Dances for October 6, 2024

Ardbrae Dancers of Ottawa

Video: Niles Roberts’ Farewell to Pasadena

Niles Roberts’ Farewell to Pasadena
Doug MacDonald, RSCDS Book 53
A 32-bar jig for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1 – 4 1st couple, giving right hands, cross and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 3–4.

5 – 8 1st couple, giving left hands, cross below 3rd couple and cast up to face first corners in the middle.

9 – 12 1st couple dance a half reel of four on the diagonal with first corners, passing by the right to begin, while second corners, facing diagonally, set twice. 1st couple finish in 2nd position on opposite sides.

13 – 16 All dance half reels of three on the sides. To begin 1st couple pass second corners by the left.

17 – 20 1st couple dance a half reel of four on the diagonal with second corner persons (who are now in first corner positions), passing by the right to begin, while first corner persons, facing diagonally, set twice. 1st couple finish in 2nd position on opposite sides.

21 – 24 All dance half reels of three on the sides. To begin 1st couple pass second corner positions by the left. 1st couple finish in the centre side-by-side ready to give left hands.

25 – 28 1st couple, giving left hands, turn halfway (2 bars) and dance out the ends of the set (man dances up and woman dances down) while 3rd and 2nd couples cross giving right hands with partners and set.

29 – 30 1st couple cast left to second places on own sides while 2nd and 3rd men, and also 2nd and 3rd women change places giving right hands on the side of the set.

31 – 32 Joining hands on the side, all three couples set.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Note: The half reels of bars 9 – 24 alternate between being on the diagonal and on the side. First couple may try to reform the diagonal line at bar 17 but should keep in mind that the following half reel begins passing by the right.

Devised by Doug Macdonald, San Gabriel Valley Branch, 1991.


No Video

The Borussia Strathspey
Duncan Brown, The Bovey Collection
32 bar Strathspey for three couples in a four couple longwise set

1 – 4 1st couple, giving right hand, cross down below 3rd couple and cast up one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 3-4.

5 – 8 1st couple dance half a figure of eight, 1st woman up through 2nd couple and 1st man down through 3rd couple, finishing by passing each other left shoulder to face 1st corners.

9 – 12 1st couple dance the path of ‘Corners Pass and Turn’, but on bar 12 pull back right shoulders to finish with 1st man facing down and 1st woman facing up. At the same time, 1st corners dance half turn and twirl with right hands to change places.

13 – 16 1st couple repeat bars 9-12 with 4th corners (partner’s 2nd corner person), finishing facing 3rd corner position (own 1st corner person). At the same time, 4th corners dance half turn and twirl with right hands to change places.

17 – 22 1st couple dance ‘Hello-Goodbye’ setting to finish facing up and down the dance.

23 – 24 1st couple dance a petronella turn to 2nd place, opposite sides.

25 – 32 Taking hands, 3rd, 1st and 2nd couples dance set and link for three, twice.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised for Petra Dolata of Calgary, Canada (formerly of Dortmund, Germany). Petra is one of Borussia Dortmund Football Club’s biggest fans, hence the Borussia in the title

Recommended tune: Beeswing Village (J McNab) Kinpurnie Collection


Video: Catch the Wind

CATCH THE WIND
RSCDS Book 45. No. 5
(Hornpipe)

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 – 12 1st couple set twice. On bars 11-12, 1st woman pulls back right shoulder to finish facing out.

13 – 16 1st woman casts up round 2nd man and dances down to finish between 3rd couple facing 3rd man while 1st man dances across the set and casts up round 2nd man to finish between 2nd couple facing 2nd man.

17 – 24 1st man dances a reel of three with 2nd couple passing 2nd man by the right shoulder to begin while 1st woman dances a reel of three with 3rd couple passing 3rd man by the right shoulder to begin.

25 – 28 1st woman casts up round 3rd man and dances across the set to finish in second place on own side while 1st man dances down the middle and casts up round 3rd man to finish in second place on own side.

29 – 32 1st couple turn with the right hand once round.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Romaine Butterfield, RSCDS New Zealand Branch and originally published by that branch in Island Bay Collection (1983). The dance was devised for Noeline O’Connor and Iain Boyd and the name refers to the fact that Iain courted Noeline for some time.

Tune: The Navvie, Traditional

TACNotes:’
Bars 25-28 1st woman must lengthen her steps to reach 2nd place, own side, pulling back R shoulder to flow into bar 29.