Ottawa Summer Class
Video: Ladies’ Fancy
Ladies’ Fancy
RSCDS Book 13
32-bar jig for two couples in a four-couple longwise set
1 – 4 1st man and 2nd woman, giving right hands, turn once round back to place.
5 – 8 1st couple, giving left hands, turn one and a half times to face down with 1st woman on her partner’s right. (Note) 2nd woman steps up on bars 7-8 to be on left of 1st man.
9 – 16 1st man with 1st and 2nd women dance down the middle and up. On bars 15-16, 1st man hands his partner across in front of him.
17 – 24 1st and 2nd couples dance right hands across and left hands back to finish in the middle of the set, facing partner with both hands joined.
25 – 32 1st and 2nd couples dance a poussette.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
Note: in bars 7-8, it is helpful to join both hands.
Collected in Angus but see D Anderson’s Ball-Room Guide c. 1886
Original tune: Peggie’s Wedding (Bremner, here from Gow)
The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
Bars 15-16 On coming up the middle on bars 15-16, 1st man brings his partner round to her own side of the dance and hands her right hand to 2nd man who has come in behind him to receive it. 2nd woman quickly changes her hand and the wheel is formed.
TACNotes;’
16 1st man hands his partner across in front of him towards own side, while 2nd woman pulls L shoulder back to face down ready for RH across.
No Video
The Khandallah Town Hall
Rod Downey, Golden Bear Coll.
A 32 bar Strathspey for 3 couples, for teaching parallel reels of three on the
sides, and slow phrasing.
1-2 1C, 2C set, taking hands on the sides.
3-6 1C, 2C dance four hands round to finish 1C facing 2C up and down taking nearer hands with partner. 3C step in on bars 6 and take nearer hands with partner and face up.
7-8 All 3 couples set.
9-16 Dance right shoulder reels on the side.
17-18 1C, 2C, 3C set on the sides (taking hands).
19-20 1C, 2C, 3C cross over RH.
21-22 1C, 2C, 3C set on the sides.
23-24 3C cross back RH, while 1C, 2C half turn RH into Allemande hold.
25-32 1C, 2C dance an Allemande.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
Notes Devised 27/4/2021, as a teaching dance for the second week of basic reels for our new dancers. Khandallah Town Hall is Johnsonville Club’s new home venue, due to our previous venue being carpeted, and the Bowls Club being too small. Recommended tune is ”Dalkeith’s Strathspey” or any other suitable traditional Strathspey, with strong 2 bar phrases. I used an old recording by Jimmy Shand.
The dance has parallel reels of 3 on the sides, and hopefully is a simple alternative to “The 92nd”. Most other Strathspeys with straightforward reels on the side seem to have other formations unsuitable for beginners.
Video: Long Frank’s Reel
Long Frank’s Reel
David G. Queen, Ribble Valley
A 32-bar reel for 3 couples in a 4-couple set.
Tune: Frank & June Hewitson
1 – 8 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance mirror reels of 3 on the sides. 1St couple begin by crossing down, 2nd couple dance out and up, 3rd couple dance in and up.
9 – 10 1st couple dance down with nearer hands joined and separate onto the opposite side facing down, 2nd couple dance out and up into 1st place.
11 – 12 1st man & 3rd lady turn once round with the right hand while 1st lady & 3rd man turn once round with the left hand. 1St couple face up.
13 – 16 1st man & 2nd lady turn 1 1/2 times with the left hand while 1st lady & 2nd man turn 1 1/2 times with the right hand.
17 – 20 1st couple dance half figure of 8 round 2nd couple, crossing down to begin.
21 – 24 1st & 2nd couples dance right hands across and stay in the middle with partners ready for:-
25 – 32 1st & 2nd couples dance an allepousse. i.e. 1St couple dance a 2 couple allemande into 2nd place while 2nd couple dance a poussette into 1st place.
Repeat having passed a couple.
This dance was devised for Frank Hewitson of Ribble Valley Branch RSCDS who I looked up to since I was in short pants! Frank sadly passed away in 2009, aged 92
Dance devised by David G. Queen 2005
Video: What a Beau my Granny was
What a Beau my Granny was
RSCDS Book 14
32-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set
1 – 8 1st, 2nd and 3rd women set twice and dance three hands round to the left. At the same time, Ist man, followed by 2nd and 3rd men, dances across the top of the set, round the women and back to own side. (Fig.) All finish in original places.
9 – 16 1st, 2nd and 3rd men set twice and dance three hands round to the left. At the same, Ist woman, followed by: 2nd and 3rd women, dances across the top of the set, round the men and back to own side. 1st and 2nd couple finish in the middle of the set, facing partners with both hands joined. 3rd couple return to places.
17 – 24 1st and 2nd couples dance a poussette.
25 – 32 1st and 3rd couples dance rights and lefts.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
Preston’s Selection of the most favorite Country Dances, Reels etc
c. 1800 with bars 1-8 and 9-16 in the opposite order.
Original tune: What a Beau my Granny was (Traditional)