Dances for October 19, 2026
Ardbrae Dancers of Ottawa
Video: An Autumn Posy
An Autumn Posy
Romaine Butterfield: Island Bay Collection (2nd edition)
A 32 bar strathspey for 2 couples in a 4couple Set
1 – 8 1s+2s circle 4H round to left; 1L+2L dance RSh round partner back to place
9 – 16 1s+2s dance the Knot
17 – 24 2s+1s circle 4H round to right; 2M+1M dance LSh round partner back to place
25 – 32 1s dance up, cast round 2s & turn 2H. End 2 1
Video: The Lords Of The Wind
The Lords Of The Wind
Iain Boyd, The Lord of the Rings Coll.
A three couple, 32 bar reel.
1 – 2 First man and second woman set once.
3 – 4 First man casts down round second man. Second man moves up.
5 – 6 First woman and second man set once.
7 – 8 First woman casts down round second woman. Second woman moves up.
9 – 12 First woman with second couple and first man with third couple dance right hands across once round to finish in the middle with hands joined.
13 – 16 First woman, followed by second woman and second man, dances down to third man’s place, across the set and up to second woman’s place whilefirst man, followed by third man and third woman, dances up to first woman’s place, across the set and down to second man’s place.Dancers pass by left shoulders in the middle. All finish on own sides in the order – third, first and second couples.
17 – 20 First man with third couple and first woman with second couple dance left hands across once round to finish in the middle with hands joined.
21 – 24 First man, followed by third man and third woman, dances down to third woman’s place, across the set and up to second man’s place while first woman, followed by second woman and second man, dances up to first man’s place, across the set and down to second woman’s place. Dancers pass by right shoulders in the middle. All finish on own sides in the order – second, first and third couples.
25 – 32 Second, first and third couples dance six hands round and back.
Repeat having passed a couple.
Devised on Saturday, 22nd November, 1991. Bars 9-24 are based on bars 25-32 of Norman Churnside’s dance “The Snake Pass” (“Life Begins At Forty”, page 19) which Ian Simmonds had taught at the Redwood class the previous evening. These 16 bars could be described as a ‘double snake pass’.
The Lords of the Wind are the Eagles – the greatest birds of Middle-earth – who dwelt among the high peaks of the Misty Mountains. Gwaihir the Windlord, King of the Eagles, together with his close kin, rescued Frodo and Samwise from imminent death at the foot of the volcano Orodruin (Mount Doom) after the destruction of the ‘One Ring’. The Eagles fought bravely during the final battle against Sauron.
Recommended tunes – “Sally Gardens” – described as traditional – played AABB (“Irish Traditional
Fiddle Music”, volume 1, tune 29)
and
“Miss Monaghan” – described as traditional – played AABB (“Collection Of Irish Airs Marches And Dance Tunes”, collected by F Roche, volume 1, page 62 and “The Dance Music Of Ireland”, collected by O’Neill, page 106).
Video: Manual Memories
Manual Memories
Eilidh Hart. Glasgow 100th Anniversary Dances
32-bar jig for three couples in a four-couple longwise set Bars Description
1 – 8 1st couple, giving right hands, turn once round and cast to second place, then, giving left hands, turn to face first corners. 2nd couple step up on 3-4.
9 – 12 1st couple dance a half diagonal reel of 4 with first corners and pass by the right to face second corners. At the same time, first corners, giving right hands, turn halfway and cast into the opposite place.
13 – 16 1st couple dance a half diagonal reel of four with second corners and finish in second place, opposite sides. At the same time second corners, giving right hands, turn halfway and cast into the opposite place to finish in the order (3), (1), (2).
17 – 24 3rd, 1st and 2nd couples dance set and link twice to finish on own sides in the order 2, 1, 3.
25 – 32 1st woman with 2nd couple and 1st man with 3rd couple dance right hands across. 1st couple pass by the right and dance left hands across, 1st man with 2nd couple and 1st woman with 3rd couple.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
Devised by Eilidh Hart.
Deviser’s note:
“During a very busy time dancing in Glasgow, with competitions and examination preparation for multiple units – I guess I had a lot of dancing on my mind because this dance just came to me in my sleep.”
