The Harbury Dances

Having no historical tradition of our own, we have not hesitated to devise our own dances and to establish a contemporary 'tradition' for our village.

Currently, there are 6 Harbury dances, as follows:

• The Windmill (1990): A stick dance for 8 dancers in a cross formation - named after Harbury's own windmill (also the basis for the Hereburgh logo).
• The Bull Ring (1992): A handkerchief dance for 8 dancers in a circle - named after a historic corner of the village.
• The Miller's Ghost (1993): A stick dance for 8 dancers in a longways set - named after a former Harbury miller who lost his life in an unpleasant accident at the mill.
• Lucy Grant's Jig (1998): A jig for a solo dancer or 4 in a cross formation - indirectly named after the Hereburgh member who devised the dance.
• Life in the old Dog (1998): A handkerchief dance for 8 dancers in a longways set - named after the Dog Inn which was our regular pub for many years, but also alluding to the remarkable energy of the Hereburgh 'elders'.
• The Ugly Duckling (1999): A stick dance to that familiar tune, for 8 dancers in a longways set, with more quacking than in the average Morris dance.

All but the last of these dances use original tunes.

Last updated: 27 April 2000