A graceful, waltz-time dance done in a big circle where you and your partner face another couple
and each couple move clockwise or anticlockwise round the room...
This formation is called a
Sicilian Circle⬀.
Listen for
Couple facing Couple in a Sicilian Circle.
You may also hear the caller announcing a
Circassian Circle.
This is a distinct dance.
The dance may also include seagulls
You need a partner⬀ and find your way onto the dancefloor. You then need to find another couple and join into a big circle round the edge of the room. One couple has to face clockwise round the circle, the other faces anticlockwise.
In the little group of four, the two "men" are diagonally opposite each other
The men step back a little at the end of this to leave room for the two ladies...
Chassé⬀ means you slide sideways, without turning to face the way you are going.
You are facing your partner; still in your little group of four people.
Do it all again to get back to where you were.
Circling halfway gets you to change places with the other couple, turning you partner once and a half gets you back onto right side of your partner.
The 'little extra' to remember is that you end up facing a new couple. That is, if you started facing clockwise, you need to end up facing clockwise and vice versa. The "men" specifically have to be awake and ready for their right hand turn.
There is a variation, likely in honour of the seagulls in the Anchor Gardens in Sidmouth, where the slipping sideways is accompanied by flapping arms like seagulls in flight and two seagull-like squawks. You can ham it up...
This can be considered a counterpoint to the sometimes over-the-top waltz-time music.