Dances for May 31, 2018

 

Sorry, No Video

Carol’s Delight

32 bar strathspey for 3 couples in a 3 couple longwise set.

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

13 – 16 1st couple dance down between the 3rd couple and cast up into second place. 2nd couple dance up and face out in top place on bars 15 – 16.

17 – 24 All three couples dance a mirror reels of three on own sides. 1st couple dance in and up; 2nd couple dance out and down and the 3rd couple dance in, face down and cast out and up into the reel. 2nd and 3rd couples dance the long way into place at the end of the reel.

25 – 32 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance the knot.

(Finish 3,1,2.)
Repeat from new positions.

For Carol Aitken to mark a significant birthday.

© Devised by Francis Walduck, Brisbane, Queensland Branch RSCDS, May 2004.
Suggested Music: The Silver Star Strathspey, track 8, The Complete Caledonian Ball – Rob Gordon and his Band.

 

Sorry, no video.

Book 5 – No. 1
Teviot Bridge
24-bar jig for two couples in a four-couple longwise set

Bars Description

1 – 8 1st couple, giving right hands, turn two and a half times to finish on opposite sides.

9 – 12 1st man and 2nd woman, and 1st woman and 2nd man, giving left hands, turn one and a half times to finish with 2nd couple in first place on own sides and 1st couple in second place on opposite sides.

13 – 16 1st and 2nd couples dance a half ladies’ chain. 1st couple finish by turning halfway with the left hand and 2nd couple by turning once round with the left hand to face partners.

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

Repeat, having passed a couple.

The poussette is danced as follows:
17 – 18 Two pas de basque steps across the set, 1st couple to the men’s side, 2nd couple to the women’s side.
19 Pulling with right hands, quarter turn.
20 Progress up or down on sides and quarter turn.
21 Dance into middle.
22 Pulling with right hands, turn halfway round.
23 – 24 Retire to sidelines having changed places.

 

Video: The Edinburgh Toy Shop

The Edinburgh Toy Shop
32-bar jig for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

Bars Description

1 – 6 1st couple set, dance down two places, and cast up round 3rd couple into second place. 2nd couple step up on bars 3 – 4.

7 – 8 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples, joining hands on the sides, set.

9 – 12 1st woman dances a half figure of eight round 2nd couple while 1st man dances a half figure of eight round 3rd couple, to finish in second place on opposite sides.

13 – 16 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples, joining hands on the sides, set. 1st couple, giving left hands, turn to face first corners.

17 – 24 1st couple turn first corners with the right hand, pass partner by the right shoulder, turn second corners with the right hand and, passing by the right shoulder, cross over to second place on own sides. Corners dance for two bars.

25 – 32 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance six hands round and back.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Ethan Bailey, San Francisco Branch, March 2016.

The deviser went with his family to Scotland in 2006 and, although not quite four years old, remembers the toys in the ”gift shoppe” at Edinburgh Castle, especially the foam swords.




Dances for May24, 2018

Video: And for the Young Ones

Video: And for the Young Ones

 

And for the Young Ones
32-bar jig for four couples in a square set

Bars Description

1 – 8 All, joining hands in a circle, advance and retire twice.

9 – 16 All turn partner with the right hand and then with the left hand.

17 – 24 All, joining both hands with partner, slip towards the centre for 2 bars, clap four times, slip back to places for 2 bars, and clap four times.

25 – 28 All dance back to back with partner.

29 – 32 All dance one quarter of the way round the set, the women moving clockwise and the men moving anti-clockwise, passing partner and one more dancer by the right shoulder to meet a new partner.

Repeat from new positions.

Devised by Anne Dejean, Lyon Branch, March 2016.

Note: After doing the dance twice, everyone is with their partner again, half way round the set, and after doing the dance two more times everyone is back in original places.

This dance was devised for lessons in a nursery school. It was first meant to be danced in one big circle with the woman on her partner’s right and without a progression.

 

No Video.

Mr Graham W Donald

32 bar strathspey for 3 couples in a Iongwise set.

Bars

1 – 8 1st and 2nd couples set and rotate. 1st couple finish facing out in 2nd place on own sides.

9 – 12 1st couple dance clockwise halfway round the set, while 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance right hands across once round to place.

13 – 16 1st couple turn two hands 1 1/4 times to finish 1st man between 3rd couple facing up and 1st lady between 2nd couple facing down.

17 – 18 All take hands across the set, all set advancing, dropping hands, to finish right shoulder to right shoulder with the person opposite to form a line across the set in 2nd place.

19 – 22 All dance to the right and chase clockwise back to three and three across the set with the 2nd and 3rd couples having changed sides.

23 – 24 2nd and 3rd couples change places on the sides giving right hands, while 1st couple turn two hands in the middle of the set opening out to face up. 1st lady is on her partner’s left.

25 – 28 1st couple, nearer hands joined, dance up between the 3rd couple, who are now in top place. 1st couple cast off to 2nd place on the opposite sides.

29 – 32 3rd, 1st and 2nd couples turn two hands 1 1/2 times to finish on own sides.

Repeat from new positions.

Dance for Graham Donald on the occasion of his 501″ birthday, TAC Summer School 31 July 2009

© Devised by Francis Walduck, Brisbane, Queensland Branch RSCDS, January 2009.
Suggested Music: ‘Muriel Johnstone’s Compliments to Graham Donaid’ by Muriel Johnstone.

 

Video: Pluto’s Head

Video: Pluto’s Head

Pluto’s Head
32-bar reel for two couples in a four-couple longwise set

Bars Description

1 – 4 1st man and 2nd woman tum with the right hand.

5 – 8 1st and 2nd couples dance four hands once round to the left.

9 – 12 1st woman and 2nd man turn with the left hand.

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

17 – 24 1st couple lead down for 3 bars, lead up for 3 bars, and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 23—24.

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

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Susan McKinnell, Chicago Branch, September 1999.

The deviser explains, ”The name for this dance came from a trip to Disneyquest where I attended
the Animation Station and learned to draw Pluto’s head: draw circles for the basic outline, add
meridian lines for reference, and then fill in the details. It seemed to match the structure of this
dance. ”




Dances for May 7, 2018

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.