Dances for January 30, 2023

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No Video

The Three Creeks Shore
Aye Afloat, The Portknockie Collection of Scottish Country Dances, devised by Margaret Zadworny
8 x 32 – 3 Couple Jig

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

5 – 8 1st lady dance right hands across with 2nd couple while 1st man dance right hands across with 3rd couple to finish in 2nd place; 1st lady facing in and down and 1st man facing in and up.

9 – 16 1st couple figure of eight on own sides. 1st lady pass 3rd lady left shoulder and 1st man pass 2nd man left shoulder to begin.

17 – 20 1st lady dance left hands across with 3rd couple while 1st man dance left hands across with 2nd couple. First couple finish in the middle with right hands joined.

21 – 24 1st couple turn with right hand once round.

25 – 32 1st lady with 3rd couple and 1st man with 2nd couple dance reels of three across. 1st lady pass 3rd man with right shoulder, while 1st man pass 2nd lady with right shoulder to begin. 1st couple finish in 2nd place.

Repeat from second place.


No Video

Swirling Waters
John Drewry, Greenburn Book
Strathspey – 3 couples – 32 bars

for the dancers in Edmonton.

1 – 4 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples, joining nearer hands, set on the sides and then, giving right hands to partners, cross to opposite sides. 1st couple stay facing out.

5 – 8 1st couple cast off to third place on opposite sides and then turn with the right hand half way round to finish facing up with hands in promenade hold. 2nd and 3rd couples step up on Bars 5-6.

9 – 12 1st couple, dancing together, dance half a reel of three across the dance with 3rd couple. They begin by giving right shoulder to 3rd man. At the end, 1st couple finish in the middle facing up while 3rd couple dance down to third place on own sides.

13 – 16 1st couple, still dancing together, dance half a reel of three across the dance with 2nd couple. They begin by giving left shoulder to 2nd woman. At the end, 1st couple finish in the middle in first place facing up while 2nd couple dance down to second place and in to meet each other below 1st couple ready for allemande. Hands should be raised into allemande position on the last beat of Bar 16.

17 – 24 1st and 2nd couples allemande. On Bars 23-24, 2nd couple retire in the usual way into first place, but 1st couple turn with the left hand one and a quarter times to finish in the middle with 1st man below his partner.

25 – 28 1st woman dances right hands across with 2nd couple, while lst man dances right hands across with 3rd couple. 1st couple finish in second place on own sides.

29 – 32 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples turn partners TWICE with both hands.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

NOTE The North Saskatchewan River flows through Edmonton. Further downstream it unites with the South Saskatchewan to form the Saskatchewan, which flows into the north end of Lake Winnipeg and then, via the Nelson River, into Hudson Bay – a very long journey.

I was told that the name “Saskatchewan” means “Swirling Waters” in the language of the local natives.
The double turning on bars 29-32 was suggested by Avis Harrison of Leeds. It enhances the swirling effect.


Video: The Kissing Bridge

The Kissing Bridge
RSCDS Book 47
32 bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1-8 1st couple cast off, dance down behind own lines and cast up to original places.

9-16 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance reels of three on the sides. To begin 1st couple cross down, 1st woman passing 3rd man by the left and 1st man passing 3rd woman by the right while 2nd couple dance out and up. 1St couple finish in partner’s place.

17-24 1st couple lead down the middle. On bar 20, 1st couple change to own sides, 1st woman dancing under her partner’s right arm. 1st couple lead up to the top to finish facing partner with both hands joined. 2nd couple step in.

25-32 1st and 2nd couples dance a poussette.

Repeat having passed a couple

Devised by Romaine Butterfield, New Zealand Branch
A “kissing bridge” is another name for a North American “covered bridge”.


No Video

There Cam’ a Young Man
Let’s All Dance, by Iain Boyd
32 / J / 3

1 – 4 1st couple dance down between 2nd couple with nearer hands joined and cast up round 2nd couple on own sides.

5 – 8 1st and 2nd couples turn partner with right hands once round to finish beside partner, facing up in promenade hold.

9 – 16 1st and 2nd couples dance a promenade.

17 – 24 1st couple dance down between 2nd and 3rd couples with nearer hands joined, cast up round 3rd couple on own sides, dance up between 2nd couple with nearer hands joined and cast down round 2nd couple on own sides. 2nd couple move up on bars 7 and 8 of the phrase.

25 – 32 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance 6 hands round and back.

Repeat from new places.

Music: “There Cam’ a Young Man” played ABAB (Kerr’s First Collection, page 31, tune 3): recorded music: “Miss Nancy Frowns” Bobby Crowe and his SCD Band Music for 8 SDC from Bk. 13 & 14 (RSCDS 34)

Note: Devised by Iain Boyd during March and April 1980 and modified on Friday, June 21st, 1991.


Video: The White Cockade

The White Cockade
RSCDS Book 5 – No. 11
32-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1 – 8 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples set and, giving right hands, cross over. They repeat back to places.

9 – 16 1st couple lead down the middle and up to finish in first place in the middle of the set. (Fig.)

17 – 20 1st couple cast off to second place on own sides.
2nd couple step up on bars 19-20.

21 – 24 1st and 3rd couples dance four hands once round to the left.

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

Repeat, having passed a couple.

William Campbell: 3rd Book of New and Favourite Country Dances and Strathspey Reels, London c.1782.
Original tune: The White Cockade (Traditional, earliest version Aird 1782 as The Ranting Highlandman)