DANCING DOLPHINS
THE DOLPHIN BOOK, 11 SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCES by Barry Skelton, Auckland, New Zealand, 1994
8 x 32 bar Jig Devised by Barry Skelton 28th October 1993
A jig for three couples danced in longwise four couple sets.
1–8 First couple, cross with the right hand and cast off one place. (Second couple step up on bars 3 & 4.) First couple turn each other with the left hand 1 ¼ times. First couple finish facing the lady’s side, the man has his partner on his right. ***
9–16 First couple in tandem, dance a right shoulder reel of three with second and third lady. *
17–24 First couple in tandem, dance a left shoulder reel of three with second and third men. **
25–32 First couple with promenade hold dance out the ladies’ side and down around third lady. First couple dance up the middle, drop hands and cast around second couple to finish in second place.
First couple repeat from second place.
* First lady, followed by her partner, they pass third lady with the right shoulder to begin. First couple turn by the right to face up the set. First man, followed by first lady pass second lady with the right shoulder. First man, followed by first lady pass third lady with the left shoulder. First couple turning by the left they face down the set. First lady, followed by first man. Dance across the set to face third man.
** First lady, followed by her partner, pass third man with the left shoulder to begin. First couple turn by the left to face up the set. First man, followed by first lady, pass second man by the left shoulder. First man, followed by first lady pass third man with the right shoulder. First couple turning by the right they face down the set. First lady, followed by first man, dance across
the set to finish between second and third lady.
*** Note: First couple should begin parallel with the side of the set and remain parallel with the set throughout the reel. This will require good covering. First couple must be aware of their partner especially on the turns. First couple cover with each other not just follow each other. Where the instructions say follow also read cover.
Video: At the Summit
Note: The first two couples in the video do the first turn wrong.
At the Summit
32-bar strathspey for three couples in a four-couple longwise set
1–4 1st couple turn once round with both hands to face up and cast off one place on own sides as 2nd couple step up.
5–8 1st couple cross, giving right hands, cast round first corners by the right and finish back to back in the middle, facing their first corners.
9–12 1st couple set to their first corners. 1st couple then cast around each other by the right to finish in their partner’s first corner position, while their corners dance into the middle and, pulling back right shoulders, finish back to back, facing their original positions.
13–16 1st couple and first corners set to each other. First corners cast round each other by the right to finish on the opposite sides in each other’s original positions, while 1st couple dance into the middle and, pulling back right shoulders, finish back to back, facing their second corners.
17–24 1st couple repeat bars 9–16 with second corners but pass by the right on bars 23-24 to finish in second place on opposite sides. Second corners finish on the opposite sides in each other’s original positions.
25–32 3rd, 1st and 2nd couples set and link twice to finish on their own sides in the order 2, 1, 3.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
Tune: The Anglins of Ottawa by Muriel Johnstone
Devised by Craig and Jody Williams
This dance was devised for Bob and Barbara Anglin in appreciation of their support and encouragement as we began teaching in Ottawa and running the Ottawa Valley workshop.
We had an exceptional day with Bob & Barbara at the summit of Whistler before the TAC AGM in July, 2009.
Note: The movement described in bars 9-24 was first devised by the late Alex Hay and published in his dance “Peter White”.