Ottawa Summer Class
Video: The Lea Rig
The Lea Rig
Book 21 – No. 5
32-bar strathspey for two couples in a four-couple longwise set
1 – 16 1st couple dance a petronella turn to face each other up and down the middle and set. 1st couple repeat this three times to finish in original places. On bars 1-2, 2nd couple step up and, on bars 3-4 set. 2nd couple dance petronella turns and set, following the 1st couple one place behind. On bars 15-16, instead of setting, 2nd couple dance a petronella turn to original places.
17 – 24 1st couple lead down the middle and up.
25 – 28 1st and 2nd couples dance right hands across once round to finish facing partners in a diagonal line across the set with 1st woman and 2nd man back to back in the middle.
29 – 32 1st and 2nd couples dance a half poussette.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
Collected from an old MS.
Original tune: The Lea Rig (Surenne)
TACNotes:’
17-24 1st cpl finish in original places on sidelines.
Video: Push about the Jorum
Push about the Jorum
RSCDS Book 14
32-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set
1 – 4 1st woman and 3rd man, giving right hands, turn once round, 1st woman finishing in second place on own side and 3rd man in original place. 2nd woman steps up on bars 3-4.
5 – 8 1st man and 3rd woman, giving right hands, turn once round, 1st man finishing in the middle of the set at first place and 3rd woman in original place. 2nd couple and 1st woman step in on bars 7-8.
9 – 16 1st man with 2nd woman, 1st woman with 2nd man dance an allemande. 1st woman finishes between 2nd couple facing down and 1st man between 3rd couple facing up.
17 – 20 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples set twice. On bars 19-20, 1st couple turn left about to second place on own sides.
21 – 24 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples set twice.
25 – 32 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance six hands round and back.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
Skillern’s compleat Collection of Two Hundred & four Reels and Country Dances c. 1789.
Original tune: Push about the Jorum (from Gow)
No Video
Hidden Village Jig
A 32 bar jig for 2 couples
Craig Williams, May 2025
1 – 4 1st couple dance in towards each other and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 3 – 4
5 – 8 1st couple cross up between 2nd couple and dance a 1/2 figure of eight around 2nd couple.
9 – 16 1st & 2nd couple Four hands across and back. 1st & 2nd men stay facing out.
17 – 24 1st & 2nd couples dance a ladies chain. 1st man stay facing out
25 – 30 1st man, followed by 1st woman, casts to up, around 2nd woman and dances across the top of the set. 1st man casts off on the men’s side to 2nd place, while 1st woman dances down the middle to 2nd place on the women’s side
31 – 32 1st & 2nd couples set.
repeat having passed a couple
Some of the native bands fleeing the Mohawk may have ended up in the Matawatchan area. The word Matawatchan meant “hidden village” in the Algonquin language. If the village was hidden then it was hiding from something. Historically, it was most likely hidden from the Mohawks who had driven most of the Algonquin from the Ottawa Valley.
Video: A REEL FOR ALICE
A REEL FOR ALICE
A REEL FOR ALICE and OTHER SOCIAL DANCES devised by ROY GOLDRING
32 bar reel for 5 couples
1 – 8 Reels of three on the sides.
To begin, 1st couple cross down to 2nd place, 2nd couple dance out and up, 3rd couple dance in and up.
9 – 16 1st couple dance down the middle and up to the top to finish facing out – still on opposite sides.
17 – 24 1st woman progresses down the men’s side changing places with 2nd man with left hands, 3rd man with right hands, 4th man with left hands and 5th man with right hands (each change takes 2 bars). Similarly, 1st man progresses down the women’s side with right hands, left hands, right hands and left hands. 1st couple finish in 5th place facing out.
25 – 32 2nd couple dance a figure of 8 on own side around 3rd and 4th couples, dancing down between 3rd couple to begin.Meanwhile 1st couple dance a figure of 8 on the opposite side around 5th and 4th couples. 1st couple cast up behind 5th couple to begin and cross down to 5th place on own side on bars 31-32.
Repeat with new top couple.
For Alice Murphy, a good and supportive friend as well as a great dancer and teacher.
Tune: The Harriot (Traditional)