The dances for this class have been posted to my web site https://www.ottawadancescottish.org

Video: Linnea’s Strathspey
Video: Linnea’s Strathspey

Linnea’s Strathspey
RSCDS Book 47
32-bar strathspey for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1 – 4        1st couple set and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 3-4.

5 – 8        1st couple cross over, passing each other by the left, and dance round first corners by the right. 1st couple finish back to back facing first corners.

9 – 14    1st couple set to corners and partner to face each other up and down the set.

15 – 16    1st couple, passing by the right, finish in second place on own sides facing out.

17 – 24    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance a chain progression for three couples.

        17 – 18      2nd and 3rd couples, giving right hands to partners, turn three quarters round. At the same time, 1st couple dance clockwise one quarter round.  (Fig. 1)

        19 – 22      2nd man and 3rd woman, giving left hands, turn one and a half times. At the same time, 1st man and 2nd woman, and 3rd man, with 1st woman on his left, taking promenade hold, dance clockwise halfway round.  (Fig. 2)   

        23 – 24      3rd and 2nd couples, giving right hands to partners, turn three quarters round and remain in the middle of the set, facing up. At the same time, 1st couple dance clockwise one quarter round the set to second place, in the middle, facing up.

25 – 32    3rd, 1st and 2nd couples dance an allemande.

        Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Tim Wilson, San Francisco Branch.

For Linnea Johnson, a valued member of the Branch class held in San Francisco, on her birthday. With thanks to Tom Winter for suggesting that all three couples dance the chain progression.

Sorry, no video

Keep It Going

32-bar jig for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1–8         1st couple lead down the middle and up, finishing in the middle as 2nd couple step in ready for…

9–16    1st and 2nd couples dance a poussette.

17–24    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples set and link twice to finish in order 3, 1, 2, all on opposite sides.

25–28    All dance clockwise halfway round the set to finish on own sides in the order 2, 1, 3.

29–32    All turn once round with the right hand back to place.

        Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Deborah Connors   
Suitable recorded music: 
‘Lassies of Dunse’ by Bobby Brown and the Scottish Accent on Ready…And!, Track 6

Video: Up in the Air
Video: Up in the Air

Up in the Air
Book 20 – No. 2
32-bar strathspey for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1–8        1st couple cast off, dance down behind own lines and cast up to original places. On bar 8, 1st , 2nd and 3rd couples dance in to meet partners and face up.

9–16    1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance a promenade. On bars 15-16, 1st couple cast off one place to finish facing first corners while 2nd couple dance up to first place.

17–20    1st couple set to first corners and then to second corners, finishing between them.

21–24    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance six hands once round to the left.

25–28    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples advance and retire.

29–32    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples, giving both hands, turn partners to own sides, 1st couple turning one and a half times.

        Repeat, having passed a couple.

W Boag:  A Collection of Favourite Reels & Strathspeys by the Most Eminent Composers, 1797.
Original tune:  Sir George Clark of Pennycuik (Nathaniel Gow)

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The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
Bar 20         1st couple, pulling back right shoulder, turn between corners ready to begin the circle.
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TACNotes:’
8     All 3 cpls dance into position for promenade (2nd & 3rd cpls, L foot).
20   1st cpl use last setting step to turn R about into sidelines.     

Video: The Captain’s House

The Captain’s House
RSCDS Third Book of Graded Scottish Country Dances

32-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1 – 4    1st couple, giving right hands, turn once round.

5 – 6    1st couple cast off one place. 2nd couple step up.

7 – 8    1st couple, giving left hands, cross to face out second place on opposite sides.

9 – 16    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance reels of three on the sides, 1st couple passing second corners by the left to begin. 1st couple finish facing first corners.

17 – 20    1st couple dance a half diagonal reel of four with first corners, passing by the right to face second corners.

21 – 24    1at couple dance a half diagonal reel of four with second corners. 1st couple finish in second place on opposite sides.

25 – 28    3rd, 1st and 2nd couples, giving right hands to partners, turn once round.

29 – 32    3rd, 1st and 2nd couples dance clockwise halfway round the set to finish on own sides in the order 2, 1, 3.

    Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Holly Boyd, Montreal Branch.
To celebrate the engagement of the deviser’s daughter, Leah Nemiroff, to Sacha Vais.

Video: Cherrybank Gardens

CHERRYBANK GARDENS
THE BANKHEAD BOOK, Part 1, Scottish Country Dances by JOHN DREWRY
December 1991
for Betty Keir of Perth
to be used in promoting the “Tourist Trail”

Strathspey – 3-couple set – 32 bars

Tune – “Calluna” by J. Berry

BARS
1 – 4        1st and 2nd women and 1st and 2nd men, joining nearer hands, set and then “petronella in tandem” to finish facing down and up.

5 – 8        1st and 2nd women and 1st and 2nd men, joining nearer hands, set facing down and up and then “petronella in tandem” to finish on opposite sides     in the order 2, 1.

9 – 12        2nd and 1st couples, joining nearer hands, set on opposite sides and then 2nd couple cross over giving right hands, while 1st couple cross over giving left hands.

13 – 16    1st woman dances right hands across with 2nd couple, while 1st man dances right hands across with 3rd couple. 1st couple finish in second place on own sides.

17 – 20    1st and 3rd couples, joining nearer hands on the sides, set and “link” to change places.

21 – 24    3rd and 1st couples dance four hands round to the left to finish with 3rd couple facing down and 1st couple facing up.

25 – 32    2nd, 3rd and 1st couples dance a grand chain.

        Repeat with a new top couple.

No Video

Lady Jayne of Castle Glen
A 32 bar reel for three couples in a four couple set

Craig Williams, February 2017

1 – 8    1st couple dance down the middle and cast up around third couple. They meet above third couple and dance up to the top and cast off to face 1st corners, 2nd couple step up on bars 7 & 8.

9-12    1st couple dance first four bars of set to corners and partner, finishing back to back in the middle in second place.

13-16    1st couple dance half reels of three on the sides, passing 1st corner by the right to begin. 1st couple pass by the left to finish facing 2nd corner position.

17-20    1st couple dance first four bars of set to corners and partner, finishing back to back in the middle in second place, man facing up, woman facing down.

21-24    1st couple dance half reels of three across the set, giving right shoulder to the person in second corner position to begin. 1st couple finish in 2nd place on opposite sides.

25-28    All three couples chase halfway clockwise.

29-32    All three couples turn partner once round with right hand.

Sorry, no videos this week

The Wee Giant

32-bar reel for three couples in a four couple longwise set

1-8    1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance Inveran reels for three couples.
1st couple cross down through second place, dance down to third place on opposite sides, cross up through second place on own sides and finish in original places

2nd couple dance up to first place, cross down through second place and dance down to third place on opposite sides, cross up to second place on own sides and face out

3rd couple cross up through 2nd place, dance up to first place on opposite sides, cross down through second place on own sides and finish in third place

1st couple pass in front of 3rd couple each time

9-12    1st and 2nd men, giving right hands, turn one and a half times to change places, while 1st and 2nd women, gving left hands, turn one and a half times.
13-16    1st and 3rd men, giving left hands, turn one and a half times to change places, while 1st and 3rd women, giving right hands, turn one and an half times.

17-24    1st couple, in third place, set. 1st couple dance in on bar 19, giving nearer hands, dance up to the top and cast off one place. 3rd couple  step down on bars 23-24

25-32    2ns, 1st and 3rd couples dance six hands round and back

Repeat having passed a couple

The second time through, on bars 23-24, 1st couple cast off two places and dance bars 25-32 from the foot of the set. 4th couple remain in third place.

Devised by John Walton

June Shore, less than five feet in height, was extremely dynamic personality and demanding in perfrmance. She had a significant impact on Scottish Country Dancing in North America.

Shirley’s Strathspey

32 bar strathspey for three couples in a three couple longwise set

1-2    1st couple lead down crossing with the right hand to finish facing 3rd couple in the diagonal. 2nd couple step up on bars 1-2

3-4    1st  man turns 3rd woman with right hand while 1st woman turns 3rd man with left hand meeting below 3rd couple. 3rd coule finish in third place

5-6    1st couple lead up crossing with right hand to finish facing 2nd couple on the diagonal

7-8    1st man turns 2nd man with right hand while 1st woman turns 2nd woman with left hand. 1st couple finish in second place facing out and down.

9-14    Reels of three on own sides, 1st man and 3rd man passing left shoulders, 1st woman and 3rd woman passing right shoulders.

15-16    1st and 3rd couples continue reeling to change places. 1st couple dance out and down to face up in third place, 3rd couple cast  to finish in 2nd place facing down,  2nd couple in first place set to each other. Finish 2, 3, 1

17-24    Three couple grand chain

25-32    All dance six hands round and back

Repeat twice more

Devised by Diana Ashworth and the Cairn Dancers of Dewbury
In memory of Shirley M Sheilds – one of the founder members of Leeds Branch

Video: Drumelzier

Drumelzier
TWO SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCES devised by Christopher Blair

Four-couple Progressive Strathspey

1 — 2     All four couples, giving right hands, cross over to opposite sides of the dance.

3 — 4      First and second couples and, at the same time, third and fourth couples, dance right hands across half way round to own sides but not original places.

5 — 6     Repeat bars 1 — 2 but giving left hands in crossing.

7 — 8     Repeat bars 3 — 4 but this time making the half wheel with left hands to finish in original places.

9 — 10    All four couples set.

11 — 14    All four couples, joining hands in a circle, dance eight hands round to the left, using four steps

15 — 16    Without dropping hands and while still in the circle, all set, now drop hands and the formation takes on the appearance of a square.

17 — 20    First and fourth couples dance half rights and lefts to original places.

21 — 24    Second and third couples dance half rights and lefts to original places (figure 2).

25 — 28    All four couples turn partners with right hands once round.

29 — 32    First couple lead down the middle to fourth place.

At the same time Second, third and fourth couples set and then, turning to face the top, dance up one place with two travelling steps.

Repeat with a new top couple.

N. B.    Drumelzier (pronounced Drum-ell-yer) is a small village in Peeblesshire and the reputed burial place of Merlin the Wizard of Arthurian Legend. Confusion seems to arise over the correct spelling of the name of the village as some signposts show Drummelzier but here the more common version has been used.

Sorry no video

THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM
Ian Boyd, THE KILMARNOCK ALBUM

A three couple, 32 bar reel.

1 – 8    First couple dance a chase round second and third men. First woman dances down across the set, round third man passing by the left shoulders, up behind second man and across to own side while first man dances into the middle then follows his partner back to his original place.

9 – 16     First and second couples dance right hands across and back with the left.

17 – 24    First couple dance a chase round second and third women. First man dances down across the set, round third woman passing by right shoulders, up behind second woman and across to own side while first woman dances into the middle then follows her partner back to her original place. First and second couples finish facing the diagonally opposite dancer.

25 – 32    First and second couples dance set and rotate.

25-26    First and second couples set once to the diagonally opposite dancer and begin to turn right about on the spot on bar 26.

27-28    First and second couples cast to the right and dance on one place clockwise to finish facing partner – first couple on the women’s side and second couple on the men’s side.

29-30    First and second couples change places with partner with right hands.

31-32    First and second couples dance on one place clockwise to finish back on own sides having changed places.

Repeat having passed a couple.

No videos for Todlen Hame

Todlen Hame
Book 16 – No. 6
32-bar jig for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1–8        1st and 2nd couples dance a reel of four across the set, 1st wman and 2nd man passing by the left to begin. 1st couple finish in second place and 2nd couple in first place.

9–16    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance a grand chain.

17–24    2nd and 1st couples dance rights and lefts.

25–32    1st couple dance down between 3rd couple, cast up round them, dance up between 2nd couple and cast off one place.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Thomas Wilson: A Companion to the Ballroom, London, 1816.
Original tune: Todlen Hame (Aird’s Collection)

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TACNotes:’
7 – 8       1st woman & 2nd man pass through their original positions (bar 7) & on to new places (bar 8), as partners pass L shldr in middle (bar 7) then diagonally left to new places (bar 8). 1st cpl finish facing down.
25 – 32      Nearer  hand leading.

Video: Midsummer Common
Video: Midsummer Common

Midsummer Common
RSCDS Book 49
32-bar strathspey for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1–8    1st couple set and, giving right hands, turn halfway; lead down, crossing over below 3rd couple and cast up to second place on own sides.  2nd couple step up on bars 5-6.

9–12    1st couple and first corners set, 1st couple advancing to finish back to back. 1st couple and first corners, giving both hands, turn to finish 1st woman between 2nd couple and 1st man between 3rd couple.

13–16    1st couple and second corners set, 1st couple advancing to finish back to back. 1st couple and second corners, giving both hands, turn.

17–20    1st couple lead second corners into three hands once round to the left, 1st woman with 3rd couple and 1st man with 2nd couple. 1st couple pull back by the right to finish facing each other up and down the set.

21–24    1st couple set and dance a petronella turn to second place on own sides.

25–32    2nd and 1st couples dance a poussette.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Note:  On bar 16, 1st couple, with right hands, retain hold of second corners’ left hands.

Devised by Tom and Lindsey Ibbotson, Cambridge Branch.