SCA Dance Cheat Sheets

Gathering Peascods

Source: Playford (1651), TPB.

Setting: A circle of couples.

Version: 1.1

Verse:

 1- 4  8 slip steps to the left,
 5- 6  turn single.
 7-12  8 slip steps to the right, turn single.

Chorus:

13-18  Men go in, take hands, slip left around and go back out.
19-24  Women do the same, returning to their partner.
25-26  Men double forward and clap,
27-28  women double forward and clap while men go back to place,
29-30  men double forward and don't clap while women return to place,
31-32  men return to place, turning single as they do so.
33-40  Repeat forward/back with women going in first.

Verse:

 1- 4  Side right,
 5- 6  turn single.
 7-10  Side left,
11-12  turn single.

Chorus:

13-40  Women in first, then men.

Verse:

 1- 4  Arm right,
 5- 6  turn single.
 7-10  Arm left,
11-12  turn single.

Chorus:

13-40  Men in first, then women.

Discussion:

In the 1670 Playford edition, the beginning is given as ``Go all 2 doubles round,'' but the SCA generally follows Cecil Sharp in using a slipping circle. Note that the slipping circle in chorus bars 13-18 does not need to go any particular distance around the circle; the women then circle for as long as they men do, so it is easy for the women to catch up with their partners by bar 24.

Playford is not totally clear about whether or not the 3rd clap should be done. Apparently it is done in some Kingdoms, but it isn't usually done in Eastern Rite kingdoms.