March of the Triads
Why is it always a three-couple set
Not a longways or even a square
Neither Sicilian nor four-couple set
Whilst six-couple longways are rare.
There’s a fashion that’s creeping upon us
Have you succumbed to it yet?
Where you convolute with abandon
In that dreaded three-couple set?
Gone are the sociable longways
Where you mix with one and all
As for traditional dances
They seem to have gone to the wall.
Is there a shortage of dancers?
Why won’t they pick and mix?
Do they only dance with companions
In small select groups of six?
Are callers afraid of large numbers?
Do they find triple-minors too hard?
It’s easier by far to change them
So longways dances are barred.
Let’s widen the boundaries of dancing
Let’s return to the spirit of fun
Retreat from a surfeit of triads
And mingle with everyone.
Not a longways or even a square
Neither Sicilian nor four-couple set
Whilst six-couple longways are rare.
There’s a fashion that’s creeping upon us
Have you succumbed to it yet?
Where you convolute with abandon
In that dreaded three-couple set?
Gone are the sociable longways
Where you mix with one and all
As for traditional dances
They seem to have gone to the wall.
Is there a shortage of dancers?
Why won’t they pick and mix?
Do they only dance with companions
In small select groups of six?
Are callers afraid of large numbers?
Do they find triple-minors too hard?
It’s easier by far to change them
So longways dances are barred.
Let’s widen the boundaries of dancing
Let’s return to the spirit of fun
Retreat from a surfeit of triads
And mingle with everyone.