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I’ll mak’ ye fain to follow me
32-bar jig for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1 – 4 1st woman, followed by 1st man, cast off two places and crossed over to 3rd man’s place, with 1st man in 3rd woman’s place. 2nd and 3rd couples step up on bars 3-4

5 – 8 1st man, followed by 1st woman, casts up behind 3rd and 2nd women, and crossed to original place: 1st woman finished in her place. 2nd and 3rd couples step down on bars 7-8.

9 – 12 1st couple, giving right hands, cross over and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up.

13 – 16 1st couple, giving left hands, cross over and cast off one place and lead up to face first corners.

17 – 24 1st couple set to and turn corners to finish between them facing first corners.

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

W Boag: A Collection of Favourite Reels & Strathspeys, London 1797 as I’ll make you be fain to follow me.

Original Tune: I’ll mak ye fain to follow me (Gow’s Repository – earlier version, Oswald 1756)

Jovial Jack
32 bar reel for three couples in a four couple longwise set

1 – 8 1st couple dance reels of three on own sides. 1st and 2nd men passing right shoulders, 1st and 2nd women passing left shoulders.

9 – 16 1st couple lead down the middle for three steps and up for three steps and cast to second place facing down. 2nd couple step up on bars 15 – 16.

17 – 20 1st and 3rd couples set and turn (men by the right hand, women by the left) 1st couple finish facing up

21 – 24 1st and 2nd couples turn (men by the left hand, women by the right) and all three couples set.

25 – 23 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples circle round and back.

Repeat having passed a couple.

To start the third and alternate turns the 4th couple dance up into the reel as 1st couple step down into their place.

Devised by Brenda Burnell to celebrate Jack Oliver’s 80th birthday on December 1st 2008 at the Askwith class

Lady Aberdeen Strathspey
32 bar Strathspey for three couples

1 – 8 Mirror reel of 3 with crossing. 1st couple cross on bar 1 to enter the reel through second place. 2nd couple cross on bar 3 and third couple cross on bar 5. Finish the reel on opposite sides.

9 – 12 All set once and cross giving right hands

13 – 16 1st couple cast off below 3rd couple and dance up the middle to finish in second place. Meanwhile, 2nd and 3rd couple set again, 2nd couple giving inside hands dance up to first place and face out and down as 3rd couple set again.

17 – 20 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance three hands across. 1st lady dances right hands across with 2nd and 3rd ladies, as 1st man dances left hands across with 2nd and 3rd men. Finish with 1st couple in the center facing up, left hands joined. 2dd and 3rd couples in original places.

21 – 24 1st couple cross up between 2nd couple, using left hands, and cast into second place, dance into the center and face down.

25 – 28 All dance three hands across. 1st lady with 2nd and 3rd men by the right hand; 1st man with 2nd and 3rd ladies by the left hands; 1st couple end in the center facing down with the left hands joined.

29 – 32 1st couple cross below 3rd couple and cast up into second place on own side.

Repeat having passed a couple.

MUSIC: Rosemary Read (1991) by Murray Schoolbraid

Devised by Mary S. Brandon
Published in The Emigrant Scot

Video: Rothesay Country Dance – Animation

Rothesay Country Dance
48-bar jig for two couples in a four couple longwise set

1 – 8 1st couple lead down the middle and up

9 – 12 1st couple set and, giving both hands, turn halfway round to finish in partner’s place

13 – 16 1st man and 2nd woman, and 1st woman and 2nd man, giving right hands, turn one and a half times to change places

17 – 24 2nd and 1st couples dance rights and lefts.

25 – 28 2nd and 1st couples dance a half ladies chain.

29 – 32 1st and 2nd couples, giving right hands, turn partners ot original places.

33 – 40 1st and 2nd couples dance four hands round and back, finishing in the middle of the set, facing partner with both hands joined.

41 – 48 1st and 2nd couples dance a poussette

Repeat having passed a couple.

Collected in Rothesay, Isle of Bute

Original Tune Dumfries House (J. Riddell, 1766)

Candyfloss
32 bar strathspey for three couples in a three couple longwise set

1 – 4 1st and 3rd couples set and turn three quarters with the right hand into the middle of the dance (1st man and 3rd woman back to back), ready for a reel of four.

5 – 8 1st and 3rd couples dancehalf a right shoulder reel of four; at the end 1st man and 3rd woman give left hands and turn a to end between the second couple.

9 – 12 2nd woman, 1st man, 3rd woman, and 2nd man dance half a right shoulder reel of four

13 – 16 2nd woman with 1st man and 3rd woman with 2nd man set, change places giving left hand and the 2nd couple passing left.

17 – 20 2nd man with 1st couple, and 2nd woman with 3rd couple dnace right hands across in “second corners” positions.

21 – 24 While 1st couple turn with both hands in third placem and 3rd couple turn with both hands in first place, 2nd couple pass left shoulders to dance out through the sidelines, 2nd man between 3rd and 1st women and 2nd woman between 1st and 3rd men, and dance clockwise halfway round the set to second place on own sides. All take promenade hold facing up.

25 – 32 3rd, 2nd and 1st coupls dance a 6 bar promenade then 3rd couple cast off to second place, 2nd couple dance up to first place, and 1st couple return to third place, finishing 2, 3, 1.

Repeat with a new top couple

Devised by Veronica Hughes of Brighouse.

Jovial Jack
32 bar reel for three couples in a four couple longwise set

1 – 8 1st couple dance reels of three on own sides. 1st and 2nd men passing right shoulders, 1st and 2nd women passing left shoulders.

9 – 16 1st couple lead down the middle for three steps and up for three steps and cast to second place facing down. 2nd couple step up on bars 15 – 16.

17 – 20 1st and 3rd couples set and turn (men by the right hand, women by the left) 1st couple finish facing up

21 – 24 1st and 2nd couples turn (men by the left hand, women by the right) and all three couples set.

25 – 23 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples circle round and back.

Repeat having passed a couple.

To start the third and alternate turns the 4th couple dance up into the reel as 1st couple step down into their place.

Devised by Brenda Burnell to celebrate Jack Oliver’s 80th birthday on December 1st 2008 at the Askwith class

This week’s theme is dances by Roy Goldring from the book Auld Friends Meet. Just the one video this week.

Video: Jim Johnston’s Reel

Jim Johnstone’s Reel
32 bar reel for 3 couples

1 – 8 Reels of three on the sides. To begin: 1st couple cross down to second place, 2nd couple dance out and up, 3rd couple dance in and up.

9 – 12 1st couple (now on opposite sides) dance down the middle; 1st woman, followed by her partner, casts up behind 3rd man to finish side by side, taking nearer hands briefly as they dance through 2nd man’s place. 2nd couple step up on bars 11 – 12.
13 – 16 1st woman with 2nd couple dance left hands across. 1st man with 3rd couple dance right hands across.

17 – 20 1st couple dance out through the woman’s side; 1st woman, followed by her partner, casts up around 2nd woman. As they begin to dance down the middle they take nearer hands briefly.
21 – 24 1st woman with 2nd and 3rd men dance right hands across. 1st man with 2nd and 3rd women dance left hands across.

25 – 26 1st couple set to 3rd couple (who remain on the sidelines). 1st couple turn inwards on bar 26.
27 – 28 1st couple set to 2nd couple (who remain on the sidelines).
29 – 32 Releasing hands, 1st couple cross up to the top and cast off to 2nd place on own sides.

Repeat having passed a couple.

Not: 1st couple should move strongly during bars 9 – 12 and 17 – 20 but 1st woman should shorten her steps to ‘collect’ her partner towards the end of each phrase.

For Jim Johnstone – with gratitude for some wonderful music.

Tune: The Well Wynd (Jim Johnstone)

An Ilkley Gift
32 bar strathspey for 3 couples

1 – 2 All Set.
3 – 4 1st couple dance down to 3rd place own sides and face out. 2nd and 3rd couple dance up one place and face in.
5 – 8 1st and 3rd women turn 1 ½ times with the left hands tochange places while 1st and 3rd men turn 1 ½ times with right hands to change places.

9 – 16 1st and 3rd couples dance a double figure of eight, crossing up between 2nd couple to begin. 1st couple finish in third place. 3rd couple finish in 2nd place.

17 – 18 All set.
19 – 20 1st couple dance up to the top on own sides and face out. 2nd and 3rd couples dance down one place and face in.
21 – 24 1st and 2nd women turn 1 ½ times with right hands to change places while 1st and 2nd men turn 1 ½ times with left hands to change places. 2nd couple finish facing out.

25 – 32 Reels of three on own sides. To begin: 2nd couple dance out and down, 1st couple cross up to the top, 3rd couple dance out and up. On bars 29 – 30, 1st couple cross down through 3rd place and cast up to finish in 2nd place.

Repeat having passed a couple

Devised in 2007 and given to RSCDS Pretoria Branch who published thedance in ‘Many Happy Hours’.

Tune: Roy Goldring of Ilkley (Muriel Johnstone)

The Invitation Dance
23 bar jig for 3 couples

1 – 4 1st man crosses over passing partner by theright (no hands given) and casts off one place. Meanwhile 1st woman dances in, pulls back right shoulder and follows her partner. 1st couple finish side by side in 2nd place. 2nd couple step up on bars 3 – 4.
5 – 8 1st woman dances right hands across with 2nd couple. 1st man dances left hands across with 3rd couple. 1st couple meet in the centre of the dance facing the men’s side.

9 – 16 Reel of ‘three’ on the diagonal – 1st couple with 1st corners. To begin, 1st couple in promenade hold, pass 2nd man by the right. 1st couple finish facing 3rd man.

17 – 24 Reel of ‘three’ on the diagonal – 1st couple with 2nd corners. To begin, 1st couple in promenade hold, pass 3rd man by the left. On bar 24, 1st couple begin to dance down the middle.

25 – 28 Releasing right hands, 1st man leads his partner between 3rd couple, crossing over and casting up to 2nd place on own sides.
29 – 32 All turn partner with right hands.

Repeat having passed a couple.

To help celebrate his 75th birthday, Derek Kendall asked dancers from a wide area to join him for a memorable evening at Leeds Branch. This dance was and addition to Derek’s programme.

Tune: Bakers Wood (Jim Johnstone)

The Pair of Jeans
32 bar reel for 3 couples

1 – 8    Reels of three on the sides. To begin: 1st couple cross down, 2nd couple dance out and up, 3rd couple dance in and up. At the end of bar 8 1st and 3rd couples finish just inside the sidelines.

9 – 16    1st and 3rd couples dance rights and lefts up and down the dance. At the end of bar 16, 1st couple finish in partner’s place facing out. (3rd couple return to own places).

17 – 22    1st and 2nd couples dance ¾ double figures of eight. To begin, 1st couple cast off and 2nd couple cross up.
23 – 24    1st couple (now in 2nd place on own sides) turn just over half-way round with left hands to finish side by side in the centre of the dance, man facing 2nd couple and woman facing 3rd couple.

25 – 26    All set, 1st couple retaining left hands.
27 – 28    All set to partner. 1st couple release hands on bar 27.
29 – 30    All set, 1st woman facing 2nd couple, 1st man facing 3rd couple. 1st couple take right hands on bar 29
31 – 32    1st couple turn with right hands to 2nd place own sides.

Repeat having passed a couple.

Note:     During bars 25 – 30, 2nd and 3rd couples remain on the sidelines.
In bars 27-28, 1st couple pull back left shoulders.

For Jean Hamilton and Jean Noble whose company we enjoyed at St. Andrews Summer School.

Roy Goldring, 2006

Edinburgh Volunteers
24-bar Strathspey for three couples in a four-couple longwise set.

1 – 4    1st woman and 2nd man, giving right hands, turn once round.
5 – 8    1st couple, giving right hands, turn three quarters round to finish with 1st woman between 2nd couple and facing down and 1st man between 3rd couple, facing up. 2nd couple step up on 7-8

9 – 10    1st woman with 2nd couple and 1st man with 3rd couple set. On bar 10, 1st couple turn to the right into second places on opposite sides of the set.
11 – 12    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples set on the sidelines.
13 – 16    1st couple set to each other and, giving both hands, turn to second place on own sides.

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

Repeat having passed a couple.

B Cooke: Selection of the Present Favourite Country Dances for the Year 1796

Original tune: The Edinburgh Volunteers (Cooke, 1796)

All the Eights
32 bar jig for three couples in a four couple longwise set

1 – 6    1st couple dance reels of three on opposite sides, 1st man giving right shoulders to 3rd woman, 1st woman giving left shoulders to 3rd man.
7 – 8    1st couple dance down the middle to the centre of the set to face 3rd man in promenade hold as 2nd couple dance up to first place.

9 – 16    1st couple dance a right shoulder reel of three with 3rd man and 2nd woman to finish facing 3rd woman.

17 – 24    1st couple dance a left shoulder reel of three with 3rd woman and 2nd man.

25 – 32    1st couple lead down crossing over below the 3rd couple, casting up into second place, to dance up between 2nd couple and cast into second place.

Repeat having passed a couple.

Devised by Brenda Burnell
For Ivy Lawson on her eighty eighth birthday and was dance at the October Branch dance in 2008 when five Branch members celebrated their combined 253 years.