Ardbrae Dancers of Ottawa
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The Archivist
Emily Porter, Ardbrae Celebrates 60 Years
A 32 bar strathspey for 3 couples in a 4-couple set
1 – 8 1st, 2nd, and 3nd couples dance 3-couple set and rotate as follows: All three couples set and cast to finish in lines of 3 across the dance, men facing down, women up. All change places right hands with the dancer opposite. All chase clockwise one place on to finish on the sidelines in order 3,2,1 with 1st man facing out.
9 – 12 1st man casts up behind the men’s line and down in front of 3rd man to finish in 2nd place facing out and down, while 1st woman dances up the middle and casts off around 3rd woman to finish in 2nd place facing in and down. 2nd couple step down on bars 11–12. Dancers in order 3,1,2
13 – 16 1st couple dance a half reel of three on the sides, giving a left shoulder to 2nd couple to begin. Dancers dance straight into place – 1st man and 3rd woman pull back a right shoulder at the end of the reel to face in, 2nd woman pulls back a left shoulder. Dancers in order 2,1,3
17 – 20 Starting from the sidelines and passing each other by the right shoulder to begin, 1st couple dance corners pass and turn with their 1st corners, the corners turn giving both hands. 1st couple pass each other by the right shoulder to face their 2nd corners.
21 – 24 1st couple dance corners pass and turn with their 2nd corners, the corners turn giving both hands. 1st couple pass each other by the right shoulder to 2nd place on their own sides.
25 – 32 2nd and 1st couples dance a poussette right round. Finish in order 2,1,3
Repeat having passed a couple
At the end of second repetition for each dancing couple, the following alternate ending may be danced:
31 – 32 2nd couple finish the poussette as normal. 1st couple finish bar 31 in the centre facing down with nearer hands joined. On bar 32, 1st couple down to 4th place. 3rd couple dance up the sidelines (2 bars) to finish ready to begin the 3-couple set and rotate with a new top couple.
Suggested music: The Quaich (Many Happy Returns – Hanneke Cassel and Dave Wiesler)
In memory of Elaine Hoag, an archivist both professionally, with Library and Archives Canada, and in her dancing life with the Ardbrae Dancers of Ottawa. With our mutual love of the strathspey poussette and covering opportunities, it’s the kind of strathspey we would have enjoyed dancing together.
Video: Round Reel of Eight
Round Reel of Eight
RSCDS Book 27
88-bar reel for four couples in a square set
1 – 8 All four women pull back by the right and dance clockwise round the outside of the set back to original places.
9 – 16 All four men pull back by the left and dance anticlockwise round the outside of the set back to original places.
17 – 32 All four couples dance a grand chain halfway in six steps, set to partner then continue the grand chain to original places in six steps and set to partner.
33 – 35 1st and 3rd couples change places. 1st couple, giving nearer hands, dance between 3rd couple.
36 – 38 3rd and 1st couples change places. 3rd couple, giving nearer hands, dance between 1st couple.
39 – 40 1st and 3rd couples, giving right hands, turn into allemande hold.
41 – 48 1st and 3rd couples dance anticlockwise round the inside of the set to original places.
49 – 64 2nd and 4th couples repeat bars 33-48. On bars 49-51, 2nd couple dance between 4th couple and on bars 52-54, 4th couple dance between 2nd couple.
65 – 68 1st and 3rd couples dance half rights and lefts.
69 – 72 2nd and 4th couples dance half rights and lefts.
73 – 76 1st and 3rd couples dance half rights and lefts.
77 – 80 2nd and 4th couples dance half rights and lefts.
81 – 88 All four couples dance eight hands round and back.
Original tune: Mrs Anderson’s Reel (Robert Mackintosh, A 3rd Book of 68 New Strathspey Reels, 1796).