Video: THERE AND BACK

THERE AND BACK
Graded and Social Dances 3 devised by Roy Goldring
32 bar Reel for 3 couples

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

9 – 16 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. 1st couple finish in partner’s place.

17 – 24 Reels of three on the sides. To begin, 1st couple cross down to 2nd place on own side. 1st couple finish in own place.

25 – 28 1st couple dance (nearer hands joined) down between 2nd and 3rd couples, divide and cast up one place. 2nd couple step up one place on bars 27-28.

29 – 32 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples turn with right hands.

Repeat having passed a couple.

Tune: Ferguson Frolics (Muriel Johnstone)

Video: THE GATES OF EDINBURGH

THE GATES OF EDINBURGH
RSCDS Book 15
32 Bar Reel for 3 couples

1- 8 1 W dances reel of 3 with 2 & 3 M, while 1M dances reel of 3 with 2 & 3 W

9-16 1C dance reels of 3 on own sides and finish 1L between 2s who have dances up to the top who face down & 1M between 3s who face up

17-24 1s+2s+3s set twice, turn opposite person 2H, 1s end 2nd place on own sides

25-32 2s+1s+3s set twice & turn partners RH

TAC :
1-16 It is accepted that in these reels, partners touch hands where possible. All must move more quickly thru bars 13-16 to allow 1st M to dance thru original position and diagonally down, to finish between 3C while 2C dance up to 1st place.

RSCDS:
The derivation of the name has been the subject of much discussion over the years. Although one school of thought believes that “gates” is used in the sense of the streets, the generally accepted derivation is of the gates of the walled city of Edinburgh being opened and closed at the beginning and end of each day. As a result, it is accepted that in the reels, during bars 1-16, each couple should give nearer hands to partner to signify such opening and closing of the gates.

Video: Bruce’s Men

BRUCE’S MEN
The Scotia Suite of Scottish Country Dances devised by Roy Goldring
(Strathspey for a Three Couple Set)

1 – 4 1st and 2nd couples dance four hands round to the left. 1st and 2nd couples finish in the middle of the dance facing down. At the end of bar 4, 2nd man curves in to join nearer hands with his partner.

5 – 8 2nd couple, followed by 1st couple, dance down between 3rd couple, divide and cast up. 2nd couple finish in first place.

9 – 12 Half rights and lefts on the diagonal. To begin, 1st woman changes places with 2nd man while 1st man changes places with 3rd woman.

13 – 16 Half rights and lefts on the diagonal. To begin, 1st woman changes places with 2nd woman while 1st man changes places with 3rd man.

17 – 20 1st woman crosses up between 3rd couple (now in first place), and casts off one place, while 1st man crosses down between 2nd couple and casts up one place.

21 – 24 3rd, 1st and 2nd couples set and, giving right hands, turn partners half-way round to finish in the middle of the dance.

25 – 32 3rd, 1st and 2nd couples allemande. On bars 31–32, 1st couple cast off to third place while 3rd couple dance up to second place.

Repeat from new positions.

Video: Dalkeith’s Strathspey

Dalkeith’s Strathspey
RSCDS Book 9 – No. 6
32-bar strathspey for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1 – 2 1st couple, joining nearer hands, set to 2nd woman.

3 – 4 1st couple and 2nd woman dance three hands once round to the left. 1st couple finish in the middle of the set facing 2nd man. 2nd woman finishes in place.

5 – 6 1st couple, retaining nearer hands, set to 2nd man.

7 – 8 1st couple and 2nd man dance three hands once round to the left. 1st couple finish in the middle of the set, facing down. 2nd man returns to place.

9 – 16 1st couple lead down the middle and up, crossing to finish back to back between 2nd couple, facing opposite sides. 2nd couple step up on bars 11-12.

17 – 24 1st and 2nd couples dance a reel of four across the dance. 1st couple finish facing first corners.

25 – 32 1st couple turn first corners with the right hand, partner with the left hand, second corners with the right hand and, giving left hand to partner, turn to finish facing 3rd woman with nearer hands joined. (Note)

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Note: in bars 31-32 of the second time through, 1st couple cross to own sides.

Collected in the Border Country.

Original tune: Dalkeith’s Strathspey (as a reel in Neil Gow’s 3rd collection, 1792).

The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
1-8 The opening formation of this dance needs careful phrasing. To begin the setting, 1st man must take a long setting step to join hands with his partner who dances in to meet him, to face 2nd woman on the diagonal. The circle of three must be formed as they dance the common schottische step to the left. This gives the necessary impetus to the circle, so that in two steps it is possible to get right round – after leaving 2nd woman in place – to face 2nd man. At the end of bar 8, 1st couple finish in the middle facing down, right hands joined.
17-24 At the end of the reel of four, 1st couple pass left shoulders in the middle and finish facing corners.

TACNotes:’
1-8 Steal into circle shape on bar 2 in order to finish bar 4 facing 2nd man. 1st couple finish bar 8 in middle facing down.
24 1st couple pass L shoulder to face corners.

Video: The Reel of the 51st Division

The Reel of the 51st Division
RSCDS Book 13 – No. 10
32-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1 – 8 1st couple set to each other and cast off two places, meet below 3rd couple and lead up the middle to face first corners. 2nd couple step up on bars 3-4.

9 – 12 1st couple set to and turn first corners with the right hand, finishing in a diagonal line by joining left hands with partner.

13 – 14 1st couple and first corners balance in line.

15 – 16 1st couple, releasing right hands with corners, turn each other one and a quarter times to face second corners.

17 – 22 1st couple repeat bars 9-14 with second corners.

23 – 24 1st couple cross to second place on own sides.

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

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Jimmy Atkinson, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, and Peter Oliver, Seaforth Highlanders (London Scottish), with advice from Tom Harris-Hunter, Royal Army Service Corps while all were interned in the Prisoner of War camp at Laufen in Germany.

Original tune: The Drunken Piper or Highland Rory – Alex. McLeod, c. 1880

The original instructions in the form of notes, written by Tom Harris-Hunter on a scruffy piece of paper when he was a prisoner of war, clearly show that the dance was intended for a five couple set as it is still danced in Perthshire.

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TACNotes:’
1-8 Set (no stealing) bars 1-2, cast bars 3-5, dance in to meet on bar 6, lead up on bar 7 to face corners on bar 8.

Video: Lamb Skinnet

Lamb Skinnet
Book 14 – No. 12
32-bar jig for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1–4 1st couple set and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 3-4.
5–8 1st couple dance a half figure of eight round 2nd couple.
9–12 1st couple set and cast off to third place. 3rd couple step up on bars 11-12.
13–16 1st couple dance a half figure of eight round 3rd couple.
17–24 1st couple lead up to first place, set and cast off one place on own sides. 2nd and 3rd couples step down on bars 19-20 and 2nd couple step up on bars 23-24.

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

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Thompson’s Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances c. 1755 without setting on bars 1-4 and 9-12.
Original tune: Lamb Skinnet (Traditional)

TACNotes:’
17-24 1st cpl approach prtnr (bar 17), lead up & dance short way into sides on bar 20.

Video: Jim Johnstone’s Reel

Jim Johnstone’s Reel
Roy Goldring – Auld Friends Meet
32 bar reel for 3 couples

1 – 8 Reels of three on the sides.
To begin: 1st couple cross down to second place, 2nd couple dance out and up, 3rd couple dance in and up.

9 – 12 1st couple (now on opposite sides) dance down the middle; 1st woman, followed by her partner, casts up behind 3rd man to finish side by side, taking nearer hands briefly as they dance through 2nd man’s place. 2nd couple step up on bars 11 – 12.

13 – 16 1st woman with 2nd couple dance left hands across. 1st man with 3rd couple dance right hands across.

17 – 20 1st couple dance out through the women’s side; 1st woman, followed by her partner, casts up around 2nd woman. As they begin to dance down the middle, they take nearer hands briefly.

21 – 24 1st woman with 2nd and 3rd men dance right hands across. 1st man with 2nd and 3rd women dance left hands across.

25 – 26 1st couple set to 3rd couple (who remain on the sidelines). 1st couple turn inwards on bar 26.

27 – 28 1st couple set to 2nd couple (who remain on the sidelines).

29 – 32 Releasing hands, 1st couple cross up to the top and cast off to 2nd place on own sides.

Repeat having passed a couple.

Note: 1st couple should move strongly during bars 9 – 12 and 17 – 20 but 1 woman should shorten her steps to ‘collect’ her partner towards the end of each phrase.

For Jim Johnstone – with gratitude for some wonderful music.
Tune: The Well Wynd (Jim Johnstone)
2004

No Video

SIMON BRODIE
Dances of the 18th Century, J. Young
Longways set in Strathspey time for 4 couples – 3-couple dance – 32-Bar sequence

1–4 First man and second lady, advancing towards the middle set to each other (2 steps), then, giving both hands, turn each other and return to places.

5–8 First lady and second man repeat Bars 1 – 4.

9–12 First couple lead down the middle between second and third couples and, crossing over between third couple, cast up round them to finish in 2nd place on the opposite side of the Set (Diagram 1). Second couple move up on Bars 11-12.

13–16 First and second couples dance Right and Left, giving right hands to partners to begin, and taking one step to each hand. First couple finish facing their 1st Corners (see diagram 4 – “Macdonald’s Rant”).

17–24 First couple set to and turn their Corners, finishing in the middle with first lady nearer the top, both facing the ladies’ side.

25–28 First couple lead out (with nearer hands) between second and third ladies, and first lady casts up round second lady while first man casts off round third lady; they meet in the middle (at the end of Bar 27) and, giving both hands, turn each other once round and open out to face the men’s side on Bar 28 (Diagram 2).

29–32 First couple lead out (as above) between second and third men and first lady casts up round second man, while first man casts off round third man; they meet in the middle (at the end of Bar 31) and turn each other with left hands to own sides, in 2nd place, on Bar 32 (Diagram 3).

First couple repeat from 2nd place (with third and fourth couples) and turn each other to the bottom, on the last 2 steps, while fourth couple move up to 3rd place. Each couple repeat in turn, as first couple.

Video: Birls Allowed

Birls Allowed
A 32 Bar Jig for 3 couples in a 4 couple set
Music: Mary MacKechnie by Nicol McLaren

1 – 4 1st couple cross right hand and cast off 2 places. 2nd and 3rd couples step up on Bars 3 – 4.

5 – 8 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance half reel of three with 1st man giving right shoulder to 3rd lady and 1st lady giving left shoulder to 3rd man.

9 – 16 1st, 3rd and 2nd couples dance a full reel of three with 1st couple crossing down to own side to start.

17 – 24 3rd and 2nd couples set and rotate.

25 – 28 1st and 2nd couples dance half rights and lefts.

29 – 32 2nd and 1st couples turn right hand one and a half times (birls allowed).

Repeat from new positions.

Dance devised by Alec Taylor to celebrate a special birthday of Mary MacKechnie, a long term invaluable member of RSCDS Stirling.

Video: The Reel of the Royal Scots

The Reel of the Royal Scots
RSCDS Leaflet – No.7
(Reel)

1-2 1st and 2nd women turn with the left hand, while 1st and 2nd men turn with the right hand, 1st couple finishing back to back in the centre of the set in second place.

3-4 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples set as in double triangles.

5-6 1st and 3rd women turn with the right hand, while 1st and 3rd men turn with the left hand to change places.

7-8 2nd, 3rd and 1st couples set as in double triangles.

9-16 1st couple followed by 3rd couple, dance up between the 2nd couple and cast off, then dance down to third place and cast up to second place, 3rd couple finishing in original places. (1st and 3rd couples join nearer hands with partner on every occasion when dancing up or down in the centre). (Fig.).

17–24 1st couple turn first corners with right hands. 1st couple pass each other by the right shoulder. 1st couple turn second corners with right hands. 1st couple passing right shoulders cross to second place on own sides.

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

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Roy Goldring to celebrate the 350th Anniversary of The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) in 1983.

TACNotes:’
17-24 Corners dance for 4 bars.