Video: City of Belfast
Video: City of Belfast

City of Belfast
32-bar Strathspey for three couples in a three-couple set

1–4        1st couple dance a half figure of eight round 2nd couple to finish in partner’s place.

5–8        1st man and 2nd woman with left hands, 1st woman and 2nd man with right hands, turn one and a quarter times to finish with 1st couple in the middle back to back, 1st man facing 2nd woman, 1st woman facing 2nd man.

9–16    1st and 2nd couples dance a reel of four across the dance in second place, 2nd couple finish in first place and 1st couple passing left shoulders, face 1st corners.

17–20    1st couple set to first corners, set to second corners and pulling back right shoulders, finish on the opposite side between corners.

21–24    All three couples join hands and set, 1st couple cross giving right hands to finish in second place on own side.

25–32    1st and 3rd couples dance the Espagnole. Finish in order 2,3,1.

The Espagnole (devised by John Drewry)

Bars
1–2        1st and 3rd women, joining right hands, dance towards the men’s side. On the second step, 1st woman crosses 3rd woman in front of her so that 3rd woman dances out and up towards second place while 1st woman dances out and down towards third place. Meanwhile 1st and 3rd men dance across to the women’s side passing on the outside of their partners.

3–4        1st and 3rd men joining right hands, dance back towards their own side passing between their    partners. On the fourth step 1st man crosses 3rd man over in front of him so that 3rd man dances out and up towards second place while 1st man dances out and down towards third place. Meanwhile 3rd and 1st women cross back to their own side passing on the outside of their partners.

5–8    3rd couple turn with the right hand while 1st couple turn with the left hand.

Original Tune composed by Marian Anderson
Dance devised by Lucy Mulholland

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ITCHY FEET
Coast to Coast with Scotch Mist, 2014
32-bar jig for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1–4        1st couple set and cast off one place, 2nd couple step up on bars 3-4.
5–8        1st couple turn right hand 1-1/2 times to face 1st corners.
9–12    1st couple dance a half reel of four with 1st corners, pass partner right shoulder to face 2nd corners.
13–16    1st couple dance a half reel of four with 2nd corners, finishing in 2nd place on opposite sides. All three couples are now on opposite sides.
17–24    3rd, 1st, and 2nd couples set and link to finish back on own sides.
25–32    All three couples dance six hands round and back.
Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by John Walton, Hamilton. “When the music starts and we are itching to start dancing, then that is the time we have itchy feet”.