Video: The Dream Catcher

The Dream Catcher
RSCDS, Book 45
(96-bar Strathspey for four couples in a square set)

Part 1
1 – 8 All dance eight hands round and back.
9 – 16 The swirl

9 – 10 1st and 3rd couples turn partners with the right hand once round to finish in allemande hold facing across the set.
11 – 12 1st and 3rd couples dance round each other half way, men passing left shoulders, to finish in the middle of the set. On bar 12, 1st and 3rd couples release right hands and retain left hands.
13 – 16 1st and 3rd couples dance left hands across. On bar 16 they dance in and, pulling back left shoulder, dance on to finish back to back with partner facing the side couples. 1st woman and 3rd man face 2nd couple, 3rd woman and 1st man face 4th couple.

17 – 24 All dance reels of four across the dance, passing right shoulders to begin.
25 – 26 All set.
27 – 32 1st man with 3rd woman, 3rd man with 1st woman, retaining nearer hands, dance out between the 4th and 2nd couples respectively, cross and cast to places then, giving right hands, change places with partners.

Part 2
1 – 4 All four couples, joining nearer hands with partners, set then advance to join hands in a circle in the middle.

5 – 8 Releasing partners’ hands and retaining nearer hands with corners, all retire on the diagonal and set.

9 – 16 1st woman and 4th man, 2nd man and 3rd woman dance rights and lefts. To begin, 1st woman gives right hand to 2nd man and 4th man gives right hands to 3rd woman.

17 – 24 1st man and 2nd woman, 4th woman and 3rd man dance rights and lefts. To begin, 1st man gives right hand to 4th woman and 2nd woman gives right hand to 3rd man.

25 – 28 All four couples, joining nearer hands with corners, set then advance to join hands in a circle in the middle.

29 – 32 Releasing corners’ hands and retaining nearer hands with partners, all retire to original places and set.

Part 3
1 – 8 2nd and 4th couples repeat bars 9-16 of Part 1.

9 – 16 All dance reels of four up and down the dance, passing right shoulders to begin.

17 – 18 All set.

19 – 24 2nd man with 4th woman, 4th man with 2nd woman, retaining nearer hands, dance out between the 1st and 3rd couples respectively, cross and cast to places then, giving right hands, change places with partners.

25 – 32 All dance eight hands round and back.

Devised by Eileen Orr, RSCDS Royal Tunbridge Wells Branch and first published by that branch in the Silver Anniversary Book of Dances (2001). The swirl was devised by Alex Gray of South Wales Branch and first introduced in two dances published by Edinburgh Branch in Edinburgh Diamond Jubilee Dances 1984.

The dream catcher is like a spider’s web, decorated with beads, semi-precious stones, feathers and strips of leather. Native North Americans believe that good and bad dreams come from the night sky and that bad dreams are trapped in the web, allowing only good dreams to get through. The bad dreams then evaporate in the rays of the early morning sun.

Note:
The RSCDS Technique Committee has provided the following additional information:

Bars 9-10 1st & 3rd couples dance a complete turn RH, finishing in allemande hold, facing into the set. Bars 11-12 1st & 3rd couples dance half way round each other, men passing left shoulder, to finish in the middle of the set, facing towards their original places (1st couple facing 1st couple’s place), – during bar 12 all release RH and join up LH in the middle.

Bars 13-15 1st & 3rd couples dance LH across, nearly once round (more than ¾).

Bar 16 1st & 3rd couples release LH and all pull back L Sh to turn completely round, moving slightly forward, (a “pirouette” movement), to finish ready for the reels of 4 across, 1st & 3rd couples are back to back with partner, 1M facing 4L, 1L facing 2M.

In practice the LH across is virtually all the way round and the pirouette is then almost on the spot.

Note: Although we have referred to it as a “pirouette”, a small travelling step is used to turn round.

Video: A Capital Jig

A Capital Jig
RSCDS, 5 Dances 2009
32-bar jig for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1 – 8 1st and 2nd couples set and rotate. 2nd couple finish in first place facing down and 1st couple in second place facing up.

9 – 16 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance reels of three on own sides. To begin, 2nd and 1st couples pass by the right.

17 – 20 1st couple set and, giving right hands, turn three quarters to be side by side in the middle of the set facing own sides.

21 – 24 1st woman with 2nd couple and 1st man with 3rd couple dance left hands across. 1st couple finish in second place on opposite sides.

25 – 28 1st couple set and, giving right hands, turn three quarters to be side by side in the middle of the set facing opposite sides.

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.

Devised by Tine E Mackay, Delaware Valley Branch.
Original tune: The Reunion by George M Anderson

Dedicated to the Harrisburg Scottish Country Dancers.
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania.

NORMA’S GARDEN
32 bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1 – 8 1st couple dance down through two couples, cast up around 3rd couple, dance up through 2nd couple and cast off to second place. (2nd couple step up on bars 7-8)

9 – 12 1st couple with 2nd man and 3rd woman dance half rights and lefts on the diagonal.

13 – 16 1st couple with 2nd woman and 3rd man dance half rights and lefts on the diagonal.(Finish: 3-1-2, with 2nd and 3rd couples on opposite sides)

17 – 24 3rd, 1st and 2nd couples set and link (Finish in lines across). Repeat. (Finish: 2-1-3, with 1st couple on opposite sides)

25 – 26 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples set. –
27 – 30 1st couple, giving right hands, turn one and a half times to finish on their own sides in second place.

31 – 32 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples set.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Lydia Hedge
A birthday gift for Norma Bruce
Suggested music: Toast to the Mousies, composed by Keith Smith

Video: Sands of Morar
Video: Sands of Morar

SANDS OF MORAR
Book 45. No. 6
(Strathspey)

Bars Description
1 – 8 1st couple dance a figure of eight round 2nd couple, giving right hands when crossing down from own side and left hands when crossing back.

9 – 16 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance reels of three on own sides, joining nearer hands with partner when possible. To begin 1st couple dance in and down, 2nd couple dance out and up and 3rd couple dance in and up. 2nd couple finish facing out.

17 – 20 1st couple turn with both hands once round and, retaining nearer hands, dance down to third place. 2nd couple dance out and up to first place and, joining nearer hands, dance down to second place to finish in the middle behind 1st couple. 3rd couple dance in to give nearer hands (3rd man right hand, 3rd woman left hand) and dance up and out to first place to finish in the middle behind 2nd couple. All three couples are in the middle of the set facing down.

21 – 22 All three couples set.

23 – 24 1st couple cast up to first place, while 2nd couple, following them, cast up to second place and 3rd couple dance down to third place.

25 – 32 1st and 2nd couples dance the tourbillon as follows:

25-26 1st and 2nd couples turn with both hands halfway round. After one bar, 1st man releases his left hand to dance into 2nd woman’s place while 1st woman dances into her original place. 2nd woman similarly releases her left hand to dance into 1st man’s place while 2nd man dances into his original place.

27-28 1st couple set to 2nd couple.

29-30 1st and 2nd couples turn with both hands halfway round. After one bar, 1st woman releases her left hand to dance into 2nd man’s place while 1st man dances into 2nd woman’s place. 2nd man similarly releases his left hand to dance into 1st woman’s place while 2nd woman dances into 1st man’s place.

31-32 2nd and 1st couples, giving right hands, cross over.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Barry Priddey, RSCDS Sutton Coldfield Branch and originally published by Glasgow Branch in The Diamond Jubilee Book (1983).

Tune: Pinky House, Traditional
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
Bars 23-24 1st and 2nd couples must cast quickly so that 3rd couple can dance into place by the end of bar 24.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:
23-24 1st cpl, followed by 2nd cpl, must cast quickly to allow 3rd cpl to dance down & short way into places.
27-28 Retain nearer hands with partner at end of bar 28 ready for 2H turn on bar 29.
29-30 At beginning of bar 30, 1st woman & 2nd man draw partners along sidelines with RH, then release to cross set.

Video: Domino Five
Video: Domino Five

No. 11 – Domino Five
RSCDS Second Book of Graded Scottish Country Dances
32-bar reel for five dancers in a square formation.
Four dancers numbered 1 to 4 clockwise each stand at one corner of a square facing a fifth dancer who is in the middle facing up towards dancers 1 and 4.

1 – 4 Dancers 5, 1 and 2 dance right hands across once round.

5 – 8 Dancers 5, 3 and 4 dance left hands across once round.

9 – 16 Dancers 5, 1 and 3 dance a diagonal reel of three, dancers 5 and 1 pass by the right to start. Dancer 5 finishes back in place facing dancer 4.

17 – 24 Dancers 5, 4 and 2 dance a diagonal reel of three, dancers 5 and 4 pass by the left to start. Dancer 5 finishes back in place facing dancer 1.

25 – 26 Dancers 5 and 1 change places, passing by the right.

27 – 28 Dancers 1 and 4 change places, passing by the right.

29 – 30 Dancers 4 and 3 change places, passing by the right.

31 – 32 Dancers 3 and 2 change places, passing by the right. Dancer 2 finishes in the middle facing up. Repeat four times, each time from new positions.

In bars 25-32 the track from one corner to the next should be a smooth curve.

Devised by Derek Haynes.

First published in The Fourth Carnforth Collection.
©Maureen Haynes, printed with permission.

Video: The Irish Rover

THE IRISH ROVER
TWENTY-TWO SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCES by James B. Cosh and TWO OTHERS
(Reel – 32 Bars)

Music. Description

Bars.
1 – 8 First couple lead through third couple, cast up one place on own side; first woman wheel right hand with second couple, first man wheel right hand with third couple.

9 – 12 First couple dance half reels of four with first corners, then

13 – 16 half reels of four with second corners. At end of reels first couple
turn left hand in centre ready to

17 – 24 give left shoulders to person in first corner’s position for two reels of three across the dance. First couple finish in second place, own side.

25 – 26 First couple change places with person in their first corner’s position (i.e. first lady right hand to third lady and first man right hand to second man).

27 – 28 Change left hands on sides; first lady with second man, first man with third lady. (First corners now back in original places.)

29 – 30 First lady changes places, giving right hand to third man (in second lady’s position), while first man changes places, giving right hand to second lady (in third man’s position).

31 – 32 First and second ladies and first and third men change places, giving left hands on own side of the dance.

The order is now 2, 1, 3, 4.

Repeat from second place.
Tune – “The Irish Rover”

Video: Sarona

SARONA
dance devised by John Drewry
for San Francisco Branch of the R.S.C.D.S.
Strathspey – 4 couples — 32 bars.
Tune – “Sarona” by J. Scott Skinner — “The Scottish Violinist” page 49.
In this dance 3rd and 4th couples start on wrong sides.

1–2 1st couple and 4th couple dance petronella-wise into the centre of the dance to form a straight line down the centre with 1st man and 4th man back to back in the middle of the line (2nd couple step up about half a place, while 3rd couple step down about half a place).

3–4 All set to partners in two diamond formations.

5–8 1st couple with 2nd couple, and 3rd couple with 4th couple dance right hands across to the same positions as at the end of Bar 2.

9–12 1st couple and 4th couple dance half a reel of four down the centre of the dance.

13–14 4th couple change places with one another, passing by the right, while 1st couple, similarly, change places with one another. The dancers should still be in a straight line down the centre at the end of Bar 14.

15–16 4th man turns 2nd lady with both hands three quarters round, while 4th lady turns 2nd man with both hands three quarters round to form a straight line across the dance with 4th couple between 2nd couple.

1st man, similarly, turns 3rd lady with both hands, while 1st lady turns 3rd man with both hands to form a straight line across the dance with 1st couple between 3rd couple.

17–20 2nd couple with 4th couple, and 3rd couple with 1st couple, dance half reels of four across the dance.

21–22 2nd couple dance into the centre (passing the 4th couple by the right) then they pass one another by the right to finish in top place facing down with 2nd lady on the left of 2nd man.

3rd couple, similarly, dance into the centre (passing 1st couple by the right), then they pass one another by the right to finish in fourth place facing up with 3rd lady on the left of 3rd man.

4th lady dances out to the ladies’ side, passing 2nd man by the right, then down on the side to second place. 1st lady dances out to the men’s side, passing 3rd man by the right, then up on the side to third place.

4th man dances out to the men’s side, passing 2nd lady by the right, then, pulling his left shoulder back, he dances down to second place.

1st man, similarly, dances out to the ladies’ side, passing 3rd lady by the right, then, pulling his left shoulder back, he dances up to 3rd place.

23–24 With 2nd and 3rd couples and 4th man and 1st lady, and 1st man and 4th lady joining nearer hands, all set in a square formation.

25–26 2nd couple, 4th man with 1st lady, 1st man with 4th lady, and 3rd couple, advance one step to form a circle, then releasing hold of hands they dance in slightly and pull right shoulder back to face out. (This second step is almost a turning on the spot and care should be taken to preserve the circular formation).

27–28 All dance out clockwise in a chase.

29–32 Eight hands round to the left to finish on the side lines in the order 2,4,1,3 with 1st and 3rd couples on wrong sides.

No Video for this dance.

TACTFUL DANCERS
32-bar hornpipe for 3 couples in a 4-couple set
Music: David Jones’s Locker, by Chris Dewhurst, or similar hornpipe

1-4 1st and 2nd men, and 1st and 2nd women, facing on the sides, set and turn half way, men with left hand and women with right hand. 2nd couple make polite turns as they finish in top place.

5-8 1st and 3rd men, giving right hands, turn once round; meanwhile, 1st and 3rd women, giving left hands, turn once round.

9-10 1st couple change places with second corners (2nd woman and 3rd man) giving left hands.

11-12 Original second corners (now in 2nd place on opposite sides) change places with first corners (2nd man and 3rd woman) giving right hands.

13-14 Original first corners (now in 2nd place on opposite sides) change places with 1st couple (in 2nd corner positions) giving left hands.

15-16 Giving right hands to partner, all cross over and face in, pulling right shoulder back. Dancers are now on opposite sides in the order 312.

17-24 Dance set and link for 3 couples, twice, to finish on own side in the order 213.

25-32 Circle six hands round and back.

Repeat having passed a couple.

Devised by Chris Ronald, August 2016, in honour of Elizabeth Woodbury.

Notes:
The dance recognizes Elizabeth’s love of sailing, particularly J27s which can have a crew of six.

Bars 1-8 depict greeting the other crew members; bars 9-16 tacking, bars 17-24 ‘all hands on deck’, and bars 25-32 celebrate the successful conclusion of an event.

The title alludes to the tacking figure on bars 9-16. The figure was inspired by a similar movement in Iain Boyd’s dance: The Cashmere Shawl. In that dance right hands are given first, but in this dance left hands are given first, since the starboard tack has right-of-way over the port tack! PS. I find it helps to teach bars 9-16 first.

Video: MacLeod’s Fancy

MacLeod’s Fancy
RSCDS Book XXXIII – No.3
(Jig)

1–2 1st and 4th couples set facing diagonally inwards.

3–8 1st man and 4th woman turn with the right hand three-quarters round; 1st man dances through 4th man’s place and casts up to his original place, while 4th woman dances through 1st woman’s place and casts off to her original place. Meanwhile, 1st woman casts off to 4th woman’s place, and 4th man casts up to 1st man’s place; they turn with the right hand three-quarters round to return to their original places where they stay facing out.

9–16 All dance reels of four on own sides and finish as though going to repeat the reels.

17–18 1st and 2nd men, 1st and 2nd women, 3rd and 4th men, and 3rd and 4th women, turn with the right hand half-way round to bring 1st and 4th couples into the middle of the set where they give left hands across and retain hold of the 2nd and 3rd couples with the right hand to form a St. Andrew’s Cross.

19–20 All set in the “Cross” formation.

21–24 1st and 2nd men, 1st and 2nd women, 3rd and 4th men, and 3rd and 4th women turn with the right hand once round, releasing hands at the end of bar 23 so that 1st couple can dance down to third place and 4th couple can dance up to second place. (1st man and 4th woman make polite turn.) The order is now 2, 4, 1, 3.

25–26 1st and 4th couples, joining nearer hands on the sides, set to partners.

27–28 1st and 4th couples cross over to opposite sides – the women retaining hold of nearer hands and dancing between their partners. On reaching opposite sides, the women turn away from each other, while the men turn toward each other.

29–32 4th couple, joining right hands, lead up between 2nd couple crossing over to own sides and cast off to second place, while 1st couple joining left hands, lead down between 3rd couple crossing over to own sides and cast up to third place.

Repeat from new places.

Devised by John Drewry. Inscribed to Duncan MacLeod of Glasgow.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
21–24 All dance for 4 bars.

Video: The Ribblesdale Strathspey

Video: The Ribblesdale Strathspey

The Ribblesdale Strathspey
The Ribble Valley Book of Scottish Country Dances

A 32-bar strathspey for a 3-couple set.
Tune: The Ribblesdale Strathspey.

1–12 The 1st, 2nd, & 3rd couples dance rights and lefts for three couples.

13 The 1st couple start mirror setting movement down the set, the man going to his right and the lady to her left, advancing to finish with both hands joined.

14 The 1st couple finish mirror setting movement, moving back up the set and releasing the top hands.

15–16 The 1st couple cast into 2nd place, the man leading with his right foot and the lady leading with her left foot as the joined hands are brought through the middle before releasing. 2nd couple step up.

17–24 The 2nd and 1st couples dance a poussette right round.

25–32 The 1st couple dance a figure of 8 round the 2nd couple, momentarily giving left hands on the first crossing and right hands on the second crossing. The 3rd couple step up on the last 2 bars as the 1st couple dance into 3rd place.

Repeat with a new leading couple.

Jeff Middleton composed this dance for the Ribble Valley Branch in recognition of the continuing success of the Branch. 16 October 2008.

TACTFUL DANCERS
32-bar hornpipe for 3 couples in a 4-couple set
Music: David Jones’s Locker, by Chris Dewhurst, or similar hornpipe

1-4 1st and 2nd men, and 1st and 2nd women, facing on the sides, set and turn half way, men with left hand and women with right hand. 2nd couple make polite turns as they finish in top place.

5-8 1st and 3rd men, giving right hands, turn once round; meanwhile, 1st and 3rd women, giving left hands, turn once round.

9-10 1st couple change places with second corners (2nd woman and 3rd man) giving left hands.

11-12 Original second corners (now in 2nd place on opposite sides) change places with first corners (2nd man and 3rd woman) giving right hands.

13-14 Original first corners (now in 2nd place on opposite sides) change places with 1st couple (in 2nd corner positions) giving left hands.

15-16 Giving right hands to partner, all cross over and face in, pulling right shoulder back. Dancers are now on opposite sides in the order 312.

17-24 Dance set and link for 3 couples, twice, to finish on own side in the order 213.

25-32 Circle six hands round and back.

Repeat having passed a couple.

Devised by Chris Ronald, August 2016, in honour of Elizabeth Woodbury.

Notes:
The dance recognizes Elizabeth’s love of sailing, particularly J27s which can have a crew of six.

Bars 1-8 depict greeting the other crew members; bars 9-16 tacking, bars 17-24 ‘all hands on deck’, and bars 25-32 celebrate the successful conclusion of an event.

The title alludes to the tacking figure on bars 9-16. The figure was inspired by a similar movement in Iain Boyd’s dance: The Cashmere Shawl. In that dance right hands are given first, but in this dance left hands are given first, since the starboard tack has right-of-way over the port tack! PS. I find it helps to teach bars 9-16 first.

Video: Strathglass House

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)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.

Video: Sarona

SARONA
dance devised by John Drewry
for San Francisco Branch of the R.S.C.D.S.
Strathspey – 4 couples — 32 bars.
Tune – “Sarona” by J. Scott Skinner — “The Scottish Violinist” page 49.
In this dance 3rd and 4th couples start on wrong sides.

1–2 1st couple and 4th couple dance petronella-wise into the centre of the dance to form a straight line down the centre with 1st man and 4th man back to back in the middle of the line (2nd couple step up about half a place, while 3rd couple step down about half a place).

3–4 All set to partners in two diamond formations.

5–8 1st couple with 2nd couple, and 3rd couple with 4th couple dance right hands across to the same positions as at the end of Bar 2.

9–12 1st couple and 4th couple dance half a reel of four down the centre of the dance.

13–14 4th couple change places with one another, passing by the right, while 1st couple, similarly, change places with one another. The dancers should still be in a straight line down the centre at the end of Bar 14.

15–16 4th man turns 2nd lady with both hands three quarters round, while 4th lady turns 2nd man with both hands three quarters round to form a straight line across the dance with 4th couple between 2nd couple.

1st man, similarly, turns 3rd lady with both hands, while 1st lady turns 3rd man with both hands to form a straight line across the dance with 1st couple between 3rd couple.

17–20 2nd couple with 4th couple, and 3rd couple with 1st couple, dance half reels of four across the dance.

21–22 2nd couple dance into the centre (passing the 4th couple by the right) then they pass one another by the right to finish in top place facing down with 2nd lady on the left of 2nd man.

3rd couple, similarly, dance into the centre (passing 1st couple by the right), then they pass one another by the right to finish in fourth place facing up with 3rd lady on the left of 3rd man.

4th lady dances out to the ladies’ side, passing 2nd man by the right, then down on the side to second place. 1st lady dances out to the men’s side, passing 3rd man by the right, then up on the side to third place.

4th man dances out to the men’s side, passing 2nd lady by the right, then, pulling his left shoulder back, he dances down to second place.

1st man, similarly, dances out to the ladies’ side, passing 3rd lady by the right, then, pulling his left shoulder back, he dances up to 3rd place.

23–24 With 2nd and 3rd couples and 4th man and 1st lady, and 1st man and 4th lady joining nearer hands, all set in a square formation.

25–26 2nd couple, 4th man with 1st lady, 1st man with 4th lady, and 3rd couple, advance one step to form a circle, then releasing hold of hands they dance in slightly and pull right shoulder back to face out. (This second step is almost a turning on the spot and care should be taken to preserve the circular formation).

27–28 All dance out clockwise in a chase.

29–32 Eight hands round to the left to finish on the side lines in the order 2,4,1,3 with 1st and 3rd couples on wrong sides.

Video: The Sailor

Video: The Sailor

The Sailor
RSCDS Book 24 – No. 4
32-bar hornpipe for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1–2 1st couple, giving right hands, cross down, 1st woman to face 2nd and 3rd men, 1st man to face 2nd and 3rd women. 2nd couple step up.

3–4 1st woman with 2nd and 3rd men and 1st man with 2nd and 3rd women, joining nearer hands, set. (Fig.)

5–8 1st woman casts up round 2nd man to finish between 2nd couple, all facing down; 1st man casts down round 3rd woman to finish between 3rd couple, all facing up. All set in lines of three across.

9–16 1st woman with 2nd couple and 1st man with 3rd couple dance reels of three across the set. To begin, 1st woman and 2nd man, 1st man and 3rd woman pass by the right. 1st couple finish in second place on opposite sides.

17–24 1st couple lead down the middle (two steps) and up, cross at the top and cast off one place on own sides.

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

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Collected by Miss Jenny MacLachlin.
Original tune: The Davy Hornpipe (Traditional)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
3-4 Note Fig. – not a double triangles position.
5-8 Cast – not a right hand turn with 2nd man and 3rd woman.

Video: The Peat Fire Flame

Video: The Peat Fire Flame

THE PEAT FIRE FLAME
THE BON ACCORD BOOK OF SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCES by John Drewry
Reel – 3 couples – 40 bars.
Tune – “The Peat Fire Flame’.

1–6 1st couple cast off one place, then dance half a figure of eight round 2nd couple to finish in second place on the wrong sides. (2nd couple move up on 1-2).

7–8 1st couple turn by the left hand to face first corners.

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

13–16 1st couple turn second corners by the left hand then pass each other by the left shoulder to face first corners again.

17–20 1st couple dance half a reel of four with their first corners, then pass each other by the left shoulder to go into:-

21–24 A half reel of four with second corners. 1st couple finish facing first corners again, who are now on the wrong side of the dance.

25–26 1st couple set to first corners.

27–28 1st couple, with two skip change of step, dance round one another to the right to finish facing second corners.

29–30 1st couple set to second corners.

31–32 1st couple, with two skip change of step, dance round one another to the right to finish in second place on wrong sides facing out.

33–36 2nd and 3rd couples dance half rights and lefts to bring them back to their own sides in top and third places (omit the polite turns at the end because the dancers finish two places apart). 1st man casts off to below third place on the ladies’ side and then dances up the centre of the dance to meet his partner, who casts up to above top place on the men’s side and then dances down the centre of the dance.

37–40 1st couple turn by the right hand one and a quarter times to finish in second place on own sides, but stay facing out ready to cast off at the beginning of the next turn of the dance. 2nd and 3rd couples turn by the right hand.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

NOTE: At the end of the second turn of the dance, the original 1st couple, who must go to fourth place, finish facing out at the end of the right hand turn. Then, on the first two steps of the new turn, they cast off to fourth place, while the new top couple cast off to second place.

Video: John McAlpin

JOHN McALPIN
(Strathspey)
Hugh Foss, Galloway Album (1964)

1–2 1st couple advance (one step), take right hands, let go and retire (one step).

3–4 Then, giving left hands, cross over and turn left about.

5–6 1st couple, taking right hands, lead down to 2nd place, centre of the dance (2nd couple move up), and

7–8 Turn by the left hand (see Fig. 1).

9–16 1st couple turn first corner by the right hand, partner by the left, second corner by the right, and, giving left hands to partners, cross back to own sides, 2nd place.

17–18 1st, 2nd and 3rd women, taking hands, set.

19–20 They advance (two steps), while the three men, taking hands, set.

21–24 The women retire (two steps) and set, while the men advance and retire.

25–26 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples cross over, giving right hands, form a circle (see Fig. 2) and

27–28 Dance six hands half round to the left.

29–32 They cross over again, giving left hands, form a circle (see Fig. 3) and dance six hands half round to the right.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Video: Best Set in the Hall

Best Set in the Hall
RSCDS Book 46
32-bar jig for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1 – 8 1st couple set and 1st woman, followed by her partner, casts off two places, crosses over below 3rd couple, casts up and dances in to face first corner. 1st man dances up the middle of the set to face his first corner. 2nd couple step up on bars 7-8.

9 – 12 1st couple and first corners set and, 1st couple, pulling back by the right, dance around each other and out to finish in partner’s first corner position. At the same time, first corners dance in towards each other and, pulling back by the right, finish back to back in the middle facing own places.

13 – 16 1st couple and first corners set and first corners, pulling back by the right, dance around each other and out to finish in opposite corner’s position. At the same time, 1st couple dance towards each other and, pulling back by the right, finish back to back in the middle facing second corners.

17 – 24 1st couple repeat bars 9-16 with second corners and pass each other by the right to finish in second place on opposite sides. 3rd, 1st and 2nd couples face clockwise.

25 – 28 3rd, 1st and 2nd couples dance clockwise halfway round the set.

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

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Helen Greenwood, Auckland, New Zealand.
Note: the movement in bars 9-24 was devised by the late Alec Hay.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes Compiled by teachers, Summer School , St Andrews 2010
15-16 1st couple turn on the spot.
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TACNotes:1-8 1st woman dances straight in on bar 8 to face 1st corner.

Video: The Spirit of the Dance

THE SPIRIT OF THE DANCE
T.A.C. 50th Anniversary Collection
32 Strathspey for three couples by Irene Paterson

1–8 1st and 2nd couples dance the tourbillon, first couple finish facing out.

1–2 1st and 2nd couples turn with two hands half-way round. After one bar, 1st man releases his left hand to dance into 2nd woman’s place, while 1st woman dances into her original place. 2nd woman similarly release her left hand to dance into 1st man’s place while 2nd man dances into his original place.

3–4 1st couple set to 2nd couple.

5–6 1st and 2nd couples turn with both hands half-way round. After one bar, 1st woman releases her left hand to dance into 2nd man’s place while 1st man dances into 2nd woman’s place while 2nd woman dances into 1st man’s place.

7–8 2nd and 1st couples, giving right hands, cross over.

9–16 1st couple cast to their right, woman going round 3rd woman right shoulder, man round 2nd man, right shoulder, pass each other right shoulder in the centre of the set and cast to the right, woman round 2nd woman, man round 3rd man, to second place own sides, pass partner right shoulder to finish in second place on opposite sides.

17–28 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance rights and lefts for three couples.

17–18 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples cross over giving right hands.

19–20 2nd woman and 1st man change places on the sides, while 1st woman and 3rd man do the same, while 2nd man and 3rd woman change places diagonally, all giving left hands.

21–22 1st man and 3rd woman, 2nd woman and 3rd man and 2nd man and 1st woman all cross giving right hands.

23–24 3rd couple and 2nd couple change places on the sides, while 1st couple change places diagonally, all giving left hands.

25–26 3rd man and 1st woman, 3rd woman and 2nd man and 1st man and 2nd woman all cross giving right hands.

27–28 1st woman and 2nd man, 3rd woman and 1st man change places on the sides, while 3rd man and 2nd woman cross diagonally, all giving left hands.

29–32 1st couple turn one and a half times with both hands to finish in 2nd place ready to start again.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Irene Paterson of Mukilteo, Washington State, in memory of Bob Blackie, a wonderful friend, dancer and teacher. He left us far too soon in May 1998.

The Bob Blackie Memorial fund was created by his good friend Ed Jones to acknowledge Bob’s longtime work with TAC. The fund brings a recipient to Summer School each year.

Video: MacLeod’s Fancy

MacLeod’s Fancy
RSCDS Book XXXIII – No.3
(Jig)

1–2 1st and 4th couples set facing diagonally inwards.

3–8 1st man and 4th woman turn with the right hand three-quarters round; 1st man dances through 4th man’s place and casts up to his original place, while 4th woman dances through 1st woman’s place and casts off to her original place. Meanwhile, 1st woman casts off to 4th woman’s place, and 4th man casts up to 1st man’s place; they turn with the right hand three-quarters round to return to their original places where they stay facing out.

9–16 All dance reels of four on own sides and finish as though going to repeat the reels.

17–18 1st and 2nd men, 1st and 2nd women, 3rd and 4th men, and 3rd and 4th women, turn with the right hand half-way round to bring 1st and 4th couples into the middle of the set where they give left hands across and retain hold of the 2nd and 3rd couples with the right hand to form a St. Andrew’s Cross.

19–20 All set in the “Cross” formation.

21–24 1st and 2nd men, 1st and 2nd women, 3rd and 4th men, and 3rd and 4th women turn with the right hand once round, releasing hands at the end of bar 23 so that 1st couple can dance down to third place and 4th couple can dance up to second place. (1st man and 4th woman make polite turn.) The order is now 2, 4, 1, 3.

25–26 1st and 4th couples, joining nearer hands on the sides, set to partners.

27–28 1st and 4th couples cross over to opposite sides – the women retaining hold of nearer hands and dancing between their partners. On reaching opposite sides, the women turn away from each other, while the men turn toward each other.

29–32 4th couple, joining right hands, lead up between 2nd couple crossing over to own sides and cast off to second place, while 1st couple joining left hands, lead down between 3rd couple crossing over to own sides and cast up to third place.

Repeat from new places.

Devised by John Drewry. Inscribed to Duncan MacLeod of Glasgow.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
21–24 All dance for 4 bars.

Video: Glasgow Country Dance

Video: Glasgow Country Dance

Glasgow Country Dance
RSCDS Book 23 – No. 6
Medley of 16-bar strathspey and 16-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

Strathspey
1–2 1st and 2nd couples, giving both hands to partners, turn to finish in the middle of the set, women facing down, men facing up, 1st man and 2nd woman back to back.

3–6 1st and 2nd couples dance a half reel of four.

7–8 1st and 2nd couples, giving both hands to partners, turn, 2nd couple finishing in first place with 1st man between them and 1st woman between 3rd couple, all facing down.

9 – 16 1st woman with 3rd couple and 1st man with 2nd couple dance down the middle. All turn by the right and dance up. On bar 16, 1st man and 2nd couple turn by the right to face down. 1st woman finishes between 3rd couple, all facing up.

Reel
1–4 All clap. 1st man dances a half reel of three with 2nd and 3rd women, passing 3rd woman by the right to begin. 1st woman dances a half reel of three with 2nd and 3rd men, passing 2nd man by the right to begin

5–8 1st couple, giving right hands, turn once round. 1st woman finishes between 3rd couple facing down and 1st man between 2nd couple facing up.

9–12 All clap. 1st man dances a half reel of three with 3rd and 2nd women, passing 3rd woman by the left to begin. 1st woman dances a half reel of three with 3rd and 2nd men, passing 2nd man by the left to begin.

13–16 1st couple, giving left hands, turn one and a quarter times to finish in second place on own sides.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Robert Campbell, Hamilton (Ontario) Branch.

Original tunes:
Strathspey: Miss Milligan (Robert R Goulay)
Reel: Clydeside Lassies (Surenne)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
Part 1 7–8 1st woman should dance strongly up into the turn so that 1st man can dance up & finish between 2nd cpl without strain. The whole first figure is a continuous movement.

Video: Sands of Morar

Video: Sands of Morar

SANDS OF MORAR
Book 45. No. 6
(Strathspey)

1–8 1st couple dance a figure of eight round 2nd couple, giving right hands when crossing down from own side and left hands when crossing back.

9–16 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance reels of three on own sides, joining nearer hands with partner when possible. To begin 1st couple dance in and down, 2nd couple dance out and up and 3rd couple dance in and up. 2nd couple finish facing out.

17–20 1st couple turn with both hands once round and, retaining nearer hands, dance down to third place. 2nd couple dance out and up to first place and, joining nearer hands, dance down to second place to finish in the middle behind 1st couple. 3rd couple dance in to give nearer hands (3rd man right hand, 3rd woman left hand) and dance up and out to first place to finish in the middle behind 2nd couple. All three couples are in the middle of the set facing down.

21–22 All three couples set.

23–24 1st couple cast up to first place, while 2nd couple, following them, cast up to second place and 3rd couple dance down to third place.

25–32 1st and 2nd couples dance the tourbillon as follows:

25-26 1st and 2nd couples turn with both hands halfway round. After one bar, 1st man releases his left hand to dance into 2nd woman’s place while 1st woman dances into her original place. 2nd woman similarly releases her left hand to dance into 1st man’s place while 2nd man dances into his original place.

27-28 1st couple set to 2nd couple.

29-30 1st and 2nd couples turn with both hands halfway round. After one bar, 1st woman releases her left hand to dance into 2nd man’s place while 1st man dances into 2nd woman’s place. 2nd man similarly releases his left hand to dance into 1st woman’s place while 2nd woman dances into 1st man’s place.

31-32 2nd and 1st couples, giving right hands, cross over.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Barry Priddey, RSCDS Sutton Coldfield Branch and originally published by Glasgow Branch in The Diamond Jubilee Book (1983).

Tune: Pinky House, Traditional
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
Bars 23-24 1st and 2nd couples must cast quickly so that 3rd couple can dance into place by the end of bar 24.
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TACNotes:
23-24 1st cpl, followed by 2nd cpl, must cast quickly to allow 3rd cpl to dance down & short way into places.
27-28 Retain nearer hands with partner at end of bar 28 ready for 2H turn on bar 29.
29-30 At beginning of bar 30, 1st woman & 2nd man draw partners along sidelines with RH, then release to cross set.

Video: The Black Black Oil

THE BLACK BLACK OIL
THE DEESIDE BOOK OF SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCES, Part 2 by JOHN DREWRY

Reel : 5-couple set : 32 bars
Tune : “Fitful Head” by Tom Georgeson The Duke of Edinburgh’s Welcome to Shetland (Shetland Times Ltd.)

1–4 1st couple half-turn by the right hand, moving down to face one another across the centre of the dance in second place, then they set to one another. 3rd couple, similarly, half-turn down to fourth place and set. (2nd and 4th couples move up one place each on Bars 1-2)

5–8 1st couple, giving left hands in passing, cross to own sides, then 1st lady casts up round 2nd lady, and dances into the centre of the dance to face 2nd man, while 1st man casts off behind 4th man, and dances into the centre to face 4th lady. 3rd couple dance similarly, 3rd lady finishes facing 4th man, and 3rd man finishes facing 5th lady.(1st man and 3rd lady pass one another by the left between 4th couple)

9–16 1st lady dances a reel of three across the dance with 2nd couple, passing 2nd man by the right. 1st man and 3rd lady dance a reel of four across the dance with 4th couple. 3rd man dances a reel of three across the dance with 5th couple, passing 5th lady by the right.1st and 3rd couples finish the reels in the centre of the dance between their first corners. (1st man and 3rd lady pass by the right)

17–18 1st and 3rd couples give left hands to partners and right hands to their first corners and they balance in line.

19–20 1st and 3rd couples turn their first corners by the right hand into the centre of the dance, where the corners join left hands.

21–22 They balance in line again.

23–24 1st and 3rd couples turn their first corners by the right hand out to the sides, and finish facing second corners.

25–28 Second corners “pass and turn”. At the end, 1st and 3rd couples turn partners by the right hand half-way round (i.e. to own sides), and retain hold of right hands.

29–32 1st and 3rd couples continue turning partners by the right hand once round, then cast off one place each on own sides.

Repeat with a new top couple, and with original top couple in third place.