Video: Chased Lovers

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

1-8    1st couple set then, without giving hands, cross down one place and face out in second place. 2nd couple step up on bars 3-4. 1st couple dance down behind 3rd couple and up between them to finish in the middle of the dance, 1st woman in front of her partner.

9-16    1st woman, followed by 1st man throughout, dances a reel of three on the diagonal with first corners. 1st couple pass 2nd man by the left to begin. On bar 16, 1st couple pull back right shoulders individually to finish in the middle of the dance, facing down, 1st man in front of his partner.

17-24    1st man, followed by 1st woman throughout, dances a reel of three on the diagonal with second corners. 1st couple pass 3rd man by the right to begin. 1st couple finish facing first corners.

25-28    1st couple and forst corners dance corners pass and turn. Corners turn with right hands in the centre. 1st couple finish facing second corners.

29-32    1st couple and second corners repeat bars 25-28. 1st couple pass partner by the right to finish in second place owne side.

Repeat having passed a couple

Devised by Tim Wilson, an IB Member living in San Francisco, California, USA

Music: Fun, flirty jigs with flight

Note: You may notice that 1st couple do not actually youch in this dance. I liked the play on words with “chased” and “chaste” and tried to incorporate both ideas. The dance was first taught to the combined class at the 2013 International Branch Weekend in Kilarney, Ireland.

Video: The Montgomeries’ Rant

The Montgomeries’ Rant
Book 10 – No. 1
32-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1 – 8        1st couple, giving right hands, cross over and cast off one place on opposite sides. 1st couple, giving left hands, cross over and 1st woman casts up one place while 1st man casts off one place. 1st woman finishes between 2nd couple facing 2nd man with 1st man between 3rd couple facing 3rd woman. 2nd couple step up on bars 3-4.

9 – 16    1st woman with 2nd couple and 1st man with 3rd couple dance reels of three across the set. 1st woman and 2nd man and 1st man and 3rd woman pass by the right to begin. On bar 16, 1st couple, with nearer hands joined, face 2nd woman.

17 – 24    1st couple set to 2nd woman. 1st couple turn towards each other and change hands to face 3rd man and set. 1st couple move round to face 3rd woman and set. 1st couple turn towards each other and change hands to face 2nd man and set. 1st couple finish facing second corners.

25 – 30    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance reels of three on the sides. 1st couple pass second corners by the right to begin.

31 – 32    1st couple, giving right hands, cross to second place on own sides.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

The Register of Dances at Castle Menzies, 1749.
Original tune: Lord Eglintoune (John Riddell, c. 1766) but usually danced to Lady Montgomerie (Lord Eglintoune, 1796).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
17-24    1st woman is on her partner’s left to begin &, on bar 24, turns L about, with assistance from her partner, to face her second corner.

Ardbrae Christmas Social Cribs

Video: Chrysanthemum

CHRYSANTHEMUM
SBBC Silver Jubilee Book
96 bar Reel for 4 couples in a 4 couple square set
Devised by Betty Grant

1–2        Each woman casts to right behind partner and into centre.
3–6        Right hands across once round (past partner).
7–8        Each woman casts to left behind partner to original place.

9–16    Men repeat by casting to left behind partner into centre, then dance left hands across once round (past partner) and cast to right behind partner to finish in place facing partner.

17–24    STAR GRAND CHAIN halfway round (2 steps each hand). Women finish with backs to the centre facing partners. Men are slightly outside circle facing in to partners.

25–32    Dance back to back with partner and turn with the right hand one and a quarter times to finish in circle. Retain right hands.

33–40    Continue STAR GRAND CHAIN halfway round and women again finish with backs to centre facing partner. Men slightly outside circle facing in.

41–48    Dance back to back with partner and turn with the right hand one and a quarter times to finish with women facing out and men facing in.

49–64    SCHIEHALLION REELS (16 bars)  Finish in place.

65–72    In couples nearer hands joined, slip step to left (2 bars) one quarter round and set once (2 bars). Slip step to right (2 bars) to place and set. Bar 8, women advance set towards centre and retaining nearer hands with partner form a cross facing clockwise.

73–80    Dance right hands across in couples. Bar 8, release right hands in centre and curve out to original positions ready to form a circle.

81–88    Eight hands round and back. Retain hands in circle.

89–92    Advance using 2 short skip change of steps, then with nearer hands still joined with partner only, retire using 2 long skip change of steps to original size of square. Finish facing corner.

93–96    Turn corner with LEFT hand once round. Finish facing partner for bow and curtsey.

This dance was devised by Betty Grant, Toronto, Ontario in 1986 to commemorate her visit to Tokyo as a member of the Oriental Fling tour led by the late Bob Blackie and was presented to the Tokyo Scottish Bluebell Club.

Chrysanthemum –
A native of China, the ‘pompom’ originated from the Chusan Daisy, Elaborate Japanese varieties have been developed over hundreds of years. The first chrysanthemum in Britain was grown at Kew Gardens in 1790 and came from France. Chrysanthemums are a worldwide family of flowers. We Scottish Country Dancers are also a worldwide family.                                Betty Grant

Suggested tune: ‘Natal Day’ by Kerr’s Third Collection
Suggested Music: ‘Da Turlers’ – music tape CWGR057 by John Ellis
Suggested Music: ‘Chrysanthemum’ – Accompanied CD ‘To Be A Wind’ by Fred Moyes

Note on Chrysanthemum:
In the Star Grand Chain men give right hand to partner and dance into the centre, left shoulder to left shoulder, as woman dance outside the circumference but holding hands and extending arms longer than usual.  They then release hands and give left hands to next woman to bring women into the centre left shoulder to shoulder, again extending arms.  Repeat right hand and left hand, adjusting on the last left such that women are in the centre facing partner, on the outside, ready for back to back.  Then turn partner 1 ¼ times to form the square set again (releasing hands as usual), then repeat the Star Grand Chain back to place followed by back to back and a 1 ¼ turn before the Schehallion reel.  The Star Grand Chain is, therefore, making the regular grand chain into a series of points of a star. The idea of the Star Grand Chain and the Schehallion Reel is to form the petals of a Chrysanthemum.

Video: The Lea Rig

The Lea Rig
RSCDS Book 21 – No. 5
32-bar strathspey for two couples in a four-couple longwise set

1–16    1st couple dance a petronella turn to face each other up and down the middle and set. 1 st  couple repeat this three times to finish in original places. On bars 1-2, 2nd couple step up and, on bars 3-4 set. 2nd couple dance petronella turns and set, following the 1st couple one place behind. On bars 15-16, instead of setting, 2nd couple dance a petronella turn to original places.

17–24    1st couple lead down the middle and up.

25–28    1st and 2nd couples dance right hands across once round to finish facing partners in a diagonal line across the set with 1st woman and 2nd man back to back in the middle.

29–32    1st and 2nd couples dance a half poussette.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Collected from an old MS.
Original tune:  The Lea Rig  (Surenne)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
17-24    1st cpl finish in original places on sidelines.

Combined Class

Flowers of Edinburgh
Book 1 – No. 6
32-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1–6        1st woman casts off two places, crosses to the opposite side and dances up behind 2nd and 3rd men to her partner’s original place. 1st man follows his partner, crossing over and dancing behind 2nd and 3rd women, and up the middle to his partner’s original place.

7–8        1st couple set to each other.

9–14    1st couple repeat bars 1-6, with 1st man casting off and 1st woman following. 1st couple finish in original places.

15–16    1st couple set to each other.

17–24    1st couple lead down the middle and up to finish facing each other in the middle of the set with both hands joined. 2nd couple step in.

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

Repeat, having passed a couple.

THE GALLOPING CAROUSEL
25 DANCES FOR 25 YEARS, RSCDS Ottawa Branch, 1991
32 bar jig for 4 couples

The dance tells the story of painted horses on a carousel who tire of prancing in endless circles and dream of breaking away to gallop freely. But even in their dreams they always return to the carousel.

1–4        1st couple with 2nd couple, and 3rd couple with 4th couple, dance right hands across once round, ending with 1st woman and 4th man facing out.

5–8        1st woman, followed by her partner, dances behind the women’s side of the dance into fourth place on opposite sides, while 4th man, followed by his partner, dances behind the men’s side into first place on opposite sides.

9–12    Top two couples and bottom two couples dance right hands across once round, ending with 4th man and 1st woman facing out.

13 – 16    4th man, followed by his partner, dances behind the women’s side of the dance back to place, while 1st woman, followed by her partner, dances behind the men’s side back to places, ending with the 1st couple facing down the dance and 4th couple facing up. On bar 16, 2nd couple faces up and 3rd faces down.

17–20    On the sidelines, 1st and 2nd couples set and change places right hands, while 3rd and 4th couples do likewise.

21–24    On the sidelines, 1st and 4th couples set and change places left hands. (The order is now 2, 4, 1, 3.)

25–28    4th couple dances up between 2nd couple and casts back down to second place, while 1st couple dances down between 3rd couple and casts back up to third place.

29–32    All four couples turn partners once round back to places with right hands.

Devised by John de Chastelain
Music:    “Killearn”, or
        “Genevieve’s Jig”, Music for Book 32

Ca’ the Ewes tae the Knowes, 32S 2C (4C Set), RSCDS Bk 16
1–8    1st couple cast off, dance down behind their own lines and cast up to original places.
9–16    1st couple, giving right hands, turn once round, cast off one place and dance a half figure of eight round 2nd couple. On bars 15-16, 1st couple lead up to top, 1st man passing his partner in front of him to finish in the middle of the set facing up. 2nd couple step in.
17–24    1st and 2nd couples dance an allemande.
25–32    2nd and 1st couples dance rights and lefts.

Knit the Pocky
RSCDS Book 11 – No. 1
32-bar reel for two couples in a four-couple longwise set

1–4        1st woman and 2nd man advance and retire.

5–8        1st woman and 2nd man, giving both hands and using skip change of step, turn once round and return to places. (Note)

9–16    1st man and 2nd woman repeat bars 1-8.

17–20    1st couple, followed by 2nd couple who dance up the sides to begin, lead down the middle.

21–24    2nd couple, followed by 1st couple, lead up the middle to finish with 2nd couple in first place and 1st couple in second place.

25–32    2nd and 1st couple dance rights and lefts.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Note: In bars 5-8 and 9-12, turning with both hands gives the appearance of a stitch being made. Therefore, two hands should be given although four skip change of step are danced.

Sorry for sending this out late. I was busy with the Montreal workshop on Saturday.

Timepiece, 32J 3C (4C Set)
G. Thomas, Dances from the Redwood Forest
1–8 1c cross RH | cast (2c up) ; cross LH | cast L to between end couples (M down, W up)
9–16 1c turn LH while{4} 2c+3c turn P RH ; 1c dance through ends (M down, W up) and cast L to 2plx while{4} 2c+3c set and petronella to midline
17–24 1c turn LH while{4} 2c+3c turn P RH ; 1c cast L through opposite side and between end couple to 2pl while{4} 2c+3c set and petronella turn
(to 2x,1,3x)
25–32 2c+3c set | La Baratte while{8} 1c petronella to midline | set advancing to join RH ; join in the last 4 bars of La Baratte (2,1,3)

Scott Meikle
RSCDS Book 46
32-bar reel for four couples in a four-couple longwise set

1–4        1st couple, giving right hands, cross over and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 3-4.

5–8        1st couple dance a half figure of eight round 2nd couple.

9–16    1st and 3rd couples dance right hands across and left hands back to finish on own sides, 1st and 3rd women facing up, 1st and 3rd men facing down.

17–24    1st woman, followed by 3rd woman, dances a reel of three across the set with 2nd couple. At the same time, 3rd man, followed by 1st man, dances a reel of three across the set with 4th couple. To begin, 1st woman and 2nd man, 3rd man and 4th woman pass by the left. 3rd couple finish in second place, 1st couple in third place.

25–28    1st and 4th couples dance half rights and lefts.

29–32    4th and 1st couples, giving right hands, turn one and half times.

Repeat with a new top couple.

Devised by Alice McLean, Monklands Branch.
Scott Meikle is the son of well-known bandleader, George Meikle, and was a member of the team that danced for HM the Queen at Edinburgh City Chambers as part of the Society’s 75th Anniversary celebrations in 1998.

The Flower of Glasgow
RSCDS Book 46
32-bar strathspey for three couples in a three-couple longwise set

1–6        1st woman, followed by her partner, casts off two places, crosses over below 3rd couple and casts up while her partner dances up the middle of the set. 1st couple finish in second place on opposite sides. 2nd couple dance up on the side lines to first place on bars 5-6.

7–8        2nd, 1st and 3rd couples set advancing to finish in the middle in promenade hold, 2nd and 3rd couples facing up and 1st couple facing down.

9–16    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance a circulating allemande: 2nd and 3rd couples dance as first and third couples of a standard allemande to finish in third and first places on own sides. At the same time, 1st couple, from second place, dance an allemande but dance out to the men’s side and down to begin. Finish in the order 3, 1, 2 with 1st couple on opposite sides.

17–20    1st woman dances a half figure of eight round 3rd couple and 1st man dances a half figure of eight round 2nd couple.

21–24    3rd, 1st and 2nd couples, giving both hands, turn partners once round.

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

Devised by Ruth Taylor, Kingston (Ontario) Branch.
Note: the ‘circulating allemande’ in bars 9-16 was devised by Terry Glasspool.
For Kay Munn, who is originally from Glasgow, to celebrate a special birthday.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Notes compiled by teachers, Summer School, St Andrews 2010
9-16    Effectively two three-couple allemandes, one going up with a ‘phantom’ 2nd couple, the other going down     with ‘phantom’ 1st and 3rd couples.
17-20    3rd couple are in first place and 2nd couple in third place.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:
7-8       Hands joined to advance.

The Griffin’s Flight
A 32 bar jig for three couples

1-8    1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance a reel of three on their own sidesof the dance, 1st couple befin by dancing in and down, second couple out and up, and third couple in and up. Take nearer hands whenever possible.

9-16    1st couple, followed by second couple (who dance up to the top), dance down between 3rd couple, cast up around them, meet above 3rd couple, danc eup to the top and cast into 2nd place. 2Nd couple turn into place at the top. Both couples take nearer hands whenever possible.

17-24    1st couple turn 1st corners with the right hand, pass each other by right shoulders, and turn 2nd corners with the right hand. They dance around each other, passing right shouldersm to end 1st woman facing down and 1st man facing up.

25-28    1st woman dances left hands across with the 3rd couple while 1st mand dances left hands across with 2nd couple.

29-32    1st woman dances right hands across with the second couple while 1st man dances right hands across with the 3d couple.

Suggested music: “High Lodge” on Muriel Johnstone’s Dancing Fingers 2

Devised by Claudette Sigg in December 1995 for Boll Griffiths

Bratach Bana
32R 3C (4C Set)
J. Drewry, Bon Accord Book

1-4    1st couple turn by the right hand and cast off to second place on own sides. (2nd couple move up on Bars 3 – 4)
5–8    1st man dances down between 3rd couple and then casts up to second place on the ladies’ side. 1st lady dances up between 2nd couple and then casts off to second place on the men’s side.
9-12    Half reels of three on the sides. 1st man gives right shoulder to 2nd lady, while 1st lady gives right shoulder to 3rd man.
13–16    Half reels of three across the dance. 1st man cuts up between 3rd couple who are in top place, giving left shoulder to 3rd man. 1st lady cuts down between 2nd couple who are in 3rd place, giving left shoulder to 2nd lady. NOTE: The 2nd and 3rd couples dance round loops on the corners between the half reels. (1st couple are now in second place on own sides, 2nd couple are in third place on wrong sides, and 3rd couple are in top place on wrong sides).
17–18    1st couple turn each other with the left hand.
19–20    1st couple turn first corners (who are on the wrong sides) by the right hand.
21–22    1st  couple pass each other by the right shoulder to face second corners.
23–24    1st couple turn second corners by the right hand and finish on own sides in second place retaining hold of second corners by the right hand and giving them left hands also in promenade hold.
25–26    1st couple lead their second corners diagonally across the dance, 1st man and 2nd lady passing above 1st lady and 3rd man.
27- 28    Dropping left hands, 1st couple turn their second corners half-way round by the right hand, so that 1st couple finish in second place on wrong sides while their corners are in their proper places i.e. 2nd lady is in top place, and 3rd man in third place on own sides.**
29-30    1st man and 3rd lady change places giving right hands. 1st lady and 2nd man change places similarly.
31- 32    1st and 2nd men, and 1st and 3rd ladies change places on the sides giving left hands. This last four bar figure is like half rights and lefts but on the diagonal, and 2nd man and 3rd lady do “polite” turns at the end.

Friday Night Reel
Bob McMurtry – Dragonfly
32 bar reel for 3 couples

1-8    1st couple lead down the middle for three steps and back for three steps and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 7 & 8

9-16    1st and 3rd couples dance right hands across and left hands back

17-24    1st couple dance a figure of eight by dancing between 2nd couple to begin.

25-32    2nd and 1st couples dance rights and lefts.

Repeat having passed a couple

First full class of the season. You can view the schedule for the class at the class schedule on my blog site. I will be updating it as programs are developed.

For the first few classes we will be focusing on dances for the Ottawa Branch 50th Anniversary dance. I have made some unofficial cribs for the program and posted then to my blog.

West’s Hornpipe
32R 4C (4C Set)

1–8        First woman dances a reel of three with second and third men finishing in her partner’s place while first man does same with second and third women.

9–16    First, second and third couples dance reels of three on own sides.

17–24    First couple lead down the middle and up again, turning inwards on last step to face second couple diagonally.

25–28    First couple set to second couple and, joining nearer hands, dance down to foot of the set and turn inwards. Second, third and fourth couples move up.

29–32    First and fourth couples dance four hands round.

Repeat with new couple.

Ladies’ Pocket Book 1797
Tune:  Robertson’s Hornpipe.

Bedrule
RSCDS Book XXXIII – No. 7 
(Strathspey)

1–8        1st and 2nd women, and at the same time 1st and 2nd men, turn once round with both hands,opening out on the side lines and continuing into four hands round to the left and then 1st and 2nd couples turn partners once round to finish in the middle of the set, ready for promenade. On bar 8, 3rd couple dance in and take promenade hold.

9–16    1st, 2nd and 3rd couples promenade. On bars 15 – 16, 1st couple cast off to second place, while 2nd couple dance up to first place and 3rd couple return to original place.

17–20    1st and 3rd couples dance right hands across, finishing on the sidelines.

21–24    1st and 2nd couples dance left hands across, 1st couple finishing in second place facing down.

25–32    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance reels of three on the sides. 1st couple begin the reels by giving right shoulder to 3rd couple, and at the end they face down ready to repeat the dance.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Betty Grant, Toronto, Ontario, 1984, in memory of her great, great grandmother Elizabeth Turnbull Dickson who left her home, Bedrule, near Jedburgh, in 1834 to emigrate to Canada.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
Bar 20    1st woman dances into second place on her own side pulling her right shoulder back, to prepare for left hands across.
Bar 24    1st woman dances straight out to second place on her own side, to give right shoulder to 3rd woman as she enters the reels of three.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
1-8    1st & 2nd cpls stay in the middle at end of bar 6, & flow into the 2H turns.
17-20    On bar 20, 1st woman turns R about into sidelines & faces up ready for LH across.
21-24    On bar 24, 1st woman dances into 2nd place, facing down, to enter reel with 3rd woman.
25-32    1st cpl finish facing down, 3rd cpl facing up, ready for bar 1 of repetition.

THE SHORES OF SOLWAY
10 SOCIAL DANCES devised by ROY GOLDRING
32 bar strathspey for 3 couples

1–4        First couple dance in towards each other and cast off to third place. Second and third couples step up on bars 3–4.

5–8    Second couple repeat bars 1–4. Third and first couples step up on bars 7–8.

9–16    Three couple knot. First couple finish facing first corners.

17–20    First couple set to first corners then dance round each other by the right to second corners.

21–24    First couple set to second corners then dance round each other by the right to second place on own sides.

25–32    Six hands round and back.

Repeat having passed a couple.
For Joe Murphy

THE QUINTE GATHERING

32-bar reel for three couples in a four couple longwise set 
Bars
1-8    1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance crossover reels of 3, all couples crossing to the opposite sides when they reach the top.

9-12    As 2nd couple continue to dance up into 1st place, 1st couple cross down, giving left hands, through 2nd place and cast to their right, 1st woman down around 3rd man (in 3rd woman’s place) and 1st man up around 2nd woman (in 1st man’s place).

13-16      1st couple, giving right hands, change places up and down the middle of the set and cast to their right, 1st woman casting between 2nd couple and 1st man between 3rd couple.   They finish with left hands joined in a diagonal line between 2nd corner positions   (1st woman is above her partner; hands are not joined with 2nd man and 3rd woman).

Corner Targe 
17-18     1st couple turns by the left 3/4, while corners dance clockwise to the next corner.
19-20    1st couple turns the person in 1st corner positions by the right hand once round (1st man with 3rd woman, 1st woman with 2nd man). 3rd man and 2nd woman set.
21-22    1st couple turn by the left hand 3/4, while the corners dance clockwise to the next corner.
23-24    1st couple turn the person in 2nd corner position by the right hand once round (1st man with 3rd woman, 1st woman with 2nd man). 3rd man and 2nd woman set. 1st couple finish in 2nd place on opposite sides.

25-28    1st couple dance half reels of 3 on the sides, 1st woman giving left shoulder to 3rd man to begin, 1st man giving left shoulder 2nd woman to begin.  1st couple finish in 2nd place on opposite sides.

29-32    1st man dances a half figure of eight around 2nd couple, while 1st woman dances a 1/2 figure of eight around 3rd couple.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Craig Williams, Ottawa.  Inscribed to the Belleville Scottish Country Dance Group for their wonderful workshops.

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

1–8        1st couple cross, giving right hands, and cast off one place as 2nd couple step             up. 1st couple dance a half figure of eight round 2nd couple to finish facing first corners.

9–16    1st couple turn corners and partner to finish in second place on opposite sides, facing out.

17–22    1st couple cast to their left, man up, woman down, round second corner positions. They change places up and down the dance in the     middle, giving right hands, and cast to second place on own sides. Meanwhile, 2nd and 3rd couples cross, giving  right hands, and set, facing up             and down on the sidelines     (2nd man to 3rd man and 2nd woman to 3rd woman). They change places on the sidelines, giving left hands. On bar 18, 2nd woman and 3rd man make a long turn as do 2nd man and 3rd woman on bar 22.

23–24    All set to partners.       

25–32    3rd, 1st and 2nd couples dance half rights and left on the diagonal, twice.

Repeat from new positions.

Devised by Brian Mortimer and presented to Carol Mortimer and Peter Schut on the occasion of their wedding, 21 May 1988.

STANFORD SWING
The Devil’s Quandary by Bob McMurtry
40 bar Jig/Reel for 3 couples – May 2002

1–6        1st couple set, cross with right hands and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 5 & 6.

7–8        1st couple turn three quarters, with the left hand, to face first corners.

9–16        1st couple dance the La Baratte with first corners. 1st couple stay facing out while corners stay facing in.

17–20    1st couple dance round second corners, passing left shoulders, and in the ends of the set, 1st man dancing between the 2nd couple and 1st woman through the 3rd couple. 1st couple end in the middle left shoulder to left shoulder, while first corners turn by the right hand for 4 bars and back to place.

21–24    1st couple turn by the left hand one and a half times to face second corner.

25–32    1st couple dance a La Baratte with second corners. 1st couple stay facing out while corners stay facing in.

33–36    1st man dances left round 2nd man into second place on own side, facing down, while 1st woman dances left round 3rd woman into second place own side facing up. Second corners turn by the right hand, once round, back to place but facing the 1st couple, as they arrive in second place.

37–40    1st man with 3rd man, 1st woman with 2nd woman, dance back to back on the sides

Repeat having passed a couple.

Dance Notes:  Corners use the full 4 bars for the turn in bars 17-20 and 33-36. 1st corners should utilize the vacated spot in second place to dance through to avoid running into 1st couple on bars 17-24. The turn for 1st couple on bars 21-24 should be quick. 1st couple slow down on bars 33-36. Second corners and 1st couple should flow into the back to back figure.

Music:  Jeannie o’ the Witchin E’e (jig) on Dances from the Collections of Mary MacNab, Volume 2 (CD) and The Bull Stane (reel) on Memories of Fife.

Notes:  Dedicated to the Stanford Class in their final year of dancing in the San Francisco Branch.

Additional Note:  On bars 25 &26 there should be a setting step before La Baratte.

Farewell to Benbecula 
32 bar Strathspey for 3 couples 3 x 32

1–2        1st & 2nd couples set with nearer hands joined

3–4        1st & 2nd couples half turn partner 2H & finish in the centre with the 1st couple facing down & the 2nd couple facing up.

5–6        1st & 2nd couples, nearer hands joined, set advancing, passing the other couple by the left.

7–8        1st & 2nd couples half turn partner 2H & finish on the sides with the 1st couple in 2nd place facing out.

9–14    2nd, 1st & 3rd couples dance a right shoulder reel of three on the sides of the set. 1W & 3W also 1M & 2M pass right to begin. 1St couple again face out in 2nd place on #14.

15–16     1W & 2W change places LH while 1M & 2M change places RH.

17–20     1st couple petronella turn to the right finishing in the centre of the dance & set.

21–24     1st couple turn partner RH x1&1/4 to own sides & face in.

25–32     1st, 2nd & 3rd couples dance a Slip Knot for 3 couples
   
Bars:

25-26    1st, 2nd and 3rd couples, giving right  hands,  turn  partners  half‐way round to finish in the middle facing down, each woman turning to the right under her partner’s arm into allemande hold.
27-29    3rd couple, followed by 2nd and 1st couples, curve round and dance up the women’s side, releasing right hands at the end of bar 5.
30        The men, continuing to dance up the women’s side, begin to turn as they pass their partners across in front of them. The women take a long step towards the middle.
31-32    1st couple, in third place, turn with the left hand to own sides. At the same time 3rd and 2nd couples dance left hands across halfway round to finish on own sides in the order 2, 3, 1.

Deirdre MacCuish Bark: January 2014.
For Theresa Malek to celebrate a special birthday:
Theresa’s ancestors were cleared from Benbecula in the 1840s & compelled to emigrate to North America.
Recommended Music:  Farewell to Benbecula by Marian Anderson (Ask Deirdre)
The tunes played by Marian are “Farewell to Benbecula”, “Calum’s Road”
And the third is a Muriel Johnston tune “The Inman’s of Allanton” or Ribble Valley CD: David Queen’s Strathspey.

The Montgomeries’ Rant
RSCDS Book 10 – No. 1
32-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1 – 8    1st couple, giving right hands, cross over and cast off one place on opposite sides. 1st couple, giving left hands, cross over and 1st woman casts up one place while 1st man casts off one place. 1st woman finishes between 2nd couple facing 2nd man with 1st man between 3rd couple facing 3rd woman. 2nd couple step up on bars 3-4.

9 – 16    1st woman with 2nd couple and 1st man with 3rd couple dance reels of three across the set. 1st woman and 2nd man and 1st man and 3rd woman pass by the right to begin. On bar 16, 1st couple, with nearer hands joined, face 2nd woman.

17 – 24    1st couple set to 2nd woman. 1st couple turn towards each other and change hands to face 3rd man and set. 1st couple move round to face 3rd woman and set. 1st     couple turn towards each other and change hands to face 2nd man and set. 1st couple finish facing second corners.

25 – 30    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance reels of three on the sides. 1st couple pass second corners by the right to begin.

31 – 32    1st couple, giving right hands, cross to second place on own sides.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

The Register of Dances at Castle Menzies, 1749.

Original tune: Lord Eglintoune (John Riddell, c. 1766) but usually danced to Lady Montgomerie (Lord Eglintoune, 1796).
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TACNotes:’
17-24    1st woman is on her partner’s left to begin &, on bar 24, turns L about, with assistance from her partner, to face her second corner.

Bonnie Ina Campbell
RSCDS Book XXXVII No. 6
(Strathspey)

1–8        1st couple turn once round with the right hand, lead down the middle, dance out below 3rd couple, cast up to second place on own sides and turn with the left hand to finish with 1st woman in the middle of the dance in top place facing 2nd man and 1st man in the middle in third place facing 3rd woman. 2nd couple step up on bars 3–4.

9–16    1st couple dance reels of three across the dance with 2nd and 3rd couples, 1st woman giving left shoulder to 2nd man to begin, and 1st man giving left shoulder to 3rd woman. 2nd and 3rd couples dance complete reels but, on bar 12, 1st couple turn each other with the right hand to continue in the track of each other’s reel. At the end, 1st couple meet in the middle in second place and pull right shoulders back to face first corners.

17–18    1st couple change places with their first corners giving right hands while second corners set facing each other.

19–20    First corners turn with the left hand three quarters round, while 1st couple and second corners dance round clockwise to the next corner position.

21–22    1st couple change places with their first corners in person giving right hands while second corners set facing each other.

23–24    1st couple turn with the left hand one and a quarter times to face first corner positions, while the corners dance round clockwise to the next corner position.

25–28    Giving right shoulder to person in first corner position, 1st couple dance a half reel of four with first corners. At the end, 1st couple pass by the right to face second corner positions.

29–32    Giving right shoulder to the person in second corner position, 1st couple dance a half reel of four with second corners. At the end, 1st couple pass by the right to second place on own sides.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by George Will (Vancouver Branch)
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TACNotes:’
9-16    Note that 1st woman dances towards men’s side for both half reels, while 1st man dances towards women’s side for both.

Polharrow Burn
RSCDS Three Dances by Hugh Foss
32-bar reel for five couples in a five-couple longwise set

1–4        1st and 3rd couples, giving right hands, cross over and cast off one place. 2nd and 4th couples step up on bars 3-4.

5–8        1st couple dance a half figure of eight round 2nd couple while 3rd couple dance a half figure of eight round 4th couple.

9–16    1st and 3rd couples turn with the right hand once round, then with the left hand to finish facing first corner positions. At the same time 2nd couple, giving right hands, cross over and 2nd man, followed by his partner, dances down behind the women’s line and across at the foot of the set to finish in fifth place on own side of the dance. Similarly, 5th couple, giving right hands, cross over and 5th woman, followed by her partner, dances up behind the men’s line and across to finish in first place on own  side of the dance.

17–20    1st and 3rd couples dance a half reel of four with the dancers in first corner positions. To finish they pass by the left shoulder to face second corner positions.

21–24    1st and 3rd couples dance a half reel of four with the dancers in second corner positions. To finish, they pass by the left shoulder to face their partners’ first corner positions.

25–28    1st and 3rd couples dance a half reel of four with the dancers in their partners’ first corner positions and finish, passing by the left shoulder to second and fourth place on own sides of the dance. The order is now 2, 1, 4, 3, 5.

29–32    1st and 3rd couples turn with the left hand and cast off one place on own sides. 4th and 5th couples step up on bars 31-32.

Repeat from new posititions.

Originally published as Glendarroch Sheet No. 18
Original tune:  Miss Clementina Loughan (Nathaniel Gow) From Old Scottish Music by Annie Shand