Ardbrae Dancers of Ottawa
Video: General Stuart’s Reel
General Stuart’s Reel or
The New Way of Gildon (Reel)
RSCDS Book 10
1 – 4 1st man sets to 2nd woman and casts off one place. 2nd man steps up on bars 3–4.
5 – 8 1st woman sets to 2nd man and casts off to second place. 2nd woman steps up on bars 7–8.
9 – 12 1st couple turn first corners with the right hand then, passing each other by the right shoulder, face second corners.
13 – 16 1st couple turn second corners with the left hand then, passing each other by the right shoulder, face first corners.
17 – 24 1st couple set to first corners, set to each other across the dance, set to second corners, then set to each other up and down the dance and finish man facing up and woman facing down the dance. 1st couple turn by the right throughout.
25 – 30 1st couple dance reels with their corners. 1st couple begin the reels by giving right shoulders to second corners.
31 – 32 1st couple, giving right hands, cross over to own sides in second place.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
Source: The Register of Dances at Castle Menzies, 1749.
Music: The Stuarts’ Rant, Bremner, 1768.
The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
Bars 9-16 Corners dance two steps when turning.
TACNotes:’
9-16 Corners must dance into middle to meet 1st cpl on bars 9 & 13 then out to places on bars 10 & 14 releasing 1st cpl to face up & down the set.
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 28, 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.