Twt Hill

[ This article appeared in volume 3 of the Letter of Dance. ]

Square for four

Composed by M. Sion Andreas o Wynedd, Dec. 1991
Done to the music of Newcastle

It never fails. When the call goes out to set up for a four-couple Playford square dance, there is always a partial set left out. This dance, as Syon Park before it, is meant to give four of those people something to do while everybody else is doing the larger dance.

The name Twt Hill is a play on Newcastle. In Wales, the old Norman mottes are usually referred to as "Twt Hill." So in this case we have a smaller version of a larger dance named for a smaller (and older) form of a castle.

I	A1	Men double forward to meet and fall back the same. Men set to their own, and set to the other.
	A2	Ladies as much.
	B2	Men arm right with their own and then left with each other, so falling back to place.
	B2	Ladies arm right with their own, and then left with each other, so falling back to place.
II	A1	Sides all with your own and fall into their place.
	A2	As much with the next.
	B1	Lead your own out a double and back in the same. Pass through the other couple and turn to face your corner and so honour.
	B2	Lead your corner out a double and back in the same. Pass through the other couple and turn to face your partner and so honour.
III	A1	Arms all with your own and a half more on the last and so fall into their place.
	A2	As much with the next.
	B1	Fall back a double with your own and lead forward the same. Turn your corner by both hands once and a half times round.
	B2	Fall back a double with your corner and lead forward the same. Turn your partner by both hands once and a half times round and so end.

Notes

Sides all with X and fall into their place is done thusly:

Double forward to meet right shoulders with X, and fall back the same. Double forward to meet left shoulders with X and, turning with your face towards X, fall back into the other place.

Music