This week will be a combined class at the Churchill Recreation Center. We will be reviewing the dances on the upcoming Tea Dance hosted by the Ottawa Branch. We will only do one of the strathspeys listed below. The choice will depend on the number of dancers attending. The Balmoral Strathspey requires exactly four couple sets. If we don’t have enough to make four couple sets we will do Wisp of Thistle.
Here is a video of the dance Wisp of Thistle done by the London (UK) ladies demonstration team
A DANCING CAREER
or
A DANCE IN KOREA
THE GREENBURN BOOK, A Collection of Scottish Country Dances by JOHN DREWRY, 1997 – 1998
devised in September 1997 for Campbell and Isobel Barclay of Kippford and for the dancers in Korea
Jig – 2 couples – 32 bars
BARS
1 – 4 1st couple, joining nearer hands, dance down between 2nd couple and then cast up back to place.
5 – 8 1st and 2nd couples dance right hands across.
9 – 16 1st couple dance a figure of eight round 2nd couple’s places. At the same time, 2nd couple set to each other, cross giving right hands, set on opposite sides and cross back to own sides giving right hands. 2nd couple stay facing out.
17 – 20 1st couple lead down the middle and 2nd couple dance up on the sides to first place and then follow 1st couple down the middle.
21 – 24 2nd couple, followed by 1st couple, lead up the middle and stay in the middle ready for : –
25 – 32 2nd and 1st couples dance a two-couple promenade.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
Wisp of Thistle
Book XXXVII No.4
(Strathspey)
Music Description
Bars
1 – 4 1st and 3rd couples dance “Petronella turns” into the middle of the dance (1st man and 3rd woman back to back) and set to partners.
5 – 8 1st and 3rd couples dance a half reel of four.
9 – 10 3rd and 1st couples dance “Petronella turns” to own sides. (3rd couple are in first place and 1st couple in third place.)
11 – 12 3rd, 2nd and 1st couples set joining nearer hands on the sides.
13 – 16 3rd, 2nd and 1st couples turn partners with right hand to finish ready for allemande.
17 – 24 3rd, 2nd and 1st couples allemande.
25 – 28 1st couple cross over giving right hands and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 27–28.
29 – 32 1st couple dance a half figure of eight round 2nd couple.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
Note: At the end of their second turn at the dance, 1st couple finish the half figure of eight by dancing down to fourth place while 4th couple step up to third place on bars 31–32.
Choreographed by Pat Kent in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, who, when she had seen the Scottish Country dancers perform in the Tattoo in Nova Scotia, stated that they looked like “wisps of thistle”.
Devised by Pat Kent (Nova Scotia Branch).
Balmoral Strathspey (Strathspey)
RSCDS Book 22 – No. 3
MUSIC DESCRIPTION
Bars
1 – 8 First couple with second, and third couple with fourth, dance right and left.
9 – 12 First couple with second, and third couple with fourth, set and dance right hands across half way round.
13 – 16 All set, and, giving right hands in passing, cross to own sides. (The order is now 2, 1, 4, 3.)
17 – 24 Reels of four at the sides, second couple facing first, and fourth couple facing third.
25 – 32 First, fourth and third couples allemande to finish, first couple at bottom, fourth couple in third, and third couple in second place.
Repeat, with a new couple leading.
Devised by John A. Charles, Kawerau, New Zealand.
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The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
Bars 17-24 1st, 4th and 3rd couples should complete the reel in seven steps using the eight to dance towards partner for the allemande.
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TACNotes:’
17-24 1st, 4th & 3rd cpls dance reel in 7 bars &, on bar 24, dance into position for allemande.
THE MAD HATTER
Happy to Meet
A three couple, 32 bar jig for four couples in a longwise set.
1 – 8 First couple dance down between second and third couples with nearer hands joined, cast up round third couple, dance up between second couple with nearer hands joined and cast off into second place. Second couple move up on bars 7-8.
9 – 12 First couple advance and retire with first corners.
13 – 16 First couple dance back to back with first corners.
17 – 20 First couple advance and retire with second corners.
21 – 24 First couple dance back to back with second corners.
25 – 32 Second, first and third couples dance six hands round and back.
Repeat having passed a couple.
“The Mad Hatter” was devised by Iain Boyd.
The Wellingtonia Reel
12 Scottish Country Dances devised by Mervyn Short
32 bar Reel for 3 couples
Bars
1 – 4 1C & 2C set and link, 1M finish facing out.
5 – 8 1M, followed by partner, casts up and dances down the middle to finish facing 3M, 1W faces 2M.
9 – 16 1M with 3C and 1W with 2C dance reels of three across, passing right shoulders to begin; finish as started.
17 – 20 1M & 3M and 1W & 2M turn right hands.
21 – 24 1M & 3W and 1W & 2W turn left hands, 1C finish in the centre facing down, (1M between 3C, 1W between 2C).
25 – 28 1M followed by partner, casts up one place on men’s side and dances across to the opposite side in second place. 1W finishes in second place on the men’s side.
29 – 32 1C turn right hands one and a half times, to finish in second place own sides.
Repeat having passed a couple.
This dance was inspired by the magnificent Wellingtonia trees near Finchampstead, Berkshire which I regularly travel past on the way to class.
Tune: The Burnt Leg