Dances for August 21, 2014

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Bethankit
32-bar jig for three couples in a four couple longwise set

1-4    1st couple set and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 3-4

5-8    1st couple dance a half figure of eight round 2nd couple.

9-16    1st man and 2nd couple, 1st woman and 3rd couple dance a reel of three across the set. 1St and 2nd men, 1st and 3rd woman pass by the left to begin, 1st couple finish in second place on opposite sides.

17-20    1st couple set and, giving right hands, turn three quarters to finish in the middle of the set facing opposite sides, 1st man above his partner

21-24    1st man and 2nd couple, 1st woman and 3rd couple dance left hands across, 1st couple finish in second place on own sides.

25-32    2nd and 1st couples dance rights and lefts.

Devised by Moira Stacey,

If we have four couple sets we will try this:

Solway Sands
Strathspey – 4 Couples (2×40)

Dancers standing as follows
2M 2W 3W 3M
Top
1M 1W 4W 4M

1-4    1st and 3rd couples set to partner and turn once round left hands, 2nd and 4th couples set to partner and turn once round with right hands

5-8    1st and 2nd men cast off one place, lead up and cast off again into partner;s place, while 1st and 2nd woman lead up, cast off one place and lead up again into partners place. (At the same time) 3rd and 4th women cast up one place, lead down and cast up again into partners place, while 3rd and 4th women lead down, cast up one place and lead down again into partners place.

9-16    Men dance right hands across once round, change place with partners left hands (women now back to back in the centre of the set) all set to partners.

17-24    All dance quadruple reels of four. (All begin by passing partner wight shoulders) women dance diagonal reels while men dance reels across the dance. Women finish facing each other.

25-28    Women dacne four hands round to the right, finish with the long inward turn to face partners.

29-32    Set to partners, 1st adn 3rd couples turning right hands, 2nd and 4th couples turing left hands. Finish with the women in the corners and their partners beside them.

33-40    All dance eight hands round and back again.

Repeat. Women are now in the corners for this repeat.

If we don’t have four couple sets we may try this:

Aspen Circle Strathspey
40-bar strathspey or 3 couples in a 3 couple set

1-8    1st and 2nd couples Set and Rotate

9-12    1st man with 3rd couple and also 1st woman with 2nd couple dance right hands across

13-16    1st man with 2nd couple and also 1st woman with 3rd couple dance left hands across.

17-22    All three couples advance and retire for 1 bar each, cross by the right hand, advance and retire (1 bar each)

23-24 2nd couple at the top cross by the right hand to original place while 1st couple turn once round by the left hand to face down while 3rd couple turn once round by the right hand to face up. 1St and 3rd couples remain in the center of the dance

25-32    1st and 3rd couples dance the Scissor Progression:
25-26    1st adn 3rd couples set advancing (beginning with a small step to the right) to pass right shoulder with facing dancer.
27-28    All dance clockwise one place to end 1st couple on the men’s side, 3rd couple on the women’s side, facing across the dance. The women are in 2nd place, the men in 3rd place.
29-30    1st and 3rd couples set advancing (beginning with a small step to the right) to pass right shoulder with facing dancer.
31-32    All dance clockwise one place to finish in progressed places on own sides (2 3 1)

33-40    Circle six hands wound and back.

Devised by Ellen McRanor

The Aspen Circle was our home before we moved to Parrish twelve years ago.

The Silver Castle Reel
A 40 Bar Reel for 3 couples in a 4 couple set

1-8    1st, 2nd adn 3rd couples join hands on the side and set. All three couples advance with setting step. Men turn parthers three quarter turn to form a stright line in the middle fo the dance, then dance out to place, all face clockwise.

9-16    With 1st mand leading, all three couples dance round clockwise in a circle finishing in the middle of the dance ready for…

17-24    1st, 2nd and 3rd coupels promenade. 1st couple cast off to meet in 2nd place in promenade hold facing 2nd man. 2nd couple dance up to the top.

25-32    1st couple, dancing together, dance a half reel of three diagonally across the dance with 2nd man and 3rd lady. They begin by giving right shoulder to 2nd man. 1st couple continue dancing a reel of three with the 3rd man and 2nd lady , giving right shoulder to 3rd man

33-40    2nd and 3rd couples dance half rights and lefts while 1st couple dance between 2nd and 2rd men who are on the ladies’ side of the dance, they divide, man casts up and the lady casts down to meet in the centre of the dance in 2nd place. 2Nd, 1st and 3rd couples turn [artners by the right hand to finish  2,1,3,4

This dance was devised by Jimmy Taylor in 1985m to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of the Stirling Castle Scottish Country Dance Group.

Winnie’s Home
32 bar Reel – two couples in a four coulple set

1-8    First and second couples circle rounf and back

9-16    First couple 4 slip steps done the centre of the dance, 4 slip steps up to the top of the set and cast off to second place, second couple step up on bars 7 &  8.

17-24    Second couple 4 slip steps down the centre of the dance, 4 slip steps up to the top of the set and cast off to second place first couple stepping up on bars 7 &  8.

25-32    First couple dance a half figure of 8 around the second couple, cross over giving right hand and cast off to second place, second couple stepping up on bars 7 & 8.