The Battle of Trafalgar 6x40 H
THE BATTLE OF TRAFALGAR
6x40 bar Hornpipe for 6 couples in two, side-by-side 3-couple sets.
The dancers are arranged as two, side by side, 3 couple sets, i.e. 4M, 5M and 6M are back to back with 1L 2L and 3L. The first set, couples 1, 2 and 3 represents the English fleet, the second set with couples 4, 5 and 6 represents the French and Spanish fleet.
| 1-8 | 1C, 2C and 3C dance Inveran Reels. (All dance reels of 3 up and down the set, 1C cross down to opposite sides on bar 1 and cross up, back to own sides on bar 5.) while 4C 5C and 6C dance similarly. All finish in original places |
| 9-12 | 1C, 2C and 3C set to partners and turn half way giving right hands, finishing with ladies behind partners, all facing across to second set. while 4C 5C and 6C stand. |
| 13-16 | 1M dances across to second set, passing 4M right shoulder and dancing clockwise around 4L to finish facing her while 1L follows and dances clockwise all the way around 4M who turns around to face 1L, 4M is back to back with 1M. while 2C and 3C dance similarly around 5C and 6C |
| 17-20 | All set and turn once round with the right hand. |
| 21-24 | 4L, 1M, 4M and 1L dance half a reel of 4 across the set. On bars 23-24, 1M and 4M should pass right shoulder, NOT left, and on bar 24 1L and 4L should start to come in again from the sidelines to end right shoulder to right shoulder with 4M and 1M respectively while 2C with 5C and 3C with 6C dance similarly. |
| 25-26 | 4C with 1C dance half right hands across while 2C with 5C and 3C with 6C dance similarly. |
| 27-28 | 1C, retaining right hands, turn right hand half way to 4C's original place in set 2 while 4M, followed by 4L dances across to 1C's original place in set 1 while 2C with 5C and 3C with 6C dance similarly. |
| 29-32 | 1C, 2C and 3C, in set 2, set to partners. 1C and 2C cast off one place, 3C, with right hands, lead up two places to the top of the set, All finish in promenade hold facing down the set, ladies on partner's left, in the order 3 1 2 while 4C, 5C and 6C in set 1, turn partner with right hand once round in 4 bars to finish in promenade hold facing up the set in the order 4 5 6. |
| 39-40 | All, with promenade hold, chase clockwise once round the set, 2C and 4C leading and following 6C and 3C respectively, to end 4 5 6 in the first set and 3 1 2 in the second set. |
| Repeat from new positions. Progression for 1st couple is: 1 5 2 6 3 4 |
Music: Admiral Nelson. (I edited a 4x64 Hornpipe recording to 6x40).
Devised by Keith Rose (keith [at] krose.plus.com) for a Scottish Dancing holiday to Conil de la Frontera on the Costa de la Luz, Spain which is about 8 miles from Cape Trafalgar. The Battle of Trafalgar was fought on 21 October 1805 when Admiral Nelson attacked the larger combined French and Spanish fleets using a new strategy of attacking perpendicularly to the line of enemy ships.
1-8: depict preparation for the battle and revue of the fleets.
9-16: The attack.
17-24: Fighting at close quarters.
25-32: End of the battle, chasing the vanquished and victory celebrations.
33-40: Return to port