Ardbrae Dancers of Ottawa
No Video
Goodness Gracious Grasshopper
Forty Years On – RSCDS Pretoria Branch
40 bar Reel for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set
1 – 8 1st couple, followed by 2nd and 3rd couples, dance down the centre with nearer hands joined for 4 steps. 3rd couple, followed by 2nd and 1st couples, dance up the centre crossing over to finish on opposite sides in the order 3, 2, 1
as they turn on bar 5, retaining hands, the men dance below their partners while the women dance under the arch made by their joined hands.
9 – 16 3rd, 2nd and 1st couples set and link twice, to finish in their original places.
17 – 24 1st couple set, cross over giving right hands, cast off into 2nd place and set advancing, passing left shoulder, to finish back to back in the centre facing own sides.
2nd couple step up on bars 21-22.
25 – 32 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance double triangles. On bars 31-32 1st couple dance a petronella turn to the right to finish with 1st woman between 2nd couple facing 2nd woman and 1st man between 3rd couple facing 3rd man.
33 – 38 1st woman and 2nd couple as well as 1st man and 3rd couple dance right shoulder reels of three across the dance.
39 – 40 1st couple, giving right hands, cross to own sides.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
Devised by Ryan Nelson, 2012.
At night my son Duncan always wants me to dance with him. When I showed him how to dance for the first time, he exclaimed: “Goodness Gracious Grasshopper!” over and over again while dancing with me. Good Gracious Grasshopper is a character in the animated DVD “The Easter Egg Escapade”, which he had watched two dozen times or more.
I dedicate this dance to Duncan as he is my pride and joy and [am sure he will join me in dancing class in the not-too-distant future.|
Video: Charles Stuart
Charles Stuart
Miss Milligan’s Miscellany of Scottish Country Dances
32-bar strathspey for three couples in a four-couple longwise set
1 – 8 1st couple set and, giving right hands, cross over, cast off below 3rd couple, lead up the middle and cross to original places.
9 – 16 1st couple lead down the middle and up and cast off one place to face first corners.2nd couple step up on bars 15-16.
17 – 24 1st couple turn first corners with the right hand, partner with the left hand, second corners with the right hand and, giving left hand to partner, cross over to second place on own sides.
25 – 28 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples advance one step and retire one step twice.
29 – 32 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples, giving both hands, turn partners once round.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
Ladies’ Pocket Book, 1794.
Customary tune: any strathspey