Galloping Gargoyles

A ceilidh dance by Alison Rowley, written in 2024 and first called for a family ceilidh at Whitby Folk Week. It’s a mashup of Up The Sides And Down The Middle (1st half) and Galopede (2nd half) and a nice easy one to call for young kids! The name comes from a popular saying by Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter books.

Music: 32 bar jigs or polkas

Formation: Longways set for as many couples as will

A1. Jump and kick 4 times (8 beats); 1st line makes arches and lines cross over (8)

A2. Repeat, with the 2nd line making arches this time (16)

B1. Dosido your partner (8) and swing (8)

B2. 1st couple* gallop down the middle (other couples move up); all swing your partner if you have time (16)

*Recommended extra: the caller could suggest a different number of couples towards the end of B1 each time, e.g. ‘this time 3 couples gallop down’ – this means 1st couple, then 2nd couple, then 3rd couple. Remember to say a number every time! And the last time through, you could ask them to keep going and see how many couples have time to gallop before the music ends.

Note: If you don’t have multiple couples galloping in B2, most couples won’t get a go because the set will probably be quite long. Also, there probably won’t be time for a swing if you have multiple couples galloping (and very young dancers) so I wouldn’t emphasise this as an important part of the dance, just an optional extra.

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