Video: The Kelloholm Jig

Video: The Kelloholm Jig

No. 1 – THE KELLOHOLM JIG
RSCDS Leaflet 32, Four Modern Dances, 1997
(Jig)

1 – 4 1st couple set to each other and cast off to second place. 2nd couple step up on Bars 3–4.

5 – 8 Staying in the side lines, 1st couple set to first corners, and then, giving right hands, change places with them.

9 – 12 On opposite sides, 1st and 3rd women, and 2nd and 1st men, set to each other, and then, giving left hands, change places.

13 – 16 1st couple turn each other with the right hand one and a half times to finish in second place on own sides.

17 – 20 Staying in the side lines, 1st couple set to second corners, and then, giving right hands, change places with them.

21 – 24 On opposite sides, 1st and 3rd men, and 2nd and 1st woman, set to each other, and then giving left hands, change places.

25 – 32 3rd, 1st and 2nd couples, joining nearer hands, advance and retire and then dance six hands round half way to the left.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Peter Hyssett of Ayr, who also composed the tune.
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TACNotes:’
5-8 1st cpl finish by turning R about, 1st woman to face down & 1st man up.
17-20 Second corners finish by turning R about. 3rd man to face up & 2nd woman down.

Video: Culla Bay

Video: Culla Bay

Video: Culla Bay

Culla Bay (Strathspey)
Book 41 – No. 2

Dancers arranged in a square set as for the Eightsome Reel.

1 – 4 1st man and 3rd woman, and 1st woman and 3rd man, turn with the right hand half way round to face each other then, pulling back right shoulders, cast out to opposite places and remain facing out.

5 – 8 1st and 3rd couples continue dancing on clockwise one place round the set, curving in to finish back to back in the centre of the set, 1st couple facing fourth place, and 3rd couple facing second place. Meanwhile, 2nd and 4th couples repeat bars 1-4.

N.B. on bars 7 – 8, 1st and 2nd women, 1st and 2nd men, 3rd and 4th women and 3rd and 4th men dance in a curve round each other to new places, passing right shoulder.

9 – 16 All dance reels of four across the set.

17 – 20 2nd and 1st couples, and at the same time 3rd and 4th couples, dance four hands once round to the left.

21 – 24 Joining nearer hands with partner, all set, then 1st and 2nd couples and, at the same time, 3rd and 4th couples, dance right hands across half way.

25 – 28 2nd and 4th couples dance left hands across once round, to finish facing out.

29 – 32 2nd and 4th couples, passing 1st and 3rd couples by the right shoulder, dance out and progress on one place clockwise to finish with 2nd couple in first place and 4th couple in third place. All couples have now progressed one place anti-clockwise round the set.

Repeat, with original 2nd and 4th couples leading.

Culla Bay (pronounced ‘coola’) is on the island of Benbecula where Sheila Jupp spent part of her childhood.
Devised by Ann Dix, London Branch.
Tune: The Macaulays of Benbecula (copyright Frank Reid).

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The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
Bars 5–8 2nd and 4th couples finish facing in.
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TACNotes:’
5–8 2nd & 4th cpls finish facing in on bar 8.
23–24 2nd & 4th cpls shorten steps in order to flow directly into LH across on bar 25.

No Video

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: Maxwell’s Rant

Maxwell’s Rant
Book 18 – No. 10
32-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1–16 1st couple, with 2nd and 3rd couples, dance reels of three on opposite sides and then on own sides. 2nd and 3rd couples remain on own sides throughout.

17–20 1st couple, giving right hands, cross over and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 19-20.

21–24 1st couple dance a half figure of eight round 2nd couple.

25–28 1st couple dance down between 3rd couple and cast up to second place on own sides.

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

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Rutherford: Compleat Collection of 200 of the most celebrated Country Dances both old and new… Vol 1, London, c. 1755 as Maxwill’s Rant.
Original tune: Maxwell’s Rant (Traditional)

Video: The Saint John River

The Saint John River
The New Brunswick Collection of Scottish Country Dances
Dance devised by Prudence Edwards, 1966

32 bar Strathspey for 4 couples in a 4 couple set.

1–8 1st woman casts off one place, crosses and casts behind 3rd man, crosses and casts behind 4th woman and crosses to finish below 4th man on opposite side of the dance; 1st man follows his partner to finish below 4th woman on opposite side of the dance.

9–16 1st couple, with nearer hands joined, dances up under the arch formed by 4th couple, turns one and a half times with two hands, then dances up under the arch formed by 2nd couple, finishing in first place on own sides of the dance. 4th couple holds the arch on bars 9–10 only and 2nd couple makes the arch on bars 15–16.

17–24 1st couple leads down the middle and up, followed by 2nd, 3rd and 4th couples: 2nd couple dances up for two bars, leads down for two bars, up for two bars and dances down to place for two bars; 3rd couple dances up for three bars, leads down for one bar, up for one bar and dances down to place for three bars; 4th couple dances up for four bars to meet at the top of the set but does not join hands, then casts out and dances down to place for four bars.

25–28 All four couples dance back-to-back.

29–32 1st couple wends its way down own sides of the dance, changing places with 2nd couple with right hands, 3rd couple with left hands and 4th couple with right hands to finish in fourth place, 1st man and 4th woman making polite turns.

Repeat with new top couple.

EXPLANATION OF THE FIGURES
The Chase (bars 1–8) describes the meandering course of the River.
The Bridges and Pools (bars 9–16) is explained by its title.
The Reversing Falls (bars 17–24) describes the reversing falls at Saint John; when the tide is ebbing, the River runs downstream over a shallow waterfall and when the tide comes in, it forces the River to flow upstream up the fall.
The River Meets the Sea (bars 25–32) is described in the wave-like back-to-back movement of all four couples, and the 1st couple wending its way down to fourth place describes the River disappearing into the sea.

CANADA’S CENTENNIAL DANCE
The Saint John River won first place in a contest to select a Scottish country dance to commemorate Canada’s Centennial in 1967. Organized by the Deep River Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, this group published the twenty-one dances submitted in Scottish Country Dances – A Centennial Collection. Unfortunately this publication is now out of print. Music for the dance was recorded in 1970, helping to make The Saint John River popular with Scottish country dancers around the world. A former member of the Fredericton Scottish Country Dance Group, Pru Edwards is now living in British Columbia.

Video: The Reel of the Royal Scots

Video: The Reel of the Royal Scots

The Reel of the Royal Scots
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.
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TACNotes:’
17-24 Corners dance for 4 bars.

Video: Lady Mary Menzies’ Reel

Lady Mary Menzies’ Reel
Book 7 – No. 5
32-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1–8 1st and 2nd couples dance right hands across for three steps and left hands back. 1st couple cast off one place on own sides and 2nd couple dance up to first place.

9–12 1st couple lead up the middle to finish back to back between 2nd couple, 1st man facing 2nd woman and 1st woman facing 2nd man. 1st and 2nd couples set.

13–16 1st couple lead down the middle to finish back to back between 3rd couple, 1st man facing 3rd woman and 1st woman facing 3rd man. 1st and 3rd couples set.

17–20 1st couple turn first corners with the right hand 1st man finishing between 3rd couple facing up and 1st woman between 2nd couple facing down. 1st couple set and advance toward second corners.

21–24 1st couple turn second corners with the right hand finishing between corners. 1st couple set to each other.

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.

The Register of Dances at Castle Menzies, 1749.
Original tune: Lady Mary Menzies’ Reel (Bremner, 1761)
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TACNotes:’
13-16 Nearer hand lead. 1st woman, maintaining eye contact with 3rd man, finishes first setting step facing up towards 2nd man & uses the second setting step to advance towards him a little. 1st man moves slightly up on second setting step.
19-20 Set to partner while advancing to face 2nd corner.

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.

Sorry, no video.

SKIPPIN’ BARFIT THRO’ the HEATHER
32-bar jig for three couples in a four-couple longwise set by Barbara Anglin

1–8 1st couple cross, giving right hands, and cast off one place as 2nd couple step up.
1st couple dance a half figure of eight round 3rd couple to finish in second place on own sides.

9–12 1st couple dance right hands across with the couple on their right; i.e. 1st woman with 2nd couple and 1st man with 3rd couple.
1st couple finish in the middle, left shoulder to left shoulder.

13–16 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance a snake pass, as follows: 1st man, followed by 3rd man and 3rd woman, dances out to the women’s side and up, across the top of the set, and down to second place on his own side. 3rd couple finish in top place. Meanwhile, 1st woman, followed by 2nd woman and 2nd man, dances out to the men’s side and down, across the bottom of the set, and up to second place on her own side. 2nd couple finish in 3rd place. The two ‘snakes’ pass by the left. All finish on own sides in order 3, 1, 2 with women facing up and men facing down.

17–24 All chase counter clockwise round the set. On bar 24, all dance into the middle to take promenade hold, facing up.

25–32 3rd, 1st and 2nd couples dance an allemande.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

As I was walkin’ doon yon hill, O but she was neatly dressed,
It was on a summer’s evening, She neither needed hat nor feather,
T’was there I met a bonnie lass, She was a queen amang them a’,
Skippin’ barfit throw the heather. Skippin’ barfit throw the heather.

“Skippin’ Barfit Thro’ the Heather”,
traditional Scottish folk song

While the traditional song tune is not a jig, I thought that jig tempo better suited my image of
“skipping barefoot through the heather.” BA

Video: General Stuart’s Reel

General Stuart’s Reel or
The New Way of Gildon (Reel)
Book 10 – No. 3

1 – 4 1st man sets to 2nd woman and casts off one place. 2nd man steps up on bars 3–4.

5 – 8 1st woman sets to 2nd man and casts off to second place. 2nd woman steps up on bars 7–8.

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

13 – 16 1st couple turn second corners with the left hand then, passing each other by the right shoulder, face first corners.

17 – 24 1st couple set to first corners, set to each other across the dance, set to second corners, then set to each other up and down the dance and finish man facing up and woman facing down the dance. 1st couple turn by the right throughout.

25 – 30 1st couple dance reels with their corners. 1st couple begin the reels by giving right shoulders to second corners.

31 – 32 1st couple, giving right hands, cross over to own sides in second place.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Source: The Register of Dances at Castle Menzies, 1749.
Music: The Stuarts’ Rant, Bremner, 1768.

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The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
Bars 9-16 Corners dance two steps when turning.
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TACNotes:’
9-16 Corners must dance into middle to meet 1st cpl on bars 9 & 13 then out to places on bars 10 & 14 releasing 1st cpl to face up & down the set.

Video: Wisp of Thistle

Video: Wisp of Thistle

Wisp of Thistle
Book XXXVII No.4
(Strathspey)

1 – 4 1st and 3rd couples dance “Petronella turns” into the middle of the dance (1st man and 3rd woman back to back) and set to partners.

5 – 8 1st and 3rd couples dance a half reel of four.

9 – 10 3rd and 1st couples dance “Petronella turns” to own sides. (3rd couple are in first place and 1st couple in third place.)

11 – 12 3rd, 2nd and 1st couples set joining nearer hands on the sides.

13 – 16 3rd, 2nd and 1st couples turn partners with right hand to finish ready for allemande.

17 – 24 3rd, 2nd and 1st couples allemande.

25 – 28 1st couple cross over giving right hands and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 27–28.

29 – 32 1st couple dance a half figure of eight round 2nd couple.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Note: At the end of their second turn at the dance, 1st couple finish the half figure of eight by dancing down to fourth place while 4th couple step up to third place on bars 31–32.

Choreographed by Pat Kent in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, who, when she had seen the Scottish Country dancers perform in the Tattoo in Nova Scotia, stated that they looked like “wisps of thistle”.

Devised by Pat Kent (Nova Scotia Branch).

Video: The Wild Geese

Video: The Wild Geese

The Wild Geese
Book 24 – No. 3
32-bar jig for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1 – 4 1st and 3rd couples set advancing to join nearer hands in a line up and down the set, men with partners on their right. 1st and 3rd couples set.

5 – 8 1st couple, retaining right hands, turn three quarters and cast off to third place on own sides and, at the same time, 3rd couple turn with the right hand and lead up to first place.

9 – 16 3rd and 1st couples repeat bars 1-8 but in bars 15-16, 3rd couple cast off and 1st couple lead up to places.

17 – 24 1st couple lead down the middle and up to second place on own sides.
2nd couple step up on bars 19-20.

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

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Collected by Miss Jenny MacLachlan.
Original tune: Mrs MacPherson of Cluny (Joseph Lowe)

Saxie’s Baa
The Green Lady Book of Scottish Country Dances by Barry Priddey
J 32 2

Saxie and Herman were two Shetland giants. In a quarrel each hurled a rock at the other. Saxie’s rock, now known as Saxie’s Baa, fell into the water, just short of Herman’s home.

1 – 8 1M and 2W dance a figure of eight round partners; to begin they pass each other by the right, dance round partner by
the left then pass each other right again to complete the figure on own sides.

9 – 16 1C and 2C dance rights and lefts.

17 – 24 1W and 2M dance a figure of eight round partners; to begin they pass each other by the left, dance round partner by the
right then pass each other left again to complete the figure on own sides.

25 – 32 1C and 2C dance the Knot progression.

Video: Delvine Side

Delvine Side
Book 2 – No. 9
32-bar strathspey for three couples in a four-couple set

1 – 4 1st and 2nd couples set and, passing partners by the right, cross to opposite sides.

5 – 8 1st and 2nd couples repeat bars 1-4, back to places.

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

17 – 24 1st and 2nd couples dance an allemande. 1st couple finish facing first corners.

25 – 32 1st couple, giving both hands, turn first corners, dance round partner by the right, turn second corners and, passing by the right, cross to second place on own sides.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

William Campbell: 15th Book of New and Favourite Country Dances and Strathspey Reels, London 1794 as Delvin Side.
Original tune: Delvine Side (McGlashan’s Collection)

Delvine is near Dunkeld.

Video: Flowers of Edinburgh

Video: Flowers of Edinburgh

Flowers of Edinburgh
Book 1 – No. 6
32-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1 – 6 1st woman casts off two places, crosses to the opposite side and dances up behind 2nd and 3rd men to her partner’s original place. 1st man follows his partner, crossing over and dancing behind 2nd and 3rd women, and up the middle to his partner’s original place.

7 – 8 1st couple set to each other.

9 – 14 1st couple repeat bars 1-6, with 1st man casting off and 1st woman following. 1st couple finish in original places.

15 – 16 1st couple set to each other.

17 – 24 1st couple lead down the middle and up to finish facing each other in the middle of the set with both hands joined. 2nd couple step in.

25 – 32 1st and 2nd couples dance a poussette.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Kate Hughes’ Dancing Book (MS), Dundalk 1867.
Original tune: Flowers of Edinburgh (Traditional)