This is a stick dance, the central distinctive figure of which is said to be a re-enactment of the fights and rivalry that once existed between the Mirkmen and the people of the nearby village of Pidley (and we didn't make up that name - Pidley really does exist).
Tune:
Sweet Lass of Offord Hill
Sequence:
as usual
Chorus (DF):
In two parts -
(a) Danced to the B-music
- All face across, then -
- bars 1/2: tops cross over and face with 4 single steps
- bars 3/4: middles do likewise
- bars 5/6: bottoms also so likewise
- bars 7/8: all hook right to turn about
(b) Danced to the C-music -
- Sticking in repeated two bar phrases of butts-tips-butts-tips (pause) clash once right to left
- bars 1/2: tops clash with middles
- bars 3/4: middles clash with each other
- bars 5/6: middles clash with bottoms
- bars 7/8: all clash across with opposites