Hearts ease

Hearts Ease is a dance from Playford's Dancing Master.

Steps and Movements Used

• Doubles forward by the left foot and right (DL and DR) and back (DLb and DRb)
• Turn by the Hand once around, using either the right hand (TRH) or left hand (TLH)
• Sides (SdR and SdL)
• Arms (AR and AL)

Choreography

This dance starts with two couples facing each other.

First Verse

Couples do a double in to each other, then double back. Repeat

DL, DRb
DL, DRb

Chorus

Everybody turns to face their partners, then double back and double forward (this footwork is optional; see note below). Contraries take right hands and turn each other. Ending the turn face to face with contraries, everybody does a double back and double forward. Partners take left hands and turn each other. (A variant sometimes done, though not supported by Playford, is for those facing the same way as they back up to hold hands. This makes an awkward transition if you try to take the hand of the person you have just backed a double away from.)

DLb, DR
TRH
DLb, DR
TLH

Second Verse

Sides by the right with partners, then left with contraries.

SdR
SdL

Chorus

As first chorus.

Third Verse

Arms by the right with partners, then left with contraries.

AR
AL

Chorus

As first chorus.

Notes

Playford's instructions do not specify any footwork for the chorus; doubles are often assumed to be correct by analogy with figures in which doubles are specified, but other footwork, such as two singles back and a double forward, may also be justified.

External Links

• Instructions from 1561 edition
• Reconstruction from Del's Dance Book