Video: The Scallywag

The Scallywag
RSCDS Book 51
40-bar jig for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1 – 4 1st couple dance in towards each other almost to touch shoulders and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 3 – 4.

5 – 8 1st couple, giving left hands, turn one and a quarter times to face first corners.

9 – 12 1st couple set to first corners and, giving right hands, turn to finish 1st woman facing 2nd woman and 1st man facing 3rd man.

13 – 16 All dance half reels of three across the set, passing left shoulders to begin and finishing in lines of three facing up and down the set.

17 – 20 Taking hands, all advance and retire.

21 – 24 1st couple dance round each other by the right shoulder to finish facing third corners (second corner person in partner’s first corner position).

25 – 32 Repeat bars 9 – 16 from new positions. 2nd and 3rd couples finish the half reels of three on own sides facing in, while 1st couple finish facing each other up and down the set.

33 – 34 1st couple set advancing and take right hands.

35 – 36 1st woman turns under her partner’s right arm while setting (pulling back her right shoulder) as 1st man sets moving slightly towards the women’s side. They finish side by side in the middle of the set, facing up, 1st woman on her partner’s left, retaining right hands.

37 – 40 1st couple lead up, cross over above 2nd couple, and cast off to second place on own sides.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

On the last two bars of the second time through, 1st coup1e cast to the bottom of the set.

Devised by Jennifer P Kelly, RSCDS San Francisco Branch, February 1997.

An appropriately flirtatious dance devised to honour Mikkel Thompson on reaching his half century.

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Video: Friendships

Friendships
Jennie Miller, RSCDs Third Book of Graded SCDs
32-bar strathspey for four couples in a four-couple longwise set

1 – 4 1st couple dance down between 2nd couple and cast up one place; 3rd couple dance down between 4th couple and cast up one place.

5 – 8 1st and 2nd couples, 3rd and 4th couples dance four hands once round to the left.

9 – 12 2nd couple dance up between 1st couple and cast off one place; 4th couple dance up between 3rd couple and cast off one place.

13 – 16 1st and 2nd couples, 3rd and 4th couples dance four hands once round to the right.

17 – 20 1st and 2nd couples set and dance right hands across halfway.

21 – 24 1st and 3rd couples set and dance left hands across halfway.

25 – 28 1st and 4th couples set and dance right hands across halfway.

29 – 32 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 1st couples set and, giving right hands to partner, cross over.

Repeat from new positions.

Devised by Jennie Miller, New Zealand Branch.

The movements and involvement of all the dancers in this dance depict the interaction with special and more casual friends when dancing a Scottish country dance.

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Video: Follow Me Home

Follow Me Home
RSCDS Book 38 – No. 3

1 – 8 1st couple set and, giving right hands, cross over and cast off one place on opposite sides. 1st couple, giving left hands, turn to join right hands with first corners in balance in line position. 2nd couple step up on bars 5-6.

9 – 10 1st couple and first corners balance in line.

11 – 16 Releasing left hands with partner, 1st couple turn first corners halfway. 1st couple, followed closely by first corners, dance clockwise halfway round the set, passing behind second corners. 1st couple dance in to join right hands with partner and left hands with second corners. 3rd woman finishes in 1st man’s place and 2nd man finishes in 3rd woman’s place.

17 – 18 1st couple and second corners balance in line.

19 – 24 Releasing left hands with partner, 1st couple turn second corners halfway. 1st couple, followed closely by second corners, dance anticlockwise halfway round the set, passing behind 1st corners. 1st couple pass each other by the left to finish in second place on opposite sides facing out. 3rd man finishes in 1st woman’s place and 2nd woman finishes in 3rd man’s place. All are on opposite sides in the order 3, 1, 2.

25 – 28 3rd , 1st and 2nd couples dance half reels of three on the sides, 3rd and 1st men and 1st and 2nd women passing by the left to begin.

29 – 32 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples set and, giving right hands to partners, cross over.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Ellie Briscoe, Alexandria, Virginia.
Original tune: Miss Catherine Stewart, Pettyvaich (William Marshall)

The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
Bars 11-16 The half turns should be completed in one bar to ensure the corners finish in new place. Similarly for bars 19-24.

TACNotes:’
11-16 1st cpl half turn corners, on bar 11, & release hands. Corners follow closely without going back through corner position.
19-24 Bar 19 as well as bar 11 above.

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Video: On the quarter-Deck

On the quarter-Deck
Scottish Country Dances from THE HARBOUR CITY.
A 32 bar hornpipe for 2 couples in a 4 couple longwise set.

1 – 4 1st couple set once and cross over giving right hands.

5 – 8 1st couple set once and turn with right hands just over halfway round.

9 – 12 1st couple and 2nd man dance right hands across once round.

13 – 16 1st couple and 2nd woman dance left hands across once round.

17 – 20 1st woman, followed by her partner, dances down the middle for two steps, both turn right about and 1st man, followed by his partner, dances back up the middle.

21 – 24 1st man casts down behind 2nd woman and crosses over into 2nd man’s place while 1st woman dances up the middle and casts down behind 2nd woman to finish in 2nd woman’s place. 2nd couple move up on bars 23 and 24.

25 – 32 2nd and 1st couples dance right and left.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

“On the Quarter-deck” was devised by Iain Boyd.

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Video: Tap the Barrel

Tap the Barrel
Sue Burridge, RSCDS Third Graded Book
32-bar reel for three couples in a three couple longwise set

1 – 2 1st woman and 3rd man, giving right hands, change places

3 – 4 1st man and 3rd woman, giving right hands, change places

5 – 6 2nd couple, giving right hands, cross over

7 – 8 3rd, 2nd and 1st couples, giving right hands, turn half way to finish in the middle of the set, facing up in allemande hold.

9 – 16 3rd, 2nd and 1st couples dance an allemande

17 – 20 1st couple set and cast off one place. 2nd couple step down on bars 19-20

21 – 24 3rd couple set and cast up one place. 1st couple step down on bars 23-24

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

Devised by Sue Burridge, London Branch

The title was inspired by the tune The Ale Wife and Her Barrel

Video: Miss Catherine Ann

Miss Catherine Ann
David Queen, The Queen Collection
32 Bar Strathspey for a 3 couple set

1 – 4 1st and 2nd men and 1st and 2nd ladies, set and ‘mirror link’ ie. ladies pulling back right shoulders and men pulling back left shoulders.

5 – 8 1st couple dance half a figure of eight round 2nd couple, crossing up to begin.

9 – 12 1st and 3rd couples set and ‘mirror link’ ie.1st man and 3rd lady pulling back right shoulders, 1st lady and 3rd man pulling back left shoulders.

13 – 16 1st couple dance half a figure of eight round 3rd couple, crossing up to begin.

17 – 20 All 3 couples petronella turn into the centre of the set and set to partners.

21 – 24 All turn partners halfway with both hands and damce a petronella turn back out to own sidelines.

25 – 32 All 3 couples flow into a circle round and back.

Start again with a new couple at the top.

For my wife Cathy.

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Video: The Ratcatcher’s Reel

The Ratcatcher’s Reel
David Queen, The Queen Collection, Vol. 1
32 bar Reel for 3 couples in a 4 couple set

1 – 4 1st and 2nd couples set and mirror link, ie. Men link by the left and Ladies link by the night.

5 – 8 1st, 2nd & 3rd couples dance half a reel of three on the sides, 1st couple dancing in and down to begin, 2nd couple out and down and 3rd couple out and up.

9 – 12 3rd and 1st couples set and mirror link ie. Men link by the left and ladies link by the right.

13 – 16 1st, 3rd & 2nd couples dance half a reel of three on the sides, 1st couple dancing out and down to begin, 3rd couple in and down and 2nd couple out and up.

17 – 18 1st man and 3rd man dance half a turn with the right hand, while 1st lady and 3rd lady dance half a turn with the left hand.

19 – 20 1st man and 2nd man dance half a turn with the left hand, while 1st lady and 2nd lady dance half a turn with the right hand.

21 – 24 1st and 2nd couples dance half a figure of eight, 1st couple casting down and 2nd couple crossing up to begin.

25 – 32 1st and 2nd couples dance an allemande starting by dancing a right hand turn into allemande hold facing up using the first two bars (as in the knot) and continuing to dance a normal two couple allemande.

This dance was devised for David Rye from West Wales who lists among his many talents and professions, the role of Ratcatcher.

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Video: It’s all right

It’s all right
RSCDS Second Book of Graded Scottish Country Dances
32-bar jig for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1 – 4 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples set and, giving right hands, cross over to finish facing clockwise.

5 – 8 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples chase halfway to finish in the order 3,2,1 on own sides.

9 – 16 3rd, 2nd and 1st couples repeat bars 1-8 to finish in original places.

17 – 24 1st couple lead down the middle and up.

25 – 32 1st couple set and, giving right hands, cross over, cast off one place and, giving right hands, cross to second place on own sides. 2nd couple step up on bars 29-30.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Elma See.
For those who forget which is their ‘right’ hand.

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No Video

Longtown Rant
Evelyn Ramwell, The Second Kirkbrae Collection
A 32 bar reel for 3 couples in a 4 couple set.
Tune: ‘Bill & Betty Galbraith’ (Donald Ridley) or any good reel.

1 – 4 1st couple dance down the middle for two steps, release hands & set to partner.

5 – 8 1st couple dance up and cast to corners. 2nd couple step up on bars 7 & 8.

9 – 12 1st couple turn 1st corner by the Right hand, pass partner by the Right shoulder to face 2nd corner. (Corners dance four bar turns.)

13 – 16 1st couple turn 2nd corner by the Right hand, (corners dance four bar turns), 1st couple cross to 2nd place own side, passing Right shoulder, and face out, ready for:

17 – 24 Reels of 3 on own sides, 1st lady dancing down, 1st man up, passing Right shoulders to begin.

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

Repeat having passed a couple.

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No Video

Raccoon Ramble
Susie Langdon Kass, Let’s All Dance, Too
32/R/3 couple set by Susie Langdon Kass (1996)
San Francisco Branch

1 – 8 1st couple dance a figure of eight around 2nd couple, crossing down to begin.

9 – 16 1st couple cross with right hands and cast off one place; cross with left hands and cast off to 3rd place. 2nd couple move up on bars 3-4 and 3rd couple move up on bars 7-8 of the phrase.

17 – 24 3rd and 1st couples dance rights and lefts.

25 – 32 2nd, 3rd and 1st couples circle 6 hands round and back.

Repeat from new places.

Music: Any good reel

Notes: An easy dance for 3 couples in which only the 1st couple start, and the dance ends with a circle. For teaching purposes, the rights and lefts in bars 17-24 may be replaced with right hands across and left hands back, set and cross right and set and cross back for 3 couples, or promenade for 3 couples or any other appropriate, non-progressive, formation. If there is a 4th couple the last circle is 8 hands round and back.

The name of the dance came to mind one night when some raccoons came into my back yard while I was preparing the lesson for my class. (SLK)

Video: The Braes of Tulliemet

The Braes of Tulliemet
RSCDS Book 7 – No. 12
32-bar strathspey for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1 – 4 1st couple set and cast off one place on own sides. 2nd couple step up on bars 3-4.

5 – 8 1st couple, giving right hands, cross over and cast off to third place on opposite sides. 3rd couple step up on bars 7-8.

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

13 – 16 1st couple dance up to the top and cast off one place to face first corners. 3rd couple step down on bars 15-16.

17 – 24 1st couple set to and turn corners and finish 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 1st couple, giving right hands, cross to second place on own sides.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

A Perthshire dance. Collected in the Borders.
Original tune: The Braes of Tulliemet (Miss Stewart’s Collection, 1761).

TACNotes:’
9-12 Finish on sidelines.

No Video

The Missed Third
TACTalk Issue 40-2
A 32-bar reel for 3 couples in a 4-couple longwise set

Devised by Tim Wilson, description July 22, 2015

1 – 4 1st couple, nearer hands joined, dance down between 2nd couple and cast up one place to meet in first place in the center.

5 – 8 1st couple, nearer hands joined, dance down between 3rd couple and cast up to second place own sides. 2nd couple step up on bars 7-8.

9 – 12 1st woman with 2nd couple, and 1st man with 3rd couple dance right hands across.

13 – 16 1st woman with 3rd couple, and 1st man with 2nd couple dance left hands across. 1st couple finish in the center right shoulders together; 1st man faces the women’s side, 1st woman faces the men’s side.

17 – 20 1st woman, followed by 3rd woman and 3rd man, dances up the men’s side, across the top and down the women’s side, while, at the same time 1st man followed by 2nd man and 2nd woman,dances down the women’s side, across the bottom, and up the men’s side. All finish on own sides in the order 3 1 2.

21 – 24 3rd, 1st, and 2nd couples turn partners with right hands once round.

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

1st couple, from second place, repeat.

Note: The dance was conceived on July 4, 2015 in the Auckland, New Zealand airport while en
route to the 40th Australian Winter School being held in Brisbane. My plane left San Francisco
on July 2nd and arrived in Auckland, twelve hours later, on July 4th.

With its 312 progression, the dance can also be done as a 3x or a 6x. My preference is as an 8x
with both 1st and 2nd couples repeating their roles before 1st couple step down to fourth place.

Video: Ecclefechan Feline

ECCLEFECHAN FELINE
Le Petit Chat Celtique
32 bar Jig for 3 couples – McMurtry – 2006

1 – 8 1st couple dance a figure of eight on their own side. 1st couple dance between the 2nd couple to begin, taking nearer hands briefly wherever possible.

9 – 16 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance a mirror reel of three on the sides, 1st couple dancing in and down, 2nd couple up and out and 3rd couple in and up to begin.

17 – 24 1st couple dance down for three steps, back for three steps and cast off one place, 2nd couple stepping up on bars 23 & 24.

25 – 28 1st man with 3rd couple and 1st woman with 2nd couple dance right hands across, passing right shoulders on the last bar to change places.

29 – 32 1st man with 2nd couple and 1st woman with 3rd couple dance left hands across. 1st couple finish in second place on own sides.

Repeat having passed a couple.

Dance Notes: 1st couple phrase step to finish on the sidelines at the end.

Recommended Recording: Track #8 Just in Time on CD, Campbell’s Birl with Muriel Johnstone and Keith Smith

Try to say the title quickly, 3 times in a row.

Video: Figure It Out

Figure It Out
Roy Goldring, Graded & Social Dances 3
32 bar Reel for a 3 couple set

1 – 4 1st couple dance a 4 figure of eight round 2nd couple, crossing down to begin.

5 – 8 1st man and 2nd woman turn 1 1/4 with left hands while 1st woman and 2nd man turn 1 1/4 with right hands. 1st couple finish in promenade hold facing 2nd man.

9 – 16 1st couple dance a reel of ‘3’ across the dance with 2nd couple. To begin, 1st couple and 2nd man pass by the right. 2nd couple finish in top place, 1 couple finish in the centre, facing down.

17 – 24 1st man, 2nd and 3rd women dance left hands across and right hands across while 1st woman, 2nd and 3rd man dance right hands across and left hands across. 1st couple finish in the centre facing up.

25 – 28 1st couple. followed by 3 couple, dance up between 2nd couple, divide and cast off. 1st couple finish in 3rd place, 3 couple finish in 2nd place.

29 – 32 1st couple dance a 2 figure of eight round 3rd couple, crossing up to begin.

Repeat from new positions.

Tune: Level Pegging (Muriel Johnstone)

Video: Sleepy Maggie

Sleepy Maggie
Book 11 – No. 5
32-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1 – 4 1st and 2nd couples dance four hands once round to the left.

5 – 8 1st couple set and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 7-8.

9 – 16 1st and 3rd couples dance right hands across and left hands back. 1st couple finish facing first corners.

17 – 24 1st couple set to and turn corners to finish between them.

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 1st couple, giving right hands, cross over to second place, on own sides.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Bowman MS c. 1755-1760.

Original tune: Sleepy Maggie (Bremner 1756 – from Gow’s Repository).

Video: Ecclefechan Feline

Ecclefechan Feline
Bob McMurtry, Le Petit Chat Celtique
32 bar Jig for 3 couples – McMurtry – 2006

1 – 8 1st couple dance a figure of eight on their own side. 1st couple dance between the 2nd couple to begin, taking nearer hands briefly wherever possible.

9 – 16 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance a mirror reel of three on the sides, 1st couple dancing in and down, 2nd couple up and out and 3rd couple in and up to begin.

17 – 24 1st couple dance down for three steps, back for three steps and cast off one place, 2nd couple stepping up on bars 23 & 24.

25 – 28 1st man with 3rd couple and 1st woman with 2nd couple dance right hands across, passing right shoulders on the last bar to change places.

29 – 32 1st man with 2nd couple and 1st woman with 3rd couple dance left hands across. 1st couple finish in second place on own sides.

Repeat having passed a couple.

Dance Notes: 1st couple phrase step to finish on the sidelines at the end.
Recommended Recording: Track #8 Just in Time on CD, Campbell’s Birl with Muriel Johnstone and Keith Smith
Try to say the title quickly, 3 times in a row.

Video: No Video

Braveheart
THE BANKHEAD BOOK, Part 6, Scottish Country Dances by JOHN DREWRY, 1995 – 1996
A dance to mark the passage of 700 years since the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297

Strathspey – 3 couples – 32 bars

1 – 4 1st couple set to each other and then, giving right hands cross over to second place on opposite sides and stay facing out. 2nd couple step up on bars 3-4.

5 – 8 1st couple dance round their first corners, passing them by the right and then turn each other with the left hand to finish in the middle of the dance in second place with the man facing down and the woman facing up.

9 – 12 2nd, 1st and 3rd men dance right hands across on the men’s side, while their partners dance right hands across on the women’s side. At the end, 1st couple pass each other by the right.

13 – 16 1st woman dances left hands across with 2nd and 3rd men on the men’s side while 1st man dances left hands across with 2nd and 3rd women on the women’s side.
1st man finishes between 2nd couple in first place all facing down, while 1st woman finishes between 3rd couple in third place all facing up.

17 – 20 All set in lines of three facing down and up and then change places with the opposite person giving right hand.

21 – 24 All set again in lines of three facing down and up and then change places with the opposite person giving right hand. 2nd couple stay facing up in first place, 3rd couple stay facing down in third place and 1st couple turn right about to finish facing each other (Man facing down, woman up).

25 – 32 1st man dances a reel of three across the dance in first place with 2nd couple, beginning by giving right shoulder to 2nd man. 1st woman, similarly, dances a reel of three across the dance in third place with 3rd couple, beginning by giving right shoulder to 3rd woman.
At the end, 1st couple dance to second place on own sides.

    Repeat, having passed a couple.

Video: The Findlay’s Jig

The Findlay’s Jig
14 Social Dances for 2000, devised by Roy Goldring
32 bar jig for 3 couples

1 – 8 1st couple lead down the middle and back finishing at the top in the centre. 2nd and 3rd couples step in on bar 8.

9 – 16 3 couple allemande.

17 – 20 1st couple dance in, face down and cast up to the top. 3rd and 2nd couples step down on 19-20.
21 – 24 2nd couple repeat bars 17-20. 1st and 3rd couples step down on bars 23-24.

25 – 32 6 hands round and back.

Repeat having passed a couple

For Faustina and Ian Findlay
Tune: The Groom’s Jig by Ian Findlay

Video: Figure It Out

Figure It Out
Roy Goldring, Graed & Social Dances 3
32 bar Reel for a 3 couple set

1 – 4 1st couple dance a 4 figure of eight round 2nd couple, crossing down to begin.

5 – 8 1st man and 2nd woman turn 1 1/4 with left hands while 1st woman and 2nd man turn 1 1/4 with right hands. 1st couple finish in promenade hold facing 2nd man.

9 – 16 1st couple dance a reel of ‘3’ across the dance with 2nd couple. To begin, 1st couple and 2nd man pass by the right. 2nd couple finish in top place, 1 couple finish in the centre, facing down.

17 – 24 1st man, 2nd and 3rd women dance left hands across and right hands across while 1st woman, 2nd and 3rd man dance right hands across and left hands across. 1st couple finish in the centre facing up.

25 – 28 1st couple. followed by 3 couple, dance up between 2nd couple, divide and cast off. 1st couple finish in 3rd place, 3 couple finish in 2nd place.

29 – 32 1st couple dance a 2 figure of eight round 3rd couple, crossing up to begin.

Repeat from new positions.

Tune: Level Pegging (Muriel Johnstone)

Video: The Pawling Porch

The Pawling Porch
Moments in Time, 21 Scottish Country Dances devised by Elaine Brunken
32 Bar Reel for 3 couples

1 – 4 1st couple Set and cast off one place. (2nd couple step up on bars 3-4)
5 – 8 1st couple Dance down between 3rd couple and cast up to second place.
9 – 12 1st couple and 1st corners Advance and Retire.
13 – 16 1st couple and 1st corners Turn with the Right Hand.
17 – 20 1st couple and 2nd corners Advance and Retire.
21 – 24 1st couple and 2nd corners Turnwith the Right Hand. (1st couple pass Right shoulder to own side.)
25 – 32 2nd, 1st , and 3rd couple dance Circle Round and Back.

Repeat having passed a couple

Devised May 2005, at the Pawling Weekend in Sylvan Lake, New York.

Muriel (Johnstone) and I had a small porch off our cabin, which seemed to become
the place everyone stopped for a drink after classes, before lunch, after lunch, before dinner…….. (now there’s a surprise!)

Pawling Weekend (run by the New York Branch) and situated 45 miles north of ‘the City’ is a brilliant weekend. The New York Branch is one of the friendliest, most welcoming groups that I have met in my many travels.

Suggested Tune: The Merrymaking (Traditional)