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SKATING ON THE RIDEAU CANAL
32 bar Strathspey for 3 couples in a longwise set
1-8 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance Inveran reels, 1s crossing down to begin. Second couple finish facing out.
9-16 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance Inveran reels, 3rd couple crossing up to begin; 2nd couple dance out and down and 1st couple dance in and down.
17-20 All 3 couples dance “turn and twirl” to cross to the opposite side.
21-24 1st and 2nd couples chase clockwise 2 places While 3rd couple turn right hand 1 ½ times to own side. [Order now: 2,1,3]
25-28 All 3 couples dance “turn and twirl” to cross to the opposite side.
29-32 1st and 3rd couples chase clockwise 2 places While 2nd couple turn right hand 1 ½ times to own side. [Order now: 2,3,1] Lady dancing into 2nd lady position finishes facing out.*
*At the end of the third and last repetition, lady dancing into 2nd place would face in for bow and curtsey.
Inspiration for dance: Skaters who glide effortlessly and smoothly, without stopping. Therefore all couples keep dancing throughout, hopefully reaching the required spot just in time to glide through without waiting for the music to prompt the next move. On a busy day, skaters would weave around each other, occasionally meeting up with a friend perhaps, for a brief hello.
Submitted by Lindsay Clark
Video:The Laird o’ Dumbiedike’s Favorite
The Laird o’ Dumbiedike’s Favorite
RSCDS Sir Walter Scott, The Heart of Midlothian
The Dance – 1820 and 2021
32-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple set
1820 Instructions
1st and 2d Cu: 4 hands round, set and back again.
1st Cu: lead 3 outsides opposite, back again to places
_ poussette & right and left
2021 Reconstruction
1 – 8 1st and 2nd couples, with two skip change of step, circle to left, then retaining hands, set.
They repeat to the right back to places, dropping hands at the end of bar 6.
9 – 16 1st man, followed by 2nd and 3rd men, cross over, dance down the opposite side, cross through third couple’s position and back up own side. Meanwhile, 1st woman does the same with 2nd and 3rd women.
The women pass below the men at the top and the bottom of the set. 1st and 2nd couples finish in the middle.
17 – 24 1st and 2nd couples dance a poussette.
25 – 32 1st and 3rd couples dance rights and lefts.
Repeat having passed a couple.
Notes
A version of this dance has been previously published by the RSCDS in Book 12 – this interpretation is different.
Historic dance manuals provide no help in reconstructing bars 9 – 16. What is clear is that both 1st man and 1st woman are dancing for these 8 bars at the same time.
The progression in this dance can only have taken place during the poussette. It is suggested that the modern RSCDS poussette should be used. Dancers are welcome to try waltzing round one and a half times, as long as both couples are agreed in advance!
The 1820 instructions do not stipulate whether 1st couple dance the rights and lefts with the 2nd or 3rd couples. The dance seems more interesting if the 3rd couple are involved in these bars.
1938 Reconstruction
Video: The Laird of Dumbiedyke’s Favourite
The Laird of Dumbiedyke’s Favourite
RSCDS Book 12 – No. 4
40-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set
1 – 4 1st and 2nd couples dance four hands halfway round to the left and set to partners.
5 – 8 2nd and 1st couples dance four hands halfway round to the right and set to partners.
9 – 16 1st couple, followed by 2nd and 3rd couples, cast off to third place, cross over and dance up to partners’ places on opposite sides. (Fig.)
17 – 24 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples repeat bars 9-16 to original places, the women again dancing on the inside. 1st and 2nd couples finish in the middle of the set facing partners with both hands joined.
25 – 32 1st and 2nd couples dance a poussette.
33 – 40 2nd and 1st couples dance rights and lefts.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
The Heart of Midlothian … Favourite Dances for 1820, printed by John Sutherland, Edinburgh.
Original tune: Johnnie’s friends are never pleased (Niel Gow’s Repository Part 4).
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The Wind’s Twelve Quarters
Kate Nealley, Delaware Valley Gold
a 32-bar Jig for 3 couples in a 4-couple set
1 – 8 1st couple cross by the right hand and cast off one place on opposite sides. 1st couple dance a half figure eight up around 2nd couple. 24 couple step up on bars 3-4.
9 – 12 1st couple cross by the right hand and cast to their right while 2″¢ and 3’4 couples dance as in set & link for three:
9 – 10 2nd and 3rd couples set on the sidelines.
11 – 12 2nd woman and 3rd man cast to the other end of the sideline while 2nd man and 3rd woman dance to their right through the middle of the set to the other end of the sideline, pulling right shoulder back to end in lines of three across the dance, 1st man between the 2nd couple facing up, 1st woman between the 3rd couple facing down.
13 – 16 1st couple change places by the right and cast to their right while 39 and 24 couples dance as in set & link for three:
13 – 14 2nd and 3 couples set facing up and down.
15 – 16 2nd woman and 3 man cast across the dance while 2nd man and 3’¢ woman dance to their right through the middle of the set across the dance, pulling right shoulder back to end on the sidelines. Order is now 3x, 1x, 2x.
17 – 24 Repeat bars 9-16. Order is now 2, 1, 3.
25 – 32 All dance six hands round to the left and back.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
Devisor: Kate Nealley, 2019
The title comes from A. E. Housman’s poem “A Shropshire Lad.” Each dancer goes to all the points of
the compass in the course of the dance.
Teaching notes: Bars 9 – 24> Each supporting dancer follows the same path all the way around the set, either casting or dancing through the middle. 1St couple cast to their right around the same person (their 1St corner person in different positions) all four times.
Music: Calliope House, composed D. Richardson, Gilderoy Music MCPS/PRS
No Video
Crum Creek Hornpipe
Becky Birtha, Delaware Valley Gold
a 32-bar Hornpipe for 3 couples in a 4-couple set
1 – 4 1st couple set and cast one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 3-4.
5 – 6 1st and 3 couples face each other up and down the dance, nearer hands joined with partner, and set.
7 – 8 1st and 3 couples change places, 3st couple making an arch and 1st couple dancing under it. Order is now 2, 3, 1.
9 – 12 2nd couple set and cast one place. 3rd couple step up on bars 11-12.
13 – 14 1st and 2nd couples face each other, nearer hands joined, and set.
15 – 16 1st and 2nd couples change places, 1st couple making an arch and 2nd couple dancing under it. Order is now 3, 1, 2.
17 – 20 1st couple dance up between 3 couple and cast down one place.
21 – 24 All three couples turn by the right hand into allemande hold.
25 – 32 3rd, 1st, and 2nd couples dance a three-couple allemande.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
Devisor: Becky Birtha, 2009
Crum Creek, named by early 18″ century settlers, runs through Chester and Delaware Counties, including the woods on the Swarthmore College campus, and eventually reaches the Delaware River.
“Crum” is Dutch for “crooked.”
Music: Crum Hornpipe, by Josh Burdick