Sorry,  no video.

Purdy Pink Shoes
32-bar jig for two couples in a three or four-couple longwise set

1–2 1st and 2nd couples set advancing to join right hands with partners, 1st woman and 2nd man joining left hands in balance-in-line formation.

3–4 1st and 2nd couples balance in line.

5–6 1st and 2nd couples turn partners with the right hand half way round.

7–8 1st man and 2nd woman turn with the left hand three quarters of the way round while 1st woman and 2nd man dance clockwise one quarter of the way round them to finish facing partners in a line across the dance.

9–16 1st and 2nd couples dance a reel of four across the dance. On bars 15-16, 1st woman and 2nd man, having briefly passed left shoulders on bar 14, curve towards the right to finish at the ends of a line of four up and down the middle of the dance. 1st man and 2nd woman complete the reel by briefly passing left shoulders with one another on bar 16 to face partners. All finish in a line up and down the middle of the dance facing partners, women facing up and men facing down.

17–24 2nd and 1st couples dance a reel of four up and down the middle of the set.

25–28 2nd and 1st couples set to partners and dance a petronella turn to own sides.

29–32 2nd and 1st couples turn partner with the right hand once round.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Elaine Hoag and dedicated to Ardbrae member, Deborah Connors, who dances in “purdy” hot pink shoes and brings so much energy and joy to her dancing.

Suitable recorded music (6 x 32 bars):
‘Purdy Pink Band Shoes’ by The Music Makars on Catch the Wind, Track 9

Video: John of Bon Accord

Video: John of Bon Accord

John of Bon Accord
RSCDS Book XXXIII – No. 5
(Reel)

1–16 Four progressive half-reels of three across the dance – danced as follows:

1–4 1st couple with 2nd woman dance a half-reel of three. 1st woman passes her partner with the right shoulder to begin and finishes in the middle of the set facing her own side of the dance. 1st man finishes in 1st woman’s original place and 2nd woman in 1st man’s original place.

5–8 1st couple with 2nd man dance a half-reel of three. 1st woman passes her partner with the left shoulder to begin and finishes in the middle of the set facing the men’s side of the dance. 1st man finishes in 2nd man’s original place and 2nd man in 1st woman’s original place.

9–12 1st couple repeat bars 1-4 with 3rd woman who finishes in 2nd man’s original place.

13–16 1st couple repeat bars 5-8 with 3rd man, who finishes in 2nd woman’s original place. 1st couple finish in third place in the middle of the set.

17–20 1st couple turn with right hands and cast up one place on own sides. 3Rd couple step down on bars 19-20.

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

25–28 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples turn partners with right hands three-quarters round to finish in a line up and down the dance; facing partners and retaining right hands, all set.

29–32 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples turn partners with right hands to finish on own sides and then, joining hands on the sides, set to partners.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Roy Goldring and inscribed to John Drewry of Aberdeen.

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The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
Bars 1-16 In the four progressive half reels across the dance, the 1st woman cuts each reel through the middle giving her partner, successively, right, left, right and left shoulders.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TAC Notes:’
1-16 For the four consecutive half reels of three, 1st woman starts by facing her partner, giving him R, L, R, & then L shouders. Note: support dancers all dance up into their half reels & finish one place up on opposite sides.
29-30 This is a tight turn – do not “steal” on bar 28.

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.
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TACNotes:’
21–24 All dance for 4 bars.

Video: Petronella

Video: Petronella

Petronella
RSCDS Book 1 – No. 1
32-bar reel for two couples in a four-couple longwise set

1–2 1st couple dance a petronella turn, i.e. they dance a three-quarters turn, moving diagonally to their right into the middle of the set and pull back right shoulders to face partner.

3–4 1st couple set to each other.

5–16 1st couple repeat bars 1– 4 always moving to the right until they are back in original positions.

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.

Introduced at Nathaniel Gow’s Annual Ball in Edinburgh, 1820.
J P Boulogne: The Ball-Room or the Juvenile Pupil’s Assistant, Glasgow 1827.

Original tine: Petronella (Traditional)

No Video

THE SANDS OF ASILOMAR
dance devised by John Drewry
for the dancers of San Francisco
Strathspey – 4 couples – 32 bars.
Tune – “The Sands of Asilomar” _ See Manuscript – Tune in E flat composed by Paul Machlis

BARS

1 – 2 All turn partners with both hands half-way round and stay in the centre of the dance facing partners – 3 to 4 feet apart.

3 – 4 Joining nearer hands up and down the dance, all set to partners.

5 – 8 The men all cast off and, with 4th man leading, cross over to own sides and dance up. The women all cast up and, with 1st woman leading, cross over to own sides and dance down. All are now on own sides in the order 4,3,2,1.

9 – 10 4th couple turn with the right hand half – way round while moving down towards second place; 1st couple, similarly, turn with the right hand half-way round while moving up to third place.

11 – 12 4th and 1st couples dance right hands across half-way round to return to original places.

13 – 14 3rd and 2nd couple turn partners with the right hand half – way round.

15 – 16 3rd and 2nd couples dance right hands across half – way round to return to original places.

17 – 18 1st woman and 2nd man, (and 3rd woman and Nth man), change places passing by the right without giving hands.

19 – 20 All turn partners half – way round with both hands opening up into:-

21 – 24 1st couple with 2nd couple, and 3rd couple with “th couple, dance four hands round to the left one and a quarter times to finish with all in the centre with nearer hands joined with partners, with 1st and 3rd couples facing down and 2nd and uth couples facing up.

25 – 26 All set with nearer hands joined with partners. During the setting lst and 2nd couples, and 3rd and 4th couples, change places – as in “Mary Hamilton”.

27 – 28 2nd couple dance up slightly then out into top place with a “casting off” movement; 3rd couple dance down slightly then out into fourth place with a “casting up” movement. 1st and 4th couples set again and change places while setting.

29-32 4th couple dance up between 2nd couple and cast off to second place. 1st couple dance down between 3rd couple and cast up to third place. The finishing order is 2,4,1,3.

Repeat from new places.

Video: City of Stirling Reel

Video: City of Stirling Reel

City of Stirling Reel
32R 3C (4C set)
Roy Goldring, Auld Friends Meet
Pick-up of snowball chain
1-2 1st & 2nd women (also 1st & 2nd men) change places with right hands
3-4 1st & 3rd women (also 1st & 3rd men) change places with left hands. 2nd couple cross giving left hands and face down.
5-6 1st couple cross giving right hands and face up. 2nd woman & 3rd man (also 2nd man & 3rd woman) change places with right hands.
7-8 1st & 2nd women (also 1st & 2nd men) change places with left hands. 3rd couple at the top, cross giving left hands.

Order now 3, 1, 2 all on opposite sides. No polite turn by 1st woman on bar 8.
9-10 1st couple cross to own sides passing right shoulders to face out.
11-12 1st man & 3rd woman (also 1st woman & 2nd man) turn halfway with right hands. 1St couple face each other on the diagonal (no interweaving)
13-14 1st couple followed by 1st corners, pass by the left on the diagonal (no interweaving).
15-16 1st couple curve into 2nd place on opposite sides. 2nd man & 3rd woman finish in own corner places.

Similar to bars 9-16
17-18 1st couple cross to own sides passing left shoulders to face out.
19-20 1st woman & 3rd man (also 1st man & 2nd woman) turn halfway with left hands. 1st couple face each other on the diagonal.
21-22 1st couple followed by 2nd corners, pass by the right on the diagonal.
23-24 1st couple curve into 2nd place on opposite sides. 2nd woman & 3rd man finish in own corner places.

25-28 All turn partners once round with right hands.
29-32 1st couple dance half figures of eight; 1st woman crossing up between 2nd couple, 1st man crossing down between 3rd cople. Finish in 2nd place on own side.

Video: ST. ANDREW’S FAIR

ST. ANDREW’S FAIR
Five Scottish Country Dances No. 2
(Jig)

1–8 1st couple cross over giving right hands, cast off two places, cross over below 3rd couple giving left hands and cast up to second place on own side. 2nd couple step up bars 3–4.

9–12 2nd, 1st and 3rd couple turn partner with right hand half-way round, retaining hold of hands with women facing up, men facing down, all three couples set.

13–16 2nd woman, followed by 1st and 3rd women, dances across the set then down her own side line. Similarly, 3rd man, followed by 1st and 2nd men, dances across the set then up his own side line. (Order now 3, 1, 2).

17–24 3rd, 1st and 2nd couples six hands round and back.

25–32 Repeat bars 9–16, but all turn partner with left hand. After the setting, the 2nd woman and 3rd man lead their lines in an anti-clockwise direction back to their own side lines.

Repeat having passed a couple.

Devised by R. Goldring, 1980.
Tune: Jockey’s Dance

Video: Maxwell’s Rant

Maxwell’s Rant
32R 3C (4C Set) RSCDS Book 18
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.

Video: Invercauld’s Reel

Invercauld’s Reel
Book 11 – No. 10
32-bar strathspey for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1–4 1st couple set and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 3-4.

5–8 1st couple cross down between the 3rd couple and cast up to second place on opposite sides.

9–16 2nd and 1st couples dance rights and lefts. 1st couple finish facing first corners.

17–24 1st couple set to and turn corners.

25–30 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance reels of three on the sides, 1st couple passing 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.

Bowman MS, c. 1755-1760.
Original tune: Invercauld’s Reel (McGlashan, 1786; Stewart’s Collection, 1762).
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TACNotes:’
5-8 Giving RH to partner, when crossing, is helpful.

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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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: Delvine Side

Delvine Side
Book 2 – No. 9

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: The Lass of Richmond Hill

The Lass of Richmond Hill
RSCDS Second Book of Graded Scottish Country Dances
32-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1–8 1st couple lead down middle and up to the top to finish in the middle of the set, facing up.

9–14 1st couple cast off one place and, passing partner by the left, dance round first corners by the right and into the middle of the set. 2nd couple step up on bars 9-10.

15–16 1st couple , giving left hands, turn to face first corners.

17–24 1st couple and first corners dance a corner chain. 1st couple finish facing second corners.

25–32 1st couple and second corners dance a corner chain. 1st couple finish in second place on own sides.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Fiona Turnbull, RSCDS Richmond Branch.
First published in Richmond Anniversary Book 1952-1992. ©RSCDS Richmond Branch, printed with permission.

Video: THE FALKIRK LASS

THE FALKIRK LASS
THREE COUPLES 8 x 32 STRATHSPEY
The Merse Collection [Elaine Brunken]

1 -:- 4 1st couple turn by the right hand, and cast off one place. (2nd couple step up on 3 and 4).

5 -:- 8 1st couple cross by the left hand, 1st lady cast down around 3rd man, to finish between 3rd couple as 1st man casts up around 2nd woman, to finish between 2nd couple (all face up or down).

9 -:- 12 All advance for one step, retire for one step and change places by the right hand, up and down the dance.

13 -:- 16 All advance for one step, retire for one step, 2nd and 3rd couples change places by the right hand, up and down the dance while the 1st couple turns ¾ by the right hand to face 1st corners.

17 -:- 20 1st corners pass and turn: 1st couple dance around 1st corners by the right shoulder, dance in through the ends and pass each other by the right shoulder, up and down the dance to face 2nd corners, while corners dance in (1 bar), turn with two hands (1 bar), and dance out to place (2 bars).

21 -:- 24 2nd corners pass and turn, 1st couple pass right shoulders to finish to finish in 2nd place on their own sides.

25 -:- 32 All three couples circle round to the left and back to the right.

** Repeat, having passed a couple.

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)

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)

Video: Bratach Bana

Video: Bratach Bana

Bratach Bana
THE BON ACCORD BOOK OF SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCES by John Drewry

Reel – 3 couples – 32 bars
Tune – “Bratach Bana”

1–4 1st couple turn by the right hand and cast off to second place on own sides. (2nd couple move up on Bars 3 – 4)
5–8 1st man dances down between 3rd couple and then casts up to second place on the ladies’ side. 1st lady dances up between 2nd couple and then casts off to second place on the men’s side.

9–12 Half reels of three on the sides. 1st man gives right shoulder to 2nd lady, while 1st lady gives right shoulder to 3rd man.
13–16 Half reels of three across the dance. 1st man cuts up between 3rd couple who are in top place, giving left shoulder to 3rd man. 1st lady cuts down between 2nd couple who are in 3rd place, giving left shoulder to 2nd lady. NOTE The 2nd and 3rd couples dance round loops on the corners between the half reels.
(1st couple are now in second place on own sides, 2nd couple are in third place on wrong sides, and 3rd couple are in top place on wrong sides).

17–18 1st couple turn each other with the left hand.
19–20 1st couple turn first corners (who are on the wrong sides) by the right hand.
21–22 1st couple pass each other by the right shoulder to face second corners.
23–24 1st couple turn second corners by the right hand and finish on own sides in second place retaining hold of second corners by the right hand and giving them left hands also in promenade hold.

25–26 1st couple lead their second corners diagonally across the dance, 1st man and 2nd lady passing above 1st lady and 3rd man.
27–28 Dropping left hands, 1st couple turn their second corners half-way round by the right hand, so that 1st couple finish in second place on wrong sides while their corners are in their proper places i.e. 2nd lady is in top place, and 3rd man in third place on own sides.**
29–30 1st man and 3rd lady change places giving right hands. 1st lady and 2nd man change places similarly.
31–32 1st and 2nd men, and 1st and 3rd ladies change places on the sides giving left hands. This last four bar figure is like half rights and lefts but on the diagonal, and 2nd man and 3rd lady do “polite” turns at the end.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

* * I am indebted to Derek Haynes for suggesting this improvement in the dance. Originally I had 1st couple and their second corners turning with two pas de basque, while retaining promenade hold.

Video: The Flight of the Falcon

The Flight of the Falcon
Anniversary Tensome by Barry Priddey
a 32-bar Jig for 3 couples

1 – 4 1st couple set and cast a place, 2nd couple step up on bars 3-4.

5 – 8 1st couple turn with left hands one and a quarter times so that 1st man finishes facing 3rd lady and 1st lady finishes behind him and ready to follow him.

9 – 16 1st man followed by his partner, begins to dance a diagonal “reel of three” with 1st corners. At the end of bar 10 having passed 3rd lady by the right, 1st man and 1st lady each turn “right about” to continue the reel with 1st lady leading, then at the end of bar 14, having passed 3rd lady by the left, they each turn “left about” to complete the reel with 1st man leading.

17 – 24 1st man followed by his partner, begins to dance a diagonal “reel of three” with 2nd corners. At the end of bar 18 having passed 3rd man by the right, 1st man and 1st lady each turn “right about” to continue the reel with 1st lady leading, then at end of bar 22, having passed 3rd man by the left, they each turn “left about” to complete the reel with 1st man leading, dancing to the centre of the set to face 1st corners.

25 – 28 1st couple turn first corners with the right hand then pass each other by the right to face 2nd corners (corners dance for 4 bars)

29 – 32 1st couple turn 2nd corners with right hand then pass each other by the right to finish in 2nd place on own sides (corners again dance for 4 bars)

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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
Bars 9-16 Corners dance two steps when turning.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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: 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: 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).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
Bars 5–8 2nd and 4th couples finish facing in.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.

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: 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.

Video: City of Belfast

Video: City of Belfast

City of Belfast
32-bar Strathspey for three couples in a three-couple set

1–4 1st couple dance a half figure of eight round 2nd couple to finish in partner’s place.

5–8 1st man and 2nd woman with left hands, 1st woman and 2nd man with right hands, turn one and a quarter times to finish with 1st couple in the middle back to back, 1st man facing 2nd woman, 1st woman facing 2nd man.

9–16 1st and 2nd couples dance a reel of four across the dance in second place, 2nd couple finish in first place and 1st couple passing left shoulders, face 1st corners.

17–20 1st couple set to first corners, set to second corners and pulling back right shoulders, finish on the opposite side between corners.

21–24 All three couples join hands and set, 1st couple cross giving right hands to finish in second place on own side.

25–32 1st and 3rd couples dance the Espagnole. Finish in order 2,3,1.

The Espagnole (devised by John Drewry)

Bars
1 – 2 1st and 3rd women, joining right hands, dance towards the men’s side. On the second step, 1st woman crosses 3rd woman in front of her so that 3rd woman dances out and up towards second place while 1st woman dances out and down towards third place. Meanwhile 1st and 3rd men dance across to the women’s side passing on the outside of their partners.

3 – 4 1st and 3rd men joining right hands, dance back towards their own side passing between their partners. On the fourth step 1st man crosses 3rd man over in front of him so that 3rd man dances out and up towards second place while 1st man dances out and down towards third place. Meanwhile 3rd and 1st women cross back to their own side passing on the outside of their partners.

5 – 8 3rd couple turn with the right hand while 1st couple turn with the left hand.

Original Tune composed by Marian Anderson
Dance devised by Lucy Mulholland