Folk Dance: The Ship’s Cook
This lively dance from Emma immediately caught our attention when we watched it for the first time last week. We had become a bit listless with our choices of dance, and we were excited to include a new one in our repertoire.
There have been complaints about this particular dance from the 2009 BBC/Masterpiece Emma in regards to both time and context. “The Ship’s Cook” is, apparently, neither typical of the era, nor appropriate to the social status of the dancers. Being inspired by seaman’s dances and involving the exchanging of partners, it would likely have been considered too vulgar for Emma Woodhouse and her peers. That being as it may, “The Ship’s Cook” is a fun dance that has received special attention from enamored viewers searching the internet for instructions. The truth is that the dance is as fictional as the characters and story. Paul Harris choreographed and named the maritime-inspired dance, and the film’s composer Samuel Sim wrote a merry tune that includes elements of the theme music. This is true in fact, of each of the dances featured in the film: “The Town Square,” “The Ship’s Cook,” and “Ginny’s Market.”
I humbly submit to you what is almost certainly the first online transcription of “The Ship’s Cook.” You can purchase the music from the Emma soundtrack album; iTunes offers it for a mere 99¢.
Notes About the Transcription: The following transcription was created based first on observation of the ball sequence in Episode 3 of Emma. As the sets repeated themselves, we saw portions of the dance pattern that had in previous sets had been obscured or unseen due to focusing on the various individuals. A predictable pattern gradually emerged, though we were confused several times by irrational variations or departures. It appears evident that in the editing of the film, portions of the dance were cut; though the dance, as it appears in the final cut, remains faithful to the music’s beat, the steps are inconsistent with the musical themes.* This perplexing situation gained clarity as we practiced the dance and became more intimately familiar with the music. I am confident that the following transcription is the same or very close to the original choreography, though it will not match entirely with what you see in the film sequence.
*The best example occurs between 04:01 and 04:07. It is obvious here that the dancers have completed two steps (the men turn about, and the dancers all gallop in a circle) in only 8 beats when it should have taken them all of 16 beats!
Preliminaries
Willing Dancers: The dance requires an even number of dancers. The bigger the circle, the easier it is to gallop around. If you don’t have many dancers, have couples spaced farther apart than otherwise.
Shall We Dance?
I definitely recommend that you first watch the dance sequence from the miniseries. (Start at 03:19.) It will give you a visual of what the dance. This will be especially helpful since I am not a dance expert and know few of the “official” names for the various steps.
The dancers form a double circle (two concentric circles), gentlemen in the inside facing out, and the ladies on the outside facing in.
•After 8 beats of music, honor your partner. Gentleman bow at the waist while the ladies curtsey. Dancers will take both hands and wait 8 beats.
•The dancers gallop counterclockwise. (8 beats)
Note: The gallop is a fast polka step. Step out with one leg, then bring the other up to it. Kick out your feet, jump, and holler!
•Both the gentleman and the ladies drop hands and independently spin around twice, first in the opposite direction they were galloping (4 beats), then the other way (4 beats).
•The lady, daintily holding her skirts out of the way, will take a full turn (counterclockwise), kicking her feet as she goes. The gentlemen clap time. (8 beats)
•The gentleman, arms crossed against his chest, will take a full turn (clockwise), kicking his feet as he goes. The ladies clap time. (8 beats)
•Dancers join both hands and gallop clockwise. (8 beats)
•Both the gentleman and the ladies drop hands and independently spin around twice, first in the opposite direction they were galloping (4 beats), then the other way (4 beats).
•The next move is beautiful and looks more complex than it is. The gentlemen remain in place and clap time. The ladies weave* in and out through the circle of gentlemen. (16 beats) Everyone should now have a new partner, but not for long.
Note: *Ladies, pass behind the gentleman to your right (we’re going counter-clockwise), then in front of the next gentleman, behind the next, and so on until the 16 beats are completed.
•It is the gentlemen’s turn to weave (counterclockwise) as the ladies remain in place and clap time. Everyone should now have a new partner. (16 beats) This completes the set.
The music purchased from the soundtrack album will allow you to complete three sets. Partners can link right arms and turn for the remaining 16 beats of the music (which abruptly changes to a solo pipe), if desired.
Photograph: © David Venni for BBC/Masterpiece.
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NEXT SISTER said...
I love this dance! Thank you, Handmaiden (what do you call yourself on here, anyway?) and Littlest Sister for sitting and watching tat five-minute segment over and over again :-) trying to figure out the steps. This is now one of my favorite dances. Dance it with me often. :-)
Friday, September 17, 2010 03:52 PM
HANDMAIDEN said...
Yes, I’m Handmaiden here.
It did take us awhile to figure this one out, didn’t it? Then, when we thought we almost had it, actually trying to dance it proved our instructions all wrong! I do feel, though, that the dance lost some of its fun when it lost its suspense. (What step was next again? ;-)
I am looking forward to teaching this dance in November to the Soirée Society! We should have plenty of fun. Until then—Madame, shall we dance?
Friday, September 17, 2010 07:31 PM
TORI said...
Thank you so much for the instructions to the dance. We learned it tonight with a group of about thirty-five people and had so much fun! It got a bit hilarious at times, but, once we got it worked out, it looked just like the movie!
Sunday, March 4, 2012 10:02 PM
HANDMAIDEN said...
It sounds like you had a great group, Tori! This is such a fun dance, and I am glad these instructions were a help to you. Thank you for your comment.
Monday, March 5, 2012 11:55 AM
Tuesday, September 14, 2010