Category Archives: Ardbrae Spring 2024

image_pdfimage_print

Dances for January 29, 2024

8x32 Reels, 8x32 Strathspeys, Ardbrae Spring 2024, Uncategorized

No Video

Ardbrae Angels
a 32-bar reel for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set
Elaine Hoag

1-8 1s+2s+3s dance Mirror Reels of 3 (1s dance in and down to begin)

9-16 1s+2s+3s dance a Crossover Reel of 3 (1s cross over to 2nd place opposite side to begin; 2s and 3s continue to reel on their own side). 1s finish the reel facing their own 1st corner while 2s accelerate at
the end of the reel to finish at the top

17-24 “Interrupted Hello-Goodbye Setting” (1s finish in 2nd place own side)

17-18 1s+1st corners set, 1s finishing between corners facing partner
19-20 1s turn each other ¾ RH to face 2nd corner
21-22 1s+2nd corners set, 1W finishing between 3s, 1M between 2s
23-24 1s turn each other ¾ RH to 2nd place own side

25-32 Six hands round and back

After the 2nd repetition, dancing couple steps to the bottom as 4th couple dances in and up to begin the Mirror Reel of 3

** In the dance world, “angels” are individuals who are especially active in supporting dance groups and encouraging new dancers.

First danced at Ardbrae’s Spring Social on March 29th, 2020. Dedicated to all of Ardbrae’s “dance angels,” but especially to Deborah Connors and Guy Quesnel who have cheerfully supported the Ardbrae Scottish Country Dancers of Ottawa in countless ways for many years, and who celebrate birthdays on March 28th and 29th respectively.

Video: The Braes of Breadalbane

The Braes of Breadalbane
RSCDS Book 21. – No. 7.
(Strathspey.)

1 – 4 First couple turn with right hand and cast off one place. Second couple move up.

5 – 8 First couple turn with left hand, the woman casts up, and the man casts down to finish three and three across the dance.

9 – 12 First, second and third couples set twice.

13 – 16 First woman casts down while first man casts up. They turn each other with right hand and finish three and three on own side of dance.

17 – 20 First, second and third couples set twice.

21 – 24 All three couples turn partners with both hands and return to places.

25 – 32 First and second couples dance right and left across and back.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Tune – The Braes of Breadalbane.
Skillern, 1795.

TACNotes:’
12 1st cpl turn R about, ready to cast.

Dances for January 22, 2024

8x32 Jigs, 8x32 Reels, 8x32 Strathspeys, Ardbrae Spring 2024, Uncategorized

Video: The Ferry Louper

The Ferry Louper
24 GRADED and SOCIAL DANCES, Devised by Roy Goldring, Leeds Branch R.S.C.D.S.
32 bar jig for 3 couples

1 – 8 First, second and third couples dance clockwise (chase) round to places.

9 – 16 First and second couples dance right hands across and back with left hands. First couple finish facing out.

17 – 24 First couple cast off two places, dance up the middle and cast off one place. Second couple step up on bars 23 – 24.

25 – 28 Second, first and third couples advance and retire.

29 – 32 Second, first and third couples turn partners with right hands once round.

Repeat having passed a couple.

Recommended tune:- Castle Hill (M.A.J.)

NOTE: The term ‘Ferry Louper’ is an Orkney expression which refers to someone who lives of the Orkney Islands but who was not born there – i.e. someone who just jumped (or ‘louped’) onto the ferry and came over.

Video: Up in the Air

Up in the Air
RSCDS Book 20 – No. 2
32-bar strathspey for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1 – 8 1st couple cast off, dance down behind own lines and cast up to original places. On bar 8, 1st , 2nd and 3rd couples dance in to meet partners and face up.

9 – 16 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance a promenade. On bars 15-16, 1st couple cast off one place to finish facing first corners while 2nd couple dance up to first place.

17 – 20 1st couple set to first corners and then to second corners, finishing between them.

21 – 24 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance six hands once round to the left.

25 – 28 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples advance and retire.

29 – 32 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples, giving both hands, turn partners to own sides, 1st couple turning one and a half times.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

W Boag: A Collection of Favourite Reels & Strathspeys by the Most Eminent Composers, 1797.

Original tune: Sir George Clark of Pennycuik (Nathaniel Gow)

The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
Bar 20 1st couple, pulling back right shoulder, turn between corners ready to begin the circle.

TACNotes:’
8 All 3 cpls dance into position for promenade (2nd & 3rd cpls, L foot).
20 1st cpl use last setting step to turn R about into sidelines.

Video: The Pawling Porch

The Pawling Porch
Moments in Time, 21 Scottish Country Dances devised by Elaine Brunken
32 Bar Reel for 3 couples

1 – 4 1st couple Set and cast off one place. (2nd couple step up on bars 3-4)
5 – 8 1st couple Dance down between 3rd couple and cast up to second place.

9 – 12 1st couple and 1st corners Advance and Retire.
13 – 16 1st couple and 1st corners Turn with the Right Hand.

17 – 20 1st couple and 2nd corners Advance and Retire.
21 – 24 1st couple and 2nd corners Turnwith the Right Hand. (1st couple pass Right shoulder to own side.)

25 – 32 2nd, 1st , and 3rd couple dance Circle Round and Back.

Repeat having passed a couple

Devised May 2005, at the Pawling Weekend in Sylvan Lake, New York.

Muriel (Johnstone) and I had a small porch off our cabin, which seemed to become the place everyone stopped for a drink after classes, before lunch, after lunch, before dinner…….. (now there’s a surprise!)

Pawling Weekend (run by the New York Branch) and situated 45 miles north of ‘the City’ is a brilliant weekend. The New York Branch is one of the friendliest, most welcoming groups that I have met in my many travels.

Suggested Tune: The Merrymaking (Traditional)

Dances for January 15, 2024

8x32 Jigs, 8x32 Strathspeys, Ardbrae Spring 2024

Video: Huntly Castle

Huntly Castle
John Drewery, The Canadian Book of Scottish Country Dances

Huntly Castle, now a ruin, was formerly
the seat of the Earls, lator the Marquises
of Huntly – the chiefs of Clan Gordon.

Strathspey – 3 couples – 32 bars,

Tune – “My Only Jo and Dearie O’ Gow’s Repository , 3rd Part, Pace 12, This is the tune to which Bum!s song “I goed a waeful gait yestreen” is usually set,

1 – 6 1st and 2nd couples set on the sides, then circle to the left once round to finish with 1st couple in top place,with nearer hands still joined, facing down. and 2nd couple in second place facing up.

7 – 8 1st and 2nd couples set,

9 – 16 1st and 2nd couples dance a Rondel to change places, 1st couple finish in second place facing out.

17 – 24 Reels of three on the sides.

To begin: – 1st couple dance out and down;
3rd couple, joining nearer hands, dance in and up;
2nd couple, joining nearer hands, dance in and down. |

All join inside hands with partners where possible in the reels.

At the end: – 2nd couple dance in to join nearer hands facing down;
1st couple dance to second place on own sides;
3rd couple dance in to join nearer hands facing up.

25 – 26 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples set,

27 – 30 Six hands round to the left. On Bar 30, all dance into the centre, pulling right shoulders back to face out.

31 – 32 All spiral out clockwise (in a chase) to own sides,

Repeat, having passed a couple,

Video: Beach Dancer

Beach Dancer
A 32 bar Jig for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set
For Margaret Blackhall, a teacher at Kamo Club who lives on the coast at Ngunguru.
Devised by Eddy West 2003.
1-4 First couple set and cross giving right hand.
5-8 First couple set to second couple and change places on the side giving left hands (men remain facing out).
 
9-16 Second and first couples dance a ladies chain, first man finishes facing out. First couple must continue into the next figure without hesitation.
 
17-20 First man casts down round third lady and crosses to third place, own side then casts up behind third man to second place, first lady follows to own side third place then dances up the middle to second place on own side.
21-24 First and second ladies, and at the same time first and second men, turn giving left hands.
 
25-32 Second, first and third couples dance reels of three on the sides, first couple passing third couple right shoulder to start.

Repeat having passed a couple
Suggested recorded music “Over the Pond II” – Sound Company CD “On Track”.

Dances for January 8, 2024

4x32 Jigs, 8x32 Reels, Ardbrae Spring 2024

Video: J. B. Milne

J. B. Milne
RSCDS 30 Popular Dances, Vol. 2
A 32-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1 – 4 1st man and 2nd woman set advancing and, giving right hands, turn once round.

5 – 8 2nd man and 1st woman set advancing and, giving right hands, turn once round.

9 – 12 1st couple set advancing and, giving both hands, turn once round to finish facing the top.

13 – 16 1st couple cast off one place and dance a petronella turn to finish 1st woman between 2nd couple, all facing down, and 1st man between 3rd couple, all facing up. 2nd couple step up on bars 13 – 14.

17 – 20 1st couple set to each other and, giving right hands, turn three-quarters to finish in second place on opposite sides. At the same time, 2nd and 3rd women and 2nd and 3rd men, giving right hands, change places and set to partner.

21 – 24 1st couple set to each other and, giving right hands, turn three-quarters to finish 1st woman between the couple in third place and 1st man between the couple in top place. At the same time, 3rd and 2nd couples, giving right hands, cross over and set facing on the sides.

25 – 28 1st couple set to each other and, giving right hands, change places. At the same time, 3rd and 2nd women and 3rd and 2nd men, giving right hands, change places and set to partner.

29 – 30 1st woman casts off to second place and 1st man casts up to second place. At the same time, 2nd and 3rd couples, giving right hands, cross over.

31 – 32 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples, taking hands on the side, set.

Repeat having passed a couple.

Devised by Hugh Foss.

Original tune: J. B. Milne by Angus Fitchet.

Source: Angus Fitchet Scottish Dance Album.

Video: Postie’s Jig

Postie’s Jig
RSCDS 30 Popular Dances, Vol. 2
A 32-bar jig for four couples ina four-couple longwise set

1 – 2 1st and 4th couples set.

3 – 4 1st couple cast off one place while 4th couple cast up one place. 2nd couple step up to top place while 3rd couple step down to fourth place.

5 – 8 1st couple dance a half figure of eight round 2nd couple while 4th couple dance a half figure eight round 3rd couple.

9 – 12 1st man with 4th man and 1st woman with 4th woman, take nearer hands and cross to the opposite side of the set, the men making an arch for the women to dance under. Give free hand to corner person and turn (i.e. 1st man to 2nd man and 1st woman to 2nd woman etc). Corners finish in places, while 1st couple meet and join nearer hands to face down and 4th couple meet and join nearer hands to face up.

13 – 16 1st couple and 4th couple, with nearer hands joined, change places up and down, the 4th couple making an arch for the 1st couple to dance under. Give free hand to corner person and turn (i.e. 1st man to 3rd man and 1st woman to 3rd woman etc.). Corners finish in places, while 1st and 4th men meet and join nearer hands on own side and 1st and 4th women meet and join hands on own side.

17 – 24 Repeat the pattern of crossing and turning as in bars 9 – 12 and 13 – 16. When changing places across the set the men always make the arch and when changing up and down the set the couple dancing up always make the arch. Finish in the order 2, 1, 4, 3 with the 1st and 4th couples on the opposite side.

25 – 28 1st and 4th couples dance half rights and lefts.

29 – 32 1st and 4th couples turn by the right hand once round to finish in the order 2,4, 1, 3.

Repeat from new positions.

Devised by Roy Clowes.

Original tune: Lassie Come and Dance with Me by Neil Grant.

Source: Ormskirk Scottish Dances Book 5.