Sheepskins
The tune Three Jolly Sheepskins is a traditional tune from the Welsh Borders which was collected as a morris tune. The Sheepskins Hey has been recorded as a traditional 'game'. These bare bones were used to create several versions of this dance variously using sticks, hankies, or as in our version simple handclapping. Ours is closest to the version danced by the Ironmen.
Tune - Three Jolly Sheepskins
Set - six dancers in a longways set, with the sheep down the middle of the set
2 4 6
Music S S S
1 3 5
Order - Chorus, Lead Off, Chorus, Back to Back Right Shoulders,
of Dance Back to Back Left Shoulders, Chorus, Linked Hey
Chorus - Odd numbers dance in a hey round the sheep. No. 5 dances round the middle sheep and back up round the top sheep. No. 3 will then be at the back of the line, dances round the middle sheep and back round the bottom sheep. No. 1 will then be at the back of the line, dances round the middle sheep and back round the top sheep.
Partners then do a right hand swing for one turn followed by a left hand swing for one turn.
Even numbers dance in a hey round the sheep. No. 6 dances round the middle sheep and back up round the top sheep. No. 4 will then be at the back of the line, dances round the middle sheep and back round the bottom sheep. No. 2 will then be at the back of the line, dances round the middle sheep and back round the top sheep.
Partners then do a right hand swing for one turn followed by a left hand swing for one turn.
Lead Off - 1-8: Odd numbers dance off to the left following No. 1
1-8: Odd numbers dance back between the sheep and the even side, following No. 5 and then turning to face out.
1-8: Even numbers dance off to the left following No. 6
1-8: Even numbers dance back following No. 2 and face out with their backs to the sheep.
1-8: Odd numbers dance off the right following No. 5
1-8: Odd numbers dance back following No. 1 to finish in
their original positions
1-8: Even numbers dance off to the right following No. 2
1-8: Even numbers dance back following No. 6 to finish in their original positions.
Back to Back - Odd side move first while the even side stand still
Right Shoulders 1-3: Cross the set, passing right shoulders
4-5: Two steps to the right
6-7: Two steps back into line with the sheep
8: Jump
1-2: Two steps forward
3-4: Two steps to the left
5-8: Four steps back into place
Even side move second while the odd side stand still
1-3: Cross the set, passing right shoulders
4-5: Two steps to the right
6-7: Two steps back into line with the sheep
8: Jump
1-2: Two steps forward
3-4: Two steps to the left
5-8: Four steps back into place
Back to Back - Odd side move first while the even side stand still
Left Shoulders 1-3: Cross the set, passing left shoulders
4-5: Two steps to the left
6-7: Two steps back into line with the sheep
8: Jump
1-2: Two steps forward
3-4: Two steps to the right
5-8: Four steps back into place
Even side move second while the odd side stand still
1-3: Cross the set, passing left shoulders
4-5: Two steps to the left
6-7: Two steps back into line with the sheep
8: Jump
1-2: Two steps forward
3-4: Two steps to the right
5-8: Four steps back into place
Linked Hey - All dancers hey around the sheep in number order. At the bottom of the row of sheep partners link with arms over shoulders. Dance to the left up and around the row of sheep. When back at the bottom of the row of sheep dance up the row, one dancer on either side of the sheep. At the end of the phrase of music dancers throw the sheep at the musicians.
Set - six dancers in a longways set, with the sheep down the middle of the set
2 4 6
Music S S S
1 3 5
Order - Chorus, Lead Off, Chorus, Back to Back Right Shoulders,
of Dance Back to Back Left Shoulders, Chorus, Linked Hey
Chorus - Odd numbers dance in a hey round the sheep. No. 5 dances round the middle sheep and back up round the top sheep. No. 3 will then be at the back of the line, dances round the middle sheep and back round the bottom sheep. No. 1 will then be at the back of the line, dances round the middle sheep and back round the top sheep.
Partners then do a right hand swing for one turn followed by a left hand swing for one turn.
Even numbers dance in a hey round the sheep. No. 6 dances round the middle sheep and back up round the top sheep. No. 4 will then be at the back of the line, dances round the middle sheep and back round the bottom sheep. No. 2 will then be at the back of the line, dances round the middle sheep and back round the top sheep.
Partners then do a right hand swing for one turn followed by a left hand swing for one turn.
Lead Off - 1-8: Odd numbers dance off to the left following No. 1
1-8: Odd numbers dance back between the sheep and the even side, following No. 5 and then turning to face out.
1-8: Even numbers dance off to the left following No. 6
1-8: Even numbers dance back following No. 2 and face out with their backs to the sheep.
1-8: Odd numbers dance off the right following No. 5
1-8: Odd numbers dance back following No. 1 to finish in
their original positions
1-8: Even numbers dance off to the right following No. 2
1-8: Even numbers dance back following No. 6 to finish in their original positions.
Back to Back - Odd side move first while the even side stand still
Right Shoulders 1-3: Cross the set, passing right shoulders
4-5: Two steps to the right
6-7: Two steps back into line with the sheep
8: Jump
1-2: Two steps forward
3-4: Two steps to the left
5-8: Four steps back into place
Even side move second while the odd side stand still
1-3: Cross the set, passing right shoulders
4-5: Two steps to the right
6-7: Two steps back into line with the sheep
8: Jump
1-2: Two steps forward
3-4: Two steps to the left
5-8: Four steps back into place
Back to Back - Odd side move first while the even side stand still
Left Shoulders 1-3: Cross the set, passing left shoulders
4-5: Two steps to the left
6-7: Two steps back into line with the sheep
8: Jump
1-2: Two steps forward
3-4: Two steps to the right
5-8: Four steps back into place
Even side move second while the odd side stand still
1-3: Cross the set, passing left shoulders
4-5: Two steps to the left
6-7: Two steps back into line with the sheep
8: Jump
1-2: Two steps forward
3-4: Two steps to the right
5-8: Four steps back into place
Linked Hey - All dancers hey around the sheep in number order. At the bottom of the row of sheep partners link with arms over shoulders. Dance to the left up and around the row of sheep. When back at the bottom of the row of sheep dance up the row, one dancer on either side of the sheep. At the end of the phrase of music dancers throw the sheep at the musicians.