Siding

Siding or Sidings, more correctly called Sides is a dance step used in English Country Dance. Although Playford's Dancing Master makes no specific description of the step, from the choreography it can be established that it is always performed by two people together, and that its duration is that of two doubles.

Version 1

A common version of Sidings left is for both people to face each other and perform a double left forward, angled to the left hand side so that right shoulders are alongside each other, and then to do a double right back into position.

Sidings right is the same as sidings left, but starting with the right foot on the right side.

Version 2

In Lochac, the most common way to perform Sidings left is for both people to face each other and take a step forward, angled to the left hand side so that right shoulders are alongside each other, with the left foot, and bringing the right foot up to close the step. The pair then step back into their original positions and do the same to the opposite side.

Sidings right is the same as sidings left, but starting with the right foot on the right side.

Version 3

It has also been suggested that sidings may have been performed as a do-si-do.