Hearts ease
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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.
