The Independent York is an interesting variation on the original York, albeit one that was probably rarely danced outside a studio context. I have found it in only two sources. The earlier is Melvin Gilbert's Round Dancing (Portland, Maine, 1890), where it is uncredited, suggesting that Gilbert himself created it. The later source is La Danse, by [George] Washington Lopp, published in Paris in 1903, much of which is simply a French translation of Gilbert. It appears there as L'Indépendant York and is credited to Gilbert. The sequence is identical in both sources. Gilbert classifies it, as he does the York, under "redowa and mazurka"; Lopp lists it as a mazurka.
The Independent York is danced in 3/4 time, with four repeats of the rhythm "1&2-3 &1-2-3". Lopp gives a metronome tempo of 144 beats per minute. The dancers begin in a standard ballroom hold, the gentleman facing the nearest wall and the lady the center of the room.
The complete sequence takes eight measures. The first four measures are the same as the York itself:
1 Slide the left foot along line of dance
&2 Close with the right foot and slide the left foot again (chassé)
3
Close with the right foot, displacing left into a raised second position (cut)
&1
Hop on the right foot (optionally, clicking heels) and slide left to side
2
Close with the right foot, displacing left (cut)
3
Leap onto the left foot, crossing the line of dance and making a half-turn
(repeat all, reversing feet)
Above is the gentleman's footwork; the lady dances opposite. The last &123 is a polka redowa step. In four measures, one complete turn is made.
The second half of the Independent York repeats exactly the same steps. What distinguishes it is that, in a very unusual move for a nineteenth century couple dance, the partners separate and turn away from each other, much like casting off as performed in early country dances. For the first two measures, the dancers release their hold and move parallel to each other, curving away from each other slightly. On the polka redowa in the second measure, they make a half turn, ending back to back and circling back against line of dance. On the repeat, they turn halfway at the beginning of the first measure to slide sideways against line of dance, facing each other, then come together again on the polka redowa of the final measure.
The entire eight measures are then repeated as often as the dancers like.
The Independent York is not entirely leadable with a dancer who does not already know what to expect, though a skilled dancer with fast reflexes might figure it out visually if the York step pattern has already been well established. But with a partner who already knows the move, the lead is easy: do a few normal York sequences to establish the pattern, then simply release the lady with a gentle push along the line of dance.
Since the Independent York travels against the line of dance and takes extra space to each side, the gentleman needs to take care before starting the move to have sufficient room to execute the variation without interfering with other couples on the floor.
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