Dances for June 21, 2018

Summer, Summer 2018

The Jig Is Up
By David Newitt
32 bar jig for three couples in a four-couple longwise set
Tune: The Jig Is Up by Patti Cobb

1 – 8 1st and 2nd couples dance right hands across: 1st couple cross down to second place while the 2nd couple cast up to 1st place. and taking hands on the sides all three couples set to partners.

9 – 16 Rights and lefts for 3 in 8 bars: 2nd, 1st, and 3rd couples dance the first three changes of Rights and Lefts for Three Couple: only all face to the right after the third change. then 1st couple (now on the second corner diagonal) turn by the left hand halfway while 2nd and 3rd couples chase clockwise one position (2nd woman chasing 2nd man to 3rd place, 3rd man chasing 3rd woman to 2nd place), to flow into…

17 – 20 Right hands across, 1st man down with 2nd couple, 1st woman up with 3rd couple. All finish on their own sidelines,

21 – 24 All turn partner by the right. 1st couple turning 1 1/4 times to flow into…

25 – 28 Left hands across. 1st woman down with 2nd couple, 1st man up with 3rd couple. Keep the left hands until 1st couple pass right shoulders in the middle.

29 – 32 “Snake pass”: 1st woman followed by 2nd woman and 2nd man. and 1st man followed by 3rd man and 3rd woman, pass by the right and chase around to the right to all finish in progressed places.

Repeat from progressed places.

Challenged by David Newitt to write something other than ”another beautiful waltz tune”. Patti wrote The Jig Is Up, with a nod to David’s tune, Changing lights.

The name Changing Lights arose from a story only the composer seems to find very amusing:

Friend was driving through San Francisco with her boyfriend. Stopped at a red light, she had to look away from the road, so asked, “Tell me if the light changes”.
After a moment’s thought he replied, “Yes, the light changes”. Said she. “Grrr”.
Light turned green and they proceeded to the next light, which turned yellow, then red.
Said he (in voice of wonder), “Wow – this one changes too!”

 

Scottish Ramble
Book 5 – No. 7
32-bar strathspey for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

Bars Description

1 – 8 1st couple cast Off two places, meet below 3rd couple, lead up the middle, cross and cast off to second place on opposite sides. 2nd couple step up on bars 7-8.

9 – 12 1st and 3rd couples dance four hands once round to the left.

13 – 16 1st and 2nd couples dance rights and lefts, one step for each hand. 1st man omits the polite turn and 1st couple finish facing first corners.

17 – 24 1stcouple set to and turn corners to finish between them facing first corners.

25 – 30 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance reels of three on the sides. 1st couple pass first corners by the left to begin.

31 – 32 1stcouple, giving right hands, cross over to second place on own sides.

Repeat, having passed a couple.
Caledonian Country Dances, c. 1754.
Original tune: Scottish Ramble (Caledonian Country Dances)

Scotland’s Gardens
Roy Goldring
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

Dances for June 14, 2018

Summer, Summer 2018

Video: Spanish Dance

 

Spanish Dance
A 32-bar strathspey for two couples in a four-couple set

1 – 8 1st couple dance a petronella turn and set. Repeat to finish on opposite sides.

9 – 16 1st and 2nd couples dance an interlocking knot:

9 – 10 1st and 2nd couples, giving right hands. turn into allemande hold, 1st couple facing up and 2nd couple facing down.

11 – 12 1st couple dance down the men’s side to second place while 2nd couple dance up the women’s side to first place. At the end of bar 12, all release right hands.

13 – 16 Men pass partners in front of them and all continue to turn with the left hand to finish 2nd couple in first place on own sides and 1st couple in second place on opposite sides.

17 – 24 2nd and 1st couples dance four hands round to the right and back.

25 – 32 1st couple set, giving right hands, turn halfway round to finish in the middle of the set facing each other and, pulling back by the right, dance out to own sides. 2nd and 1st couples set.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Bénédicte Bascle.
Music by Pascaline Latour.

 

Culloden’s Fancy

Book 5 – No. 10
16-bar reel for two couples in a four-couple Iongwise set

Bars Description

1 – 4 1st couple set and, giving both hands, tum once round.

5 – 8 1st and 2nd couples dance half rights and lefts. 1st couple finish in second place on opposite sides.

9 – 12 2nd and 1st couples, giving both hands, turn partners to own sides. 1st couple finish in the middle of the set, facing up with nearer hands joined.

13 – 16 1st couple dance up the middle and cast off to second place on own sides.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Caledonian Country Dances, c. 1754.
Original tune: Culloden’s Fancy (Caledonian Country Dances)

 

 

 

Arran Chase

A longwise 32 bar Reel for three couples in a four-couple set.

1 – 2 First couple cast off to second place, own sides. Second couple move up to top place.

3 – 4 First three couples set. On last step, second lady and third man face out.

5 – 8 Second and third couples dance Clockwise round second places to finish third Couple at top and second couple in third place, all on “wrong” sides.

Meanwhile, first couple turn each other by the right hand to finish facing first corners, who are now on wrong sides (first man facing third lady, first lady facing second man).

9 – 12 First couple dance diagonal half reel of four with first corners, passing each other by right on last step and facing ready to

13 – 16 Turn each other by the right hand to finish facing second corners who will be in correct places. Meanwhile, second and third couples dance clockwise round second places to finish third man in own place, second man in third lady’s place, second lady at top on own side and third lady at top on man’s side.

17 – 20 First couple dance diagonal half reel of four with Second corners.

21 – 24 First couple turn each other by the right hand, dropping hands on last step and passing right to finish back-to-back facing our to second places, own sides.

Meanwhile, second and third men, likewise second and third ladies, set to each other on the sides and change places giving right hands.

25 – 26 First three couples dance triangles on sides.

27 – 28 First couple pas -de-basque round each other by die right to face opposite sides whilst second and third couples cross to own sides giving right hands.

29 – 30 First three couples dance triangles on sides.

31 – 32 First couple dance round each other by the right to finish in second place own sides, facing out ready for repeat.

Repeat having passed a couple.

Dance Devised by Frank Reid Snr.
Tune:- lan’s Fancy – Frank Reid Jnr.

Dances for June 7, 2018

Summer, Summer 2018

May the 4th be With you
A 32-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple set

1 – 8 1st and 2nd couples dance four hands once round to the left then dance right hands across once round.

9 – 16 1st couple set, cast off one place, set then set advancing, pulling back by the right, to finish back to back in the middle of the set facing own sides. 2nd couple step up on bars 11-12.

17 – 24 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance double triangles.

25 – 32 1st and 3rd couples dance left hands across once round then dance four hands once round to the right.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Notes:
1. Hands are not released between the first and second times through so that bars 29-32 and bars 1-4 are treated as in four hands round to the right and back.
2. It is suggested that on the third time through, the 1st and- 4t’1 couples may change places by dancing bars 1-12.

Devised by Antoine Rousseau. A simple teaching dance devised on. the 4th of May 2015
for the beginners’ class and dedicated to the Paris Branch beginners.

Music by Aliénor Latour: The 4th of May.

 

Jenny’s Bawbee
24-bar strathspey for two couples in a four-couple longwise set

Bars Description

1 – 4 1st and 2nd couples set and dance half rights and lefts.
5 – 8 2nd and 1st couples set and dance half rights and lefts back to original places.

9 – 16 1st couple lead down the middle and up to finish in the middle of the set in first place facing up. 2nd couple step in.

17 – 24 1st and 2nd couples dance an allemande.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Thomas Wilson: A Companion to the Ballroom, London, 1816.

Original tune: Jenny’s Bawbee (Gow’s Collection, earlier from
Joshua Campbell, 1778)

Video: The Somerset Children’s Reel
Video: The Somerset Children’s Reel – They modified the dance to make it a 4 couple dance

The Somerset Children’s Reel
32-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

Bars Description

1 – 8 1st and 2nd couples dance right hands across and left hands back.

9 – 16 1st couple lead down for two steps, set to each other retaining right hands, lead up to the top, and cast off to second place. 2nd couple step up on bars 15—16.

17 – 24 1st and 3rd couples dance a double figure of eight. To begin, 1st couple cross down while 3rd couple dance up the sides.

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

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Elizabeth Beckinsale, RSCDS Somerset Branch, October 2015.

Dedicated to the children’s class of the RSCDS Somerset Branch. This dance includes the
children’s favourite formations. The children also helped to choose the name of the dance.

Dances for May 31, 2018

Summer, Summer 2018

 

Sorry, No Video

Carol’s Delight

32 bar strathspey for 3 couples in a 3 couple longwise set.

1 – 12 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance rights and lefts for three couples.

13 – 16 1st couple dance down between the 3rd couple and cast up into second place. 2nd couple dance up and face out in top place on bars 15 – 16.

17 – 24 All three couples dance a mirror reels of three on own sides. 1st couple dance in and up; 2nd couple dance out and down and the 3rd couple dance in, face down and cast out and up into the reel. 2nd and 3rd couples dance the long way into place at the end of the reel.

25 – 32 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance the knot.

(Finish 3,1,2.)
Repeat from new positions.

For Carol Aitken to mark a significant birthday.

© Devised by Francis Walduck, Brisbane, Queensland Branch RSCDS, May 2004.
Suggested Music: The Silver Star Strathspey, track 8, The Complete Caledonian Ball – Rob Gordon and his Band.

 

Sorry, no video.

Book 5 – No. 1
Teviot Bridge
24-bar jig for two couples in a four-couple longwise set

Bars Description

1 – 8 1st couple, giving right hands, turn two and a half times to finish on opposite sides.

9 – 12 1st man and 2nd woman, and 1st woman and 2nd man, giving left hands, turn one and a half times to finish with 2nd couple in first place on own sides and 1st couple in second place on opposite sides.

13 – 16 1st and 2nd couples dance a half ladies’ chain. 1st couple finish by turning halfway with the left hand and 2nd couple by turning once round with the left hand to face partners.

17 – 24 1st and 2nd couples dance a poussette.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

The poussette is danced as follows:
17 – 18 Two pas de basque steps across the set, 1st couple to the men’s side, 2nd couple to the women’s side.
19 Pulling with right hands, quarter turn.
20 Progress up or down on sides and quarter turn.
21 Dance into middle.
22 Pulling with right hands, turn halfway round.
23 – 24 Retire to sidelines having changed places.

 

Video: The Edinburgh Toy Shop

The Edinburgh Toy Shop
32-bar jig for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

Bars Description

1 – 6 1st couple set, dance down two places, and cast up round 3rd couple into second place. 2nd couple step up on bars 3 – 4.

7 – 8 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples, joining hands on the sides, set.

9 – 12 1st woman dances a half figure of eight round 2nd couple while 1st man dances a half figure of eight round 3rd couple, to finish in second place on opposite sides.

13 – 16 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples, joining hands on the sides, set. 1st couple, giving left hands, turn to face first corners.

17 – 24 1st couple turn first corners with the right hand, pass partner by the right shoulder, turn second corners with the right hand and, passing by the right shoulder, cross over to second place on own sides. Corners dance for two bars.

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

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Ethan Bailey, San Francisco Branch, March 2016.

The deviser went with his family to Scotland in 2006 and, although not quite four years old, remembers the toys in the ”gift shoppe” at Edinburgh Castle, especially the foam swords.

Dances for May24, 2018

Summer, Summer 2018

Video: And for the Young Ones

Video: And for the Young Ones

 

And for the Young Ones
32-bar jig for four couples in a square set

Bars Description

1 – 8 All, joining hands in a circle, advance and retire twice.

9 – 16 All turn partner with the right hand and then with the left hand.

17 – 24 All, joining both hands with partner, slip towards the centre for 2 bars, clap four times, slip back to places for 2 bars, and clap four times.

25 – 28 All dance back to back with partner.

29 – 32 All dance one quarter of the way round the set, the women moving clockwise and the men moving anti-clockwise, passing partner and one more dancer by the right shoulder to meet a new partner.

Repeat from new positions.

Devised by Anne Dejean, Lyon Branch, March 2016.

Note: After doing the dance twice, everyone is with their partner again, half way round the set, and after doing the dance two more times everyone is back in original places.

This dance was devised for lessons in a nursery school. It was first meant to be danced in one big circle with the woman on her partner’s right and without a progression.

 

No Video.

Mr Graham W Donald

32 bar strathspey for 3 couples in a Iongwise set.

Bars

1 – 8 1st and 2nd couples set and rotate. 1st couple finish facing out in 2nd place on own sides.

9 – 12 1st couple dance clockwise halfway round the set, while 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance right hands across once round to place.

13 – 16 1st couple turn two hands 1 1/4 times to finish 1st man between 3rd couple facing up and 1st lady between 2nd couple facing down.

17 – 18 All take hands across the set, all set advancing, dropping hands, to finish right shoulder to right shoulder with the person opposite to form a line across the set in 2nd place.

19 – 22 All dance to the right and chase clockwise back to three and three across the set with the 2nd and 3rd couples having changed sides.

23 – 24 2nd and 3rd couples change places on the sides giving right hands, while 1st couple turn two hands in the middle of the set opening out to face up. 1st lady is on her partner’s left.

25 – 28 1st couple, nearer hands joined, dance up between the 3rd couple, who are now in top place. 1st couple cast off to 2nd place on the opposite sides.

29 – 32 3rd, 1st and 2nd couples turn two hands 1 1/2 times to finish on own sides.

Repeat from new positions.

Dance for Graham Donald on the occasion of his 501″ birthday, TAC Summer School 31 July 2009

© Devised by Francis Walduck, Brisbane, Queensland Branch RSCDS, January 2009.
Suggested Music: ‘Muriel Johnstone’s Compliments to Graham Donaid’ by Muriel Johnstone.

 

Video: Pluto’s Head

Video: Pluto’s Head

Pluto’s Head
32-bar reel for two couples in a four-couple longwise set

Bars Description

1 – 4 1st man and 2nd woman tum with the right hand.

5 – 8 1st and 2nd couples dance four hands once round to the left.

9 – 12 1st woman and 2nd man turn with the left hand.

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

17 – 24 1st couple lead down for 3 bars, lead up for 3 bars, and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 23—24.

25 – 32 2nd and 1st couples dance rights and lefts.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Susan McKinnell, Chicago Branch, September 1999.

The deviser explains, ”The name for this dance came from a trip to Disneyquest where I attended
the Animation Station and learned to draw Pluto’s head: draw circles for the basic outline, add
meridian lines for reference, and then fill in the details. It seemed to match the structure of this
dance. ”

Dances for May 7, 2018

Ardbrae, Ardbrae 2018

Video: Sarona

SARONA
dance devised by John Drewry
for San Francisco Branch of the R.S.C.D.S.
Strathspey – 4 couples — 32 bars.
Tune – “Sarona” by J. Scott Skinner — “The Scottish Violinist” page 49.
In this dance 3rd and 4th couples start on wrong sides.

1–2 1st couple and 4th couple dance petronella-wise into the centre of the dance to form a straight line down the centre with 1st man and 4th man back to back in the middle of the line (2nd couple step up about half a place, while 3rd couple step down about half a place).

3–4 All set to partners in two diamond formations.

5–8 1st couple with 2nd couple, and 3rd couple with 4th couple dance right hands across to the same positions as at the end of Bar 2.

9–12 1st couple and 4th couple dance half a reel of four down the centre of the dance.

13–14 4th couple change places with one another, passing by the right, while 1st couple, similarly, change places with one another. The dancers should still be in a straight line down the centre at the end of Bar 14.

15–16 4th man turns 2nd lady with both hands three quarters round, while 4th lady turns 2nd man with both hands three quarters round to form a straight line across the dance with 4th couple between 2nd couple.

1st man, similarly, turns 3rd lady with both hands, while 1st lady turns 3rd man with both hands to form a straight line across the dance with 1st couple between 3rd couple.

17–20 2nd couple with 4th couple, and 3rd couple with 1st couple, dance half reels of four across the dance.

21–22 2nd couple dance into the centre (passing the 4th couple by the right) then they pass one another by the right to finish in top place facing down with 2nd lady on the left of 2nd man.

3rd couple, similarly, dance into the centre (passing 1st couple by the right), then they pass one another by the right to finish in fourth place facing up with 3rd lady on the left of 3rd man.

4th lady dances out to the ladies’ side, passing 2nd man by the right, then down on the side to second place. 1st lady dances out to the men’s side, passing 3rd man by the right, then up on the side to third place.

4th man dances out to the men’s side, passing 2nd lady by the right, then, pulling his left shoulder back, he dances down to second place.

1st man, similarly, dances out to the ladies’ side, passing 3rd lady by the right, then, pulling his left shoulder back, he dances up to 3rd place.

23–24 With 2nd and 3rd couples and 4th man and 1st lady, and 1st man and 4th lady joining nearer hands, all set in a square formation.

25–26 2nd couple, 4th man with 1st lady, 1st man with 4th lady, and 3rd couple, advance one step to form a circle, then releasing hold of hands they dance in slightly and pull right shoulder back to face out. (This second step is almost a turning on the spot and care should be taken to preserve the circular formation).

27–28 All dance out clockwise in a chase.

29–32 Eight hands round to the left to finish on the side lines in the order 2,4,1,3 with 1st and 3rd couples on wrong sides.

 

No Video for this dance.

TACTFUL DANCERS
32-bar hornpipe for 3 couples in a 4-couple set
Music: David Jones’s Locker, by Chris Dewhurst, or similar hornpipe

1-4 1st and 2nd men, and 1st and 2nd women, facing on the sides, set and turn half way, men with left hand and women with right hand. 2nd couple make polite turns as they finish in top place.

5-8 1st and 3rd men, giving right hands, turn once round; meanwhile, 1st and 3rd women, giving left hands, turn once round.

9-10 1st couple change places with second corners (2nd woman and 3rd man) giving left hands.

11-12 Original second corners (now in 2nd place on opposite sides) change places with first corners (2nd man and 3rd woman) giving right hands.

13-14 Original first corners (now in 2nd place on opposite sides) change places with 1st couple (in 2nd corner positions) giving left hands.

15-16 Giving right hands to partner, all cross over and face in, pulling right shoulder back. Dancers are now on opposite sides in the order 312.

17-24 Dance set and link for 3 couples, twice, to finish on own side in the order 213.

25-32 Circle six hands round and back.

Repeat having passed a couple.

Devised by Chris Ronald, August 2016, in honour of Elizabeth Woodbury.

Notes:
The dance recognizes Elizabeth’s love of sailing, particularly J27s which can have a crew of six.

Bars 1-8 depict greeting the other crew members; bars 9-16 tacking, bars 17-24 ‘all hands on deck’, and bars 25-32 celebrate the successful conclusion of an event.

The title alludes to the tacking figure on bars 9-16. The figure was inspired by a similar movement in Iain Boyd’s dance: The Cashmere Shawl. In that dance right hands are given first, but in this dance left hands are given first, since the starboard tack has right-of-way over the port tack! PS. I find it helps to teach bars 9-16 first.

Dances for April 30, 2018

Ardbrae, Ardbrae 2018

Video: MacLeod’s Fancy

MacLeod’s Fancy
RSCDS Book XXXIII – No.3
(Jig)

1–2 1st and 4th couples set facing diagonally inwards.

3–8 1st man and 4th woman turn with the right hand three-quarters round; 1st man dances through 4th man’s place and casts up to his original place, while 4th woman dances through 1st woman’s place and casts off to her original place. Meanwhile, 1st woman casts off to 4th woman’s place, and 4th man casts up to 1st man’s place; they turn with the right hand three-quarters round to return to their original places where they stay facing out.

9–16 All dance reels of four on own sides and finish as though going to repeat the reels.

17–18 1st and 2nd men, 1st and 2nd women, 3rd and 4th men, and 3rd and 4th women, turn with the right hand half-way round to bring 1st and 4th couples into the middle of the set where they give left hands across and retain hold of the 2nd and 3rd couples with the right hand to form a St. Andrew’s Cross.

19–20 All set in the “Cross” formation.

21–24 1st and 2nd men, 1st and 2nd women, 3rd and 4th men, and 3rd and 4th women turn with the right hand once round, releasing hands at the end of bar 23 so that 1st couple can dance down to third place and 4th couple can dance up to second place. (1st man and 4th woman make polite turn.) The order is now 2, 4, 1, 3.

25–26 1st and 4th couples, joining nearer hands on the sides, set to partners.

27–28 1st and 4th couples cross over to opposite sides – the women retaining hold of nearer hands and dancing between their partners. On reaching opposite sides, the women turn away from each other, while the men turn toward each other.

29–32 4th couple, joining right hands, lead up between 2nd couple crossing over to own sides and cast off to second place, while 1st couple joining left hands, lead down between 3rd couple crossing over to own sides and cast up to third place.

Repeat from new places.

Devised by John Drewry. Inscribed to Duncan MacLeod of Glasgow.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
21–24 All dance for 4 bars.

 

 

Video: The Ribblesdale Strathspey

Video: The Ribblesdale Strathspey

The Ribblesdale Strathspey
The Ribble Valley Book of Scottish Country Dances

A 32-bar strathspey for a 3-couple set.
Tune: The Ribblesdale Strathspey.

1–12 The 1st, 2nd, & 3rd couples dance rights and lefts for three couples.

13 The 1st couple start mirror setting movement down the set, the man going to his right and the lady to her left, advancing to finish with both hands joined.

14 The 1st couple finish mirror setting movement, moving back up the set and releasing the top hands.

15–16 The 1st couple cast into 2nd place, the man leading with his right foot and the lady leading with her left foot as the joined hands are brought through the middle before releasing. 2nd couple step up.

17–24 The 2nd and 1st couples dance a poussette right round.

25–32 The 1st couple dance a figure of 8 round the 2nd couple, momentarily giving left hands on the first crossing and right hands on the second crossing. The 3rd couple step up on the last 2 bars as the 1st couple dance into 3rd place.

Repeat with a new leading couple.

Jeff Middleton composed this dance for the Ribble Valley Branch in recognition of the continuing success of the Branch. 16 October 2008.

Dances for May 23, 2018

Ardbrae, Ardbrae 2018

TACTFUL DANCERS
32-bar hornpipe for 3 couples in a 4-couple set
Music: David Jones’s Locker, by Chris Dewhurst, or similar hornpipe

1-4 1st and 2nd men, and 1st and 2nd women, facing on the sides, set and turn half way, men with left hand and women with right hand. 2nd couple make polite turns as they finish in top place.

5-8 1st and 3rd men, giving right hands, turn once round; meanwhile, 1st and 3rd women, giving left hands, turn once round.

9-10 1st couple change places with second corners (2nd woman and 3rd man) giving left hands.

11-12 Original second corners (now in 2nd place on opposite sides) change places with first corners (2nd man and 3rd woman) giving right hands.

13-14 Original first corners (now in 2nd place on opposite sides) change places with 1st couple (in 2nd corner positions) giving left hands.

15-16 Giving right hands to partner, all cross over and face in, pulling right shoulder back. Dancers are now on opposite sides in the order 312.

17-24 Dance set and link for 3 couples, twice, to finish on own side in the order 213.

25-32 Circle six hands round and back.

Repeat having passed a couple.

Devised by Chris Ronald, August 2016, in honour of Elizabeth Woodbury.

Notes:
The dance recognizes Elizabeth’s love of sailing, particularly J27s which can have a crew of six.

Bars 1-8 depict greeting the other crew members; bars 9-16 tacking, bars 17-24 ‘all hands on deck’, and bars 25-32 celebrate the successful conclusion of an event.

The title alludes to the tacking figure on bars 9-16. The figure was inspired by a similar movement in Iain Boyd’s dance: The Cashmere Shawl. In that dance right hands are given first, but in this dance left hands are given first, since the starboard tack has right-of-way over the port tack! PS. I find it helps to teach bars 9-16 first.

Video: Strathglass House

Video: Strathglass House

Video: Strathglass House

Strathglass House
Book 13 – No. 9
32-bar strathspey for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1–4 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples set and dance six hands round to the left halfway.

5–8 3rd, 2nd and 1st couples repeat bars 1-4 to original places, again moving to the left.

9–12 1st couple lead down, cross over below 2nd couple and dance behind 3rd couple to meet below them facing up.

13–16 1st couple lead up to the top and cast off one place on opposite sides to face first corners. 2nd couple step up on bars 15-16.

17–24 1st couple turn first corner with right hand, partner with the left hand, second corner with the right hand, partner with the left hand to finish between corners.

25–28 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples advance and retire.

29–32 1st couple, giving both hands, turn one and a half times to finish in second place on own sides.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

R Bremner:
A Second Collection of Scots Reels or Country Dances c. 1765.

Original tune:
Mr Muir Mackenzie’s Favourite (Mr Sharpe of Hoddom)

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TACNotes:’
1 – 8 On second setting step (bars 2 & 6) 1st man & 3rd woman must begin to move into circle shape so that the half circle is completed in two steps (bars 3-4 & 7-8).
13 – 16 Nearer hand lead. 2nd cpl step up on bars 15-16.

Dances for April 16, 2018

Ardbrae, Ardbrae 2018

Video: Sarona

SARONA
dance devised by John Drewry
for San Francisco Branch of the R.S.C.D.S.
Strathspey – 4 couples — 32 bars.
Tune – “Sarona” by J. Scott Skinner — “The Scottish Violinist” page 49.
In this dance 3rd and 4th couples start on wrong sides.

1–2 1st couple and 4th couple dance petronella-wise into the centre of the dance to form a straight line down the centre with 1st man and 4th man back to back in the middle of the line (2nd couple step up about half a place, while 3rd couple step down about half a place).

3–4 All set to partners in two diamond formations.

5–8 1st couple with 2nd couple, and 3rd couple with 4th couple dance right hands across to the same positions as at the end of Bar 2.

9–12 1st couple and 4th couple dance half a reel of four down the centre of the dance.

13–14 4th couple change places with one another, passing by the right, while 1st couple, similarly, change places with one another. The dancers should still be in a straight line down the centre at the end of Bar 14.

15–16 4th man turns 2nd lady with both hands three quarters round, while 4th lady turns 2nd man with both hands three quarters round to form a straight line across the dance with 4th couple between 2nd couple.

1st man, similarly, turns 3rd lady with both hands, while 1st lady turns 3rd man with both hands to form a straight line across the dance with 1st couple between 3rd couple.

17–20 2nd couple with 4th couple, and 3rd couple with 1st couple, dance half reels of four across the dance.

21–22 2nd couple dance into the centre (passing the 4th couple by the right) then they pass one another by the right to finish in top place facing down with 2nd lady on the left of 2nd man.

3rd couple, similarly, dance into the centre (passing 1st couple by the right), then they pass one another by the right to finish in fourth place facing up with 3rd lady on the left of 3rd man.

4th lady dances out to the ladies’ side, passing 2nd man by the right, then down on the side to second place. 1st lady dances out to the men’s side, passing 3rd man by the right, then up on the side to third place.

4th man dances out to the men’s side, passing 2nd lady by the right, then, pulling his left shoulder back, he dances down to second place.

1st man, similarly, dances out to the ladies’ side, passing 3rd lady by the right, then, pulling his left shoulder back, he dances up to 3rd place.

23–24 With 2nd and 3rd couples and 4th man and 1st lady, and 1st man and 4th lady joining nearer hands, all set in a square formation.

25–26 2nd couple, 4th man with 1st lady, 1st man with 4th lady, and 3rd couple, advance one step to form a circle, then releasing hold of hands they dance in slightly and pull right shoulder back to face out. (This second step is almost a turning on the spot and care should be taken to preserve the circular formation).

27–28 All dance out clockwise in a chase.

29–32 Eight hands round to the left to finish on the side lines in the order 2,4,1,3 with 1st and 3rd couples on wrong sides.

Video: The Sailor

Video: The Sailor

The Sailor
RSCDS Book 24 – No. 4
32-bar hornpipe for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1–2 1st couple, giving right hands, cross down, 1st woman to face 2nd and 3rd men, 1st man to face 2nd and 3rd women. 2nd couple step up.

3–4 1st woman with 2nd and 3rd men and 1st man with 2nd and 3rd women, joining nearer hands, set. (Fig.)

5–8 1st woman casts up round 2nd man to finish between 2nd couple, all facing down; 1st man casts down round 3rd woman to finish between 3rd couple, all facing up. All set in lines of three across.

9–16 1st woman with 2nd couple and 1st man with 3rd couple dance reels of three across the set. To begin, 1st woman and 2nd man, 1st man and 3rd woman pass by the right. 1st couple finish in second place on opposite sides.

17–24 1st couple lead down the middle (two steps) and up, cross at the top and cast off one place on own sides.

25–32 2nd and 1st couples dance rights and lefts.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Collected by Miss Jenny MacLachlin.
Original tune: The Davy Hornpipe (Traditional)

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TACNotes:’
3-4 Note Fig. – not a double triangles position.
5-8 Cast – not a right hand turn with 2nd man and 3rd woman.

Dances for April 9, 2018

Ardbrae, Ardbrae 2018

Video: The Peat Fire Flame

Video: The Peat Fire Flame

THE PEAT FIRE FLAME
THE BON ACCORD BOOK OF SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCES by John Drewry
Reel – 3 couples – 40 bars.
Tune – “The Peat Fire Flame’.

1–6 1st couple cast off one place, then dance half a figure of eight round 2nd couple to finish in second place on the wrong sides. (2nd couple move up on 1-2).

7–8 1st couple turn by the left hand to face first corners.

9–12 1st couple turn first corners by the right hand then pass each other by the right shoulder to face second corners.

13–16 1st couple turn second corners by the left hand then pass each other by the left shoulder to face first corners again.

17–20 1st couple dance half a reel of four with their first corners, then pass each other by the left shoulder to go into:-

21–24 A half reel of four with second corners. 1st couple finish facing first corners again, who are now on the wrong side of the dance.

25–26 1st couple set to first corners.

27–28 1st couple, with two skip change of step, dance round one another to the right to finish facing second corners.

29–30 1st couple set to second corners.

31–32 1st couple, with two skip change of step, dance round one another to the right to finish in second place on wrong sides facing out.

33–36 2nd and 3rd couples dance half rights and lefts to bring them back to their own sides in top and third places (omit the polite turns at the end because the dancers finish two places apart). 1st man casts off to below third place on the ladies’ side and then dances up the centre of the dance to meet his partner, who casts up to above top place on the men’s side and then dances down the centre of the dance.

37–40 1st couple turn by the right hand one and a quarter times to finish in second place on own sides, but stay facing out ready to cast off at the beginning of the next turn of the dance. 2nd and 3rd couples turn by the right hand.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

NOTE: At the end of the second turn of the dance, the original 1st couple, who must go to fourth place, finish facing out at the end of the right hand turn. Then, on the first two steps of the new turn, they cast off to fourth place, while the new top couple cast off to second place.

 

Video: John McAlpin

JOHN McALPIN
(Strathspey)
Hugh Foss, Galloway Album (1964)

1–2 1st couple advance (one step), take right hands, let go and retire (one step).

3–4 Then, giving left hands, cross over and turn left about.

5–6 1st couple, taking right hands, lead down to 2nd place, centre of the dance (2nd couple move up), and

7–8 Turn by the left hand (see Fig. 1).

9–16 1st couple turn first corner by the right hand, partner by the left, second corner by the right, and, giving left hands to partners, cross back to own sides, 2nd place.

17–18 1st, 2nd and 3rd women, taking hands, set.

19–20 They advance (two steps), while the three men, taking hands, set.

21–24 The women retire (two steps) and set, while the men advance and retire.

25–26 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples cross over, giving right hands, form a circle (see Fig. 2) and

27–28 Dance six hands half round to the left.

29–32 They cross over again, giving left hands, form a circle (see Fig. 3) and dance six hands half round to the right.

Repeat, having passed a couple.