Dances for September 28, 2026 - Ottawa Dance Scottish

The College Hornpipe
RSCDS Book 20
32-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

Bars Description
1 – 8 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance six hands round and back to finish in the middle of the set, facing up.

9 – 16 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance a promenade.

17 – 24 1st couple, giving right hands, cross over and cast off one place; giving left hands, cross over and cast off round 3rd couple to meet and lead up to face first corners. 2nd couple step up on bars 19 – 20.

25 – 30 1st couple set to first corners, set to each other across the set, set to second corners and finish facing each other up and down the set.

31 – 32 1st couple, clapping once, turn by the right with two pas de basque steps to second place on own sides.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

W Boag: A Collection of Favourite Reels & Strathspeys by the Most Eminent Composers, 1797.

Original tune: Jolly Tars (Traditional)

TACNotes:’
17-24 Phrasing for 1st cpl is – cross & cast (3 bars), repeat (3 bars), lead up (2 bars). 2nd cpl step up on bars 19-20.

Video: Staffin Harvest

Staffin Harvest
4 Dances 1978 – No. 3
32-bar strathspey for four couples in a four-couple longwise set

1 – 4 1st woman and 2nd man, 3rd woman and 4th man set to each other and, giving right hands, change places.

5 – 8 1st and 3rd couples, on the men’s side and 2nd and 4th couples, on the women’s side, set to partners and, giving right hands, change places.

9 – 16 1st and 3rd couples and 2nd and 4th couples dance reels of four, passing partner by the right to begin.

17 – 20 All set and, giving right hands, cross over. (Fig. 1)

21 – 24 1st and 2nd couples and 3rd and 4th couples dance four hands round to the left, to finish in two diagonal lines. (Fig. 2)

25 – 28 2nd and 1st couples, 4th and 3rd couples dance a half poussette, to finish in original places.

29 – 32 1st couple lead down to fourth place. 2nd, 3rd and 4th couples step up on bars 31-32.

Repeat from new positions.

Devised by H P C Mitchell, Canada, 1976.
Original tune: Miss Elizabeth Magd. Fordyce Strathspey (Robert Mackintosh)

The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
Bars 19-20 Cross, giving right hands.
Bars 29-30 1st couple lead down and dance the short way into fourth place.

TACNotes:’
19-20 Cross giving RH.
29-30 1st cpl lead down & cast up into 4th place.

Video: A Flock of Geese

A Flock of Geese
The Slip Knot Collection
Melbourne and Elle Briscoe
Alexandria, Virginia
September 1989

32 bar Jig for five couples in a five couple set

1 – 8 As in The Wild Geese, 1st, 3rd, and 5th couples set advancing, set taking hands (give right hands to partners), and

1st couple turn with the right hand and cast off to fifth place, while
3rd couple turn with the right hand and lead up to first place, while
5th couple turn with the right hand and lead up to third place,
ending in order 3,2,5,4,1.

9 – 16 Repeat the first eight bars from the new positions, ending in order 5,2,1.4,3.

17 – 24 5th and 1st couples (the top two dancing couples, now in first and third place) lead down for four bars (2nd and 4th couples stepping up on bars 3-4 of the phrase) and lead up to second and fourth places.

25 – 32 2nd and 5th couples, and 1st and 3rd couples (the two couples at the top and the two couples at the bottom) dance right and left: 4th couple in the middle stand still. End in order 2,5,4,1,3, ready to begin again from the new positions.

NOTE: The progression is:

end couples move to position next to opposite end
middle couple moves to bottom
2nd and 4th couples move up one place

Suggested Recorded Music: The Wild Geese, from Dance to Bobby Crowe’s Band, Thistle Records, BLSP-67, the music is recorded with just 5 repetitions.

Devisor’s note: The dance was devised for the wedding of Lance Ramshaw and Gail Wine in Boston, September 9, 1989, and was presented to them at their wedding celebration dance.