I love Tom Hinds's dance "Fisher's Jig", where the ladies balance and swing each other in the center and then whirl around for a partner swing. But why just the ladies? This dance uses Tom's idea in a different set of figures so the gents and ladies each get to do the swing, as they alternate leading the sequence in successive rounds of the dance.

Note that after the ladies lead the figure everyone ends on the "wrong" side of the set; then the gents lead the figure and everyone gets back home. Because "home" keeps changing, dancers swinging in the middle should keep track of their partner so as to whirl into the arms of the right person! The transition from swing to swing can be a thrill if the middle people trust their partners, throw their arms in the air and pivot around expectantly. The side people, right on the money, put a left hand on partner's back, wrapping that pivot straight into a "hoop hold" swing.

Because dancers don't necessarily know how to do a same-sex swing it can help to teach it while everyone is still proper. (There's something ironic about that term in this context...) Even so, the gents aren't always as enthusiastic about swinging each other as the ladies are. Probably they just need extra encouragement and a little practice? Or should we just stick with Fisher's Jig?

For Anna Patton, talented and heartful musician, dancer, and singer from Brattleboro VT, who likes interacting with everyone in the set.