SWEETS OF MAY (North Ireland)
Solaisai na Bealtain (so-law-shee'nuh byowl'-thuh-nuh). Taken from Viltis

Music—Record: Riverside 7525 "Come to the Ceili" National N-4514. 8 meas introduction Formation—4 cpls in square, cpl 1 with backs to music, numbered CCW around square. Steps—Sevens and Threes, in jig time. On balls of feet in relaxed easy style. Joined hands at shoulder height. I. SIDESTEP IN CIRCLE A 1-4 All circle L with sidestep (1 seven and 2 threes) to L. 5-8 Circle back to place with sidestep to R. On last "three" take an extra step R (meas 8, ct 5) to adjust wt for next step. 1-4 Continue to circle R with sidestep to R. 5-8 Circle back to place with sidestep to L. repeated II. CHORUS (a) PROMENADE ACROSS B 9-10 Ptrs join inside hands at shoulder height, out- side hands free. Cpls 1 and 3 exchange places through the ctr of the set with two threes, M passing L shoulders. Cpls 2 and 4 dance two threes in place. 11-12 All dancing two threes, cpls 2 and 4 exchange places while cpls 1 and 3 release hands, turn individually, M ½ CW, W ½ CCW, and join new inside hands at shoulder height. 13-14 With two threes, cpls 1 and 3 return to original places through the ctr of the set, W passing L shoulders, while cpls 2 and 4 turn individually. 15-16 With two threes, cpls 2 and 4 return, while cpls 1 and 3 turn individually, M ½ CCW, W ½ CW. (b) FORWARD AND BACK 9-10 With two threes, cpls 1 and 3 move fwd twd repeated each other, while cpls 2 and 4 repeat the action of cpls 1 and 3 in Fig II(a), meas 15-16. 11-12 With two threes, cpls 2 and 4 move fwd twd each other, while cpls 1 and 3 move bwd into place. 13-14 With two threes, cpls 1 and 3 move fwd again, while cpls 2 and 4 move bwd. 15-16 Cpls 2 and 4 do two threes in place, while cpls 1 and 3 move bwd into place. (c) CLAP AND CHANGE C 17 All face ctr of set and clap thighs twice (cts 1, 4). 18 Clap own hands together twice (cts 1, 4). 19-20 Repeat action of Fig II(c), meas 17-18. 21-24 Exchange places with ptr with one sidestep, M to R and W to L, W passing in front. 17-24 Repeat action of Fig II(c), meas 17-24, re- repeated turning to original places, M moving to L and W to R, M passing in front.

III. LEAD AROUND D 25-32 Ptrs with inside hands joined at shoulder height face CCW around the set and lead around (promenade) with 8 threes. Release hands and turn individually M ½ CW, W ½ CCW on last 2 meas. 25-32 Join new inside hands and promenade back to repeated original places. IV. CHORUS 1-32 Repeat entire action of Fig II. V. ARCHES A 1-2 Ptrs join inside hands. Cpls 1 and 2 face each other. Cpls 3 and 4 face each other. Cpls 1 and 3 raise joined inside hands forming an arch, and all move fwd with two threes, cpls 2 and 4 going under the arches made by cpls 1 and 3. 3-4 All release hands and turn individually, M ½ CW, W ½ CCW, with two threes. Join new inside hands. 5-6 Cpls 2 and 4 make the arches while cpls 1 and 3 go under and back to original places. 7-8 Ptrs join both hands and turn ½ CW with two threes finishing so that cpls 1 and 4 face each other and cpls 2 and 3 face each other, W on M R. 1-6 Repeat action of Fig V, meas 1-6 facing new repeated cpl. 7-8 All release hands and turn individually to face repeated ctr of set, M ½ CCW, W ½ CW. VI. CHORUS 1-32 Repeat entire action of Fig II. All join hands in a circle on last 2 meas. VII. THREAD THE NEEDLE D 25-32 No. 1 M and No. 4 W release hands. Cpl 1 raise joined hands to form an arch. No. 4 W dance under the arch leading the others behind her. She passes behind No. 1 W and moves CCW back to original place in the circle with 8 threes in all. No. 1 W turn once CCW under her L hand joined with ptr R to reform circle. 25-32 Repeat action of Fig VII, meas 25-32 with repeated cpl 4 forming the arch while No. 1 M leads the others through and around CW. No. 4 M turn CW under his hand joined with ptr. VII. SIDESTEP IN CIRCLE E 33-40 All join hands in single circle and repeat entire action of Fig I. 33-40 repeated