Wheatley - Trunkles

The original favourite and now commonly used to open a set. The distinguishing feature is the chorus, which is danced to the delicious E minor B music.

Chorus

All face across the set and, with the arms held sideways at shoulder height and the elbows bent upwards, single step accompanied by backward circling handkerchief movements (imagine slicking your well-greased hair back with two combs simultaneously). The motion is largely at the wrist and the arms should be kept up, right through into the second phase, where the arms are kept still, while the stepping changes to closed sidesteps.

The trick here is to keep the upper half of the body as still as possible, facing across the set, while your legs do all the dancing. I hardly need to emphasise the importance of starting on the correct foot (ie. the right) if this second half is not to descend immediately into the lowest farce.

I very much doubt if the dance would have proved so popular without the tremendous tune, but it does demonstrate the palpable truth that the dances and tunes are equally important.

Figures

1. Foot Up (short intro, half-length figure)
2. Hey
3. Rounds
4. Double Hey
5. Caper Rounds and All-In

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© Cardiff Morris 1996