Karen’s Parrot

Notes

1

North Country Ladies' Chain: (Important: The man does not turn at all Ladies pull by right and offer left to the man. The man steps to the right and raises his left hand; the lady backs under it to end facing the same way as the man, slightly behind him, on his left. The man lowers his left hand and steps to his left, passing the lady's left hand from his left hand to his right hand behind his back. As he does this the lady steps to her right and forward to stand beside him. They end up as a couple with the man on the left, lady on the right.

 

 

 

 

2

John says "When teaching A1 to less experienced dancers I get the 1s to dance a full figure eight then get the 2s to cast up around the 1s and cross over through them to end in their partner's place. Now that they know where they are going I explain that we don't have enough music so they have to start their cast when I tell them - halfway through the 1s full figure eight. 2s switch back and we try the actual figure."

 

 

 

 

3

John recommends 'The Recruiting officer; Quick Step in the Battle of Prague; Dr Fauster's Tumblers' track on Momentum's album Interesting Times

 

 

 

 

4

John says "The first time I called this dance and I said "figure eight" my wife, Karen, misheard me and started imitating a parrot saying, 'Pieces of eight, pieces of eight. So the dance became 'Karen's Parrot'!"