Godesses

Godesses is a dance from Playford's Dancing Master.

Steps and Movements Used

• Doubles left and right back (DL and DRb)
• Hey (Hey)
• Cast off
• Side slip

Choreography

This dance starts with any number of couples facing up the hall, in a line one after the other, but is best performed with three or four couples.

First Verse

All perform a double forward, then a double backwards. Repeat this.

DL, DRb
DL, DRb

First Chorus

All cast of, following the head of each line, such that the lines end up in reverse order. The leaders, who are now at the bottom, cast off again, with the rest of the lines following, so that everybody is now in their original position.

Second Verse

Following the first man, the men progress around the women until they are halfway around (in the time it takes to do two doubles). They then turn around and go back to their places.

Second Chorus

As first chorus.

Third Verse

Following the first woman, the women progress around the men until they are halfway around (in the time it takes to do two doubles). They then turn around and go back to their places.

Third Chorus

As first chorus.

Fourth Verse

Following the first man, the men progress around the women in a complete circle back to their places.

Fourth Chorus

As first chorus.

Fifth Verse

Following the first woman, the women progress around the men in a complete circle back to their places.

Fifth Chorus

As first chorus.

Sixth Verse

Men join hands in a circle and perform eight side slips left, then eight side slips right.

Sixth Chorus

As first chorus.

Seventh Verse

Women join hands in a circle and perform eight side slips left, then eight side slips right.

Seventh Chorus

As first chorus.

Eighth Verse

Everybody joins hands in a circle and perform eight side slips left, then eight side slips right.

Eighth Chorus

As first chorus.

Ninth Verse

Men perform a hey.

Ninth Chorus

As first chorus.

Tenth Verse

Women perform a hey.

Tenth Chorus

As first chorus.

Eleventh Verse

Everybody performs a circular hey.

Eleventh Chorus

As first chorus.

External links

• Instructions from the 1651 edition
• Reconstruction from Del's dance book