This week we are going to introduce Reels of Three. Always a challenge as there is the danger of collision. Don’t worry, we will make it as easy as walking.

We are also going to introduce the Strathspey rhythm to the class. It is always a challenge for the dancers to move at half the speed. We will also be pushing the boundary of what is taught to beginning dancers by teaching the Rondel figure. This is on the Christmas dance and we think the class is up to the challenge.

From now until the end of November we will be covering dances for the beginners on the Ardbrae Christmas Dance.

Here are the instructions for the dances tonight. Hope to see you out tonight

ALLT AN DUIN (THE BURN BY THE HILLOCK)
24 GRADED and SOCIAL DANCES, Devised by Roy Goldring, Leeds Branch R.S.C.D.S.
32 bar reel for 3 couples

Bars
1 – 8        First couple cross over giving right hands and cast off below second
        couple (who stand still); cross over giving left hands and cast up to
        place.

9 – 16        Reels of three on own sides. To begin, first couple dance in and down,
        second couple dance out and up, third couple dance in and up.

17 – 24    First couple dance down the middle (4 steps), set to each other and
        dance up. They finish in the centre of the dance in second place, facing
        up. Second couple step up on bars 19 – 20.

25 – 28    First woman dances right hands across with second and third women
        while first man dances left hands across with second and third men.

29 – 32    First couple dance up to the top and cast off to second place on own
        side.

Repeat having passed a couple.
Recommended tune:- Jessie Walker (M.A.J.)

The Silver Tassie
Leaflet – No. 1, Devised by John Drewry
(Strathspey)
MUSIC                          DESCRIPTION
Bars
1 – 4        1st, 2nd and 3rd couples, giving right hands to partners, cross over and joining hands on the sides, set.
5 – 8        Repeat bars 1 – 4.

9 – 16        1st couple dance a figure of eight round 2nd couple, who stand still. 1st couple dance down between 2nd couple, crossing over, to begin the figure. 3rd couple also dance a figure of eight round 2nd couple, beginning by casting up to top place, then dancing down crossing over.

17 – 24    1st couple, followed by 2nd and 3rd couples, dance down the middle for four steps. 1st couple dance up the middle, while 2nd and 3rd couples divide to allow 1st couple through. 2nd couple meet and dance up between 3rd couple, who then meet and dance up.

25 – 32    1st and 2nd couple Rondel, i.e.
   
     25          1st couple dance down under the arch made by 2nd couple, who dance up.
     26-27    2nd and 1st women cross in front of partners, then all cast to meet the other woman or                       man on the opposite sides and join nearer hands.
     28         2nd and 1st women and at the same time 2nd and 1st men cross to own sides, the women                       passing under the arch made by the men.
    29-30    1st man and 1st woman cross in front of 2nd man and 2nd woman, then all cast to meet                       partners in original places as in bar 25.
    31-32    1st couple dance under the arch made by 2nd couple and all dance out to own sides,                          having changed places.
        Repeat, having passed a couple.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
Bars 17 – 24    1st, 2nd and 3rd couples give nearer hands throughout, i.e. they dance down and dance up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
17-24    Note use of word “dance”, i.e. all 3 cpls use nearer hands, down and up.
25-32    On bar 32, cpls dance straight into places.

In tonight’s class we will introduce a new step – Pas de Basque. We will be focusing on figures of eight as well. Should be a good class.

We will also be changing to format of the class and joining the intermediate class after the break. During the joint class we will repeat the dances taught.

Here are the dance descriptions. Both dances come from the new Secodn Graded Book of Dances published by the RSCDS Hope to see you out tonight

The Waratah Weaver
32-bar jig for four couples in a four-couple longwise set
RSCDS Second Book of Graded Scottish Country Dances

 Bars                         Description

1 – 8    1st couple dance a figure of eight on own sides, dancing in and down
        to begin and giving nearer hands on bars 1 and 5.

9 – 16        3rd couple dance a figure of eight on own sides, dancing in and up
        to begin and giving nearer hands on bars 9 and 13.

17 – 24    1st, 2nd and 3rd couples, giving right hands, turn once round and,
        giving left hands , turn once round to places.

25 – 28    1st couple, with both hands joined, slip down the middle with four slip
        steps and back up the middle with four slip steps to finish in the middle
        at first place facing up.

29 – 32    1st couple cast off to the foot of the set.
        2nd, 3rd and 4th couples step up on bars 31-32.

        Repeat with a new top couple.

Another Woodland Wander
32-bar jig for four couples in a four-couple longwise set
RSCDS Second Book of Graded Scottish Country Dances

 Bars                         Description

1 – 4        1st and 2nd couples set twice.

5 – 8        1st and 2nd couples dance right hands across.

9 – 12        1st and 2nd couples set twice.

13 – 16    1st and 2nd couples dance four hands round to the left.

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

21 – 24    1st couple, giving left hand, cross over and cast off two places.
        3rd and 4th couples step up on bars 23-24.

25 – 32    2nd, 3rd, 4th and 1st couples, giving right hands, turn once round
        and then repeat giving left hands.

        Repeat with a new top couple.

Tonight’s class promises to be a good one. We have one of the guest teachers, David Queen, from the workshop this past weekend teaching one dance. Here are the dances we plan to cover.

Highland Fair, 32J2
1 – 8    First couple cast off and dance down behind own line for 4 skip change of step, turn outwards and dance four steps back to place.
9 – 16    First and second couples turn partner with right hand and return to place – 4 skip change of step, then repeat, giving left hand.
17 – 24    First couple, followed by second couple, lead down the middle for 4 skip change of step. Second couple, followed by first couple, lead up the middle to finish second couple at top and first couple in second place.  (Figs. 1 and 2.)
25 – 32    First and second couples dance right and left.
Repeat, having passed a couple.

A Wee Nothin’
32 Bar jig for 2 couples
1 – 8    1st and 2nd couples dance Right Hands across and Left Hands back to place.
9 – 14    1st Lady followed by the 2nd Lady dance across the top of the set, behind the men’s line, 1st Lady dances below the 2nd man, and 2nd Lady dances between the two men, and across to their own side, both pull LEFT shoulders back.
15 – 16    1st and 2nd ladies join hands and Set.  (Men do not set back)
17 – 22    1st Man followed by the 2nd Man dance across the top of the set, behind the ladies’ line, 1st Man dances below the 2nd lady’s position, 2nd Man dances between the two ladies, and across to their own side, both pull RIGHT shoulders back.
23 – 24    1st and 2nd Men join hands and Set.  (Ladies do not set back)
25 – 32    2nd and 1st couples dance Rights and Lefts.

Devised by Elaine Brunken as a wee warm up dance.
Note:  Please include the polite turns at the end of Rights and Lefts, prior to entry to the wheels.
Suggested tune:  Miss Hannah of Elgin

Ceilidh Madness
A 32 bar reel for 4 couples
Sara Harriman, Let’s All Dance, Too

1-8      1st woman, followed by 2nd and 3rd woman, dance across the set, down behind 1st, 2nd and 3rd men, across to the women’s side and return to places
9-16    Men repeat around the women, 1st man leading
17-20  With both hands joined, 1st couple slip down and back to the top
21-24  1st couple cast off to 4th place. 2nd, 3rd and 4th couples step up on bars 7-8 of the phrase
25-32   All circle 8 hands round and back

I hope to see you in class tonight! Guaranteed to be fun!