Dances for July 25, 2019

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Petaluma Express
A 32 bar reel for 3 couples
Craig Williams
May 2019

1-4 1st & 2nd men with left hand, 1st & 2nd women with right hand turn 1 ½ times
5-8 1st & 3rd men with right hand, 1st & 3rd women with left hand turn 1 ½ times

9-16 1st couple cast up to the top, turn 1 ½ times with right hands progressing down to 2nd place on opposite sides. 3rd couple step down on bars 11-12.

17-24 1st couple set & La baratte and finish facing 1st corners.

25-32 1st couple Set to corners and partner to finish with a petronella to 2nd place on own sides facing out.

While visiting San Francisco in the fall 2018. I saw a bus with the destignation “Petaluma Express”. I though that would make a good name for a dance.

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Holding Hands In The Moonlight
Iain Boyd – May I have The Pleasure?

A three couple, 32 bar strathspey for four couples in a longwise set.

1 – 6 First and second couples dance three—quarter rights and lefts.
7 – 8 Second, first and third couples set with nearer hands joined on the sides.
9 – 16 Second, first and third couples dance six hands round and back.

17 – 24 First couple dance down between third couple With nearer hands joined, cast up round third couple on own sides, dance a half figure of eight round third couple and dance up outside opposite sidelines to finish in first place

while

second couple dance down between third couple with nearer hands joined, cast up round third couple on own sides and dance a half figure of eight round third couple to finish on opposite sides in second place.

25 – 26 First and second couples turn partner with right hands half way round to finish in the middle facing up with hands joined in ‘allemande’ hold.

27 – 32 First and second couples dance bars 3 – 8 of a two-couple allemande.

First couple cast to the left and dance out to the men’s side to finish facing down (bar 27), dance down the men’s sideline (bar 28) then continue to dance first couple’s track of a normal two—couple allemande (bars 29 – 32)

while

second couple dance directly up the middle (bar 27), cast to the left and dance out to the men’s side to finish facing down (bar 28) then continue to dance second couple’s track of a normal two-couple allemande (bars 29 – 32).

Repeat, having passed a couple.

At the end of the second time through, first couple finish in third place. On bars 3—4 of the
next repeat, first couple step down along the sidelines to fourth place while fourth couple
step in and up to third place.

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ISLE OF BUTE
Bob McMurtry – Devil’s Quandary
32 bar jig for 3 couples

1 – 4 1st and 2nd couples dance light hands across.

5 – 6 1st and 2nd couples set to partners and finish facing up and down. Couples turn to face each other on the last setting step.

7 – 8 1st and 2nd couple turn on the sidelines with right hand.

9 – 16 1st couple dance a right shoulder reel of three on the sides, 1st couple start giving right shoulders to the 2nd couple.

17 – 24 1st couple lead down the middle for three steps and back, cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 23 & 24.

25 – 32 All three couples dance back to back and turn with the right hand for 4 bars.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Dance Notes: On bars 7 8L 8, care should be taken not to rush entry into the reel. This is a slightly more challenging dance for beginners.

Note: The Isle of Bute is on the southwestern coast of Scotland, where the Scottish side of my family
comes from.