Bonfire Dance

Name: Bonfire Dance / Rince Mór na Tine
Time: Reel
Form: Everyone in one circle, partner stands next to you

1. Advance and Retire
Dance 4 Threes forward
Dance 4 Threes back

2. Rings
Dance Seven to the Right and 2 Threes in place
Dance Seven to the Left and 2 Threes in place

3. Advance and Retire again

4. Rings
Dance Seven to the Left and 2 Threes in place
Dance Seven to the Right and 2 Threes in place

5. Step In and Out
Face partner
Everyone dances Seven to the Right and immediate Seven back to Left
Turn partner half turn by the Right Hand into partner's spot
Turn partner half turn by the Left Hand back into your spot

Everyone dances Seven to the Left and immediate Seven back to Right
Turn partner half turn by the Left Hand back into partner's spot
Turn partner half turn by the Right Hand into your spot

6. The Rose
Ladies dance into the center and hold hands to make a smaller circle
Ladies dance Seven to the Right
Ladies dance 2 Threes while turning so they are facing out from the circle
Ladies rejoin hands and dance Seven to the Right and 2 Threes in place
Ladies dance out to partner and turn him by Right Hand

Gents dance into the center and hold hands to make a smaller circle
Gents dance Seven to the Left
Gents dance 2 Threes while turning so they are facing out from the circle
Gents rejoin hands and dance Seven to the Left and 2 Threes in place
Gents dance out to partner and turn her by Right Hand

7. Swing and Exchange
Couples now take crossed hands and swing each other around for about 4 bars
Gent drops Lady off on his Left side
Couples bow to each other, and bow to person on the other side of them who is now
their new partner

8. Repeat
Everyone is now back in one big circle, but with a new partner next to them
Repeat entire dance

This dance is sometimes called "The Bonfire Reel."

Some communities Advance and Retire doing 2 Threes forward and back twice instead of 4 Threes forward and back once, FYI. Either way it comes out to the same amount of time/bars of music.

More refined people dance the last swing slowly and take time to drop off their partner politely. The "real" way people dance it at parties, at least around here, is to spin like mad 'til you're good and dizzy.