Domino Five
RSCDS Second Book of Graded Scottish Country Dances32-bar reel for five dancers in a square formation.
Four dancers numbered 1 to 4 clockwise each stand at one corner of a square facing a fifth dancer who is in the middle facing up towards dancers 1 and 4.
1–4 Dancers 5, 1 and 2 dance right hands across once round.
5–8 Dancers 5, 3 and 4 dance left hands across once round.
9–16 Dancers 5, 1 and 3 dance a diagonal reel of three, dancers 5 and 1 pass by the right to start. Dancer 5 finishes back in place facing dancer 4.
17–24 Dancers 5, 4 and 2 dance a diagonal reel of three, dancers 5 and 4 pass by the left to start. Dancer 5 finishes back in place facing dancer 1.
25–26 Dancers 5 and 1 change places, passing by the right.
27–28 Dancers 1 and 4 change places, passing by the right.
29–30 Dancers 4 and 3 change places, passing by the right.
31–32 Dancers 3 and 2 change places, passing by the right. Dancer 2 finishes in the middle facing up.
Repeat four times, each time from new positions.
In bars 25-32 the track from one corner to the next should be a smooth curve.
Devised by Derek Haynes.
First published in The Fourth Carnforth Collection. ©Maureen Haynes, printed with permission.
Pelorus Jack (Jig)
RSCDS Book 41 – No. 1
1–4 1st couple, giving right hands, cross over and cast off to second place. 2nd couple step up on bars 3 – 4.
5–8 1st and 3rd couples dance right hands across to finish with 1st man facing his first corner and his partner behind him ready for a tandem reel.
9–12 1st couple, in tandem, dance a half reel with first corners as follows: 1st man, followed by his partner, passes right shoulder with 3rd woman then 1st couple each turn about by the right in corner position to change direction. 1st woman, followed by her partner, passes right shoulder with 2nd man to finish facing 1st man’s second corner (2nd woman).
13–16 1st couple, in tandem, dance a half reel with second corners as follows: 1st woman, followed by her partner, passes right shoulder with 2nd woman then 1st couple each turn about by the right in corner position to change direction. 1st man, followed by his partner, passes right shoulder with 3rd man to finish facing 1st woman’s first corner position (3rd woman).
17–20 1st couple, in tandem, dance a half reel with first corners as follows: 1st man, followed by his partner, passes right shoulders with 3rd woman then 1st couple each turn about by the right in corner position to change direction. 1st woman, followed by her partner, passes right shoulder with 2nd man to finish facing the 1st woman’s second corner position (2nd woman).
21–24 1st couple, in tandem, dance a half reel with second corners as follows: 1st woman, followed by her partner, passes right shoulder with 2nd woman then 1st couple each turn about by the right in corner position to change direction. 1st man, followed by his partner, passes right shoulder with 3rd man to finish in the middle of the set facing the women’s side.
25–32 2nd and 1st couples dance left hands across. 1st couple, retaining left hands, dance a half turn to finish in second place on their own side. 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples, joining nearer hands, set.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
Pelorus Jack (named after Pelorus Sound in Marlborough) was a famous dolphin who piloted ships through Cook Strait for some 24 years (from 1888 to 1912). Although protected by an Act of Parliament in 1904, the dolphin disappeared after four Norwegian whaling ships passed through the Strait.
Devised by Barry Skelton, New Zealand, 1993.
Tune: Christian Catto (Copyright Deeay Music).
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TACNotes:’
9–24 In each half reel the leading dancer dances beyond the corner position in order to loop together.
THE FALKIRK LASS
THREE COUPLES 8 x 32 STRATHSPEY
The Merse Collection [Elaine Brunken]
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1-4 1st couple turn by the right hand, and cast off one place. (2nd couple step up on 3 and 4).
5-8 1st couple cross by the left hand, 1st lady cast down around 3rd man, to finish between 3rd couple as 1st man casts up around 2nd woman, to finish between 2nd couple (all face up or down).
9-12 All advance for one step, retire for one step and change places by the right hand, up and down the dance.
13-16 All advance for one step, retire for one step, 2nd and 3rd couples change places by the right hand, up and down the dance while the 1st couple turns ¾ by the right hand to face 1st corners.
17-20 1st corners pass and turn: 1st couple dance around 1st corners by the right shoulder, dance in through the ends and pass each other by the right shoulder, up and down the dance to face 2nd corners, while corners dance in (1 bar), turn with two hands (1 bar), and dance out to place (2 bars).
21-24 2nd corners pass and turn, 1st couple pass right shoulders to finish to finish in 2nd place on their own sides.
25-32 All three couples circle round to the left and back to the right.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
REST AND BE THANKFUL
The Grampian Collection of Scottish Country Dances by Jack McConachie
Longways Sets in Reel time for 4 (or 5) couples — 3–couple dance — 32– Bar sequence.
1–4 First couple, giving right hands, cross over and cast off one place on the opposite side. Second couple move up on Bars 3 – 4.
5–8 First couple, giving left hands, cross over and first lady casts up round second lady, while first man casts off round third man, to finish beside their 1st Corner.
9–12 First couple, holding their 1st Corner in Promenade position on their right, leads them round behind their 2nd Corner and places them in the opposite 1st Corner position. At the same time the 2nd Corners Advance towards each other and Retire.
13–16 First couple turn each other with left hands to finish beside their 2nd Corner. (Turn strongly for one and a quarter times.)
17–20 First couple, holding their 2nd Corner in Promenade position on their right, leads them round behind their 1st Corners (who are on the wrong side) and places them in the opposite 2nd Corner position. At the same time the 1st Corners Advance towards each other and Retire.
21–24 First couple turn each other with left hands to finish facing their usual 1st Corner position (first lady faces third lady while first man faces second man).
25–28 First couple dance a half Reel of Four diagonally across the Set with their 1st Corners —first couple , passing by the right to begin, curve by their right round the 1st Corner position, while the Corners pass each other by the left in the middle to their own sides.
29–32 First couple, passing each other by the right in the middle, dance a half Reel of Four diagonally across the Set with their 2nd Corners—again passing by the right to begin, then crossing over by the right to finish in 2nd place on their own sides.
First couple repeat from the 2nd place and cross by the left, down between fourth couple, to the bottom. Each couple repeat in turn as first couple.
Neidpath Castle
RSCDS Book 22 – No. 9
32-bar strathspey for three couples in a three-couple longwise set
1–2 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples set to partners.
3–6 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples, giving both hands, turn twice round.
7–8 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples set to partners.
9–16 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance a grand chain.
17–24 1st couple dance figures of eight on own sides, dancing in and down to begin and giving nearer hands when possible. 1st couple finish in the middle and, on bar 24, 2nd couple dance in to form a diagonal line with 1st couple, 1st woman and 2nd man back to back.
25–28 1st and 2nd couples dance a half poussette, 2nd couple finishing in top place while 1st couple turn in the middle. On bar 28, 3rd couple dance in to form a diagonal line with 1st couple, 1st woman and 3rd man back to back.
29–32 1st and 3rd couples dance a half poussette to finish in the order 2, 3, 1.
Repeat with a new top couple.
Devised by Derek Haynes, Liverpool Branch.
Original tune: Dr and Mrs Green (K Macaulay-Jones)
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TACNotes:’
25–28 Slow turn for 1st cpl on bars 27-28.
The Deil amang the Tailors
RSCDS Book 14 – No. 7
32-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set
1–4 1st and 2nd couples set to partners and dance right hands across halfway round.
5–8 2nd and 1st couples set to partners and dance left hands across halfway round to original places.
9–16 1st couple lead down the middle and up to finish in the middle of the set facing up. 2nd couple step in.
17–24 1st and 2nd couples dance an allemande.
25–32 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance six hands round and back.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
Dale’s Collection of Reels and Dances c. 1799.
Original tune: The Deil amang the Tailors (Gow)
John McAlpin
RSCDS Three Dances by Hugh Foss
32-bar strathspey for three couples in a four-couple longwise set
1–2 1st couple advance one step, take right hands briefly and retire one step.
3–4 1st couple, giving left hands, cross over.
5–6 1st couple lead down to second place in the middle of the set. 2nd couple step up.
7–8 1st couple turn with the left hand to finish facing first corners.
9–16 1st couple turn first corners with the right hand, partner with the left hand, second corners with the right hand and, giving left hands to partner, cross to second place on own side of the dance.
17–18 2nd, 1st and 3rd women set.
19–20 2nd, 1st and 3rd women advance while 2nd, 1st and 3rd men set.
21–24 2nd, 1st and 3rd women retire and set, while 2nd, 1st and 3rd men advance and retire.
25–26 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples, giving right hands, cross over to finish ready to form a circle.
27–28 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance six hands round to the left half way.
29–32 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples, giving left hands, cross over to form a circle and dance six hands round to the right.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
Originally published in The Galloway Album
Original tune: John McAlpin (Traditional)
CATCH THE WIND
RSCDS Book 45. No. 5
(Hornpipe)
1–4 1st couple set and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 3 – 4.
5–8 1st couple dance a half figure of eight round 2nd couple.
9–12 1st couple set twice. On bars 11-12, 1st woman pulls back right shoulder to finish facing out.
13–16 1st woman casts up round 2nd man and dances down to finish between 3rd couple facing 3rd man while 1st man dances across the set and casts up round 2nd man to finish between 2nd couple facing 2nd man.
17–24 1st man dances a reel of three with 2nd couple passing 2nd man by the right shoulder to begin while 1st woman dances a reel of three with 3rd couple passing 3rd man by the right shoulder to begin.
25–28 1st woman casts up round 3rd man and dances across the set to finish in second place on own side while 1st man dances down the middle and casts up round 3rd man to finish in second place on own side.
29–32 1st couple turn with the right hand once round.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
Devised by Romaine Butterfield, RSCDS New Zealand Branch and originally published by that branch in Island Bay Collection (1983). The dance was devised for Noeline O’Connor and Iain Boyd and the name refers to the fact that Iain courted Noeline for some time.
Tune: The Navvie, Traditional
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TACNotes:’
Bars 25-28 1st woman must lengthen her steps to reach 2nd place, own side, pulling back R shoulder to flow into bar 29.
Flowers of Edinburgh
RSCDS Book 1 – No. 6
32-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set
1–6 1st woman casts off two places, crosses to the opposite side and dances up behind 2nd and 3rd men to her partner’s original place. 1st man follows his partner, crossing over and dancing behind 2nd and 3rd women, and up the middle to his partner’s original place.
7–8 1st couple set to each other.
9–14 1st couple repeat bars 1-6, with 1st man casting off and 1st woman following. 1st couple finish in original places.
15–16 1st couple set to each other.
17–24 1st couple lead down the middle and up to finish facing each other in the middle of the set with both hands joined. 2nd couple step in.
25–32 1st and 2nd couples dance a poussette.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
Kate Hughes’ Dancing Book (MS), Dundalk 1867.
Original tune: Flowers of Edinburgh (Traditional)