Uptown-on-Calhoun "Border" Dances

First, by way of clarification, our own take on the meaning of "Border" is probably wildly mutated from its roots along the east coast of Wales. The tradition we inherited from our local peers is one of dancing "Cottswold" (in whites, with hankies or sticks and fussy little patterns) from May through September, and then performing "Border" in black clothes and rags in November through January with the simpler but more energetic dances.

Uptown has expanded our winter repertoire greatly, not satisfied with Bromsberrow Heath and Maiden's Prayer, to include any energetic stick dance. Unlike Uptown's summer dances, these dances have very little in common with one another - not stepping nor figures nor styling. It makes for a long session of learning, but it certainly relieves our peri-arctic winter depression. In addition to the following dances, we have also been known to dance the Ockington four-person stick dance, Hop-Tu-Naa (a Manx turnip processional), and occasional Cottswold stick dances.

• Upto(w)n-upon-Whatever
• Mrs. Casey
• Simon's Frolic
• Icy Sidewalk
• I Can Hew
• The Cat House Door