The She Favorite

The She Favorite, in triple time and originally a longways for as many as will, was reconstructed by Andrew Shaw as a 3 couple set dance and published as such in his book of the same name from 2002, the second in the collection of interpretations of the dances of Nathaniel Kynaston that Andrew has given the country dance world. The dance has the complex symmetry and delicate ornamentations of many of Andrew's more challenging reconstructions.
So, for instance, it opens with a chase figure for the first couple with the 1M in the lead, and then repeats from the bottom but with the 1W in the lead. All the while, the 2nd couple moves out of the way with a distinctive setting step, moving zig-zag to the R and then the L. The clapping figure, which puts a spotlight of sorts on the 1st couple, feels very celebratory.
Robin Hayden led us through the dance at the 2014 Lenox Assembly with her usual thoroughness, precision, and careful adherence to Andrew's high standards of how the dance should be executed. She and we were sustained in our dancing that April weekend by the sublime music provided by Karen Axelrod, keyboard; Naomi Morse, vioin; and Gene Murrow, recorders and concertina. --Paul Ross