Orwell Lodge Strathspey

32-bar strathspey for three couples in a three-couple longwise set

Bars                    Description

1-8    1st and 2nd couples dance the knot. 1St couple finish facing first corners

9-12    1st couple dance a half reel of four with first corners and pass by the right to face second corners.

13-26    1st couple dance a half reel of four with second corners and pass by the right to finish all on opposite sides in the order 3, 1, 2.

17-18    3rd, 1st and 2nd couples set.

19-20    1st couple dance a petronella turn. At the same time, 3rd and 2nd couples cast by the right and dance round one place clockwise. 1st man finishes at the top between 2nd and 3rd women, all facing down, and 1st woman in third place between 2nd and 3rd men, all facing up.

21-22    3rd, 1st and 2nd couples set.

23-24    1st couple dance a petronella turn. At the same time, 3rd and 2nd couples cast by the right and dance round one place clockwise. Finish in the order 2, 1, 3 all on own sides.

25-26    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples set.

27-28    2nd couple, giving both hands turn once round. At the same time 1st and 3rd couples, giving both hands to partners, turn to finish in a diagonal line with 1st woman and 3rd man back to back in the  middle of the set.

29-32    1st and 3rd couples dance a half poussette.

Devised by Ian Brockbank, Edinburgh Branch, and dedicated to Jane Purves.

FATHER CONNELLY’S JIG

THE DONSIDE BOOK of Scottish Country Dances, 1989-1990 by John Drewry

Dance devised January 1990

1–8    1st and 2nd couples “Set and Rotate”.

9–12    1st couple and their first corners dance half right and left on the diagonal. Meanwhile second corners set to each other and then change places giving right hands. At the end, 3rd and 2nd couples stay facing out.

13–16    3rd, 1st and 2nd couples dance half reels of three on opposite sides. To begin:- 1st and 3rd men, and 1st and 2nd women, pass by the right. At the end:- 2nd and 3rd couples veer into place (i.e. no extra loops).

17–20    1st couple and their second corners dance half right and left on the diagonal (1st couple begin by giving right hands to second corners in person). Meanwhile first corners set to each other and then change places giving right hands. At the end, 3rd and 2nd couples stay facing out.

21–24    3rd, 1st and 2nd couples dance half reels of three on the sides.To begin:- 1st and 2nd men, and 1st and 3rd women, pass by the right. At the end:- 2nd and 3rd couples dance round loops on the corners to enter the reels across the dance.

25–32    1st woman dances a reel of three across the dance with 2nd couple (left shoulder to 2nd man) while 1st man dances a reel of three across the dance with 3rd couple (left shoulder to 3rd woman).

33–40    1st couple, giving right hands, dance down between 3rd couple crossing over to opposite sides; 1st woman casts up round 3rd man while 1st man cast off round 4th woman. 1st couple, giving left hands, change places up and down the dance; 1st woman casts up round 4th woman while 1st man cast off round 3rd man. 3Rd couple step up on bars 39-40. (1st couple are now in third place on own sides.)

41–56    3rd, 1st and 4th couples dance the figures danced by 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples during bars 9-24.

57–64    3rd, 1st and 4th couples six hands round and back – (2nd couple could join in too to make it eight hands round and back).

Repeat with a new top couple.

NOTE   The dance is really two dances each of 32 bars. Bars 9-24 of each dance are similar. 1st couple dance the first part with 2nd and 3rd couples and the second part with 3rd and 4th couples. Either part could be danced separately as a normal 8 X 32  bar dance. The reason for this unusual structure is that the tune contains 64 bars and it was thought that this arrangement would make it less tiring for the dancers than a 8 X 64 bar dance.

In the half right and left on the diagonal it is essential for the dancers to be in the side lines before changing places with the left hand to leave the centre of the set free for the other dancers.

McLaughlin’s Reel, 32R 3C (4C Set)                        B. Zobel, Whitadder Coll.

1-6    First Couple lead down the middle, cross over and cast up round third couple, dance up to the top behind the sidelines on the opposite side and in to meet each other to join hands.

7-8    First couple turn each other half way round with two pas de basque steps to finish ready for poussette, second couple stepping in.

9-16    First and second couples dance poussette, on bars 15 & 16 first couple stay in the middle and continue to turn an extra quarter of a turn opening out back to back  with first man facing the top and first lady facing the bottom of the set.

17-24    First couple dance round second corners passing right shoulder and turn each other with right hand one and a half times to finish on their own side in second place. At the same time second and third couples set and cross over with right hand, set and cross back with right hand.

25-32    Second, first and third couples dance six hands round and back