I made some minor clarifications to Stanford Swing

STANFORD SWING
The Devil’s Quandary by Bob McMurtry
40 bar Jig/Reel for 3 couples – May 2002

1–6        1st couple set, cross with right hands and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 5 & 6.

7–8        1st couple turn three quarters, with the left hand, to face first corners.

9–16    1st couple set and dance the La Baratte with first corners. 1st couple stay facing out while corners stay facing in.

17–20    1st couple dance round second corners, passing left shoulders, and in the ends of the set, 1st man dancing between the 2nd couple and 1st woman through the 3rd couple. 1st couple end in the middle left shoulder to left shoulder, while first corners turn by the right hand for 4 bars and back to place.

21–24    1st couple turn by the left hand one and a half times to face second corner.

25–32    1st couple set and dance a La Baratte with second corners. 1st couple stay facing out while corners stay facing in.

33–36    1st man dances left round 2nd man into second place on own side, facing down, while 1st woman dances left round 3rd woman into second place own side facing up. Second corners turn by the right hand, once round, back to place but facing the 1st couple, as they arrive in second place.

37–40    1st man with 3rd man, 1st woman with 2nd woman, dance back to back on the sides.

Repeat having passed a couple.

Dance Notes:  Corners use the full 4 bars for the turn in bars 17-20 and 33-36. 1st corners should utilize the vacated spot in second place to dance through to avoid running into 1st couple on bars 17-24. The turn for 1st couple on bars 21-24 should be quick. 1st couple slow down on bars 33-36. Second corners and 1st couple should flow into the back to back figure.

Music:  Jeannie o’ the Witchin E’e (jig) on Dances from the Collections of Mary MacNab, Volume 2 (CD) and The Bull Stane (reel) on Memories of Fife.

Notes:  Dedicated to the Stanford Class in their final year of dancing in the San Francisco Branch.

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.

I have updated the schedule for the remainder of the year. You can have a look at it here Ardbrae Intermediate Class Schedule. I may make some changes to the classes after the Ottawa Branch Ball.

SETON’S CEILIDH BAND
The Morison’s Bush Collection
A   64   bar   jig   for  four   couples.

1-8        First couple cross over giving right hands, cast off behind second couple (who move up on bars 3 – 4), dance in front of third couple (who move up on bars 5 – 6) and behind fourth couple (who move up on bars 7 – 8) to finish in fourth place on opposite sides.

9-16     First woman dances a reel of three with third and fourth men while first man dances a reel of three with third and fourth women. First couple dance up between    fourth couple to begin the reels.

17-24     First couple repeat bars 1 – 8, dancing up the set to original places.

25-32     First woman dances a reel of three with second and third women while first man dances a reel of three with second and third men. First couple dance down between second couple to begin the reels.

33-36     First couple cross over giving right hands and cast off one place to finish between first corners – right hands joined with partner and left hands joined with corners. Second couple move up on bars 35 – 36.

37-38     All balance in line.

39–40    First couple turn by right hands to finish between second corners.

41-42     All balance in line.

41–44    First couple dance down behind third couple on opposite sides.

45-48     First couple lead up to the top and cross over to finish on their own sides, facing down. Second couple move down on bars 47 – 48 and face up.

49–50    First and second women change places giving right hands while first and second men do the same.

51-52     Second and first couples cross over giving left hand to partner.

53-56     First couple repeat bars 49 – 52 with third couple – first woman changing places with third man and first man with third woman.

57–60    First couple repeat bars 49 – 52 with fourth couple.

61-64     All four couples turn partner with right hand one and a half times to own sides.

Repeat with a new top couple.

“Seton’s Ceilidh Band” was devised by Bruce Fordyce.

CHRYSANTHEMUM
SBBC Silver Jubilee Book
96 bar Reel for 4 couples in a 4 couple square set
Devised by Betty Grant

1–2        Each woman casts to right behind partner and into centre.
3–6        Right hands across once round (past partner).
7–8        Each woman casts to left behind partner to original place.

9–16    Men repeat by casting to left behind partner into centre, then dance left hands across once round (past partner) and cast to right behind partner to finish in place facing partner.

17–24    STAR GRAND CHAIN halfway round (2 steps each hand). Women finish with backs to the centre facing partners. Men are slightly outside circle facing in to partners.

25–32    Dance back to back with partner and turn with the right hand one and a quarter times to finish in circle. Retain right hands.

33–40    Continue STAR GRAND CHAIN halfway round and women again finish with backs to centre facing partner. Men slightly outside circle facing in.

41–48    Dance back to back with partner and turn with the right hand one and a quarter times to finish with women facing out and men facing in.

49–64    SCHIEHALLION REELS (16 bars)  Finish in place.

65–72    In couples nearer hands joined, slip step to left (2 bars) one quarter round and set once (2 bars). Slip step to right (2 bars) to place and set. Bar 8, women advance set towards centre and retaining nearer hands with partner form a cross facing clockwise.

73–80    Dance right hands across in couples. Bar 8, release right hands in centre and curve out to original positions ready to form a circle.

81–88    Eight hands round and back. Retain hands in circle.

89–92    Advance using 2 short skip change of steps, then with nearer hands still joined with partner only, retire using 2 long skip change of steps to original size of square. Finish facing corner.

93–96    Turn corner with LEFT hand once round. Finish facing partner for bow and curtsey.

This dance was devised by Betty Grant, Toronto, Ontario in 1986 to commemorate her visit to Tokyo as a member of the Oriental Fling tour led by the late Bob Blackie and was presented to the Tokyo Scottish Bluebell Club.

Chrysanthemum –
A native of China, the ‘pompom’ originated from the Chusan Daisy, Elaborate Japanese varieties have been developed over hundreds of years. The first chrysanthemum in Britain was grown at Kew Gardens in 1790 and came from France. Chrysanthemums are a worldwide family of flowers. We Scottish Country Dancers are also a worldwide family.                                Betty Grant

Suggested tune: ‘Natal Day’ by Kerr’s Third Collection
Suggested Music: ‘Da Turlers’ – music tape CWGR057 by John Ellis
Suggested Music: ‘Chrysanthemum’ – Accompanied CD ‘To Be A Wind’ by Fred Moyes

THE QUINTE GATHERING
32-bar reel for three couples in a four couple longwise set 

1-8    1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance crossover reels of 3, all couples crossing to the opposite sides when they reach the top.

9-12    As 2nd couple continue to dance up into 1st place, 1st couple cross down, giving left hands, through 2nd place and cast to their right, 1st woman down around 3rd man (in 3rd woman’s place) and 1st man up around 2nd woman (in 1st man’s place).

13-16      1st couple, giving right hands, change places up and down the middle of the set and cast to their right, 1st woman casting between 2nd couple and 1st man between 3rd couple.   They finish with left hands joined in a diagonal line between 2nd corner positions   (1st woman is above her partner; hands are not joined with 2nd man and 3rd woman).

Corner Targe 
17-18     1st couple turns by the left 3/4, while corners dance clockwise to the next corner.
19-20    1st couple turns the person in 1st corner positions by the right hand once round (1st man with 3rd woman, 1st woman with 2nd man). 3rd man and 2nd woman set.
21-22    1st couple turn by the left hand 3/4, while the corners dance clockwise to the next corner.
23-24    1st couple turn the person in 2nd corner position by the right hand once round (1st man with 3rd woman, 1st woman with 2nd man). 3rd man and 2nd woman set. 1st couple finish in 2nd place on opposite sides.

25-28    1st couple dance half reels of 3 on the sides, 1st woman giving left shoulder to 3rd man to begin, 1st man giving left shoulder 2nd woman to begin.  1st couple finish in 2nd place on opposite sides.

29-32    1st man dances a half figure of eight around 2nd couple, while 1st woman dances a 1/2 figure of eight around 3rd couple.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Craig Williams, Ottawa.  Inscribed to the Belleville Scottish Country Dance Group for their wonderful workshops.

The Bridge City Strathspey
A strathspey for three couples, in a triangular set, in 32 bars

1-8        All 3 couples Set and link twice. Finish facing partner.

9-12    All Set to partner, turn by the right hand ¾, bringing the women into the centre. Women retain right hand with partner and give left hands in the middle.

13-16    Highland Schottische balance in line with partner.

17-24     Targe in strathspey time. Women LH across 2/3 way around (2 bars), while men dance 1/3 way clockwise around the outside of the set. All couples turn partner with the right hand (2 bars).
Repeat the previous 4 bars finishing facing partner with women in the centre and men on the sides of the set.

25-26    All set advancing to pass back to back, pulling back RS to face partner
27-28    All turn partner ¾ with 2 hands out to places on the sides.
29-30    All pass partner right shoulder to meet a new partner and take promenade hold, women on the right of their new partner, facing counter clockwise. (The women will be leading the men to their new position.)
31-32 All dance counter clockwise to finish in new places.

Repeat twice more to meet your original partner.

Craig Williams
February, 2004

Down Corkery Road
48-bar jig for three couples in a three-couple longwise set              

1–8         1st couple lead down the middle and up and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 7-8.

9–16    1st couple set to first corners and dance la baratte.

17–20     2nd man, followed by 1st man dances up behind 2nd woman and down the middle while 3rd woman, followed by 1st woman dances down behind 3rd man and up the middle.   

21–24    1st couple and first corners dance left hands across to finish with 1st couple in second place on own sides and first corners having changed places (i.e. 2nd man in 3rd woman’s place and 3rd woman in 1st man’s place).

25–32        1st couple set to second corners and dance la baratte, beginning with a left hand turn.

33–36    3rd man, followed by 1st man dances down behind 2nd man (in third place) and up the middle while 2nd woman, followed by 1st woman, dances up behind 3rd woman (in first place) and down the middle.

37–40    1st couple and second corners dance right hands across to finish with 1st couple in second place on own sides and second corners having changed places (i.e. 3rd man in 1st woman’s place and 2nd woman in 3rd man’s place).

41–44    Half reels of three across the dance, 1st man up, passing 3rd man by the right and 1st woman down, passing 2nd woman by the right to begin.

45–48    1st couple turn partner with the right hand one and a half times to finish in second place on own sides.

Repeat from new positions.

Devised by Craig Williams

THE PLANTATION REEL
A 32-bar reel for 5 couples

1–4        First and third couples cross by the right and cast off one place, second and fourth couples stepping up.

5–8        First (third) couple lead down between fourth (fifth) couple and cast back up to second (fourth) place, still on wrong sides.

9–12    First and second couples, half rights and lefts; third and fourth couples, the same.

13–14    First and second couples dance a Petronella turn one place to the right around their square; third and fourth couples, the same.

15–16    Repeat bars 13–14; this brings you all back to where you were at the end of bar 8.

17–20    Right hand wheels: first man with second couple; first lady and third man with fourth couple; and third lady with fifth couple. All end on the sidelines.

21–24    Left hand wheels: first lady with second couple; first man and third lady with fourth couple; and third man with fifth couple. Again, end on the sidelines.

25–28    First and third couples cross by the right and cast off one place on your own side, fourth and fifth couples stepping up.

29–32    All turn partners once by the right hand.

Repeat with a new top couple.
The fifth time through, “birl as you will” on bars 29–32.

Tony Moretti
Auburn, N.H.
Dedicated to Andrew Rankine for his contributions to Scottish Country Dancing.

Suggested music: “The Plantation Reel” on Andrew Rankine’s record “Westering Home” (Emerald GES 1141) –a medley of folk tunes from the southern U.S.A., played in S.C.D. style!

The Pinewoods Collection of Scottish Country Dances, Vol. 2