Today I'll be looking at Thomas Wilson's Reel for 5, which can be found in Wilson's c. 1815 publication "The complete system of English country dancing, containing all the figures ever used in English country dancing, with a variety of new figures, and new reels".
Here's the image and description of the dance:
Similar to the traditional reels for 3 or 4 people (not couples) in the Regency ballroom, this reel for 5 alternates 8 bars of heying and 8 bars of setting.
I have created a diagram that shows the progression of the reel for 5 for each 8 bar strain.
This is how I think of the dance:
- Dancer B heys with A & C, then "thanks" both of them (in the same order) for dancing with him/her by setting to them.
- In the 1st repetition, dancer B is the only dancer who gets to do 2 heys (1st with AC, 2nd with FD), but does an extra loop in the 2nd hey with F to change places.
- Facing B, F then "thanks" B for putting him/her in the middle by setting, and then D for dancing with them, also with setting.
- **NOTE: F's left shoulder is facing the person he/she heys with next (C). This is the same for every dancer in the middle!
- This pattern repeats until the dance is over.
I hope this helps everyone who wants to try this interesting dance form. I will post a video later this evening, after a dance practice, demonstrating the reel for 5 - so be sure to check this page for the update! If anything still seems unclear, please let me know and I will try to help in any way I can!
UPDATE: Here's the video I filmed at today's dance practice. I hope it makes the pattern clearer!
That's all for now - until next time... Happy dancing!
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