Dances for April 29, 2019

Video: Angus MacLeod

ANGUS MacLEOD
(Reel)

1 – 2 2nd and 3rd couples dance into the centre of the set with two skip-change and face diagonally in.

3 – 4 They set, turning right about on the second step to face the corners of the set, men facing men, women facing women. 2nd and 3rd couples are hereafter referred to as “centres,” 1st and 4th couples as “corners.”

5 – 6 Passing right shoulder with two skip-change, centres change places with their corners, who face diagonally in.

7 – 8 All set, corners turning right about.

9 – 10 Passing right shoulder again, corners dance out and centres dance in to face diagonally in.

11 – 12 All set, centres turning right about, and

13 – 16 Centres turn their corners by the right hand once round and

17 – 20 Dance left hands across once round, finishing facing their corners again.

21 – 32 Double diagonal reels of four: to begin, centres pass their corners right shoulder. As the dancers pass in the middle they give left hands across for two steps, half round. Corners finish in their original places, but

33 – 34 Centres, giving left hand to partner, change places (2nd woman and 3rd man doing a “polite” turn) to finish back to back in the middle of the set, facing their partner’s original corner.

35 – 36 All set.

37 – 40 Each turns the person he is facing by one hand so that centre couples begin by going between corner couples (left hand for 2nd woman and 1st man, 3rd man and 4th woman: right hand for 2nd man and 1st woman, 3rd woman and 4th man).

41 – 48 Centres, facing diagonally in, set, with two pas de basque and four points, twice.

49 – 52 Centres dance between corner couples and cast into the middle again, facing diagonally in, and

53 – 56 Set, with two pas de basque and four points, once.

57 – 64 With 3rd couple making an arch and 2nd dancing under it, 2nd dance down and, together, cast up round 4th woman and dance up the middle to the top of the set, while 3rd couple dance up and, together, cast off round 1st man and dance down the middle to the bottom of the set, After casting, 2nd man and 3rd woman pass left shoulder. On 63-64 1st couple move down and 4th move up.

Repeat once more with new centres and new corners.

Dance devised by Alex. T. Queen, of the R. S. C. D. S., Southport Branch, Pipe Major Clan MacLeod Band.
COPYRIGHT, 1969, HUGH FOSS.

Video: MacDonald of the Isles

MacDONALD OF THE ISLES
The Second Carnforth Collection of Scottish Country Dances devised by Derek Haynes.
Strathspey for three-couple sets

1 – 8 2nd couple dance a diagonal reel of four with first corners. On bar 8 2nd couple dance left shoulder around each other to face second corners, ready to dance into a –

9 – 16 Diagonal reel of four with second corners. All finish on the side lines with 1st woman and 3rd man looping round by their right on bar 16.

HORSESHOE CHAIN aka PICK-UP or SNOWBALL CHAIN

17 – 18 1st couple cross over giving right hands.

19 – 20 1st and 2nd couples change places giving left hands.

21 – 22 2nd couple cross over while 1st and 3rd couples change places on the sides, all giving right hands.

23 – 24 2nd and 3rd couples change places on the sides as 1st couple cross to own sides, all giving left hands.

25 – 28 3rd and 2nd couples dance half rights and lefts.

29 – 32 Half figures of eight: 3rd woman crosses down then casts up around 1st woman and 3rd man crosses up then cast off round 2nd man.

Repeat from new places.

Tune: The Smith’s a Gallant Fireman.
Recorded on Alastair Hunter’s Lorne Choice, DACD 9716 and also on Deirdre Adamson’s
Come Scottish Country Dancing, DACD 9614.

First published on a Glendarroch S.C.D. Sheet in 1966.