How to Dance How to dance
“Bransle de l’Official” or “Toss the duchess” brawl with Robin Hood and Maid Marion 
a historically accurate cartoon princess dance.
While researching dances for my historically accurate cartoon princess dances, I came across a more accurate version of Bransle de L’Official. I could not resist the opportunity to improve on what I had done previously. So I put together all new costumes, based on more historically accurately garments for Robin Hood and Maid Marion, and found a beautiful location at Denver University Chapel to film. I taught my dance troupe the full version of Bransle de L’Official commonly known as “Toss the duchess.” The first filming is a simpler version. You should get a kick out of the improved version.
About Aransle De L’Official
A little about the Bransle de L’Official, it is danced to the melody to “Ding Dong Merrily on High.” In the Middle Ages this was a carol dance done during Yuletide celebrations, and popular through the renaissance period. Yuletide celebrations were first banned in 1647 by the puritan movement in England. Bransle de L’Official was revived and re-lyriced as “Ding dong Merrily on High” in 1848.
How to Dance Bransle de l’Official, commonly known as 
This is danced in a circle alternating gentlemen and ladies with hands joined.
A Bransle (pronounced Brawl) is a chasse with a tap on the 4th step- side, together, side tap.
Single- is a step, followed by a close, or single step to the side, single step closing. It can also be danced as a grapevine.
“Toss the Duchess”
- Dance a Bransle (Brawl) double to the left (4 count)
( Left foot side, right foot closes together, left foot side, tap right foot to left foot) - Dance a Bransle (Brawl) double to the right (4 count)
( right foot side, left foot closes to right, right foot side, tap left foot to right foot)
- Repeat a Bransle (Brawl) double to the left (4 count)
( Left foot side, right foot closes together, left foot side, tap right foot to left foot) - Dance a Bransle (Brawl) double to the right (4 count)
( right foot side, left foot closes to right, right foot side, tap left foot to right foot) - Four singles to the left (8 count)
(Each single is side left, close right foot to left foot) –
or to swish the skirts, a 8 count grapevine to the left ( side left foot, cross behind right foot, side left foot, cross in front with your right foot, repeat until you get to the 8th count) - Four kicks forward (4 count)
Left, Right, Left, Right, - Gentlemen turn to the lady on your right, place your hands on the ladies’ side, ladies place your hands on the lord’s shoulders.( two counts )
- Toss the duchess from your right side to your left side. Ladies you may jump or walk from the gentleman’s right side to the gentleman’s left side according to what you are most comfortable with. (Gentlemen do be cautious of being overly-enthusiastic about tossing; the object is not to toss ladies into the ceiling, but pass from right to left side.)
- Repeat 4 single (Side, close) or (8 count grapevine)
- Four kicks forward (4 count)
Left, Right, Left, Right, - Repeat the whole dance from the top to the left until the end of the song.
Music Selection
The song we used was:
Official Bransle Toss the Duchess featuring Brieann Chappel on the album “Dance the Knight Away”
For more fun historical learning, check out
Experience Medieval History Through the Wedding of Robin Hood and Maid Marion
About our Film location:
We filmed the Evans Chapel at Denver University Colorado. This early Gothic revival style chapel was built in downtown Denver by John Evans in the 1860’s. Rumor has it that when John Evans founded Denver University, he moved the chapel brick by brick to its current location. It is now on the National Register of Historic Places (no. 74000567)
For a little extra history on Robin Hood, Check out this video.
Click for WEDDING DANCE instruction or DANCE LESSONS. For dance tips, join my email or for personal wedding dance coaching, or adult dance classes and lessons in Littleton, located South of Denver, North of Highlands Ranch, West of Cherry Hills & Greenwood Village, East of Ken Caryl,
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Historically Accurate Princess Dances,
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