples swing in place (8 bars).

(b)  HOUSE:  1ST TOPS dance around the house inside (8 bars).

(c)  LITTLE CHRISTMAS:  Couple who have danced house turn to couple on their left, and form a tight circle with them, arms behind each other’s backs.  The dance in a circle clockwise, and the other two couples do likewise (8 bars).

(d)  HOUSE:  All four couples dance house around (8 bars).

 32 bars
C Figure Repeat B.  [!ST SIDES dance house at (b)].  32 bars
D Figure Repeat B.  [2ND TOPS dance house at (b)]. 32 bars
E Figure Repeat B.  [2ND SIDES dance house at (b)].  Last two bars of final house around should be doubled. i.e. The ladies instead of dancing normally (R L R - L R L - R) would dance: R - L - R - L - R.  The gents, instead of dancing normally (L R L - R L R - L) would dance: L - R - L - R - L. 32 bars

Mazurka Set - Figure 2

Figure 2 - Advance & Retire Reels - 144 bars
Opening Position: All dancers face to centre, joining hands in a circle.
A Circle Advance and retire twice. 8 bars
B Figure (a)  SWING:  All four couples swing in place (8 bars).

(b)  HOUSE:  1ST TOPS dance around the house inside (8 bars).

(c) ADVANCE & RETIRE:  The couples who have danced house face    the couple to their left.  These two couples advance towards each other retire, twice.  The other two couples do likewise. 8 bars.

(d)  HOUSE:  All four couples dance house around (8 bars).

 32 bars
C Figure Repeat B.  [1ST SIDES dance house at (b)].  32 bars
D Figure Repeat B.  [2ND TOPS dance house at (b)]. 32 bars
E Figure Last two bars of final house around should be doubled, as in first figure. 32 bars

Mazurka Set - Figure 3

Figure 3 - High Gates Reels - 144 bars
Opening Position: All dancers face to centre, joining hands in a circle.
A Circle Advance and retire twice. 8 bars
B Figure (a)  SWING:  All four couples swing in place (8 bars).

(b)  HOUSE:  1ST TOPS dance around the house inside (8 bars).

(c)  HIGH GATES:  The gent of the couple who have danced house raises    his partner’s right hand with his left hand and reaches under the raised arms   with his right hand to take the right hand of the lady from the couple to    their left and bring her through.  (She keeps dancing around 1st tops    couple anti-clockwise until it is her turn to pass through again.

Then 1st tops lady passes under her partner’s right arm, followed by her partner.  Dancing around, 1st tops lady again passes under her partner’s    right arm, followed by her partner.  Finally the lady from the other couple, still holding the hand of the 1st tops gent, passes under the gent’s left, and lady’s right arms of 1st tops couple.

Having danced completely around 1st tops she should pass through this time in the opposite direction to the first time, heading back towards her partner (8 bars).

(d)  HOUSE:  All four couples dance house around (8 bars).

 32 bars
C Figure Repeat B.  [!ST SIDES dance house at (b)].  32 bars
D Figure Repeat B.  [2ND TOPS dance house at (b)]. 32 bars
E Figure Repeat B.  [2ND SIDES dance house at (b)].  The last two bars of final house around should be doubled, as in first figure. 32 bars

Mazurka Set - Figure 4

Figure 4 - Swing Reels - 128 bars
Opening Position: All dancers face to centre, joining hands in a circle.
A Circle Advance and retire twice. 8 bars
B Figure (a)  SWING:  All four couples swing in place (8 bars).

(b)  HOUSE:  1ST TOPS dance around the house inside (8 bars).

(c)  SWING:  1ST & 2ND TOPS GENTS swing with all four ladies in turn, starting with the ladies to their left.  All four couples swing for last 8 bars (32 bars).

(d)  HOUSE:  All four couples dance house around (8 bars).

 56 bars
C Figure Repeat B.  [SIDE COUPLES & SIDE GENTS dance the movements at (b) and (c)].  The last two bars of final house around should be doubled, as in first figure. 56 bars

Mazurka Set - Figure 5

Figure 5 - Chain Reels - 176 bars
Opening Position: All dancers face to centre, joining hands in a circle.
A Circle Advance and retire twice. 8 bars
B Figure (a)  SWING:  All four couples swing in place (8 bars).

(b)  HOUSE:  1ST TOPS dance around the house inside (8 bars).

(c)  CHAIN:  Ladies dancing clockwise, and gents anti-clockwise, all dancers chain around, starting at their own partners with right hands, until they reach their own places again and swing in place to finish (16 bars).

(d)  HOUSE:  All four couples dance house around (8 bars).

 40 bars
C Figure Repeat B.  [1ST SIDES dance house at (b)].  40 bars
D Figure Repeat B.  [2ND TOPS dance house at (b)]. 40 bars
E Figure Repeat B.  [2ND SIDES dance house at (b)].  The last two bars of final house around should be doubled, as in first figure. 40 bars

Mazurka Set - Figure 6

Figure 6 - Face The Wall Reels - 208 bars
Opening Position: All dancers face to centre, joining hands in a circle.
A Circle Advance and retire twice. 8 bars
B Figure (a)  SWING:  All four couples swing in place.   8 bars

(b)  HOUSE & LINE-UP:  1ST TOPS and the couple to their left (1ST    SIDES) dance house around each other and end up facing out of the set in 1st tops direction, 1st tops first and 1st sides behind them.  (8 bars)  The other two couples repeat this movement and end up lined up behind the first two couples (8 bars).  16 bars.

Staring from the couple in whose direction the line is facing, the other three   couples should always be lined up behind them in the order that they come as you go clockwise around the set from that couple, gents on the left,    ladies on the right.

(c)  ARCH:  Gents circle off to the left, and ladies to the right, making a tight circle.  They pass through their starting positions once and go  around again.  When the leading couple come around to the starting position the second time they face each other and form an arch with their arms.  (8 bars).  16 bars.

(d)  HOUSE:  All four couples dance house around (8 bars).

 48 bars
C Figure Repeat B.  [1ST SIDES & 2ND TOPS dance house at (b)].  Line faces out of set in direction of 1st sides. 48 bars
D Figure Repeat B.  [2ND TOPS & 2ND SIDES dance house at (b)].  Line faces out of set in direction of 2nd tops. 48 bars
E Figure Repeat B.  [2ND SIDES & 1ST TOPS dance house at (b)].  Line faces out of set in direction of 2nd sides.  The last two bars of final house around should be doubled, as in first figure. 48 bars