Dances for March 24, 2025 | Ottawa Dance Scottish

Ardbrae Dancers of Ottawa

Rendez-vous à Vichy
The Paris Book of Scottish Country Dances, Vol. 1
A 32-bar jig for three couples in a four-couple set

1 – 4 1st couple, giving right hands, turn one and a half times to opposite sides.

5 – 8 1st and 2nd couples set and link, women finishing facing out.

9 – 16 2nd and 1st couples dance a men’s chain.

17 – 24 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance reels of three on the sides. 1st and 3rd couples pass by the left to begin. 1st couple finish facing first corners, 1st man pulling back by the right at the end of the reel.

25 – 32 1st couple set to corners and partner, finishing in second place on own sides. All clap on bar 31.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Aliénor Latour to celebrate the Vichy dance weekend, Easter 2016, organized by the Paris Branch.

Music by Pascaline Latour.

Video: The Water of Leith

The Water of Leith
RSCDS Book 53
A 32-bar strathspey for four couples in a four-couple longwise set

1 – 2 1st and 3rd couples set to partner.

3 – 6 1st woman dances down between second couple and casts up round 2nd man into the middle of the set facing down as Ist man dances across, casts round 2nd woman into the middle of the set facing up. At the same time, 3rd couple dance the same figure round the 4th couple.

7 – 8 1st and 3rd couples, giving right hand, change places to finish in a line in the middle of the dance, 1st and 3rd men facing down, 1st and 3rd women facing up.

9 – 16 1st and 3rd couples dance a reel of four in the middle of the set.

17 – 20 1st and 2nd couples, also 3rd and 4th couples dance right hands across.

21 – 24 1st man followed by 1st woman casts off round 2nd woman and dances across the set to 2nd place own side, 1st woman finishes in 2nd place own side. At the same time, 3rd couple dance the same figure round the 4th couple. 2nd and 4th couples step up on bars 23 – 24.

25 – 32 1st and 4th couples dance the espagnole.

Finish in order 2, 4, 1, 3.

Repeat from new positions.

Devised by John Wilkinson, Edinburgh Branch.

As Chairman of the RSCDS, in 2013 John presented Queen Elizabeth II with a personal copy
of the Diamond Jubilee Collection, a limited edition of specially devised Scottish country dances to mark Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee. John was Chairman of the Society from 2012 to 2014.