The dancers take their positions as in the Virginia Reel, face to face. Commence with the music, and end each movement in exact time with it. The calls for Pop Goes the Weasel are:

The head couple repeat the figure, with each side couple in succession.

The head couple begin by taking exactly eight steps down and eight steps back.

Down the Outside.—The gentleman turns to the left, and the lady to the right, outside their respective lines back again to places.

Right Hands Across With Second Lady.—Head couple and second lady cross right hands, and swing to the left.

Three Left Hands Across.—The three drop right hands, turn, cross left hands and swing to the right. The second lady passes quickly under the raised hands of the first couple, all singing, “Pop Goes the Weasel,” to her place. The head couple repeat the same movement with the second gentleman, and so on down the set.

As soon as a couple have been “popped” they move up a step on their respective lines, so as to leave a little space between themselves and the next couple. The first couple then repeat the whole figure, turning and “popping” the next couple, and so continue throughout the set. In passing outside they do not go to the ends of the lines, but pass between the couples whom they have “popped” and the rest of the line. As soon as the first couple have turned and “popped” two or three couples, the second couple also starts, and as many couples are kept in lively motion as can dance without confusion.