THE SLEIGHBELL DRILL.For Twelve, or More, Boys, Ten to Twelve Years Old.Music: Any brisk march or two-step will be suitable. The music of “Jingle Bells” or any similar piece in the same kind of time may be used.Costumes described at close.
For Twelve, or More, Boys, Ten to Twelve Years Old.
Music: Any brisk march or two-step will be suitable. The music of “Jingle Bells” or any similar piece in the same kind of time may be used.
Costumes described at close.
The step for this is merely a trot, with short steps, and following the leaders closely. The wands are to be shaken in time to the music constantly, except where otherwise indicated.
1. Enter at opposite sides of rear, wands held in right hands at sides, left hands on hips.
Cross stage toward each other, meet, turn and go to front, then diagonally back to rear center. Fig. 1.
2. Leaders turn to right and left, across rear, down sides to front, across front till they meet. Fig. 2.
3. All put left hands on shoulder of next one, the one at extreme left keeps his hand on his hip. All step back diagonally with left foot one step, bend left knee, and keep right knee straight. This makes the line sink backward. At the same time extend righthand diagonally to right, shaking wand in time to music. Hold two measures.
4. Left foot and right hand back to position; hold two measures.
Fig. 1.Fig. 2.
Fig. 1.Fig. 2.
Fig. 1.Fig. 2.
5. Step diagonally back one step with right foot—bend right knee—left knee straight—right arm held directly overhead—wand shaken in time. Hold two measures.
6. Back to position, as at No. 4.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
7. Leaders turn toward rear—pass to rear—march diagonally to front at the extreme right and left—back to rear at sides—across back to center—all in the trot which is in double time. Fig. 3. In this figure,and in all of them, let every boy, in following the leader, go to the precise spot that the leader does before turning. Unless this rule is carefully followed the outlinesof the figures are lost, corners are missed, and the whole drill becomes confused instead of effective.
8. Down center to front in single file, stepping into place alternately from each side—halt.
They are now in one line, in the center, facing front. Beginning with the foremost boy as No. 1, the odd numbers bend at right angles toward the right, and stretch the wand out at the right, shaking it rapidly so as to make a quivering sound with the bells. The even numbers take wands in left hands, right hands on hips—bend to left—hold left arms at right angles—and also quiver their wands. Hold two measures.
9. All erect—hands holding wands held up overhead—all quiver wands—hold two measures. Execute these two movements, alternating, four times each.
10. Wands in right hands—left hands on hips. All to front, where they separate, the leaders turning to their own sides, right or left, and the others following. They turn backward close to the center line, and march to the rear. Sides turn right or left, then back in a loop, to the center, where they again form in a single line. Fig. 4.
11. This line, led by No. 1 (the foremost one as in No. 8), takes a line like Fig. 5—all holding wands overhead and shaking them in time to the music.
Fig. 4.Fig. 5.
Fig. 4.Fig. 5.
Fig. 4.Fig. 5.
12. When the front is reached the line separates, the leaders turning to their own side, and the others following. March to sides—up side to rear—across rear to center—where they meet, halt, front face.
13. The line now moves forward four steps—halts—and the boys, by couples, strike each other’s wands twice; the first time one strikes and the other parries, the second time reverse. Move four steps forward again, repeat the striking, and so continue to the front. (The words “march” and “move” have been used; but it must be kept in mind that unless other steps are indicated all moving is done with thetrotbefore referred to.)
14. At front repeat Nos. 3, 4, 5, 6 twice.
15. Line separates, turning to sides—up sides to rear—across rear till they meet at center, where they repeat Nos. 8, 9, 10 and 11. (Notice the difference between “No. 3,” or 4, and “Fig. 3,” or 4.)
16. When leader is at front he turns toward rear, others following in a single line, and they go in a circle, twice; the first time arms held at right angles, shaking the wands in time to music; the second time around the wands held overhead and quivered.
17. At completion of the second circle the line separates, each leader leading his line to right or left as they reach the front—across front to sides—up sides to rear, where they go out as they came in. As each boy reaches the side where he turns to go toward the exit, he reaches his wand out to the audience, gives one emphatic shake of the bell, then as he turns away lets his hand fall to his side.
Costumes of red cambric; knickerbocker trousers, jacket belted at the waist, and cut in points below the belt, each point having a small bell on it; cap like toboggan cap with bell at the point. Let the boys go in stocking feet, or with red cloth slippers. Stockings red. Each carries a stick a foot long, and one-half the size of a broom handle. This is covered with cloth like the suit, and has a bell at the tip.