Dances for July 23, 2025 - Ottawa Dance Scottish

Ottawa Summer Class

No Video

Bernie’s Triumph
Holly Boyd, Oh, How We’ve Danced
32 bar Strathspey for-three couples in a longwise set

1 – 8 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance mirror reels of three on the side; 1st couple dance in and down, 2nd couple up and out, 3rd couple in and up to begin. Touch nearer hands with partner whenever possible

9 – 12 1st and 2nd couples turn 1-1/2 times to change places; men giving right hand, women giving left hand

13 – 16 1st and 3rd couples turn 1-1/2 times to change places; men giving left hand, women giving right hand 2,3,1

17 – 24 2nd, 3rd and 1st couples, taking hands on the side, set. All three men set again as women advance for two. All three men advance for two as women retire for two. All three women set as men retire for two. 2,3,1

25 – 32 3rd and 1st couples dance the tourbillon 2,1,3,4

First couple are in 2nd place ready to repeat the dance

Note: Attention must be paid by first couple after regressing with the tourbillon; they are in second place ready to begin again. Second time through they must cast back to the bottom as the 4th couple dance in to start the reels.

Gabriele Patterson was the winning bidder at a silent auction at TAC in Calgary for a dance written by me. She asked for a dance for her husband: ‘I got the winning hand when I got him’ with a mirror reel of three and a tourbillon.

August 2019

Video: The Greenbelt Jig

The Greenbelt Jig
Elaine Brunken, Moments int Time
32 Bar Jig for 3 couples

1 – 6 1st, 2nd, and 3rd ladies Dance around their partners passing Right shoulder, and dance back to place.
7 – 8 1st, 2nd, and 3 couples Cross over giving Right Hands. (All are on opposite sides)

9 – 14 1st, 2nd, and 3″ men Dance around their partners passing Right shoulder, and dance back to place (Opposite sides).
15 – 16 1st, 2nd, and 3rd couples Cross over giving Right Hands. (1st couple remain facing out)

17 – 24 1st couple Cast off 2 places, join nearer hands and Dance up the middle, and Cast off to 2nd place.
17 – 19 cast 2 places (2nd couple step up on 17&18)
20 – 22 dance up the middle
23 – 24 cast to 2 place

25 – 28 2nd, 1st and 3 couples Advance and Retire.
29 – 32 2nd 1st and 3rd couples Turn by the Right Hand.

At the end of 2 repetition 1st couple finish in 3rd place and step to the bottom The new 3rd lady dances up from the bottom. 3 man steps up on bars 1-2

Repeat having passed a couple

Devised in March 2010 at the St. Columba’s Class in Greenbelt, Maryland. It’s an easy wee jig for all levels and a good warm up dance.

Easily adapts to a 2 couple dance: 1-16 and 25-32 done by 1st and 2nd couple. Bars 17-24 1st couple cast off one place in 4 bars (dance in for one and out for one, then cast for 2), dance up to the top, and cast into 2™ place. (2™ couple step up on 19 & 20)

Suggested Tune: Ride the Wind (Tatsu-Do) (Muriel Johnstone)

Video: The Left-Handed Fiddler

The Left-Handed Fiddler
Howard Lasnik, A Tribute to Sally Dee
32 Bar Reel for 3 couples, devised by Howard Lasnik, 1997

Dedicated to Barbara McOwen, a right handed fiddler whose playing inspires so many dancers (and with thanks to Sally Dee for giving me so much encouragement).

1 – 4 1st couple turn by the left hand and cast into 2nd place (2nd couple stepping up on bars 3-4).

5 – 8 1st couple cross by the left hand and cast to the left, 1st man around 2nd woman and 1st woman around 3rd man, finishing in the center of the set, nearer hands joined, facing 2nd woman on the diagonal (as in The Montgomeries’ Rant except the 1st woman is on the 1st man’s right).

9 – 12 1st couple set to 2nd woman, change hands and set to 3rd man.

13 – 16 Set to 3rd woman, change hands and set to 2nd man. End facing 1st corners, 1st man having pulled back his left shoulder.

17 – 20 1st couple turn 1st corners by the left hand. 1st couple turn by the right hand to face 2nd corners.

21 – 24 1st couple turn 2nd corners by the left hand. 1st couple turn by the right hand to finish in 2nd place, own side.

25 – 32 Couples 2, 1, and 3 dance six hands around to the left and back to the right.

Sally Dee Project Committee: Howard Lasnik – MaryEllen Scanell – Marcie Rowland – Tom Pixton

Video: The Dancing Man

The Dancing Man
Roy Goldring, RSCDS Second Graded Book
32-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1 – 4 1st and 2nd couples, giving right hands, turn once round.

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

9 -16 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance reels of three on own sides. 1st and 2nd couples pass by the right to begin. At the end of bar 16, 3rd couple return to place while 1st and 2nd couples continue the reel to form a line across the set. (Fig.)

17 – 24 1st and 2nd couples dance a reel of four across the set.
On bars 23-24:
2nd woman crosses to first place on own side.
2nd man curves up to first place on own side.
1st woman curves down to second place on own side.
1st man crosses to second place on own side.

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

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Roy Goldring.

For Bob Campbell of Oakville, Ontario