Hearts ease

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

Steps and Movements Used

• Doubles left and right (DL and DR) and back (DLb and DRb)
• Turn Other using either the left or right hands (ToL and ToR)
• Siding (SdL and SdR)
• Armings (AL and AR)

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, (a common variant here is to take the hand of their contrary), then double back and double forward. Taking right hands contraries turn each other. Turning face to face with contraries (and taking hands with partners in the variant), everybody does a double back and double forward. Taking left hands partners turn each other.

DLb, DR
ToR
DLb, DR
ToL

Second Verse

Sidings left with patrners, then right with contraries.

SdL
SdR

Chorus

As first chorus.

Third Verse

Armings left with patrners, then right with contraries.

AL
AR

Chorus

As first chorus.

External Links

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