Video: The Faraway Isle

THE FARAWAY ISLE
THE CANADIAN BOOK OF SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCES by John Drewry

A dance for the visit to Majorca

Jig – 4 couples – 48 bars.
Tune – “Tam’s Hunting Horn” by I Munro – from Kerr’s Thistle Collection Page 32.

In this dance 3rd and 4th couples start on the wrong sides.

1–8       1st couple, giving right hands, cross over and cast off to second place on wrong sides (2nd couple step up on Bars 3-4), then 1st couple dance half a figure of eight round 2nd couple to finish in second place on own sides. 4th couple, similarly, cross over and cast up to third place (3rd couple step down), then dance half a figure of eight round 3rd couple to finish in third place on wrong sides.

9–16    1st and 4th couples dance right hands across, after four steps the ladies turn and join left hands to return, but each man dances out from the wheel, and round his partner, to enter the left hand wheel behind her. Finish with 1st lady facing 2nd man; 1st man, 2nd lady; 4th man,3rd lady; and 4th lady, 3rd man.

17–24    Double diagonal reels of four, with left-hand half-wheels in the centre. At the end, 1st and 4th couples do not dance left hands across but curve in as at the end of a foursome reel to face the opposite end of the diagonal from that faced at the beginning of the reel. That is, 1st man is facing 3rd lady; 1st lady, 3rd man; 4th man, 2nd lady; and 4th lady, 2nd man.         

25–32    All set twice to the person facing, then turn that person by the right hand to finish in two lines across the dance in top and fourth places. 4th couple are between 2nd couple in top place, and 1st couple are between 3rd couple in fourth place, ready for reels of four across the dance.

33–40    Two reels of four across the dance. At the end, 1st and 4th couples pass partners by the right to finish in the positions from which they began the reels, but facing partners.

41–44    4th couple, joining right hands, lead up crossing over and cast off to second place on own sides. 1st couple, similarly, lead down crossing over and cast up to third place on wrong sides.

45–48    All turn partners once by the right hand.

The final order is 2, 4, 1, 3 and 1st and 3rd couples are on wrong sides.

Repeat with a new top couple.

The Millers’ Book Room
TAC, Brock Summer Celebration
32 bar Jig for 3 Couples
       
1–8        1st and 2nd couples dance the Espagnole:
   
1–4        1st and 2nd women, briefly giving right hands, cross diagonally to the opposite side, 2nd woman passing in front of 1st woman, turn away from each other and cross straight over to their own side having changed places. Meanwhile, 1st and 2nd men cross over to the opposite side, turn toward each other, and briefly give right hands as they cross diagonally to their own side, 2nd man passing in front of 1st man.
5–8        2nd couple turn once round with the right hand while 1st couple turn once round with the left hand  (see notes).

9–12    1st woman with 2nd couple and 1st man with 3rd couple dance right hands across once round. 2nd and 3rd couples dance out to places and remain facing clockwise while 1st couple remain in the centre.

13–16    1st couple turn with the left hand to face 1st corner positions while the corners dance clockwise halfway round to the diagonally opposite positions.

17–20    1st couple change places with their partner’s 1st corner giving right hands (2 bars). 1st couple set to each other while 1st corners change places on the diagonal giving left hands.

21–22    1st couple change places with 1st corners giving right hands.

23–24    1st couple turn with the left hand to face 2nd corner positions while 1st corners set diagonally to each other.

25–30    1st couple and 2nd corners repeat bars 17-22.

31–32    1st couple cross to second place on own sides giving left hands, while 2nd corners set diagonally to each other (see notes).

Repeat having passed a couple.

Notes:    The Espagnole progression was devised by John Drewry and is described for the dance “Glayva” in his Canadian Book of Scottish Country Dances.

On bar 8, the 2nd and 1st couples dance right out to the sides. At the end of bar 32, 1st couple turn left about into places.

Suggested music:    “The Island Fling” on Bobby Brown and The Scottish Accent, The Island Fling, Brownrigg BRG001.

 Dedicated to Anne and Paul Miller who provided many years of dedicated service to the Scottish Country Dance community by running TACBOOKS from their home.

Devised by Kent Smith, February 1992.