| Cotton Eye Joe ... or Cotton Eyed Joe, if you prefer. Or Wall Eyed Joe, if you're from the real Old School
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There are many dances
that go by this name. Or, there are many ways to dance this dance. Here is the
one most in favor during the last two decades of the twentieth century. Varsovienne dance position, please. (Side by side, ladies on the right, cross-shoulder hold, right hand to right hand, left to left ... not exactly like the clip art, but sorta kinda.) Both dancers on a left lead. This is the dance brought to you by the number "8". The dance is comprised of two 8 bar phrases. Thus, it is danced to music with 8 bar phrasing (16 count). First 8 bar phrase, comprised of four 2 bar phrases: Weight on R, cross left ankle in front of right shin ("cross"), then kick left foot forward a little ("kick"), then a triple step traveling a little backwards ("back-2-3"). Weight on L, cross right ankle in front of left shin .... etc. Repeat L lead, R lead. Second 8 bar phrase: 8 triple steps traveling forward, beginning on a left lead. A popular version of the Cotton Eye Joe song has the singer taunting the dancers with lyrics like "... stepped in what?" To which the singers shout in chorus "Bullshit!" Thus, another name for this dance, the Bullshit Dance. The prompts: Cross-kick-back-2-3, Cross-kick-back-2-3, Cross-kick-back-2-3, Cross-kick-back-2-3, Shuffle-1 Shuffle-2 Shuffle-3 Shuffle-4 Shuffle-5 Shuffle-6 Shuffle-7 Shuffle-8 It is de rigueur for a Cotton Eye Joe to be followed immediately by a Schottische. If it is not, find another country bar!
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