THE SANDS OF ASILOMAR
dance devised by John Drewry
for the dancers of San Francisco
Strathspey – 4 couples – 32 bars.
Tune – “The Sands of Asilomar” _ See Manuscript – Tune in E flat composed by Paul Machlis

1 – 2 All turn partners with both hands half-way round and stay in the centre of the dance facing partners – 3 to 4 feet apart.

3 – 4 Joining nearer hands up and down the dance, all set to partners.

5 – 8 The men all cast off and, with 4th man leading, cross over to own sides and dance up. The women all cast up and, with 1st woman leading, cross over to own sides and dance down. All are now on own sides in the order 4,3,2,1.

9 – 10 4th couple turn with the right hand half – way round while moving down towards second place; 1st couple, similarly, turn with the right hand half-way round while moving up to third place.

11 – 12 4th and 1st couples dance right hands across half-way round to return to original places.

13 – 14 3rd and 2nd couple turn partners with the right hand half – way round.

15 – 16 3rd and 2nd couples dance right hands across half – way round to return to original places.

17 – 18 1st woman and 2nd man, (and 3rd woman and 4th man), change places passing by the right without giving hands.

19 – 20 All turn partners half – way round with both hands opening up into:-

21 – 24 1st couple with 2nd couple, and 3rd couple with 4th couple, dance four hands round to the left one and a quarter times to finish with all in the centre with nearer hands joined with partners, with 1st and 3rd couples facing down and 2nd and 4th couples facing up.

25 – 26 All set with nearer hands joined with partners. During the setting 1st and 2nd couples, and 3rd and 4th couples, change places – as in “Mary Hamilton”.

27 – 28 2nd couple dance up slightly then out into top place with a “casting off” movement; 3rd couple dance down slightly then out into fourth place with a “casting up” movement. 1st and 4th couples set again and change places while setting.

29-32 4th couple dance up between 2nd couple and cast off to second place. 1st couple dance down between 3rd couple and cast up to third place. The finishing order is 2,4,1,3.

Video: Round about Hullachan

Round about Hullachan or
Hullachan round the House
RSCDS Book 5 – No. 4
32-bar reel for any number of couples in a round-the-room
formation. Women face clockwise and men anti-clockwise.

1 – 8 All set to partners four times.
9 – 12 All dance a tulloch turn one and a half times round to the right.

13 – 16 All dance a tulloch turn twice round to the left, finishing back to back with partner and facing next man or woman.

17 – 32 Repeat bars 1-16 with new partner.

Collected in Perthshire.

Original tune: Round about Hullachan (Gow’s Collection, earlier version Bremner c.1760) This is the same tune as Reel of Tulloch.

Notes:

1. Although this is a 16-bar dance, the music is arranged as 32-bars and the dance description reflects that.

2. Traditionally danced until partners meet again but may be done any number of times.

3. The dance is also known as The Reel of Tulloch in a Circle.

Repeat from new places.

THE OWL’S NEST
32-bar jig for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1 – 2 1st and 2nd women set to each other while 1st and 2nd men set to each other.

3 – 4 1st and 2nd women change places with left hands while 1st and 2nd men change place with right hands.

5 – 6 1st and 3rd women set to each other while 1st and 3rd men set to each other.

7 – 8 1st and 3rd women change places with right hands While 1st and 3rd men change places With left hands.

9 – 16 2nd, 3rd, and 1st couples dance reel of three on their own side of the dance. To begin, 2nd and 3rd women past left shoulders while 2nd and 3rd men pass right shoulders. 3rd and 1st couples end in center ready for

17 – 24 Allemande (now order is 2, 1, 3).

25 – 32 2nd, 1st, and 3rd couples circle six hands round and back.

Repeat having passed a couple.

Devised by Marilyn Blaschke, 2005.

This dance was written for my husband, T ed, who has had the nickname “Owl ” from college days as he liked to stay up very late at night studying and hated to get up in the morning.

Lassie Frae Carry
32 bar strathspey for 2 couples in a four couple set
Craig Williams, July 2017

1 – 2 1st couple turn right hand to finish between 2nd couple, 1st man facing 2nd man, 1st woman facing 2nd woman.
3 – 4 1st couple set to 2nd couple
5 – 8 1st couple dance right shoulder around 2nd couple and pass each other left shoulder to finish 1st man facing 2nd woman, 1st woman facing 2nd man

9 – 16 1st & 2nd couple Reel of four.

17 – 20 Set with Glasgow Highlanders setting step.
21 – 24 1st and 2nd couple pull back right shoulder and cast into right hands across. Finish 1st couple facing each other up and down the set and 2nd couple in original places.

25 – 28 1st couple turn 3/4 with the right hand to finish facing up. Dance up, crossing over and cast off into 2nd place. 2nd couple step up on bars 27-28.

29 – 32 2nd & 1st couple turn once round with the right hand

Video: Dumbarton Drums

Dumbarton Drums
RSCDS Book V – No. 2
(Reel)

Bars
1 – 8 1st, 2nd and 3rd women, and at the same time, 1st, 2nd and 3rd men dance reels of three on own sides.

9 – 16 1st couple lead down the middle and up again.

17 – 24 1st and 2nd couples allemande. 1st woman finishes between 2nd couple, all three facing down, 1st man between 3rd couple, all three facing up. Fig. 1.

25 – 28 1st woman hands joined with 2nd couple, 1st man hands joined with 3rd couple, set twice across the dance. On the last two setting steps 1st couple turn to their left to positions as in Fig. 2.

29 – 32 2nd, 1st and 3rd men, and at the same time, 2nd, 1st and 3rd women join hands on the sides and set twice.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

From “A Companion to the Ballroom”, 1816.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
Bars 22-24 1st couple dance a quarter turn to face up or down the dance and retire into position between 2nd and 3rd couples.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
1-8 R shldr reels.
22-24 1st cpl ¼ turn more than usual on bar 22 to finish man facing up & woman down, before retiring to positions as in Fig. 1.
27-28 1st cpl pull left shldrs back.

Cold and Raw
24-bar jig for two couples in a four-couple longwise set
RSCDS Book 5 – No. 12

1 – 4 1st and 2nd couples dance back to back.

5 – 8 1st and 2nd couples, giving right hands, turn once round.

9 – 12 1st man dances across the set above 2nd woman, behind her and across to
2nd man’s place. At the same time 2nd man dances above 1st woman, behind her and crosses to 1st man’s place. 1st man dances in front of 2nd man to begin.

13 – 16 1st and 2nd couples clap and dance four hands once round to the left.

17 – 20 1st woman dances across the set below her partner, behind him and across to 2nd woman’s original place. At the same time 2nd woman dances below her partner, behind him and across to 1st woman’s original place. 1st woman dances in front of 2nd woman to begin.

21 – 24 2nd and 1st couples clap and dance four hands once round to the left.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

John Playford: The Complete Dancing Master (9th Edition, 1695)

Original tune: Cold and Raw (Playford 1690)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
13-16 Dancers clap as they start moving to left to form the circle shape, then join hands. (Also bar 21)

Video: Miss Emily Gordon’s Jig

Miss Emily Gordon’s Jig
32 bar Jig for 3 couples

Bars

1 – 2 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples turn with right hands half-way to face partner in the middle of the set, retaining right hands and joining left hands below the right.
3 – 6 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples slip down the middle for four steps. then slip back to the top.
7 – 8 Using two pas de basque, all three couples change places with partner, retaining joined hands but lifting right hands over the ladies’ heads to finish in allemande hold facing the top.

9 – 16 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance allemande.
On bars 15 – 16, 1st and 3rd couples dance two pas de basque to finish in the middle of the set, 1st couple facing up and 3rd couple facing down with nearer hands joined.

17 – 18 3rd and 1st couples change places, 1st couple dancing through the arch made by 3rd couple.
19 – 20 1st and 3rd couples change sides, lady dancing under her partner’s arm.
21 – 22 1st and 3rd couples change places, 3rd couple dancing through the arch made by 1st couple
23 – 24 3rd and 1st couples change sides, lady dancing under her partner’s to finish on own sides, 3rd couple in 1st place facing down and out, 1st couple in 3rd place facing up and out.

25 – 28 3rd, 2nd and 1st couples dance half reel of three on the sides, 2nd couple dancing in and down, 1st couple dancing out and up to begin.
29 – 32 1st and 2nd men turn 1 1/2 times with left hand, 1st and 2nd ladies turn 1 1/2 times with right hand.

Repeat having passed a couple.

Tune: Em’s Tattie Scones (Muriel Johnstone)

Dance devised by Bill Zobel for Emily, who has quietly supported Scottish Dance in Delta for decades and makes the best ‘Tattie Scones’ in Canada.

Note: the first figure of this dance was devised by Robert McOwen of Boston and used in his dance ‘Burns Night’, published in the Boston Branch book ‘Celebrate Fifty Years of Dancing’.

Video: Oxton Reel

Oxton Reel
144-bar strathspey for six couples in a six-couple longwise set

Part A
1 – 6 1st couple, followed by 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th couples, who dance up the sides to begin, cast off and dance down behind their own lines.

7 – 12 1st couple, meet at the bottom of the set and lead up the middle, followed by 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th couples.

13 – 16 All six couples, giving right hands, turn partners once round.

17 – 24 All six couples set to partners with simple setting steps.

Part B
1 – 12 1st couple take promenade hold and, turning to the right to begin, dance a figure of eight down and up the set, to places, followed by 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th couples.

13 – 16 All six couples, giving right hands, turn partners once round.

17 – 24 All six couples set to partners with simple setting steps.

Part C
1 – 12 All repeat bars 1 – 12 of part B, but with hands joined behind their backs.

13 – 16 All six couples, giving right hands, turn partners once round.

17 – 24 All six couples set to partners with simple setting steps.

Part D
1 – 12 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples, and also 4th, 5th and 6th couples, dance a grand chain with two steps to each hand. 1st couple and 4th couple face across, 2nd couple and 5th couple face down and 3rd couple and 6th couple face up to begin.

13 – 16 All six couples, giving right hands, turn partners once round.

17 – 24 All six couples set to partners with simple setting steps.

Part E
1 – 12 All six couples dance into the middle, and with each man behind his partner and hands on her waist, 1st and 4th couples facing down and the others facing up. 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples, and also, 4th, 5th and 6th couples, dance reels of three in tandem. To begin 1st and 2nd couples and 4th and 5th couples pass by the right.

13 – 16 All six couples, giving right hands, turn partners once round.

17 – 24 All six couples set to partners with simple setting steps.

Part F
1 – 12 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples, and also, 4th, 5th and 6th couples, dance six hands twice round to the left.

13 – 16 All six couples, giving right hands, turn partners once round.

17 – 24 All six couples set to partners with simple setting steps.

Collected at Oxton, Berwickshire.
Original tune: Cameron’s got his wife again (Bremner)

The King’s Knot
(R3x32) (3C set) Keith Dingley

1 – 8 1s dance down the middle for 3 steps, back for 3 steps and cast off 1 place (2s step up bars 7-8)

9-16 1s dance 1/2 diagonal reel of 4 with 1st corners, pass right shoulder and dance 1/2 diagonal reel of 4 with 2nd corners, 1s finish in middle right shoulder to right shoulder facing own sides

17 – 24 1s dance out own sides and cast to the right, finishing RSh to RSh in middle, M facing down/L facing up: 1s dance LHA on sides (1M with 3&2M, 1L with 3&2L)

25 – 32 1M dances down & casts up to 2nd place on ladies‘ side as 1L dances up & casts to 2nd place on men‘s side: all turn RH 1/2 times to 3 1 2

Spice It Up
32 bar jig for three couples in a three-couple longwise set

1 – 8 1st couple lead down middle and up. Stay in centre as 2nd and 3rd couples step in for…

9 – 16 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance an Allemande. (Finish 3,2, 1)

17 – 20 3rd and 2nd couples (two top couples) set and link. (Finish 2, 3,1)

21 – 24 3rd and 1st couples (two bottom couples) set and link. (Finish 2, 1, 3)

25 – 28 All three couples set and cross, giving right hands.

29 – 32 All three couples chase clockwise to own side. (Finish 3,1, 2)

Repeat from new positions.

Note: This dance also works well as a three couple dance in a four—couple set. The progression is unusual: 3, 1, 2, 4.

Devised by Merrill Heubach

Previously published in Eight by 32. Reprinted with permission from Merrill Heubach,RSCDS Nova Scotia Branch

Video: The Millville Grange

The Millville Grange
32 bar strathspey for 3 couples in a 4-couple set

1 – 7 1st couple set advancing, turn two hands once round, dance down between 3rd couple and cast up to 2nd place on own side, 211d couple step up on Bars 5 – 6

8 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance into the middle LEFT foot to join RIGHT hands with partners and face up

9 – 16 3 couple allemande, on Bars 7—8 1st couple turn by the RIGHT hand to end 1st woman between the 3rd couple (in 1st place) facing 3rd woman and 1st man between 2nd couple (in 3rd place) facing 2nd man

17 – 22 RIGHT shoulder reels of three across the set, finishing as at start of the reel

23 – 24 1st couple cast RIGHT around partners’ 2nd comer position to end back to back, 1st woman facing up and 1st man facing down while: 3rd and 2nd couples advance and retire (1 step each way) with partner

25 – 32 1st woman with 3rd couple (in 1st place) and 1st man with 2nd couple (in 3rd place) circle 3 hands round to the LEFT, 1st couple release LEFT hands and circle 6 hands round to the LEFT to opposite sides of the set, then all three couples cross over to own side with RIGHT hand to partner

Repeat having passed a couple

Devisor: Ron Wallace, December 17, 2007

Music: “The Grange Hall” by Muriel Johnstone

In 1995 Margaret Anne Schlobohm moved from our Santa Rosa(Ca1ifornia) Scottish Country Dance community to a mountain paradise in Northern California. When frustrated by the lack of Scottish Country Dance in the Redding area, she started a class. This dance celebrates the talent and charisma of the woman who started that class and pursued the art of teaching. “The Millville Grange” (which refers to the building where classes are held) and “The Grange Hall” were commissioned by the Shasta Scottish Dancers for their teacher.

Video: The Punch Bowl

The Punch Bowl
RSCDS Book 5 – No. 5
32-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1 – 4 1st couple, giving right hands, cross over and cast off one place on opposite sides.

5 – 8 1st couple, giving left hands, cross over and cast off below 3rd couple on own sides to finish with 1st woman, followed by her partner in the middle of the set facing out between 2nd and 3rd women.

9 – 16 1st woman, followed by her partner, dances between 2nd and 3rd women. 1st woman casts off round 3rd woman and 1st man casts up round 2nd woman. 1st couple meet and, giving right hands, lead between 2nd and 3rd men, cross and cast, 1st woman up round 2nd man and 1st man down round 3rd man to finish with 1st couple in the middle of the set facing down.

17 – 24 1st couple lead down the middle and up to finish facing partner in the middle of the set with both hands joined. 2nd couple step in.

25 – 32 1st and 2nd couples dance a poussette.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

David Rutherford: Compleat Collection of 200 of the most celebrated Country Dances both old and new…, London 1756.

Original tune: The Bottom of the Punch Bowl (McGibbon, 1763)

Excited States
By Kristi Closser
32-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set
Tune: Unnamed Stallion by lames MacQueen

1 – 8 1st couple with near hands joined dance down the middle and up, while 3rd couple dance up the middle and down. The couple dancing up the set form an arch (first 3rd couple, then 1st couple). 1st couple end inside the set lines, facing down, near hands joined and 3rd couple end facing up near hands joined.

9 – 16 1st and 3rd couples Petronella in tandem while 2nd couple Petronella. 1st couple end on the men’s side. 3rd couple on the women’s side. 2nd woman in the middle facing down and 2nd man in the middle facing up (bars 9-10). All set (bars 11-12). Repeat bars 9-12. finishing on opposite sides. 3, 2, 1.

17 – 24 3rd couple cross down to third place without giving hands as 1st couple dance up outside of the set to first place, and 2nd couple set (bars 17-18). 1st and 2nd couples dance three-quarters of a double figure of eight: 1st couple cross down to second place without giving hands. while 2nd couple dance up to first place. 1st couple cast up and cross down ending in second place on opposite sides, while 2nd couple cross down and cast up to end in first place on their own sides.

25 – 32 1st couple set twice and turn by the right hand one and a half times while 2nd and 3rd couples turn by the right hand once round and set twice.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

This dance is dedicated to the dancers in the San Francisco Bay Area who are still eager to dance Petronella after dancing for a full evening. Upon request, the musicians are often happy to play it after the final waltz, and commonly two or more sets spontaneously form and dance it eight times through with mostly-controlled abandon. The title refers to the arrangement of electrons that occurs after energy is added to an atom or molecule. Such excited states are often unstable until they release the energy and return to the ground state.

Copyright 2015 by Kristi Closser. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for verbatim reproduction and nonprofit d1stribution of this leaflet provided that this notice remains intact.

Video: The Threesome Reel

The Threesome Reel
RSCDS Book 6
Medley of 48-bar strathspey and 48-bar reel for three dancers

The dancers comprise a man between two women with nearer hands joined. The man may hold the corner of a handkerchief in each hand, the opposite corners of which are held by the women. Alternatively, ribbons can be used.

Strathspey
1 – 8 With eight strathspey traveling steps, the women dance round the man in opposite directions, the woman on his left keeping to the outside and the women on his right keeping to the inside and going under the arch made by the others. The man turns slowly round in the same direction as the women going under the arch, using traveling step. All finish in places.

9 – 16 All set with Highland Strathspey setting steps

17 – 48 Repeat twice with different Highland strathspey setting steps.

Reel
1 – 8 Repeat three times with Highland reel setting steps.

Collected in Perthshire and Angus

Original tunes:
Strathspey: Mrs Stewart Nicholson’s (Nathaniel Gow)
Reel: Sleepy Maggy (Bremner, 1757)

Spice It Up
32 bar jig for three couples in a three-couple longwise set

1 – 8 1st couple lead down middle and up. Stay in centre as 2nd and 3rd couples step in for…

9 – 16 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance an Allemande. (Finish 3,2, 1)

17 – 20 3rd and 2nd couples (two top couples) set and link. (Finish 2, 3,1)

21 – 24 3rd and 1st couples (two bottom couples) set and link. (Finish 2, 1, 3)

25 – 28 All three couples set and cross, giving right hands.

29 – 32 All three couples chase clockwise to own side. (Finish 3,1, 2)

Repeat from new positions.

Note: This dance also works well as a three couple dance in a four—couple set. The progression is unusual: 3, 1, 2, 4.

Devised by Merrill Heubach

Previously published in Eight by 32. Reprinted with permission from Merrill Heubach,
RSCDS Nova Scotia Branch

Salt of the Earth
32 bar strathspey for 3 couples

Bars
1 – 4 1st couple cross giving right hands and cast off two places. Meanwhile, 2nd and 3rd couples set and cross up one place, no hands given. 2nd couple finish facing out.

5 – 6 2nd couple cast off two places, while 1st couple dance up to the top and face out.

7 – 8 1st and 3rd women change places with left hands. 151 and 3rd men change places with right hands.
Order now 3, 1. 2, all on opposite sides.

9 – 12 3rd and 1st women (also 151 and 2nd men) set and dance right hands across half-way. 3rd woman and 2nd man advance towards the centre on bar 10. At the end of bar 12. 2nd man and 3rd woman are back in own corner position.

13 – 16 1st woman crosses down between 3rd and 2“d women while 1st man crosses up between 2nd and 3rd men. They then cast to 2nd place on opposite sides.

17 – 20 1st and 2nd women (also 3rd and 1st men) set and dance left hands across half-way; 3rd man and 2nd woman advance towards the centre on bar 18.
Order now 2, 1, 3, all on own sides.

21 – 24 1st woman crosses up between 2nd couple while 1st man crosses down between 3rd couple. They then cast to 2nd place on opposite sides.

25 – 30 Reels of three on the sides.
To begin: 1st couple and 2nd corners pass right shoulders.

31 – 32 1st couple cross giving right hands.

Repeat having passed a couple.

Note: Bars 31 – 32 on each 2nd repeat. 1st couple cross down to 4th place and 4th couple step up.

This dance was written for the Northwich & District Scots Society for their 60th Anniversary Year. The title was Chosen to reflect the history of salt extraction in the surrounding area.

Tune: The Old Salt Strathspey (Traditional)

Roy Goldring
2007

Video: Round about Hullachan

Book 5 – No. 4
Round about Hullachan or
Hullachan round the House

32-bar reel for any number of couples in a round-the-room
formation. Women face clockwise and men anti-clockwise.

Bars Description

1 – 8 All set to partners four times.
9 – 12 All dance a tulloch turn one and a half times round to the right.

13 – 16 All dance a tulloch turn twice round to the left, finishing back to back with partner and facing next man or woman.

17 – 32 Repeat bars 1-16 with new partner.

Collected in Perthshire.

Original tune: Round about Hullachan (Gow’s Collection, earlier version Bremner c.1760) This is the same tune as Reel of Tulloch.

Notes:

1. Although this is a 16-bar dance, the music is arranged as 32-bars and the dance description reflects that.
2. Traditionally danced until partners meet again but may be done any number of times.
3. The dance is also known as The Reel of Tulloch in a Circle.

Scotland’s Gardens
32 bar reel for 3 couple

Bars
1 – 8 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance reels of three on own sides. To begin, 1st and 2nd couples pass right shoulders.

9 – 12 1st and 2nd women (also 1st and 2nd men) turn 1 1/2 times with right hands. 1st man finishes facing out.
13 – 16 1st man, followed by his partner, casts up round 2nd man. 1st man dances down the middle to finish between the 3rd couple. 1st woman finishes between the 2nd couple. All face down.

17 – 24 All dance down the middle, turn right about and dance up. On bar 24 the 1st woman and 2nd couple turn right about to face down.

25 – 26 All set.
27 – 28 2nd and 3rd couples set as 1st couple dance a petronella turn to 2nd place on opposite side.
29 – 30 All set.
31 – 32 1st couple, giving right hands, cross to 2nd place on own side.

Repeat having passed a couple.

Note: At the end of the first turn, 1st woman finishes facing out ready to begin the reel of three. After crossing over, 1st man should pull his right shoulder back to face down ready for the reel.

To mark the Diamond Jubilee of Scotland’s Gardens Scheme, 1931 — 1991.
Tune: Joe Murphy ’s Reel (Donald Ridley) 1991

Scotland’s Gardens: The Scotland’s Gardens Scheme was founded in 1931 to support the Queen’s Nurses Benevolent Fund by opening mainly private gardens to the public on one of more days each year. In 1952 the Gardens Fund of the National Trust for Scotland became a co-beneficiary and a unique feature of the Scheme is that Owners may now select any Registered Charity of their choice to which 40% of the days takings may be allocated. This enables the Scheme to support over 150 further charities each year. The gardens that open for SGS include Scotland’s finest, are mostly privately owned and are normally inaccessible to the public at other times.

Full details of the Openings are listed in the handbook, ‘Gardens of Scotland, available from the address below from the beginning of December each year.

Scotland’s Gardens Scheme, 42a Castle Street, Edinburgh. EH2 ZBN. Scotland.

Tel: 0131 226 3714, E-mail: info@sgsgardens.co.uk