On the Wallaby Track

A 32 bar Hornpipe for Three Couples
bars	*description*
1 - 8	1^st man dances "solo rights and lefts": 1^st man, giving right hands, change places with 1^stwoman 1^st man, giving left hands, change places with 2^ndwoman 1^st man, giving right hands, change places with 2^ndman 1^st man, giving left hands, turn 1^st woman half way round At the end, first couple retain nearer hands joined.

9 - 12	1^st couple dance across the set between 2^nd couple, separate, and then cast, 1^st man around 2^nd woman and 1^st woman around 2^nd man, back to the men's side of the dance.
13 - 16	2^nd couple dance across the set between 1^st couple, separate, and then cast, 2^nd man around 1^st woman and 2^nd woman around 1^st man, back to the women's side of the dance.

17 - 24	1^st and 2^nd couples, joining nearer hands with partner, set and dance right hands across half way round. All change places with partner by dancing a half turn giving right hands, and then all chase one place clockwise. 1^st couple are now in second place on opposite sides and 2^nd couple are in first place on own side.

25 - 32	1^st couple lead up one place, crossing over, and cast off one place. 1^st couple dance down through 3^rd couple and cast up to second place on own side.

.	Repeat, having passed a couple.

This dance is inscribed to Robert Davidson, Chairman of the Sydney Branch, R.S.C.D.S., 1999 & 2000. For an internet biography, Robert referred to "his patchy employment history and wayward nature". "On the wallaby track" is a strine expression which refers to the Australian swagman going from place to place looking for work.

Suggested Music: Kirk's Hornpipe (trad.) as on "Kardinia Kapers", an album of Scottish Dance Music by David South and his Scottish Dance Band (Dal Segno Music, DSMCD-001)

© January 2002, Martin E. Mulligan

Web edition first posted 28 June 2002
Suggested music amended 08 August 2002