This triple-minor dance has the first and third couples moving around the second couple. This dance keeps most of the dancers moving most of the time, and is fun both to dance and to watch.
There are many surviving eighteenth century texts, from both England and America, that contain versions of dances to this tune. Our reconstruction is based on versions from four sources.
Here is a list of some of the figures used in Eighteenth-century dances, with explanations of how they are danced. Because of the quantity of figures, and the different definitions that were given at different times, this list will probably never be complete, but if there is a figure which you would like defined or clarified, please let us know. Continue reading
The earliest known version of the dance Ashley’s Ride in North America is found in a manuscript by Nancy Shepley of Pepperell, Massachusetts, circa 1794. This is a hand-written manuscript of over 50 dances (dance figures are included, but no tune). Nancy Shepley’s manuscript was sent to us courtesy, American Antiquarian Society. Thank you to them for their support!
There is, as well, a copy of a dance called “Ashley’s Ride” in a book entitled Twenty Four Country Dances for the year 1790. With proper tunes and directions to each dance, etc. by W. Campbell, published in London in 1789 or 1790. The dance figures in Campbell are quite different from the figures in the Shepley manuscript, but it is interesting that the tune apparently was first introduced in England and moved to New England after the American Revolution. Continue reading