Stags have since used the "J" loops elsewhere, without the distinctive hitch-back: the timing of the figure changes radically when you do this, which was part of the point of the exercise.

The dance was named for the father-in-law of one of the organisers of the Morris aspects of the festival that year. There are other versions around, particularly in the US. James Allwright taught the dance to the Basset Street Hounds in 1992. Some versions which I've seen are radically different and it's entirely possible that there's another completely different and independently devised dance of the same name.

Formation

The dance is for four, eight or twelve, and thus a four-person set is numbered "conventionally", with the person at the "top" of the set (nearest to the musician) on the right of the set as the musician sees the set, being number one (this is conventionally the "squire's position"). Number two is opposite them (at the top on the musician's left), number three behind them and so on. In most of the figures the dancers face across the set rather than into the centre as with some other Stags dances for four.

Chorus

The sticking chorus is performed standing on the spot, rather than stepping in position. Dancers face across the set. Leaning forward and bending down, tap the tip of the stick on the ground to the left, then tap the tip on the ground to the right. Stand up and clash forehand with partner (opposite) three times at about waist level (low). Clash backhand to your diagonal right at eye level (high), waving the stick in the air if there's no-one to clash with, then forehand to the diagonal right. In a set of eight or twelve, the diagonal clashes run all the way down the set rather than just being in sets of four. Then strike backhand across the set (partner) three times. Then all that again to complete.

Figures

Cross and Swing

"Hitch Back" - step backward slightly onto the right foot, transferring the weight over that foot, then forward onto the left, the body weight providing a momentum to surge forward into the remainder of the figure.

Pass right shoulders with your partner across the set, dancing through to face out the other side. Flourish the stick in the air, then turn over your shoulder to face back into the set, transferring the stick to the other hand. Hitch back and dance into the centre-line of the set, waiting and stepping on the spot facing partner if you get back early. At the beginning of the next phrase of music, reach around partner's waist with your right arm and swing, ending back in place. Break early and step on the spot, rather than breaking late and ending up rushing the start of the chorus.

(Ideally, of course, time the swing to finish precidely on beat seven.)

J-Loops

Hitch back, then pass right shoulders with partner, cross back-to-back behind them, and dance back into a line on the centre-line of the set. Hitch back again, but this time don't start moving forwars directly, rather, hicth back into a position facing partner, and then pass right shoulders again. Cross over into the opposite place, being careful not to go too far, flourish the stick and turn over your right shoulder to face back into the set in your partner's original place.

Repeat to get back to your original place.

Mini-Brook

So-called because it's a smaller (four-person) version of the "Brook" figure from "Blakes", Stags seven-man dance. That figure was named after the then after-practice pub. We no longer drink in that pub, which has also changed its name, and we seldom do the seven-man dance, so the name is a bit anachronistic. But whatever, it's stuck.

First corners (the diagonal pair that includes the person in the "Squire's Position") hitch back, cross by right shoulders, flourish the stick and turn over their right shoulders, ending in the other's place facing into the set. While they are doing his, the second corners step on the spot. Then the second corners cross in the same way, and everyone flourishes the stick and turns out into a clockwise circle, one and a half times round, to original places.

Dragons' Bane

The name describes the figure perfectly for fans of the Anne McCaffrey Pern novels, and confuses everyone else. So Live a little. It's a clone of a square hey figure, but instead of alternately passing right and left shoulders, the top couple (nearest the music) go "between" the others, and then the couple on the "Squire's Side" go "between". Since you keep going "between", Dragons Bane, huh? After taking thread, yes? Okay, the audience never understand it either. Trust me, okay?

There isn't any time for flourishes in this figure. Start with the top two (nearest the music) in each set of four facing down, and the bottom two facing up. The top two stand shoulder to shoulder and dance down between the bottom two, who dance up. Everybody turn out, ending facing across the set with the pair now on the "Squire's Side" shoulder-to-shoulder and the others far enough apart to let them through. Dance across the set and turn out to face up and down, with the couple now at the top shoulder to shoulder. Repeat, with the new tops and the new "Squire's Side" going between, to places.

Sequence

Once to Yourself
Chorus
Cross and Swing
Chorus
J-loops
Chorus
Mini-Brook
Chorus
Dragons' Bane
Chorus ending All-Up

Music

Red Stags use George Green's College Hornpipe