MISS M. BLACKBURNE Presents PICKING UP STICKS (continued).

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 235, 3 October 1936, Page 25 (Supplement)

MISS M. BLACKBURNE Presents PICKING UP STICKS (continued).

CHORUS 2 (Continued). —The second part of the chorus is very like the first, only the "ends" are reversed. Bars 1-2: The 3rd couple join both hands and "slip up" four steps, while the 2nd couple "slip down" four steps, both couples thus changing places. Simultaneously the Ist couple, with a skipping step, cross, passing right shoulders, ready to "cast" towards the "bottom" of the set. Bars 3-4: The 2nd couple now join both hands and "slip up" four steps, while the 3rd couple drop slightly back and "slip down" four steps, all having returned to their original places. Meanwhile the Ist couple have been skipping to the "bottom" of the set. Bars 5-8: The 2nd and 3rd couples repeat the movements of the previous four bars, and the Ist couple, now at the "bottom," cross, passing right shoulders, and "cast" back to their original position at the top of the set. The round trip of the "ones" occupies 16 counts or skipping steps. VERSE 3. Music played through once. Bars 1-4: Partners all "arm right." Bars 5-8: All "arm left."

CHORUS 3 Music played through six times. This chorus consists of what is known as the "Sheepskin Hey." It is danced first by the men round the three women, then by the women round the men. while the latter stand still. At the commencement the Ist dancer leads, then the 3rd takes a turn, next the 2nd, and, finally, the Ist becomes the top or the line again. It

is done as follows, using a skipping step throughout:— The Ist man, followed b> the 2nd and 3rd, "heys" (threads) through the women, who are standing still. He passes the front oi the Ist woman (see photograph No. 35), cuts between her and the 2nd, and winds in between the latter and the 3rd, passing completely round this woman

clockwise and facing "up" the set. The 2nd man, following just behind, covers the same track in every detail, but the 3rd man, when he comes to the 2nd woman, decides to "cheat" and circles completely round her counterclockwise and, facing "up,* becomes the leader. (Photograph 36a shows the 3rd man doing the "cheat." Photograph 36b shows the 3rd man well in the . lead, having "cheated" successfully.) The 3rd man, now the leader, passes between the 2nd and Ist women, loops round the, Ist, and begins the threading, or "heying" to the bottom, followed by the Ist and 2nd men.

The 2nd man, finding himself last, decides to "cheat," and instead of following the 3rd and Ist men in their journey round the 3rd woman he passes counter-clockwise round the centre woman, facing "top,"

dances between the 2nd and Ist women, passes round her and leads the "hey," followed by the other two men, to the "bottom" of the set. Finally the Ist man, now the tail of the line, decides to "cheat" and passes counter-clockwise round the middle woman, once more becoming leader of the three, who are again back in their original order. He passes between the 2nd and Ist women to the "top," passes outside the latter, turns to the right, and "casts" without threading right down to the bottom and up to the top, so that each man is once again beside his own partner.

When learning to do the "Sheepskin Hey" walk it through slowly first and later do it with the proper "skip" step. The women now repeat exactly the same movement, threading in and out between the stationary men. Photograph No. 37 shows the 3rd woman leading to the front after the "cheat," while No. 38 shows the 2nd woman, now leader, nearing the "bottom"" of the set. It will be noticed that in the 2nd and final "lead" taken by the Ist woman, she will pass .outside the Ist man and turn to the left (not right) and skip down to the "bottom" of the set and then to the "top," also in the "cheat" the last woman will pass clockwise (not counter-clockwise) round the centre man. NOTE.—Do try to get this dance perfect. You will enjoy it immensely if you do, and soon begin to wonder why you thought it difficult at first.