We will repeat one dance from last week and a couple from the first class on Sept. 17

The Waratah Weaver
RSCDS Second Book of Graded Scottish Country Dances
32-bar jig for four couples in a four-couple longwise set

1 – 8    1st couple dance a figure of eight on own sides, dancing in and down to begin and giving nearer hands on bars 1 and 5.

9 – 16    3rd couple dance a figure of eight on own sides, dancing in and up to begin and giving nearer hands on bars 9 and 13.

17 – 24    1st, 2nd and 3rd couples, giving right hands, turn once round and, giving left hands , turn once round to places.

25 – 28    1st couple, with both hands joined, slip down the middle with four slip steps and back up the middle with four slip steps to finish in the middle at first place facing up.

29 – 32    1st couple cast off to the foot of the set.2nd, 3rd and 4th couples step up on bars 31-32.

Repeat with a new top couple.

The Highland Fair
RSCDS Graded Book
32 bar jig for 2 couples

1 – 8    First couple cast off and dance down behind own line for 4 skip change of step, turn outwards and dance four steps back to place.

9 – 16    First and second couples turn partner with right hand and return to place – 4 skip change of step, then repeat, giving left hand.

17 – 24    First couple, followed by second couple, lead down the middle for 4 skip change of step. Second couple, followed by first couple, lead up the middle to finish second couple at top and first couple in second place.  (Figs. 1 and 2.)

25 – 32    First and second couples dance right and left.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Ceilidh Madness
Let’s All Dance, Too, 1997
32/R/4

1 – 8    1st woman, followed by 2nd and 3rd women, dance across the set, down behind 1st, 2nd and 3rd men, across to the women’s side and return to places.

9 – 16    Men repeat around the women, 1st man leading.

17 – 20    With both hands joined, 1st couple slip down  and back to the top.

21 – 24    1st couple cast off to 4th place.  2nd, 3rd and 4th couples step up on bars 7-8 of the phrase.

25 – 32    All circle 8 hands round and back.

Repeat from new places.

We are looking forward to starting another class of people new to Scottish Country Dancing. I will try to post the dance instructions for the class here before the class. I may also post links to dancing videos available on the internet.

Video: The Highland Fair

The Highland Fair
RSCDS Graded Book
32 bar Jig for 2 couples

1 – 8    First couple cast off and dance down behind own line for 4 skip change of step, turn outwards and dance four steps back to place.

9 – 16    First and second couples turn partner with right hand and return to place – 4 skip change of step, then repeat, giving left hand.

17 – 24    First couple, followed by second couple, lead down the middle for 4 skip change of step. Second couple, followed by first couple, lead up the middle to finish second couple at top and first couple in second place.  (Figs. 1 and 2.)

25 – 32    First and second couples dance right and left.
Repeat, having passed a couple.

Video: A Wee Nothin’ 
The dance starts about 1:15 of the video

A Wee Nothin’
32 Bar jig for 2 couples

1 – 8    1st and 2nd couples dance Right Hands across and Left Hands back to place.

9 – 14    1st Lady followed by the 2nd Lady dance across the top of the set, behind the men’s line, 1st Lady dances below the 2nd man, and 2nd Lady dances between the two men, and across to their own side, both pull LEFT shoulders back.

15 – 16    1st and 2nd ladies join hands and Set.  (Men do not set back)

17 – 22    1st Man followed by the 2nd Man dance across the top of the set, behind the ladies’ line, 1st Man dances below the 2nd lady’s position, 2nd Man dances between the two ladies, and across to their own side, both pull RIGHT shoulders back.

23 – 24    1st and 2nd Men join hands and Set.  (Ladies do not set back)

25 – 32    2nd and 1st couples dance Rights and Lefts.

Ceilidh Madness
32 Bar Reel fo 4 couples
by Sarah Harriman, Austin, Texas & Headquarters
Let’s All Dance, Too, 1997

1 – 8    1st woman, followed by 2nd and 3rd women, dance across the set, down behind 1st, 2nd and 3rd men, across to the women’s side and return to places.

9 – 16    Men repeat around the women, 1st man leading.

17 – 20    With both hands joined, 1st couple slip down  and back to the top.

21 – 24    1st couple cast off to 4th place.  2nd, 3rd and 4th couples step up on bars 7-8 of the phrase.

25 – 32    All circle 8 hands round and back.

Repeat from new places.

The Beginners Ball was held this past weekend. I hope everyone enjoyed themselves. Having Laura Risk and Nicholas Williams play for us was a real treat. I thought the dancers from Ardbrae, including the beginners, were well prepared for the program. The beginners deserve a congratulations for showing up and dancing fifteen dances in one event.

The dances for our summer classes will be posted on our web site Ottawa Dance Scottish rather than to this blog. The summer classes begin on May 17, 7:30pm at the Churchill Recreation Center. I hope to see many of you there.

This is the final class of the season. Remember, this class is at the Churchill Recreation Center. We will be focusing on dances on the AGM program. If time permits we will revisit The Minister On the Loch. This dance was covered in one of the combined sessions in March.

I found two videos of The Minister on the Loch. Both have very good dances and are shot from above with may help to see the pattern of the poussette in strathspey time i.e. the first 8 bars of the dance. Here are some instructions for the strathspey poussette.
Video: The Minster On the Loch
Video: The Minister On the Loch

This next video starts with The Highland Fair but continues into other dances. At about the four minute mark they do Fair Donald
Video: The Highland Fair and Fair Donald

Video: The Reel of the 51st Division

Video: The De’il Amang the Tailors

The Highland Fair
RSCDS Graded Book
A 32 bar jig for 2 couples

MUSIC                    DESCRIPTION
Bars
1 – 8    First couple cast off and dance down behind own line for 4 skip change of step, turn outwards and dance four steps back to place.

9 – 16    First and second couples turn partner with right hand and return to place – 4 skip change of step, then repeat, giving left hand.

17 – 24    First couple, followed by second couple, lead down the middle for 4 skip change of step. Second couple, followed by first couple, lead up the middle to finish second couple at top and first couple in second place.

25 – 32    First and second couples dance right and left.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

FAIR DONALD
RSCDS Book 29  No. 4
(Strathspey)

Music                           DESCRIPTION
Bars
1 – 4    First couple, with nearer hands joined, dance down between second couple and cast up to place.

5 – 8    First couple, with nearer hands joined, dance down between third couple and cast up to first corners; second couple step up on bars seven and eight.

9 – 16    First couple reel of four with first corners passing partner with left shoulder at end of reel.

17 – 24    First couple reel of four with second corners finishing as in Fig.

25 – 26    First couple cast off into second place.

27 – 28    Second, first and third couples set.

29 – 32    Second, first and third couples turn partners with two hands.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

The Deil amang the Tailors
RSCDS Book 14 – No. 7
32-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

Bars                        Description

1 – 4    1st and 2nd couples set to partners and dance right hands across halfway round.

5 – 8    2nd and 1st couples set to partners and dance left hands across halfway round to original places.

9 – 16    1st couple lead down the middle and up 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, 1st and 3rd couples dance six hands round and back.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Dale’s Collection of Reels and Dances c. 1799.
Original tune: The Deil amang the Tailors (Gow)
   

The Minister on the Loch
RSCDS Four Dances 2008
32-bar strathspey for three couples in a three-couple longwise set

Bars                    Description

1 – 8    1st and 2nd couples dance a poussette right round.

9 – 16    1st couple dance down the middle for two steps and, giving both hands, turn once round to finish in the middle facing up. 1st couple dance up the middle for two steps and, giving both hands, turn once round to finish in the middle facing up.

17 – 24    1st and 3rd couples dance a double figure of eight. To begin, 1st couple cast off and 3rd couple cross up. 1st couple finish in original places, facing out. 

25 – 28    1st and 2nd women, giving right hands, and 1st and 2nd men, giving left hands, turn one and a half times to change places.

29 – 32    1st and 3rd women, giving left hands, and 1st and 3rd men, giving right hands, turn one and a half times to change places.

Repeat from new positions.

Devised by Roy Goldring for Robert MacKay
Original tune: Muriel Johnstone’s compliments to Robert MacKay  (Muriel A Johnstone)
Originally published in 24 Graded and Social Dances devised by Roy Goldring

The dance takes its name from the painting: Reverend Robert Walker (1755-1808) Skating on Duddingston Loch by Sir Henry Raeburn

The Reel of the 51st Division
RSCDS Book 13 – No. 10
32-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

Bars                        Description

1 – 8    1st couple set to each other and cast off two places, meet below 3rd couple and lead up the middle to face first corners. 2nd couple step up on bars 3-4.

9 – 12    1st couple set to and turn first corners with the right hand, finishing in a diagonal line by joining left hands with partner.

13 – 14    1st couple and first corners balance in line.

15 – 16    1st couple, releasing right hands with corners, turn each other one and a quarter times to face second corners.

17 – 22    1st couple repeat bars 9-14 with second corners.

23 – 24    1st couple cross to second place on own sides.

25 – 32    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance six hands round and back.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Jimmy Atkinson, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, and Peter Oliver, Seaforth Highlanders (London Scottish), with advice from Tom Harris-Hunter, Royal Army Service Corps while all were interned in the Prisoner of War camp at Laufen in Germany.

Original tune:  The Drunken Piper or Highland Rory Alex. McLeod, c. 1880

The original instructions in the form of notes, written by Tom Harris-Hunter on a scruffy piece of paper when he was a prisoner of war, clearly show that the dance was intended for a five couple set as it is still danced in Perthshire.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
1-8    Set (no stealing) bars 1-2, cast bars 3-5, dance in to meet on bar 6, lead up on bar 7 to face corners on bar 8.         

This week and next week we are going to try to get through as many of the Beginner Ball dances as we can. We will be doing different dances after the break so we can hopefully review six dances this week. The first three dances we will do in class before the break. The next three we will cover after the break.

The instructions for all the Beginner Ball dances are available here: Crib Notes

Video: Petronella by dancers in Frankfurt.
Video: Balmoral Strathspey

Jimmy’s Fancy
RSCDS Book 14 – No. 11
32-bar strathspey for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

Bars                        Description

1 – 8        1st and 2nd couples dance right hands across for three steps and left hands back. 1st couple cast off one place on own sides while 2nd couple dance up to first place.

9 – 16        1st woman with 2nd couple, 1st man with 3rd couple dance three hands round and back. 1st couple finish facing first corners.

17 – 24    1st couple set to and turn corners to finish between them.

25 – 32    1st couple lead down between 3rd couple, cross over to own sides, cast up round 3rd couple, dance up between 2nd couple and cast off to second place on own sides.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Thompson’s Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances c. 1755.
Original tune: Lord Seaforth (Surenne)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’    29-30   Nearer hand lead up.

Petronella
RSCDS Book 1 – No. 1
32-bar reel for two couples in a four-couple longwise set

Bars                        Description

1 – 2    1st couple dance a petronella turn, i.e. they dance a three-quarters turn, moving diagonally to their right into the middle of the set and pull back right shoulders to face partner.

3 – 4    1st couple set to each other.

5 – 16    1st couple repeat bars 1– 4 always moving to the right until they are back in original positions.

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.

Introduced at Nathaniel Gow’s Annual Ball in Edinburgh, 1820. J P Boulogne:  The Ball-Room or the Juvenile Pupil’s Assistant, Glasgow 1827.
Original tine:  Petronella (Traditional)

McMARLEY’S CROSS
A 32 bar strathspey for a 3 couple set
Rose and Thistle Book, of dances devised by Wigan Thistle Society

BARS
1 – 4    1st, 2nd and 3rd couples turn partner by the right hand once round.

5 – 8    1st, 2nd and 3rd couples turn partner by the left hand once round.

9 – 12    1st couple set and cast off one place. (2nd couple step up bars 11 &12.)

13 – 16    1st and 2nd couples dance right hands across.

17 – 20    1st couple set and cast off one place. (3rd couple step up bars 19 & 20.)

21 – 24    1st and 3rd couples dance left hands across.

25 – 32    2nd, 3rd and 1st couples dance a grand chain. (1st couple face 3rd couple and 2nd couple cross.)

Devised by – Lorna Grundy, Lisa Jones, Ailsa Longmuir, Rebecca Markey, Kathryn Parkinson, Katherine Small and Nicola Strachan, some of the Junior Members of the
Thistle Society, Wigan (1994)

Balmoral Strathspey
RSCDS Book 22 – No. 3

MUSIC                    DESCRIPTION
Bars
1 – 8    First couple with second, and third couple with fourth, dance right and left.

9 – 12    First couple with second, and third couple with fourth, set and dance right hands across half way  round.

13 – 16    All set, and, giving right hands in passing, cross to own sides. (The order is now 2, 1, 4, 3.)

17 – 24    Reels of four at the sides, second couple facing first, and fourth couple facing third.  (Fig. 1.)

25 – 32    First, fourth and third couples allemande to finish, first couple at bottom, fourth couple in third, and third couple in second place.  (Fig. 2.)

Repeat, with a new couple leading.

Devised by John A. Charles, Kawerau, New Zealand.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
Bars 17-24    1st, 4th and 3rd couples should complete the reel in seven steps using the eight to dance towards             partner for the allemande.   
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
17-24    1st, 4th & 3rd cpls dance reel in 7 bars &, on bar 24, dance into position for allemande.

THE MOUNTAIN STREAM
Graded and Social Dances 3,  devised by Roy Goldring
32 bar Reel for 2 couples

Bars
1 – 8    1st woman and 2nd man set twice then turn with right hands. They finish in place.

9 – 16    1st man and 2nd woman set twice then turn with left hands. They finish in place – 1st man facing out.

17 – 24    1st man, followed by his partner, casts behind 2nd man, crosses up between 2nd couple, casts behind 2nd woman and crosses to 2nd place on own side.1st woman finishes in 2nd woman’s place. 2nd couple step up on bars 23-24.

25 – 32    2nd and 1st couples dance right hands across and left hands across.

Repeat having passed a couple.

Tune:    Miss Jean Donaldson’s Hornpipe (Traditional – James Walker 1st Collection)

The Wellingtonia Reel
12 Scottish Country Dances  devised by Mervyn Short
32 bar Reel for 3 couples

Bars

1 – 4    1C & 2C set and link, 1M finish facing out.
5 – 8    1M, followed by partner, casts up and dances down the middle to finish facing 3M, 1W faces 2M.

9 – 16    1M with 3C and 1W with 2C dance reels of three across, passing right shoulders to begin; finish as started.

17 – 20    1M & 3M and 1W & 2M turn right hands.
21 – 24    1M & 3W and 1W & 2W turn left hands, 1C finish in the centre facing down, (1M between 3C, 1W between 2C).

25 – 28    1M followed by partner, casts up one place on men’s side and dances across to the opposite side in second place. 1W finishes in second place on the men’s side.
29 – 32    1C turn right hands one and a half times, to finish in second place own sides.

Repeat having passed a couple.

This dance was inspired by the magnificent Wellingtonia trees near     Finchampstead, Berkshire which I regularly travel past on the way to class.

Tune:  The Burnt Leg

We are continuing to review dances for the Beginners’ Ball. Although, Fair Donald, is on the AGM. There are four dances listed but the last one will likely only be done after the break

Video: Fair Donald This video has a number of dances. The dance Fair Donald isn’t done until about 4 minutes into the video

Video: Flowers of Edinburgh

Video: Granville Market Skip ahead to the 41:30 point in the video to see the dance

Beach Dancer
A 32 bar Jig for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set
For Margaret Blackhall, a teacher at Kamo Club who lives on the coast at Ngunguru.
Devised by Eddy West 2003.

1-4    First couple set and cross giving right hand.
5-8    First couple set to second couple and change places on the side giving left hands (men remain facing out).

9-16    Second and first couples dance a ladies chain, first man finishes facing out. First couple must continue into the next figure without hesitation.

17-20    First man casts down round third lady and crosses to third place, own side then casts up behind third man to second place, first lady follows to own side third place then dances up the middle to second place on own side.
21-24    First and second ladies, and at the same time first and second men, turn giving left hands.

25-32    Second, first and third couples dance reels of three on the sides, first couple passing third couple right shoulder to start.

Repeat having passed a couple
Suggested recorded music “Over the Pond II” – Sound Company CD “On Track”.

FAIR DONALD
RSCDS Book 29  No. 4
(Strathspey)

Music                           DESCRIPTION
Bars
1 – 4    First couple, with nearer hands joined, dance down between second couple and cast up to place.

5 – 8    First couple, with nearer hands joined, dance down between third couple and cast up to first corners; second couple step up on bars seven and eight.

9 – 16    First couple reel of four with first corners passing partner with left     shoulder at end of reel.

17 – 24    First couple reel of four with second corners finishing as in Fig.

25 – 26    First couple cast off into second place.

27 – 28    Second, first and third couples set.

29 – 32    Second, first and third couples turn partners with two hands.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

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

Bars                        Description

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.

Kate Hughes’ Dancing Book (MS), Dundalk 1867.
Original tune:  Flowers of Edinburgh (Traditional)

Granville Market
RSCDS Second Book of Graded Scottish Country Dances
32-bar jig for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

Bars                         Description

1 – 8    1st and 2nd couples dance right hands across and left hands back.

9 – 12    1st couple, giving right hands, cross and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 11-12.

13 – 16    1st couple dance a half figure of eight up around 2nd couple.1st couple finish facing first corners.

17 – 18    1st couple, giving right hands, turn first corners.

19 – 20    1st couple pass each other in the middle by the right to face second corners.

21 – 22    1st couple, giving right hands, turn second corners.

23 – 24    1st couple pass each other by the right to finish in second place on own sides.

25 – 32    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance six hands round and back.

Devised by Elinor M Vandegrift, RSCDS Seattle Branch.
Granville Market is on Granville Island in Vancouver, B.C.

Inscribed to the children and organisers of the Vancouver Branch Children’s Scottish Country Dance workshops. It was presented at Vancouver Branch’s Whistler Weekend, May 1985.

Here are the dances for this week. We are focusing on the dances for the Beginners’ Ball. Since many of the dancers in this class were introduced to the Strathspey Poussette (follow the link to a detailed description of the formation) last week we will also try to review that. Hopefully, the class will be comfortable with it at the AGM social. Here is a video of the dance we did last week – Minister on the Loch It starts with the Strathspey Poussette

I have included a video of the dance Petronella. You will have to go to the blog to view it.

A DANCING CAREER
or
A DANCE IN KOREA
THE GREENBURN BOOK, A Collection of Scottish Country Dances by JOHN DREWRY, 1997 – 1998
devised in September 1997   
for Campbell and Isobel Barclay of Kippford and for the dancers in Korea

Jig –  2 couples – 32 bars

BARS

1 – 4    1st couple, joining nearer hands, dance down between 2nd couple and then cast up back to place.

5 – 8    1st and 2nd couples dance right hands across.

9 – 16    1st couple dance a figure of eight round 2nd couple’s places. At the same time, 2nd couple set to each other, cross giving right hands, set on opposite sides and cross back to own sides giving right hands. 2nd couple stay facing out.

17 – 20    1st couple lead down the middle and 2nd couple dance up on the sides to first place and then follow 1st couple down the middle.

21 – 24    2nd couple, followed by 1st couple, lead up the middle and stay in the middle ready for : –

25 – 32    2nd and 1st couples dance a two-couple promenade.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Jimmy’s Fancy
RSCDS Book 14 – No. 11
32-bar strathspey for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

Bars                        Description

1 – 8    1st and 2nd couples dance right hands across for three steps and left hands back. 1st couple cast off one place on own sides while 2nd couple dance up to first place.

9 – 16    1st woman with 2nd couple, 1st man with 3rd couple dance three hands round and back. 1st couple finish facing first corners.

17 – 24    1st couple set to and turn corners to finish between them.

25 – 32    1st couple lead down between 3rd couple, cross over to own sides, cast up round 3rd couple, dance up between 2nd couple and cast off to second place on own sides.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Thompson’s Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances c. 1755.
Original tune: Lord Seaforth (Surenne)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’    29-30   Nearer hand lead up.

Petronella
RSCDS Book 1 – No. 1
32-bar reel for two couples in a four-couple longwise set

Bars                        Description

1 – 2    1st couple dance a petronella turn, i.e. they dance a three-quarters turn, moving diagonally to their right into the middle of the set and pull back right shoulders to face partner.  (Fig.)

3 – 4    1st couple set to each other.

5 – 16    1st couple repeat bars 1– 4 always moving to the right until they are back in original positions.

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.

Introduced at Nathaniel Gow’s Annual Ball in Edinburgh, 1820.
J P Boulogne:  The Ball-Room or the Juvenile Pupil’s Assistant, Glasgow 1827.

Original tine:  Petronella (Traditional)

Here are the dances for this week. Again it is a combined class. We will be covering some things that wouldn’t normally be covered in a beginner class.

The Highland Fair       
RSCDS Graded Book
1 – 8    1C cast off & dance down behind lines, turn outwards & dance back up to place
9 – 16    1C and 2C turn partner RH then LH.
17 – 24    1C, followed by 2C (who dance up on the sides) lead down the middle and up (2C leading) to new places.
25 – 32    2C and 1C dance Rights and Lefts.

The Minister on the Loch
Goldring, 24 Graded
1 – 8    1C and 2C dance all round poussette.
9 – 16    1C dance down middle (2 steps), turn BH (2 steps), dance up middle (2 steps) and turn BH (2 steps) to finish in centre facing up.
17 – 24    1C and 3C dance double figure of eight. 1C cast off and 3C cross up to begin. 1C finish in original places, facing out.
25 – 28    1W & 2W turn RH 1½ times while 1M & 2M turn LH 1½ times. 1C finish in 2nd place, facing in.
29 – 32    1W and 3W turn LH 1½ times while 1M and 3M turn RH 1½ times. 1C finish in 3rd place.

Flowers of Edinburgh
RSCDS Book 1
(Beginners’ Ball)
1 – 6    1W cast off behind 2 & 3W, cross set below 3C and dance up behind 3 & 2M to partner’s place; at same time 1M cross set, follow 1W down behind 2 & 3W and dance up middle to partner’s place
7 – 8    1C set
9 – 14    repeat bars 1-6 (with 1M leading) and finish in original places
15 – 16    1C set 
17 – 24    1C lead down the middle & up (staying in middle, 2C step in on 24, ready for…)
25 – 32    1C and 2C Poussette

Braveheart           
Drewry, Bankhead 6           
32 S 3C        (Beginners’ Ball)
1 – 4    1C set to each other and, giving RH, cross down to 2nd place on opposite sides and stay facing out. 2C step up on bars 3-4.
5 – 8    1C dance round 1st corners, passing them by RSh and then turn each other with LH to finish in the middle of the dance in 2nd place with the M facing down and the W facing up.
9 – 12    2M, 1M and 3M dance RH across on the M’s side, while their     partners dance RH across on the W’s side. At the end, 1C pass each other by RSh.
13 – 16    1W dances LH across with 2M and 3M on the M’s side while 1M dances LH across with 2W and 3W on the W’s side. 1M finishes between 2C in 1st place all facing down, while 1W finishes between 3C in 3rd place all facing up.
17 – 20    All set in lines of 3 facing down and up and then change places with the opposite person giving RH.
21 – 24    All set again in lines of 3 facing down and up and then change places with the opposite person giving right hand. 2C stay facing up in 1st place, 3C stay facing down in 3rd place and 1C turn right about to finish facing each other (M facing down, W up).
25 – 32    1M dances a reel of 3 across the dance in 1st place with 2C, beginning by giving RSh to 2M. 1W, similarly, dances a reel of 3 across the dance in 3rd place with 3C, beginning by giving RSh to 3W. At the end, 1C dance to 2nd place on own sides.

La Tempête (The Tempest)
RSCDS Book 2

[In lines of 4 across the room, 2 couples facing 2 couples, W on right of partners,
1C and 2C facing 3C and 4C. 1C are on right of 2C. They face 3C and 4C respectively.]
1 – 8    1C and 4C dance RH across and LH across back to places.
9 – 16    2C and 3C dance RH across and LH across back to places.
17 – 24    All set twice to partners and turn them with BH.
25 – 28    All join hands with partners and slip up or down to change places with couple opposite, men passing back to back.
29 – 32    Hands still joined with partners, all slip back to original places, W passing back to back.
33 – 36    1C with 3C and 2C with 4C circle 4-H round to Left.
37 – 40    1C with 3C and 2C with 4C dance LH across back to places.
41 – 43    In lines of 4, all advance (2 steps) and retire (1 step).
44     All clap 3 times.
45 – 48    1C and 2C dance down, passing under raised arms of 3C and 4C who are dancing up to finish facing new couples.

[Repeat with next 2 couples. As lines arrive at either the top or bottom of the room,
  change to correct side of partners and stand for one turn of the dance.]

This week is another combined class at the Churchill Recreation Center. We will be mostly focusing on beginner dances from the Tea Dance coming up on Sunday March 25. The Reel of the 51st Division is from the Ardbrae AGM program.

Beach Dancer
A 32 bar Jig for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set
For Margaret Blackhall, a teacher at Kamo Club who lives on the coast at Ngunguru.
Devised by Eddy West 2003.

1-4        First couple set and cross giving right hand.
5-8        First couple set to second couple and change places on the side giving left hands (men remain facing out).

9-16    Second and first couples dance a ladies chain, first man finishes facing out. First couple must continue into the next figure without hesitation.

17-20    First man casts down round third lady and crosses to third place, own side then casts up behind third man to second place, first lady follows to own side third place then dances up the middle to second place on own side.
21-24    First and second ladies, and at the same time first and second men, turn giving left hands.

25-32    Second, first and third couples dance reels of three on the sides, first couple passing third couple right shoulder to start.

Repeat having passed a couple
Suggested recorded music “Over the Pond II” – Sound Company CD “On Track”.

The Reel of the 51st Division
RSCDS Book 13 – No. 10
32-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

Bars                        Description
1 – 8        1st couple set to each other and cast off two places, meet below 3rd couple and lead up the middle to face first corners. 2nd couple step up on bars 3-4.

9 – 12        1st couple set to and turn first corners with the right hand, finishing in a diagonal line by joining left hands with partner.

13 – 14    1st couple and first corners balance in line.

15 – 16    1st couple, releasing right hands with corners, turn each other one and a quarter times to face second corners.

17 – 22    1st couple repeat bars 9-14 with second corners.

23 – 24    1st couple cross to second place on own sides.

25 – 32    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance six hands round and back.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Jimmy Atkinson, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, and Peter Oliver, Seaforth Highlanders (London Scottish), with advice from Tom Harris-Hunter, Royal Army Service Corps while all were interned in the Prisoner of War camp at Laufen in Germany.

Original tune:  The Drunken Piper or Highland Rory Alex. McLeod, c. 1880

The original instructions in the form of notes, written by Tom Harris-Hunter on a scruffy piece of paper when he was a prisoner of war, clearly show that the dance was intended for a five couple set as it is still danced in Perthshire.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
1-8    Set (no stealing) bars 1-2, cast bars 3-5, dance in to meet on bar 6, lead up on bar 7 to face corners on bar 8.         

Wisp of Thistle
RSCDS Book XXXVII    No.4
(Strathspey)

Music                   Description
Bars
1 – 4    1st and 3rd couples dance “Petronella turns” into the middle of the dance (1st man and 3rd woman back to back) and set to partners.

5 – 8    1st and 3rd couples dance a half reel of four.

9 – 10    3rd and 1st couples dance “Petronella turns” to own sides. (3rd couple are in first place and 1st couple in third place.)

11 – 12    3rd, 2nd and 1st couples set joining nearer hands on the sides.

13 – 16    3rd, 2nd and 1st couples turn partners with right hand to finish ready for allemande.

17 – 24    3rd, 2nd and 1st couples allemande.

25 – 28    1st couple cross over giving right hands and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 27–28.

29 – 32    1st couple dance a half figure of eight round 2nd couple.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Note: At the end of their second turn at the dance, 1st couple finish the half figure of eight by dancing down to fourth place while 4th couple step up to third place on bars 31–32.

Choreographed by Pat Kent in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, who, when she had seen the Scottish Country dancers perform in the Tattoo in Nova Scotia, stated that they looked like “wisps of thistle”.

Devised by Pat Kent (Nova Scotia Branch).

Granville Market
RSCDS Second Book of Graded Scottish Country Dances
32-bar jig for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

 Bars                         Description
1 – 8    1st and 2nd couples dance right hands across and left hands back.

9 – 12    1st couple, giving right hands, cross and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 11-12.

13 – 16    1st couple dance a half figure of eight up around 2nd couple. 1st couple finish facing first corners.

17 – 18    1st couple, giving right hands, turn first corners.

19 – 20    1st couple pass each other in the middle by the right to face second corners.

21 – 22    1st couple, giving right hands, turn second corners.

23 – 24    1st couple pass each other by the right to finish in second place on own sides.

25 – 32    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance six hands round and back.

Devised by Elinor M Vandegrift, RSCDS Seattle Branch.

Granville Market is on Granville Island in Vancouver, B.C.

Inscribed to the children and organisers of the Vancouver Branch Children’s Scottish Country Dance workshops. It was presented at Vancouver Branch’s Whistler Weekend, May 1985.

THE PIPER AND THE PENGUIN
The Scotia Suite of Scottish Country Dances devised by Roy Goldring
(Reel for Four Couples in a Square Set)

Bars        Description
1 – 4    The women dance round their corners, passing in front of them to begin.

5 – 8    The women dance right hands across and remain in the centre.

9 – 12    The women dance round their partners, passing in front of them to begin.

13 – 16    The women dance left hands across and finish in original places.

17 – 32    The men repeat bars 1–16, but dance in front of partners before dancing right hands across, and in front of their corners before dancing left hands across.

33 – 36    1st and 3rd couples, giving right hands, turn partners one and a quarter times.

37 – 40    1st man, followed by his partner, dances between 4th couple and cast back to place. Similarly, 3rd couple dance between 2nd couple and cast back to place.
       
41 – 48    1st and 3rd couple dance rights and lefts.

49 – 64    2nd and 4th couples repeat bars 33–48, 2nd couple dancing between 1st couple and 4th couple dancing between 3rd couple.   

65 – 72    The women dance in and pull back right shoulders (2 bars), dance out (2 bars), and cast clockwise half way round the set to opposite woman’s place.

73 – 80    The men repeat bars 65–72, but pull back left shoulders at the end of bar 74, and cast anticlockwise.

81 – 84    All turn partners with the right hand, just over once round, to finish in promenade hold facing anticlockwise.

85 – 88    All promenade halfway round the set. On bar 87, all release right hands and the men lead their partners to original places ready for the bow and curtsey.

This week will be a combined class at the Churchill Recreation Center. We will be reviewing the dances on the upcoming Tea Dance hosted by the Ottawa Branch. We will only do one of the strathspeys listed below. The choice will depend on the number of dancers attending. The Balmoral Strathspey requires exactly four couple sets. If we don’t have enough to make four couple sets we will do Wisp of Thistle.

Here is a video of the dance Wisp of Thistle done by the London (UK) ladies demonstration team

A DANCING CAREER
or
A DANCE IN KOREA
THE GREENBURN BOOK, A Collection of Scottish Country Dances by JOHN DREWRY, 1997 – 1998
devised in September 1997 for Campbell and Isobel Barclay of Kippford and for the dancers in Korea

Jig –  2 couples – 32 bars

BARS
1 – 4    1st couple, joining nearer hands, dance down between 2nd couple and then cast up back to place.

5 – 8    1st and 2nd couples dance right hands across.

9 – 16    1st couple dance a figure of eight round 2nd couple’s places. At the same time, 2nd couple set to each other, cross giving right hands, set on opposite sides and cross back to own sides giving right hands. 2nd couple stay facing out.

17 – 20    1st couple lead down the middle and 2nd couple dance up on the sides to first place and then follow 1st couple down the middle.

21 – 24    2nd couple, followed by 1st couple, lead up the middle and stay in the middle ready for : –

25 – 32    2nd and 1st couples dance a two-couple promenade.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Wisp of Thistle
Book XXXVII    No.4
(Strathspey)

Music                   Description
Bars
1 – 4    1st and 3rd couples dance “Petronella turns” into the middle of the dance (1st man and 3rd woman back to back) and set to partners.

5 – 8    1st and 3rd couples dance a half reel of four.

9 – 10    3rd and 1st couples dance “Petronella turns” to own sides. (3rd couple are in first place and 1st couple in third place.)

11 – 12    3rd, 2nd and 1st couples set joining nearer hands on the sides.

13 – 16    3rd, 2nd and 1st couples turn partners with right hand to finish ready for allemande.

17 – 24    3rd, 2nd and 1st couples allemande.

25 – 28    1st couple cross over giving right hands and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 27–28.

29 – 32    1st couple dance a half figure of eight round 2nd couple.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Note: At the end of their second turn at the dance, 1st couple finish the half figure of eight by dancing down to fourth place while 4th couple step up to third place on bars 31–32.

Choreographed by Pat Kent in honour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, who, when she had seen the Scottish Country dancers perform in the Tattoo in Nova Scotia, stated that they looked like “wisps of thistle”.

Devised by Pat Kent (Nova Scotia Branch).

Balmoral Strathspey  (Strathspey)
RSCDS Book 22 – No. 3

MUSIC                    DESCRIPTION
Bars
1 – 8    First couple with second, and third couple with fourth, dance right and left.

9 – 12    First couple with second, and third couple with fourth, set and dance right hands across half way  round.

13 – 16    All set, and, giving right hands in passing, cross to own sides. (The order is now 2, 1, 4, 3.)

17 – 24    Reels of four at the sides, second couple facing first, and fourth couple facing third.

25 – 32    First, fourth and third couples allemande to finish, first couple at bottom, fourth couple in third, and third couple in second place.

Repeat, with a new couple leading.

Devised by John A. Charles, Kawerau, New Zealand.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
Bars 17-24    1st, 4th and 3rd couples should complete the reel in seven steps using the eight to dance towards partner for the allemande.   
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
17-24    1st, 4th & 3rd cpls dance reel in 7 bars &, on bar 24, dance into position for allemande.

THE MAD HATTER
Happy to Meet
A three couple, 32 bar jig for four couples in a longwise set.

1 – 8    First couple dance down between second and third couples with nearer hands joined, cast up round third couple, dance up between second couple with nearer hands joined and cast off into second place.  Second couple move up on bars 7-8.

9 – 12    First couple advance and retire with first corners.

13 – 16    First couple dance back to back with first corners.

17 – 20    First couple advance and retire with second corners.

21 – 24    First couple dance back to back with second corners.

25 – 32    Second, first and third couples dance six hands round and back.

Repeat having passed a couple.
“The Mad Hatter” was devised by Iain Boyd.

The Wellingtonia Reel
12 Scottish Country Dances  devised by Mervyn Short
32 bar Reel for 3 couples

Bars

1 – 4    1C & 2C set and link, 1M finish facing out.
5 – 8    1M, followed by partner, casts up and dances down the middle to finish facing 3M, 1W faces 2M.

9 – 16    1M with 3C and 1W with 2C dance reels of three across, passing right shoulders to begin; finish as started.

17 – 20    1M & 3M and 1W & 2M turn right hands.
21 – 24    1M & 3W and 1W & 2W turn left hands, 1C finish in the centre facing down, (1M between 3C, 1W between 2C).

25 – 28    1M followed by partner, casts up one place on men’s side and dances across to the opposite side in second place. 1W finishes in second place on the men’s side.
29 – 32    1C turn right hands one and a half times, to finish in second place own sides.

Repeat having passed a couple.

This dance was inspired by the magnificent Wellingtonia trees near     Finchampstead, Berkshire which I regularly travel past on the way to class.

Tune:  The Burnt Leg

Back at Glashan school this week. This week and next week we will be focusing on dances for the March social.

Beach Dancer
A 32 bar Jig for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set
For Margaret Blackhall, a teacher at Kamo Club who lives on the coast at Ngunguru.
Devised by Eddy West 2003.

1-4    First couple set and cross giving right hand.
5-8    First couple set to second couple and change places on the side giving left hands (men remain facing out).

9-16    Second and first couples dance a ladies chain, first man finishes facing out. First couple must continue into the next figure without hesitation.

17-20    First man casts down round third lady and crosses to third place, own side then casts up behind third man to second place, first lady follows to own side third place then dances up the middle to second place on own side.
21-24    First and second ladies, and at the same time first and second men, turn giving left hands.

25-32    Second, first and third couples dance reels of three on the sides, first couple passing third couple right shoulder to start.

Repeat having passed a couple
Suggested recorded music “Over the Pond II” – Sound Company CD “On Track”.

Jimmy’s Fancy
RSCDS Book 14 – No. 11
32-bar strathspey for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

Bars                        Description

1 – 8    1st and 2nd couples dance right hands across for three steps and left hands back. 1st couple cast off one place on own sides while 2nd couple dance up to first place.

9 – 16    1st woman with 2nd couple, 1st man with 3rd couple dance three hands round and back. 1st couple finish facing first corners.

17 – 24    1st couple set to and turn corners to finish between them.

25 – 32    1st couple lead down between 3rd couple, cross over to own sides, cast up round 3rd couple, dance up between 2nd couple and cast off to second place on own sides.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Thompson’s Compleat Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances c. 1755.
Original tune: Lord Seaforth (Surenne)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’    29-30   Nearer hand lead up.

THE MOUNTAIN STREAM
Graded and Social Dances 3,  devised by Roy Goldring
32 bar Reel for 2 couples
Bars

1 – 8    1st woman and 2nd man set twice then turn with right hands. They finish in place.

9 – 16    1st man and 2nd woman set twice then turn with left hands. They finish in place – 1st man facing out.

17 – 24    1st man, followed by his partner, casts behind 2nd man, crosses up between 2nd couple, casts behind 2nd woman and crosses to 2nd place on own side. 1st woman finishes in 2nd woman’s place. 2nd couple step up on bars 23-24.

25 – 32    2nd and 1st couples dance right hands across and left hands across.

Repeat having passed a couple.

Tune:    Miss Jean Donaldson’s Hornpipe (Traditional – James Walker 1st Collection)