Dances for September 28, 2026
Video: The College Hornpipe
The College Hornpipe
RSCDS Book 20
32-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set
Bars Description
1 – 8 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance six hands round and back to finish in the middle of the set, facing up.
9 – 16 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance a promenade.
17 – 24 1st couple, giving right hands, cross over and cast off one place; giving left hands, cross over and cast off round 3rd couple to meet and lead up to face first corners. 2nd couple step up on bars 19 – 20.
25 – 30 1st couple set to first corners, set to each other across the set, set to second corners and finish facing each other up and down the set.
31 – 32 1st couple, clapping once, turn by the right with two pas de basque steps to second place on own sides.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
W Boag: A Collection of Favourite Reels & Strathspeys by the Most Eminent Composers, 1797.
Original tune: Jolly Tars (Traditional)
TACNotes:’
17-24 Phrasing for 1st cpl is – cross & cast (3 bars), repeat (3 bars), lead up (2 bars). 2nd cpl step up on bars 19-20.
Video: Staffin Harvest
Staffin Harvest
4 Dances 1978 – No. 3
32-bar strathspey for four couples in a four-couple longwise set
1 – 4 1st woman and 2nd man, 3rd woman and 4th man set to each other and, giving right hands, change places.
5 – 8 1st and 3rd couples, on the men’s side and 2nd and 4th couples, on the women’s side, set to partners and, giving right hands, change places.
9 – 16 1st and 3rd couples and 2nd and 4th couples dance reels of four, passing partner by the right to begin.
17 – 20 All set and, giving right hands, cross over. (Fig. 1)
21 – 24 1st and 2nd couples and 3rd and 4th couples dance four hands round to the left, to finish in two diagonal lines. (Fig. 2)
25 – 28 2nd and 1st couples, 4th and 3rd couples dance a half poussette, to finish in original places.
29 – 32 1st couple lead down to fourth place. 2nd, 3rd and 4th couples step up on bars 31-32.
Repeat from new positions.
Devised by H P C Mitchell, Canada, 1976.
Original tune: Miss Elizabeth Magd. Fordyce Strathspey (Robert Mackintosh)
The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
Bars 19-20 Cross, giving right hands.
Bars 29-30 1st couple lead down and dance the short way into fourth place.
TACNotes:’
19-20 Cross giving RH.
29-30 1st cpl lead down & cast up into 4th place.
Video: A Flock of Geese
A Flock of Geese
The Slip Knot Collection
Melbourne and Elle Briscoe
Alexandria, Virginia
September 1989
32 bar Jig for five couples in a five couple set
1 – 8 As in The Wild Geese, 1st, 3rd, and 5th couples set advancing, set taking hands (give right hands to partners), and
- 1st couple turn with the right hand and cast off to fifth place, while
- 3rd couple turn with the right hand and lead up to first place, while
- 5th couple turn with the right hand and lead up to third place,
ending in order 3,2,5,4,1.
9 – 16 Repeat the first eight bars from the new positions, ending in order 5,2,1.4,3.
17 – 24 5th and 1st couples (the top two dancing couples, now in first and third place) lead down for four bars (2nd and 4th couples stepping up on bars 3-4 of the phrase) and lead up to second and fourth places.
25 – 32 2nd and 5th couples, and 1st and 3rd couples (the two couples at the top and the two couples at the bottom) dance right and left: 4th couple in the middle stand still. End in order 2,5,4,1,3, ready to begin again from the new positions.
NOTE: The progression is:
- end couples move to position next to opposite end
- middle couple moves to bottom
- 2nd and 4th couples move up one place
Suggested Recorded Music: The Wild Geese, from Dance to Bobby Crowe’s Band, Thistle Records, BLSP-67, the music is recorded with just 5 repetitions.
Devisor’s note: The dance was devised for the wedding of Lance Ramshaw and Gail Wine in Boston, September 9, 1989, and was presented to them at their wedding celebration dance.