The Shetland Shepherdess
The San Andreas Collection by Ron Wallace
32 bar Jig for 3 couples in a 4 couple set

1–4        1st couple dance down between 2nd couple and cast up to original place

5–8        1st couple half figure of 8 down around 2nd couple

9–16    2nd, 1st and 3rd couple cross-over mirror reels of three on the sides, 1st couple cross to 2nd place on own side to begin, 2nd couple out and up and 3rd couple in and up; 2nd couple ends facing out

17–18    1st and 2nd women half turn by the LEFT hand while 1st and 2nd men half turn by the RIGHT hand

19–20    1st and 3rd women turn by the RIGHT hand while 1st and 3rd men turn by the LEFT hand, 1st couple ends in the middle facing up, and 3rd couple ends back in 3rd place (for 1st couple the turn is ¾ but for the 3rd couple the turn is once round)

21–24    1st couple dance up the middle to the top of the set and cast to 2nd place own side

25–32    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples advance and retire, all clap (last beat of Bar 28), and all turn partner by the RIGHT hand once round.

Music:     “The Shetland Shepherdess” by Ron Wallace

This title was inspired by a trip to Oslo, Norway, to teach SCD where I met Caroline Nicol, a Shetland shepherdess shepherding in Norway! The dance and music are dedicated to Susan Hagen, my hostess, and all the fine folk in the Oslo SCD Group.

The Black Bear
Berkhamstead Golden Jubilee Dances
A 32-bar Reel for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set

1–8        1st and 2nd couples set and dance right hands across half-way; set and turn left – 2nd couple halfway to places, 1st couple to face 1st corners.

9–16    1st couple set to corners and partner (“Hello, goodbye”) halfway round set (continuing the movement through bars 15, 16) to finish facing partner’s first corner.

17–24    Two diagonal half reels of 4: 1st couple give right shoulder to partner’s 1st corner to begin, pass right shoulder in the middle, give right shoulder to partner’s second corners, finishing in 2nd place, own side.

25–32    1st couple dance half diagonal rights and lefts twice, (as in “The Irish Rover”) crossing right hands with dancers in 1st corner positions to begin:-
25–28    1st couple cross diagonally to their right (with their first corner places) giving right hands, and change places on the sides (with their 1st corner dancers)giving left hands.
29–32    1st couple cross diagonally to their left (with their second corner dancers) giving right hands, and change places on the sides (man with man, woman with woman) giving left hands.

On bars 31-32 of 1st couple’s second round, 4th and 1st men turn by the left once         round so that 1st man finishes at the foot of the set.

LAST TIME, bar 25, double beat on “bass drum”; bars 26-28, “pipes” alone continue the tune; Bar 29 (1C giving RH to 2nd corners), all cheer “HOI!” – see below. Bars 30-32, the whole band finishes the tune.

The dance, devised by Ian C J Galbraith in 1995, is dedicated to the Cameronians Regiment, 1689-1968, by permission. The regiment always marched back to barracks to the old pipe-tune “The Black Bear” (recommended for this dance). On a signal from the bass drummer, who wore a bearskin apron, the regiment cheered. “The Cameronians Cheer” is adapted for the end of the dance.

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.