The Charles Bolton Collection

Charles Bolton was born in 1928 in the North East of England. His first contact with folk dance was at school but later, when living in London, he and his first wife joined the Harrow Folk Dance Club. He soon realized that he enjoyed calling as well as dancing, and eventually became interested in composing his own dances, which he tried out at the club.

His first dance, Dr. Vincent’s Delight (1983), has proved to be one of his most successful dances. Over the years, he has composed a large and varied miscellany of original dances and tunes.

In addition, he has researched nearly 100 dances from the 17th and 18th centuries, with the object of making these “Retreads” more accessible to dancers of the present day.

Charles Bolton is a prolific composer and choreographer for English country dancing. He has published nine volumes of original dances, some with original tunes and some with traditional music.

You may search by booklet name, or by the name of the dance. Each dance is presented with music, and the dance instructions. (Note that in some cases there may be multiple tunes or dances on a page).

Many dances now include music tracks, recorded by Peter Jenkins of Kafoozalum Country Dance Band. Many thanks to Linda Simans for arranging the conversion from cassette tapes; to Colin Hume for entrusting CDSS with the files; and especially to John Cornett for recording, separating, and renaming the tracks.

Click the blue music icons to listen to a tune in your browser. To download a tune, right-click (on a Windows computer) or Control-click (on a Mac), then choose Save File As.

Jump to:

• The Optimist (1982)
• More Optimistic Dances (1984)
• Not All My Own Work (1985)
• More of the Same (1986)
• Courtesy Turns (1989)
• Occasions (1989)
• People and Places (1992)
• What’s New (1995)
• Round Robin (2005)
• For Your Pleasure:
  • Volume 1
  • Volume 2
  • Volume 3
  • Volume 4

Bolton Original Dances Index

Courtesy Turns

Doc	Music	Vol	#
The Band Wagon		5	5
Double Top		5	10
The Edmonton Assembly		5	7
Harwood Hall		5	2
Hillingdon Heath		5	4
Nonsuch Cottage (original)		5	8
Reeds United		5	6
Serendipity		5	11
The Sixteenth of November		5	3
Valentine		5	9
Courtesy Turns – Book Cover		5	cover
Courtesy Turns – Introduction		5	intro
Courtesy Turns – Index		5	index

For Your Pleasure, Volume 1

Title	Music	Vol	#
Alterations		1	7
Cottey House		1	12
Delia		1	2
Freeford Gardens		1	8
Hebridean Weevil		1	13
Hunsdon House		1	10
Jamaica		1	6
The Leaving of Liverpool		1	5
Mount Hills		1	1
Oranges and Lemons		1	4
The Russian Dance		1	9
Sussex Cottage		1	11
A Trip to Paris		1	3
A Trip to Richmond		1	14

For Your Pleasure, Volume 2

Title	Music	Vol	#
Bouzer Castle		2	3
Cherry Stones		2	14
The Fine Companion		2	6
The General		2	13
The Goose and the Gridiron		2	8
Hyde Park		2	2
The Lincolnshire Poacher		2	7
Lord of Carnarvon’s Jig		2	1
Merry Andrew		2	4
The Night Cap		2	9
Oswestry Square		2	11
Parthenia		2	12
The Princess		2	5
The Siege of Limerick		2	10

For Your Pleasure, Volume 3

Title	Music	Vol	#
Burghee’s Hole		3	1
Dull Sir John		3	12
Elverton Grove		3	11
Greenwich Park		3	8
The Installation		3	5
Lady in the Dark		3	10
Lord Anson For Ever		3	3
Love and a Bottle		3	9
Nonsuch II		3	7
The Shepherd’s Daughter		3	6
Slaughter House		3	2
Sprigs of Laurel		3	14
Wildboar’s Maggot		3	13
Young Man’s Fancy		3	4

For Your Pleasure, Volume 4

Title	Music	Vol	#
Blackwell Hall		4	6
Bury Fair		4	9
Cupid’s Garden		4	10
Easter Eve		4	3
The Eliza		4	7
Faithless Nancy Dawson [A Roving]		4	14
The Lacemaker		4	1
The More the Merrier		4	5
Mr Cosgill’s Delight		4	8
My Lady Foster’s Delight		4	12
New Year’s Day in the Morning		4	13
The Queen of Sheba		4	2
Sion House		4	4
Union Jigg		4	11

More of the Same

Doc	Music	Vol	#
The Ashford Anniversary		4	14
The Chairman’s Excursion		4	4
The Chairman’s Excursion – cont.		4	5
Circe’s Charm		4	15
Ford’s Frolic		4	3
Mrs. Pomeroy’s Pavane		4	16
The New Year Rag		4	12
New Year Rag – cont.		4	13
Nick’s Maggot		4	8
Nick’s Maggot – cont.		4	9
The Plaster Cast		4	10
The Plaster Cast – cont.		4	11
Polygamy		4	6
Polygamy, cont. & Fair Exchange		4	7
More of the Same – Cover		4	cover
More of the Same – Introduction		4	intro
More of the Same – Index		4	index

More Optimistic Dances

Doc	Music	Vol	#
Dunwich Heath		2	11
The Felton Rag		2	3
Harrow Hoedown		2	5
Mr. Bolton’s Fancy		2	6
Nora’s Christmas Box		2	12
Olive’s Toy		2	9
Primrose Hill		2	10
A Trip to Hengrave		2	4
25cc		2	8
Xanadu		2	2
More Optimistic Dances – Cover Page		2	cover
More Optimistic Dances – Introduction		2	intro
More Optimistic Dances – Index		2	index

Not All My Own Work

Doc	Music	Vol	#
Again Sweet Richard		3	5
Ali’s Allemand		3	8
Cat’s Cradle		3	12
Denis’s Delight		3	9
Here’s Howe!		3	3
Lavender’s Blue		3	11
Love and Innocence		3	10
Paddington Street		3	2
Terpsichore		3	6
Terpsichore – music		3	7
A Toast to Gerry		3	4
Not All My Own Work – Cover Page		3	cover
Not All My Own Work – Introduction		3	intro
Not All My Own Work – Index		3	index

Occasions

Doc	Music	Vol	#
Beechen Grove’s New Hall		6	10
Dr. Vincent’s Delight		6	7
A Measure for Margaret		6	6
A New Broom		6	11
Nonsuch Cottage		6	3
The Pearl		6	8
The Ruby		6	2
St. George’s Day (The Birthday of the Bard)		6	9
Trafalgar Day		6	12
Wearside		6	4
Wearside – music		6	5
Occasions Cover Page		6	cover
Occasions TOC		6	index

The Optimist

Doc	Music	Vol	#
Bigamy		1	3
Circassian Square		1	2
The Liberated Ladies		1	5
Nervous Breakdown		1	4
The Optimist		1	1
Silver Jig (Bring on the Dancing Searls)		1	8
Simple Folk		1	7
Skip Sprightly		1	10
Sue’s Fancy (The Real Needham)		1	9
A Trip to Mill Hill		1	6
The Optimist – Cover Sheet		1	cover
The Optimist – Index		1	index

People and Places

Doc	Vol	#
The Beggar’s Delight	7	9
The Beggar’s Delight – music	7	13
Cannock Chase	7	3
Cannock Chase – music	7	13
Circassian Contra	7	2
Hatfield House	7	5
Hatfield House – music	7	14
Lanchester Larks	7	11
Lanchester Larks – music	7	14
Manton Lane	7	4
Manton Lane – music	7	16
Spring Wedding	7	8
Spring Wedding – music	7	15
Stately Manor	7	10
Stately Manor – music	7	16
The Stratford Square	7	7
A Trip to Hexham	7	6
A Trip to Hexham – music	7	15
People and Places – Cover Sheet	7	cover
People and Places – Index	7	index
People and Places – Music Index	7	12

Round Robin

Doc	Vol	#
Ashworth	9	5
Cordiality	9	2
The Elixir	9	12
Fresh Fields	9	6
Gender Bender	9	10
King For A Day	9	4
Moonwalk	9	13
Moscow Nights	9	15
Orliana	9	3
Pastures New	9	7
Round Robin	9	1
Ruby Revelry	9	14
The 16th of November (2nd version)	9	8
A Southerly Breeze	9	11
Springfield Court	9	16
St. George’s Day (The Birthday of the Bard) (2nd version)	9	9
Round Robin – Cover	9	cover
Round Robin – Index	9	index

What’s New

Doc	Vol	#
Barnard Castle – Instruction	8	10
Barnard Castle – Tune	8	10
Beginner’s Luck – Instructions	8	13
Beginner’s Luck – Tune	8	13
Busy Line – Instructions	8	16
The Dancing Years – Instructions	8	1
The Dancing Years – Tune	8	1
Eat, Drink and be Merry – Instructions	8	3
Eat, Drink and be Merry – Tune	8	3
The Dancing Years – Instructions	8	8
The Dancing Years – Tune	8	8
The Great Hall – Instructions	8	14
The Great Hall – Tune	8	14
Hale Barns – Instructions	8	6
Hale Barns – Tune	8	6
Homage to Herbie – Instructions	8	17
Hope for the Best – Instructions	8	5
Hope for the Best – Tune	8	5
Love and Innocence – Instructions	8	12
Mr. McFarlane’s Surprise – Instructions	8	4
Mr. McFarlane’s Surprise – Tune	8	4
Mrs. Pike’s Maggot – Instruction	8	7
Mrs. Pike’s Maggot (Planxty Irwin) – Tune	8	7
The Octagon – Instructions	8	2
The Octagon – Tune (Dalegarth)	8	2
Resolution – Instruction	8	9
Resolution – Tune	8	9
Rydale – Instructions	8	11
Rydale – Tune	8	11
ZagZig – Instructions	8	15
ZagZig – Tune	8	15
What’s New – Cover	8	cover
What’s New – Inside Cover	8	inside cover
What’s New – Index	8	index
What’s New – Notes	8	notes

Charles Bolton’s Retreads is a collection of interpretations of 92 English country dances from 17th and 18th sources, the majority from volumes of Playford’s Dancing-Master, plus selections from Johnson, Thompson, Walsh, Burbank, Griffiths, and Kynaston.

Each dance appears with music, the original dance instructions, Charles’s interpretations, and notes on interpretative decisions.

The dances are organized in nine volumes, plus two previously unpublished interpretations. You may search by volume number, by the name of the dance or by its number. The dances are numbered consecutively throughout the volumes, so at the top of each dance you will find an identifier, for example: Retreads No. 6 (for the sixth dance in volume 1 and so on, through No. 92).

Retreads Master Index

Dance	Volume	Number
The French Ambassador	Retreads 1	1
Sir Watkin’s Jig	Retreads 1	2
Up Tails All	Retreads 1	3
A Health to Betty	Retreads 1	4
Kensington Court	Retreads 1	5
The Collier’s Daughter	Retreads 1	6
Sage Leaf	Retreads 1	7
Cockle Shells	Retreads 1	8
Rigadoon	Retreads 1	9
Bellamira	Retreads 1	10
Retreads – Vol. 1 – Cover	Retreads 1	Ret1 cover
Retreads – Vol. 1 – Index	Retreads 1	Ret1 index
Burgundy’s Flight	Retreads 2	11
My Lady Winwood’s Maggot	Retreads 2	12
The London Gentlewoman	Retreads 2	13
One More Dance and Then	Retreads 2	14
The Other Phoenix	Retreads 2	15
Twas o’er the Hills and Far Away	Retreads 2	16
The Tub	Retreads 2	17
The Brick Makers	Retreads 2	18
Ten Pound Lass	Retreads 2	19
Lincoln	Retreads 2	20
Retreads – Vol. 2 – Cover	Retreads 2
Retreads – Vol. 2 – Index	Retreads 2
Highland Wedding	Retreads 3	21
Our Happy Meeting	Retreads 3	22
Kendall House	Retreads 3	23
The Wedding	Retreads 3	24
The Mock Match	Retreads 3	25
The Lord Phoppington	Retreads 3	26
Mrs. Hill’s Dance	Retreads 3	27
Mother Brown’s Cat	Retreads 3	28
The Riddle	Retreads 3	29
Queen Bess’s Dame of Honour	Retreads 3	30
Retreads – Vol. 3 – Cover	Retreads 3
Retreads – Vol. 3 – Index	Retreads 3
The Jovial Beggars	Retreads 4	31
Prince Edward’s Jig	Retreads 4	32
Cupid’s Garden	Retreads 4	33
Petticoat Wag	Retreads 4	34
Her Killing Eyes	Retreads 4	35
Le Debauche	Retreads 4	36
All Together, One After Another	Retreads 4	37
Temple Bar	Retreads 4	38
Braes of Dornoch	Retreads 4	39
Stingo	Retreads 4	40
Retreads – Vol. 4 – Cover	Retreads 4
Retreads – Vol. 4 – Index	Retreads 4
St. Catherine	Retreads 5	41
The Galloping Nag	Retreads 5	42
Red and All Red	Retreads 5	43
Amesbury	Retreads 5	44
She Would if She Could	Retreads 5	45
The Newmarket Lass	Retreads 5	46
Cheerily and Merrily (Mr. Webb’s Fancy)	Retreads 5	47
Kingsale	Retreads 5	48
Up Goes Ely	Retreads 5	49
Lady Day	Retreads 5	50
Retreads – Vol. 5 – Cover	Retreads 5
Retreads – Vol. 5 – Index	Retreads 5
Waltham Abbey	Retreads 6	51
The Dainty Fine Bride	Retreads 6	52
The Young Widow	Retreads 6	53
Parson Upon Dorothy	Retreads 6	54
The Constant Lover	Retreads 6	55
New Man Tiger	Retreads 6	56
Donawert Pass	Retreads 6	57
Row Well, Ye Mariners	Retreads 6	58
The Merry Conceit	Retreads 6	59
Love for Love	Retreads 6	60
Retreads – Vol. 6 – Cover	Retreads 6
Retreads – Vol. 6 – Index	Retreads 6
Britain’s Glory	Retreads 7	61
The Drummer	Retreads 7	62
Hoxton Square	Retreads 7	63
Crosbey Square	Retreads 7	64
We Will Down with the French	Retreads 7	65
Jockey to the Fair	Retreads 7	66
The Devonshire Girl	Retreads 7	67
Katherine Street	Retreads 7	68
Mr. Heath’s Dance	Retreads 7	69
Wolverton Hall	Retreads 7	70
Retreads – Vol. 7 – Cover	Retreads 7
Retreads – Vol. 7 – Index	Retreads 7
Bonny Dundee	Retreads 8	71
The Hey Maker’s Dance	Retreads 8	72
The Mulberry Maid	Retreads 8	73
I Often for my Jenny Strove	Retreads 8	74
The Jockey	Retreads 8	75
Millison’s Jig	Retreads 8	76
Cheshire Rounds	Retreads 8	77
The Glory of the West	Retreads 8	78
The Last New Vagaries	Retreads 8	79
Northern Nancy	Retreads 8	80
Retreads – Vol. 8 – Cover	Retreads 8
Retreads – Vol. 8 – Index	Retreads 8
The Restoration of King Charles	Retreads 9	81
Linco	Retreads 9	82
Drive the Cold Winter Away	Retreads 9	83
Ely Minster	Retreads 9	84
Young Damon	Retreads 9	85
Lord How’s Jig	Retreads 9	86
A Trip to Nottingham	Retreads 9	87
Dunkirk	Retreads 9	88
Twas o’er the Hills and Far Away (2nd version)	Retreads 9	89
Blenheim Pound	Retreads 9	90
Retreads – Vol. 9 – Cover	Retreads 9
Retreads – Vol. 9 – Index	Retreads 9
Jack’s Health	Retreads 10	91
The Happy Captive	Retreads 10	92