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Honeywell Circle
Author: Alan WilsonFormation: Big circle, women on partner's right, mixer
Difficulty: 1
Style: English
| A1: | All circle left 8 steps and right 8 steps. |
| A2: | Take ballroom hold and chassé 2 steps in, clap 3 times; chassé 2 steps out, clap 3 times. |
| B1: | Arm right with partner once round; arm left with partner one and a half times to progress. |
| B2: | Balance and swing your new partner. |
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Further information from Bob Barrett in 2026:
I have used this dance occasionally, having got the instructions from barndances.org.uk. I always found the progression at B1 rather unsatisfactory. Why is it necessary to arm left your neighbour an exact one and a half times if you are just going to balance and swing with them anyway?
I was browsing in the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library and found an earlier text that gave the answer. It seems that the right and left arm turns should both be with your own partner (not partner then neighbour). This makes sense, as it allows you to progress to a new partner beyond the current one to balance and swing.
Unfortunately, I can't remember what book it was in. I think it may have been the Radio 2 book to accompany a series with Eddie Upton.
It also said the dance was by Alan Wilson and won first prize in a competition at Whitby in 1973.
Music: 32-bar jigs/reels
Thumbnail: Circles, chassé in and clap, ditto out, arm-turn partner, balance and swing new partner