Dances for February 25, 2019 – Updated

The Spring Fling Reel
RSCDS Book 50

40-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1 – 4 1st couple, giving right hands, turn and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 3-4.

5 – 6 1st couple, giving right hands, cross over.

7 – 8 1st woman casts up round 2nd man to finish between 2nd couple, all facing down. At the same time, 1st man casts off round 3rd woman to finish between 3rd couple, all facing up.

9 – 12 1st woman with 2nd couple, 1st man with 3rd couple advance and retire.

13 – 16 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance six hands round to the left halfway.

17 – 20 1st man with 3rd couple, 1st woman with 2nd couple advance and retire.

21 – 24 1st couple, giving right hands, turn one and a quarter times to face first corner positions.

25 – 32 1st couple dance a half diagonal reel of four with first corners, pass by the right and dance a half diagonal reel of four with second corners to finish in the middle of the set, facing own sides, 1st man below his partner.

33 – 36 1st woman with 2nd couple and 1st man with 3rd couple dance left hands across. 1st couple finish in 2nd place on opposite sides.

37 – 40 2nd and 3rd couples, retaining left hands, turn once round. At the same time, 1st couple, giving right hands, turn one and a half times to own sides.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Samantha Burton, London Branch, September 2014.

As the winner of the competition at Spring Fling 2015 this dance was renamed. Originally entitled
A Reel Joy, it is dedicated to the deviser’s parents, Penny and Geoff Burton, and all those who taught
her the joy of dancing, including birling.

Video: The Silver Tassie

The Silver Tassie
Leaflet – No. 1
(Strathspey)

1 – 4 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples, giving right hands to partners, cross over and joining hands on the sides, set.

5 – 8 Repeat bars 1 – 4.

9 – 16 1st couple dance a figure of eight round 2nd couple, who stand still. 1st couple dance down between 2nd couple, crossing over, to begin the figure. 3rd couple also dance a figure of eight round 2nd couple, beginning by casting up to top place, then dancing down crossing over.

17 – 24 1st couple, followed by 2nd and 3rd couples, dance down the middle for four steps. 1st couple dance up the middle, while 2nd and 3rd couples divide to allow 1st couple through. 2nd couple meet and dance up between 3rd couple, who then meet and dance up.

25 – 32 1st and 2nd couple Rondel, i.e.

25 1st couple dance down under the arch made by 2nd couple, who dance up.
26-27 2nd and 1st women cross in front of partners, then all cast to meet the other woman or man on the opposite sides and join nearer hands.
28 2nd and 1st women and at the same time 2nd and 1st men cross to own sides, the women passing under the arch made by the men.
29-30 1st man and 1st woman cross in front of 2nd man and 2nd woman, then all cast to meet partners in original places as in bar 25.
31-32 1st couple dance under the arch made by 2nd couple and all dance out to own sides, having changed places.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by John Drewry

The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
Bars 17 – 24    1st, 2nd and 3rd couples give nearer hands throughout, i.e. they dance down and dance up.

TACNotes:’
17-24 Note use of word “dance”, i.e. all 3 cpls use nearer hands, down and up.
25-32 On bar 32, cpls dance straight into places.