Scoot Dances:
Mrs Parkyn's Jig - Jyg A Vrs Parkyn
Recalled by Mrs Margaret Parkyn, Lostwithiel in 1987. Mrs Parkyn remembered this dance as it was done in her family at festive occasions and at parties. The dance had no particular name when it was collected, hence it was named ’Mrs Parkyn’s Jig’. Like Arthur Biddick, who remembered Boscastle Breakdown, Mrs Parkyn was by no means an elderly lady when the dance was collected! This means that,
again, she was able to actually teach the dance to Merv and Alison Davey when they went to visit her.
Though now retired, Mrs Parkyn was still working as the district nurse in Lostwithiel when the dance was collected. This is another good example of Cornish step dances staying within their working community, and within the living tradition.
Formation:
A dance for at least two dancers facing each other, ‘Side 1’ and ‘Side 2’.
Steps
The steps for this dance alternate between:
(1) The basic shuffle step (SHUFFLES)
(2) Three other steps (SHUFFLES INCLUDING INDIVIDUAL STEPS):
A Shuffle right foot, shuffle left foot. Move the right foot back and the tap toe on floor, then left move the left foot back and tap toe on floor.
B Shuffle right foot shuffle left foot. Swing the right foot to the right side, and then the left foot to left side.
C Shuffle right foot, shuffle left foot. Kick the right heel forward, then kick the left heel forward (this step should be a strong contrast to the basic step).
Bars
1 — 8 All form a circle performing the basic shuffle step (dancers divide into two sides during last couple of bars).
9 — 16 Side 1 perform step A four times.
17 — 24 Side 2 perform step A four times.
25 — 32 Side 2 perform step B four times.
33 — 40 Side 1 perform step B four times.
41 — 48 Side 1 perform step C four times.
49 — 56 Side 2 perform step C four times.
57 — 64 Side 2 perform step A four times.
65 — 72 Side 1 perform step A four times.
73 — 80 Side 1 perform step B four times.
81 — 88 Side 2 perform step B four times.
89 — 96 Side 2 perform step C four times.
97 — 104 Side 1 perform step C four times.
105 — 112 All perform the basic shuffle step if preferred joining into a circle again to end.
This tune was written by Jim Pengelly, of Cam Kernewek, to fit the dance remembered by Mrs Parkyn. Mrs Parkyn could did not have a specific tune for the dance, but when played this tune she seemed to feel that it fitted well. To fit the dance, the tune should be played three times with a repeat of the first eight bars at the end.
Mrs Parkyn's Jig - Jim Pengelly 1987
