Dances for July 3, 2024
No Video
The Mill Pond Stroll
A 32 bar Strathspey for 3 couples in a 4 couple set
Craig Williams, March 2024
1 – 4 1st couple dance a 1/2 figure of eight, across the set, around the 2nd couple.
5 – 8 1st couple, with nearer hands joined, dance down the middle, cross below the 3rd couple and cast up to 2nd place on own sides. 2nd couple step up on bars 7 – 8.
9 – 16 2nd, 1st & 3rd couples dance bars 1 – 6 of a 3 couple knot. On bars 7 – 8 1st man with 3rd couple, 1st woman with 2nd couple, dance 1/2 left hands across to finish in lines of 3 across the set facing up/down
17 – 18 All Set in lines across,
19 – 20 All change places, up/down, giving right hand.
21 – 22 1st couple cast to their right to 2nd place on own sides, while 2nd & 3rd couples advance for 1 bar & retire for 1 bar on the diagonal.
23 – 24 All set on the sides
25 – 28 Six hands round to the left. On Bar 30, all dance into the centre, pulling right shoulders back to face out.
29 – 30 All spiral out clockwise (in a chase) to own sides,
31 – 32 All set on the sides
Jayne and I were out for an early spring hike in the Mill Pond Conservation area, During the hike, we came upon several areas where the air was incredibly perfumed. Looking down we saw thousands of hepatica in bloom. It’s hard to believe that such as a small flower could have such a dramatic effect.
The Mill Pond Conservation area is south of Smiths Falls on the Rideau River.
Recommended Tune: Springtime Bliss by Karen Steven
Note: Bars 25-30 have been taken from the dance Huntly Castle by John Drewry.
Video: Kenilworth
Kenilworth
RSCDS Sir Walter Scott, The Heart of Midlothian
The Dance — 1822 and 2021
24-bar jig for two couples in a four-couple set
1822 Instructions :
The 1st Gentm changes sides with his partner, giving right hand, then turn with left full round
The 1st Gentm gives the right hand to the 2d Lady, the 1st Lady gives the right hand to the 2d Gentm, set four holding hands.
The 1st Gentm turns his partner with left hand to her own side, down a couple. Poussette at top
2021 Reconstruction
1 – 8 Giving right hands, 1st couple cross over and cast off into second place. (2nd couple step up). Giving left hands,1st couple turn, moving up slightly and finish between second couple. Retaining left hands, 1st man gives right hand to 2nd woman and 1st woman gives right hand to 2nd man.
9 – 16 1st and 2nd couples set twice. 1st couple turn one and a half times, to finish in 2nd place own side.
17 – 24 2nd and 1st couple dance a waltz poussette.
Note In the 1822 leaflet this is 24-bar dance for 2 couples.
As 24-bar 2-couple dances are not that common today, an additional optional 8 bars have been added below should you wish to dance this as a 32-bar dance for three couples.
25 – 32 Using skip change of step, 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance six hands round and back.
Repeat having passed a couple.
Note
1, The progression in the source instructions is very clear and occurs before the poussette. This means the poussette must be a full poussette. See page 61.
The Waltz Poussette
Starting from sidelines and using waltz turns throughout the dancers should follow the general pattern below:
Bar 1 Dance in and meet in waltz hold (two hand hold may also be used).
Bar 2 – 4 Dance out to the sides (couple in second place to woman’s side and couple in 1st place to men’s side) and continuing dancing waltz turns round other couple and back into centre in progressed position.
Bar 5 – 7 Repeat bars 2 – 4 to finish in centre in original positions
Bar 8 Retire
No Video
Waterlily Ballet
A 32 bar reel for 3 couples in a 3 couple set
Jayne Irwin, May 2024
1 – 8 1st couple dance a figure of eight around the 2nd & 3rd couples on the sides. 1st couple begin by dancing out & down.
9 – 16 1st, 2nd & 3rd couples dance a mirror reel of three on the sides. Right shoulder on the women;s side, left shoulder on the men’s side. 1st couple dance out & down, 2nd couple in and up, 3rd couple out & up
17 – 20 1st man with 2nd man turn 1 ½ times with the left hand. 1st woman with 2nd woman turn 1 ½ times with the right hand
21 – 24 1st man with 3rd man turn once round with the right hand. 1st woman with 3rd woman turn once round with the left hand
25 – 32 2nd, 1st & 3rd couples dance a 3 couple knot
Video: The Northern Lights
THE NORTHERN LIGHTS
TAC Silver Anniversary
3 x 32 Bar Strathspey
1 – 4 1st Man and 2nd Lady set to each other advancing, then turn each other with both hands (3/4 turn) to finish back to back in the centre, Man facing down, Lady facing up (they release hands and pivot right about on Bar 4 – i.e. Bob Campbell’s “Birl” from Frae A’ The Airts) Meanwhile: 2nd Man and 1st Lady dance around anticlockwise to finish facing their partner in a line up & down in the centre of the dance
5 – 8 2nd and 1st couples set to partners and turn with both hands to finish on own side of the dance, 1st couple now in 2nd place, 2nd couple in 1st place
9 – 16 1st couple repeat Bars 1 – 8 with 3rd couple. On bars 15 and 16 they turn with both hands finishing in position ready for Allemande. On bar 16, 2nd couple (at top) dance in to position for Allemande.
17 – 24 2nd, 3rd and 1st couples dance Allemande
25 – 28 1st and 2nd couples (top and bottom) dance Half Rights and Lefts; WHILE the 3rd couple (in 2nd place) set and cross over giving Right hands
29 – 32 All 3 couples set and cross to own sides giving Right hand to partner
Repeat with new top couple
Dedicated to the Ladies of Prince George, B.C.
Devised by Chas. F. Dobie of Carisbrooke S.C.D.C.
NOTE: The following note appears in the back of Glasgow Assembly and other Scottish Country Dances by Bob Campbell (Fifth Printing, 1990):
THE BOURREL:
This progression, first used in Campsie Glen, also appears in The Northern Meeting and Frae A’ The Airts and was originally known as the Birl. As birling, in its strict sense, does not occur in our dancing the term Bourrel has been substituted.”
Video: Rivendell
RIVENDELL
Iain Boyd, The Lord of the Rings Coll.
A three couple, 32 bar reel.
1 – 4 First couple cross over giving right hands and cast down round second couple on opposite sides. Second couple move up on bars 3-4.
5 – 8 First couple cross over giving left hands and cast down round third couple on own sides. Third couple move up on bars 7-8 and finish facing down.
9 – 16 Second, third and first couples dance reels of three on the sides. Second couple dance in and down, third couple dance out and down while first couple cross up between third couple to begin. First couple finish on opposite sides in third place.
17 – 18 Second, third and first couples set with nearer hands joined on the sides.
19 – 20 Second couple cross over giving right hands while third couple lead down with right hands and cross over between first couple while first couple cast up one place.
21 – 22 Second, first and third couples set with nearer hands joined on the sides.
23 – 24 Second couple lead down with left hands and cross over between first couple to finish facing out while first couple cast up one place while third couple cross over giving left hands.
25 – 28 First and second couples dance a half double figure of eight. First couple cross down while second couple dance up the side-lines to begin. Second couple finish on opposite sides facing out.
29 – 32 First couple turn with right hands once round down between second couple while second couple dance up the side-lines to top place and cross over giving right hands.
Repeat having passed a couple.