Old Woman Tossed Up

Music - audio/old woman tossed up.mp3

ORIGIN             Brackley, Northants           

                           This is a handkerchief dance - two hankies (one for each partner) are tied together at one   
                          end and held like a ribbon between the two dancers for the entire dance. The hankies are
                          raised when necessary to accommodate the dance movements. All dancers use the right hand to
                          hold their end of the ’ribbon’

STEP                Step - hop throughout  left-hop  right-hop, left-hop. right-hop etc.  

ONCE TO YOURSELF A1     All face up with joined hankies held             FOOT UP AND DOWN A2     All dance forward (up) 4 steps           All reverse back 4 steps turning to face down on           step 4 A3     Repeat, turning to face in on last step
DIP AND DIVE                      This can be danced the same as a Dip & Dive in country dancing B1    Top couple (1&2) dance under middle couple’s (3&4) arch and (1&2) then arch over bottom couple (5&6)     .    At the same time, the other couples are dancing a similar movement until all are in half way places  (1&2) at bottom, (3&4) in middle, facing down, (5&6) at top
1st: (1&2) under; (3&4) over; (5&6) wait 3rd: (3&4) under; (5&6) over; (1&2) turn	2nd: (1&2) over; (5&6) under; (3&4) turn 4th: This is half way
= (1&2) route                             = (3&4) route                        = (5&6) route [TIP: the end couples always go under the arch mad by the middle couple]
B2     REPEAT pattern until all are back in original places           [Bottom  couple (1&2) then dance under middle couple’s (3&4)  arch then arch over top couple  (5&6) At the same time, the other couples are dancing a similar movement]
HALF GYP A4     All face across, dance 4 steps forwards to finish next to partner right shoulders in a line of six; all reverse back 4 steps to place A5     All face across, dance 4 steps forwards to finish next to partner left shoulders in a line of six; all reverse back 4 steps to place
Into line right  shoulders	Into line left shoulders
B3 & B4  DIP AND DIVE as in  B1 & B2 BACK TO BACK A6     All dance forwards 4 steps passing partner by right           All reverse back 4 steps passing partner by left to finish in own place   A7     All dance forwards 4 steps passing partner by left           All reverse back 4 steps passing partner by right to finish in own place
Pass by right and  reverse back by left to original places	Pass by left and reverse back by right to original places
CROSS OVER            A8     All face across set and dance forward 4 steps, passing partner by right                      Turn to right and remain in partner’s place (4 steps)            A9     Repeat to finish in own place
Pass by right to change places	Pass by right to original places
B7     DIP AND DIVE AND KNOT             This is similar to B1 EXCEPT dancer No.(2) passes OUTSIDE No.(4) to start and INSIDE No.(6)           Dancers (1) (3) & (5) follow their usual route.           This should make a knot
[Children may find it easier to make the knot by No.(2) dancing inside (4) & (6) to finish between (6) & (3), while No.(5) dances inside (3) & (1) to finish between (1) & (4)]	alternative way to make knot
B8      All dance clockwise to left and raise knot to finish