Dances for July 4, 2019

Video: Slytherin House

Slytherin House
Chris Ronald – RSCDS Book 52
32-bar strathspey for three couples in a four–couple longwise set

Bars Description

1 – 4 1st and 2nd couples set and link.

5 – 8 2nd and 1st couples dance four hands round to the left.

9 – 16 1st couple, pulling right shoulder back, dance around their third corner by the right shoulder, pass each other by the left shoulder up and down the middle of the set, dance around their first corner by the left shoulder to second place on opposite sides, and turn partner with left hands to finish in the middle, woman above man, facing opposite sides.

17 – 20 1st woman with 2nd couple, and 1st man with 3rd couple, dance right hands across once round, finishing with hands still joined.

21 – 24 All dance a snake pass as follows: Releasing hands, 1st woman followed by 2nd woman and 2nd man dances down the men’s side, across the set at third place and into the middle. 2nd couple finish in third place on own sides. At the same time, 1st man followed by 3rd man and 3rd woman, passing the other line of dancers by left shoulders, dances up the women’s side, across the set at first place, and into the middle of the set. 3rd couple finish in first place on own sides. 1st couple finish in the middle, right shoulder to right shoulder facing opposite sides. (Fig)

25 – 28 1st man with 3rd couple (at the top) and 1st woman with 2nd couple (at the bottom) dance left hands across once round, finishing with hands still joined.

29 – 32 All dance a snake pass as follows: Releasing hands, 1st man followed by 3rd man and 3rd woman dances down the women’s side, across at third place and up to second place on own sides. At the same time, 1st woman followed by 2nd woman and 2nd man, passing the other line of dancers by right shoulders, dances up the men’s side, across the set at first place and down to second place on own sides. A11 finish on own side in the order 2, 1, 3.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Chris Ronald, RSCDS New York Branch, September 2016 and named after the “house” in the Harry Potter books that features a snake as its emblem.

Note: The ”snake pass” figure in bars 17 – 32 closely resembles that in bars 9 – 24 of The Devil’s Elbow, devised by I. Trevor Stephenson in 1981, but was named after the version of the movement in Norman Churnside’s dance The Snake Pass.

No Video

Chasing a Wish
32 bar Reel
Bars

1 – 8 1st couple set to each other, dance down for 2 bars, nearer hands joined. They set again, turning away from each other on the second step to cast up into 2nd place 2nd couple step up on bars 7 – 8.

9 – 12 1st couple dance a half figure of eight round the 2nd couple.

13 – 16 1st couple dance a half figure of eight round the 3rd couple to end facing their 1st corners.

17 – 20 1st couple dance half a reel of four, right shoulder, with their 1st corners to end facing their 2nd corners.

21 – 24 1st couple dance half a reel of four, right shoulder, with their 2nd corners to end in 2nd place on opposite sides.

25 – 28 1st couple turn each other to their own side of the dance, with both hands joined, using four pas de basque steps, whi1st 2nd and 3rd couples dance clockwise half way round the set.

29 – 32 All three couples turn their partners once round to places giving right hands.

Repeat having passed a couple.

Devised by George D. Carr

No Video

The Falkland Beauty
RSCDS Book 4 – No. 11
24-bar jig for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

Bars Description

1 – 2 1st couple, passing each other by the right, cross down to finish back to back facing first corners. 2nd couple step up.

3 – 4 1st couple set to first corner, then second corner and, pulling back right shoulder, finish in second place on opposite sides, facing in.

5 – 8 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples advance and retire.

9 – 12 1st man, with 2nd and 3rd women on the women’s side of the set and 1st woman, with 2nd and 3rd men on the men’s side, dance three hands round to the left.

13 – 16 1st couple, giving both hands and using pas de basque, turn half way round to first place, remaining in the middle of the set. 2nd couple step down and in on bars 15-16.

17 – 24 1st and 2nd couples dance a poussette.

Repeat, having passed a couple.
From the Border Country.
Original tune: The Falkland Beauty (Traditional)