Fields Of Claydon

A ceilidh dance by Alison Rowley, written in 2024 and danced at the last ever Towersey Festival, which took place on NT Claydon Estate.

Music: slip jigs (unphrased)

Formation: Longways set for 4 or 5 couples

2025 version (a cross between Strip The Willow, Bridge of Athlone and Cumberland Reel):

Part 1. Top couple strip the willow down the set, then gallop back up to the top.

Part 2. Top couple cast down the outside of the set, and everyone follows. Everyone meets their partner at the end of the set, and gallops back up to the top. (Everyone back in original positions.)

Part 3. Top couple face down, while everyone else makes a tunnel of arches with their partner. Top couple scurries down the tunnel to the bottom of the set.

2024 version (adapted from Bridge of Athlone):

Part 1. Top couple gallop down, then strip the willow back up to the top.

Part 2. Top couple cast down the outside of the set, and everyone follows. Top couple make an arch at the bottom and everyone else leads up through the arch. (Top couple now at the bottom.)

Part 3. The other couples make arches across the set (a ‘tunnel’), then the top couple scurries up to the top (1 person through the tunnel, 1 up the outside) then back down to the bottom (swapping who goes through the tunnel).

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