Black Joke a post-war stick dance This dance is a 6/8 tune, danced in jig-time. The music for each half figure consists of 6 bars (rather than the 4 bars in the 2/2 and 4/4 dances), which means that each figure is half again as long. The extra time is taken up with stick-clashing capers. Each half of a CF, and each half hey, consists 6 bars of the following: | 4 | 4 | HL | PC PC | PC PC | sj | clash on last 3 PC, s & j There are 5 stick clashes with partner. They are done | - | - | - | - T | B T | B T | Sticks are held at the middle with right hand only. T is high clash tips forehand, B is clash butts backhand. Recall that sj is often performed much like 2 PC. Because of the extra long figures, in this dance (only) the set reforms halfway through the Half Rounds, sticking is done as above, and then the other Half Rounds back to place, and sticking again. In the chorus (DF) the first part is stick clashing 8 times while standing in place. Clashes are high, striking tips. Sticks are held near bottom with both hands, right hand higher. R = forehand strike person diagonally to your right L = forehand strike person diagonally to your left B = backhand strike your partner F = forehand strike your partner Ends of sets strike ground when there is nobody to diagonal R or L. The music requires a beat of doing nothing before the first clash, so don't rush the chorus sticking. ---------------------------------------------------------------- OY = ftj FU DF = | R L | B F | R L | B F |, HalfHey & Repeat HG DF WG DF HR In the half rounds of this dance, reform the set halfway thru and do the clashing as in all other common figures. DF Final half hey proceeds as normal with clashing capers. During final stick clash face up with sticks crossed.