The Engine Room
32 bar reel for 3 couples in a 4-couple set

1–8        1st , 2nd and 3rd couples set and mirror reels of three on sides; on bar one, all join hands, on bar two, drop hands to face the direction to start the mirror reels, 1st couple in and down, 2nd couple out and up, 3rd couple in and up

9–16    1st couple back to back, cast off one place as 2nd couple step up, and cross with RIGHT hands to face out.

17–20    1st couple dance around 1st corners, pull back RIGHT shoulders to end back to back, 1st woman facing up, 1st man facing down while: 1st corners dance back to back on the diagonal

21–24    1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance half double triangles up and down    (corners set 4 bars)

25–28    1st couple dance around 2nd corners, pull back RIGHT shoulders to end back to back facing opposite sides while: 2nd corners dance back to back on the diagonal

29–32    1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance half double triangles; 1st couple finish on own sides second place (corners set 4 bars)

Repeat having passed a couple

Note:  On Bars 31-32 of the second repetition, 1st couple finish the half double triangles by dancing to the bottom of the set as 3rd couple moves up with pas de basque

Devisor:  Ron Wallace and Gary Thomas, 2007
Music:  “The Engine Room” by Muriel Johnstone, To Dance To!

This dance was written for Muriel Johnstone for the occasion of her 60th birthday, and presented to her at the Santa Rosa Class’s annual Beginners Ball.

Gypsy Weaver   
A 32 bar Strathspey for 3 couples

1–2        First couple and third couple dance right shoulder ¾ of the way around partners to finish in a line of four up and down the center of the dance (women facing down, men facing up).

3–6        First couple and third couple dance a half reel of four up and down the center of the dance.

7–8        First couple and third couple dance right shoulder ¾ of the way around partner to finish on own sides, order 3 2 1.

9–12    Second couple and first couple (bottom couples) set and link.

13–16    Third couple and first couple (top couples) set and link (first woman and third man remain facing out).

17–19    Half reels of three on the sides in 3 bars (first couple and third couple pass right shoulder to begin, first woman remains facing out at the bottom).

20–24    First woman, followed by her partner, casts up around third woman and across the dance; first woman pulls back her left shoulder and turns her partner with the left hand to finish facing first corners (3C step down on bars 23-24).

25–32    First couple dance “Corners Pass and Turn”: First couple dance right shoulder around first corner position as first corners turn with two hands and dance back to place; First couple pass right shoulder in the middle to face second corner; First couple dance right shoulder around second `corner position as second corners turn with two hands and dance back to place; First couple pass right shoulder to finish in second place on own sides.

After the second repetition, the fourth couple should begin from fourth position, dancing up slightly as they pass right shoulder round each other while the first couple steps down on bars
1 & 2.

Suggested tune: Gypsy Weaver, by Liz Donaldson
More Memories of Scottish Weekend

Devised by Denise Peet of the Washington, D.C. Branch RSCDS