Again after the fact but here are the dances covered last night. After the more challenging dances last week hopefully these will prove to be easier.

The Wild Geese
32 bar Jig for 3 couples
RSCDS Book 24

MUSIC.                      DESCRIPTION           
   Bars.
1 – 4          First and third couples advance into the middle (two pas-de-basque steps), men with their partners on their right. All join hands to make a line of four, and set.  Fig. 1.

5 – 8          First couple dance a three-quarter turn with right hands to cast off to third place on their own sides of the dance. Meanwhile, third couple turn each other with right hand to face up the middle on their own sides and lead up to top place.

9 – 16          First and third couples repeat Bars 1– 8, but first couple now do the movement as danced by third couple, and third couple the movement as danced by first couple. Fig. 2. All finish in original places.

17 – 24    First couple lead down the middle and up, to finish in second place. Second couple move up.

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

          Repeat, having passed a couple.

Queen Anne’s Lace
Let’s All Dance, Too, 1997
32/J or  S/4                                by Mary Jane Vanek   Lehigh Valley SCDS

Bars            Directions

1—4        1st woman with 2nd man and 3rd woman with 4th man turn with right hands once round.

5—8        1st man with 2nd woman and 3rd man with 4th woman turn with left hands once round.

9—16        1st couple facing 2nd couple, 3rd couple facing 4th couple, dance reels of four on the sides of the dance, beginning by passing right shoulders.

17—20    1st and 2nd couples, with nearer hands joined on the sides, set and dance right hands across half way.

21—24    1st and 3rd couples, with nearer hands joined on the sides, set and dance left hands across half way.

25—28    1st and 4th couples, with nearer hands joined on the sides, set and dance right hands across half way.

29—32    All couples set, with nearer hands joined on the sides, and cross to own sides with left hands to partners.

        Repeat from new places.

Music:        Any good reel or strathspey

Note:        I put this dance together to use for practicing reels of four with an easy
        entry and ending (no tricky bits). (MJV)

Sorry for the late posting of these dances. This week the dances come from the March social and dances Jody will be teaching at the Edmonton workshop in a few weeks

Book 11 – No. 2
Monymusk

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

Bars                        Description

1 – 4        1st couple, giving right hands, turn once round and cast off one place on own sides. 2nd couple step up on bars 3-4.

5 – 8        1st couple, giving left hands, turn one-and-a-quarter times to finish 1st woman between the 2nd couple facing down, and 1st man between the 3rd couple, facing up.

9 – 12        1st woman with 2nd couple and 1st man with 3rd couple set twice. On bars 11-12, 1st couple turn to the right into second place on opposite sides.

13 – 16    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples set twice.

17 – 24    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance six hands round and back.

25 – 30    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance reels of three on the sides. 1st woman passes 3rd man and 1st man passes 2nd woman by the right to begin.

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

        Repeat, having passed a couple.

Graded Book — No. 20.
Tarry a While.    (Jig)

Music.                             Description.
 Bars.

1 – 8        1st man turns 2nd woman with right hand for 4 skip change of step, then with left hand for 4 steps.

9 – 12        2nd man turns 1st woman with right hand for 4 steps.

13 – 16    2nd man turns 1st woman with left hand for 4 steps but holds on and they give right hand to own partner.  (Diagram 1.)

17 – 20    All 4 set twice in line across dance.

21 – 24    1st woman and 2nd man turn each other with left hand to face partner.

25 – 32    1st and 2nd couples poussette.

        Repeat, having passed a couple.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
25-32    If using positions in Fig 2, cpls must dance on the spot (bar 25) & then proceed as usual. Alternatively, 1st man & 2nd woman may step in on bar 24 to meet partners for a normal poussette.

Book II – No. 1
La Tempête (The Tempest) (Reel)

   The couples stand in fours across the room, two couples facing two couples, women on the right of their partners.  (See Fig.).

MUSIC                    DESCRIPTION
Bars
1 – 8        1st and 4th couples dance four hands across with right hands and back again with left hands.

9 – 16        2nd and 3rd couples repeat bars 1–8.

17 – 24    1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th couples set twice and turn partners with two hands.

25 – 28    1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th couples join both hands with partner and slip across to change places with  pposite couple, i.e. 1st with 3rd and 2nd with 4th, men passing back to back.

29 – 32    1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th couples repeat bars 25–28 back to places, women passing back to back.

33 – 36    1st and 3rd couples and at the same time 2nd and 4th couples, dance four hands round to the left.

37 – 40    1st and 3rd couples and at the same time 2nd and 4th couples, dance four hands across (left hands) back to original places.

41 – 43    1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th couples advance two steps and retire one step.

       44        1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th couples clap three times.

45 – 48    1st and 2nd couples dancing down the dance, pass under the raised arms of 3rd and 4th couples who are dancing up.

        Repeat with the next two couples, and dance the same figures with every line until they arrive at the bottom of the room. As each line reaches the top or bottom of the room, change to correct side of partners and stand during one turn of the dance.

      Note:    This dance can also be done in groups of four in a circle, in which case, bars 9–16         are omitted.

Collected locally.         Tune: La Tempête.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’ 
17-20   Set twice to prtnrs.

This week we will be focusing on dances from the Welcome Dance

Those attending the Ardbrae Ball will be encouraged to join the intermediate class as they will be reviewing the easier dances on the ball. The cribs for the ball are available here

We hope those not going to the ball can still come out to the Welcome Dance.

Here are two we plan to cover. We will likely get to others as well.

CABBAGES AND KINGS
Scottish Country Dances from THE HARBOUR CITY

A 32 bar jig for 3 couples in a 4-couple longwise set.

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

9 – 16    1st couple lead down the middle for three steps, lead back up forthree steps and cast off one place on own side.2nd couple move up on bars 15 and 16.

17 – 20    1st couple turn 1st corners once round with right hands.1st couple return to own side in second place.

21 – 24    1st couple turn 2nd corners once round with left hands.1st couple return to own side in second place.

25 – 28    1st man with 3rd couple and 1st woman with 2nd couple dance right hands across.

29 – 32    1st man with 2nd couple and 1st woman with 3rd couple dance left hands across.

        Repeat having passed a couple.

“Cabbages and Kings” was devised by Romaine Butterfield.

Book 1 – No. 6
Flowers of Edinburgh
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)

This week we will continue to focus on dances from the Ardbrae Ball. The list of dances looks ambitious but we will not be repeating the dances taught in the first half after the break.

COLLICHUR
Book 30   No. 1
(Jig)

MUSIC                      DESCRIPTION
Bars
1 – 8        1st couple set and cast off one place then dance down between 3rd couple             and cast up to 2nd place. 2nd couple step up on bars 3-4.

9 – 16        2nd and 1st couples right and left.

17 – 24    1st man dances a reel of three with 3rd couple while 1st woman dances a reel of three with 2nd couple.  (Fig.)

25 – 32    1st couple dance between 2nd and 3rd women, man casts up and woman casts down; they meet in the middle, dance between 2nd and 3rd men and cast as before to finish in 2nd place on own sides of the dance.

Repeat having passed a couple.

Source: Alexander Bowman, MS
Laing Collection

Tune:   Lochleven Side
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
31-33    1st cpl finish repetition as for their first turn but in 3rd place, then step down.

THE DUNDEE WHALER
The Ormskirk Scottish Dances by Roy Clowes
Strathspey.   Four Couple Longways Set

Music                        Description
Bars
1 – 8        Second and fourth couples dance petronella, finishing in partner’s place.

9 – 16        First and second couples; third and fourth couples dance ladies’ chain.

17 – 24    First and third couples dance petronella, finishing in partner’s place.

25 – 26    First lady changes place with second man, giving left hands.

27 – 28    First lady changes place with third lady and first man changes place with second lady, giving right hands.

29 – 30    First lady changes place with fourth man, and first man changes place with third man, giving left hands.

31 – 32    First man changes places with fourth lady, giving right hands.

        Repeat from new places.

Tune:         Timor the Tartar  (Kerr’s Collection)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Pasted into the Memorial Edition of The Ormskirk Scottish Dances, is the following note by Bob Donald who was responsible for collating, printing and distributing the book after Roy Clowes’ death and who had detailed knowledge of the devisor’s intentions :

“1.  The Dundee Whaler
 Bars 17-24:  The question posed here is whether in this sequence of changes across the dance, the
            dancers would slip into place or turn with a polite turn.  The answer is quite unequivocal,
           the dancers SLIP into place.

            The reason is that in this figure, Roy is representing the tacking to and from of the ship and
           therefore the line followed by the leading dancers to the foot of the set has sharp changes of
           direction just as the ship would have.”

The Reel of the 51st Division
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.         

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.

I missed posting the dances for the past couple of weeks. Just a shock to be back in the thick of it after the new year.

Anyway, for the month of January we will be focusing on dances for the Ardbrae Ball and the Welcome dance on the Friday before the ball. For details on the ball and welcome dance please see the Ardbrae web site.

Dances taught on Monday, January 3:
 From the Ardbrae Ball:
The Jubilee Jig
RSCDS Leaflets
32 bar jig for 3 couples

Music                         Description
1 – 2               1st man casts off one place. 2nd man steps up.
3 – 8               1st man and 3rd woman set and turn with right hands to places.

9 – 10               1st woman casts off one place. 2nd woman steps up.
11 – 16           1st woman and 3rd man set and turn with left hands to places.

17 – 20           1st woman dances right hands across with 2nd couple, while 1st man dances right hands across with 3rd couple, 1st couple finish in the centre, with left hands joined, facing the opposite side.  (Fig.).

21 – 24           1st couple set and dance out to opposite side.
25 – 28           1st man dances right hands across with 2nd couple, while 1st woman dances right hands across with 3rd couple. 1st couple finish in the centre with left hands joined, facing own side.

29 – 32           1st couple set and dance out to own side.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
3-4    Emphasize that 1st man stays on the sidelines as he sets to 3rd woman.
24    1st cpl flow through 2nd position on the side, before entry into RH across on bar 25.
32    1st man may finish facing out to flow on into his cast on bars 1-2 of the repetition.

From the welcome dance
The Fiddler’s Wife
(32 bar strathspey for three couples)

Bars                           Description

1 – 4        1st couple set and cast off one place as 2nd couple step up.
5 – 8        1st couple dance a half figure of eight round 2nd couple.

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

17 – 20    1st couple dance a half figure of eight round 3rd couple.
21 – 24    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples turn partners with the right hand once round to finish in promenade hold, in the middle, facing up.

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

        Repeat, having passed a couple.

From the welcome dance
THE COANWOOD STUARTS
24 GRADED and SOCIAL DANCES, Devised by Roy Goldring, Leeds Branch R.S.C.D.S.
32 bar jig for 4 couples

Bars
1 – 8        First man, followed by second and third men, dances across, down behind the first three women, across and up to place.

9 – 16        First, second and third couples turn partners once round with right hands and once round with left hands.

17 – 24    First woman, followed by second and third women, dances across, down behind             the first three men, across and up to place.

25 – 28    All four couples advance and retire.

29 – 32    First couple cast off to fourth place. Second, third and fourth couples step up on bars 31-32.

        Repeat from new positions.

Recommended tune:- The Nightcap  (Trad.)

Dances For Januar 10, 2010
From the Welcome Dance
CABBAGES AND KINGS
Scottish Country Dances from THE HARBOUR CITY
A 32 bar jig for 3 couples in a 4-couple longwise set.

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

9 – 16    1st couple lead down the middle for three steps, lead back up forthree steps and cast off one place on own side.2nd couple move up on bars 15 and 16.

17 – 20    1st couple turn 1st corners once round with right hands.1st couple return to own side in second place.

21 – 24    1st couple turn 2nd corners once round with left hands.1st couple return to own side in second place.

25 – 28    1st man with 3rd couple and 1st woman with 2nd couple dance right hands across.

29 – 32    1st man with 2nd couple and 1st woman with 3rd couple dance left hands across.

        Repeat having passed a couple.

“Cabbages and Kings” was devised by Romaine Butterfield.

From the Ardbrae Ball
The Silver Tassie
Leaflet – No. 1
Devised by John Drewry
(Strathspey)
MUSIC                          DESCRIPTION
Bars
1 – 4        1st, 2nd and 3rd couples, giving right hands to partners, cross over and joining hands on the sides, set.

5 – 8        Repeat bars 1 – 4.

9 – 16        1st couple dance a figure of eight round 2nd couple, who stand still. 1st couple dance down between 2nd couple, crossing over, to begin the figure. 3rd couple also dance a figure of eight round 2nd couple, beginning by casting up to top place, then dancing down crossing over.

17 – 24    1st couple, followed by 2nd and 3rd couples, dance down the middle for four steps. 1st couple dance up the middle, while 2nd and 3rd couples divide to allow 1st couple through. 2nd couple meet and dance up between 3rd couple, who then meet and dance up.

25 – 32    1st and 2nd couple Rondel, i.e.
      25        1st couple dance down under the arch made by 2nd couple, who dance up.
      26-27   2nd and 1st women cross in front of partners, then all cast to meet the other woman or man on the opposite sides and join nearer hands.
      28        2nd and 1st women and at the same time 2nd and 1st men cross to own sides, the women passing under the arch made by the men.
      29-30   1st man and 1st woman cross in front of 2nd man and 2nd woman, then all cast to meet partners in original places as in bar 25.
      31-32   1st couple dance under the arch made by 2nd couple and all dance out to own sides, having changed places.

        Repeat, having passed a couple.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
Bars 17 – 24    1st, 2nd and 3rd couples give nearer hands throughout, i.e. they dance down and dance up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
17-24    Note use of word “dance”, i.e. all 3 cpls use nearer hands, down and up.

This is the last class before Christmas. We are hoping to review as many dances for the Christmas social as possible. It should all be review.

Keep in mind that the class location is at the Churchill Recreation Center

Here are the dances for tonight:

Sister Blanche of St. Andrews
32 bar Jig for 3 couples

1-8 1st couple dance a figure of eight on the sides around 2nd &3rd couples. 1st couple begins by dancing in and down.

9-16 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance back to back and turn once around with the right hand

17-24 1st couple lead down the middle and up. 1st couple stay together and 2nd couple step in ready for a poussette.

25-32 1st & 2nd couple dance the poussette.
Repeat having passed a couple

The poussette:
Bar 1: out to the side,
Bar 2: quarter turn,
Bar 3: progress up or down
Bar 4: quarter turn,
Bar 5: move into the middle
Bar 6: half turn
bars 7 & 8: retire to the side lines

The Reel of the Royal Scots
RSCDS Leaflets (Reel)

    MUSIC                                  DESCRIPTION
Bars
1 – 2    1st and 2nd women turn with the left hand, while 1st and 2nd men turn with the right hand, 1st couple finishing back to back in the centre of the set in second place.

3 – 4    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples set as in double triangles.
  
5 – 6    1st and 3rd women turn with the right hand, while 1st and 3rd men turn with the left hand to change places.

7 – 8    2nd, 3rd and 1st couples set as in double triangles.

9 – 16    1st couple followed by 3rd couple, dance up between the 2nd couple and cast off, then dance down to third place and cast up to second place, 3rd couple finishing in original places. (1st and 3rd couples join nearer hands with partner on every occasion when dancing up or down in the centre). (Fig.).

17 – 24    1st couple turn first corners with right hands. 1st couple pass each other by the right shoulder.
1st couple turn second corners with right hands. 1st couple passing right shoulders cross to second place on own sides.

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

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Roy Goldring to celebrate the 350th  Anniversary of The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) in 1983.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
17-24    Corners dance for 4 bars.
25-32    On bar 32, cpls dance straight into places.

Seann Truibhas Willichan
32 bar Strathspey for 2 couples
RSCDS book 27

  Bars            Description
1 – 8        First couple cast off behind their own lines, then cast up to original places.

9 – 12        First woman and second man set and change places giving right hands, while first man and second woman change places giving right hands and set.

13 – 16    Repeat bars 9–12 back to original places.

17 – 24    First couple lead down the middle (2 steps), turn with right hands lead up to the top and cast off to second place. Second couple step up on bars 23–24.

25 – 28    Second and first couples set on the sides, then turn partner with both hands once round, opening up to form a circle.

29 – 32    Second and first couples 4 hands round to the left.
Repeat having passed a couple

Thomas Wilson’s Companion to the Ballroom.
Tune:  My Dearie
James Johnstone, 1771

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.

Relief is in sight. Last week we covered the last of the new material before the Christmas break. There are only two classes left before we stop but both classes will be just review of the dances for the Ardbrae Christmas Dinner and Dance. 

The crib notes for the dances are available here Crib Notes

We have three dances listed for review tonight we may not get to them all. We may only cover the Rondel from the dance The Silver Tassie.

ALLT AN DUIN (THE BURN BY THE HILLOCK)
24 GRADED and SOCIAL DANCES, Devised by Roy Goldring, Leeds Branch R.S.C.D.S.
32 bar reel for 3 couples

Bars
1 – 8        First couple cross over giving right hands and cast off below second couple (who stand still); cross over giving left hands and cast up to place.

9 – 16        Reels of three on own sides. To begin, first couple dance in and down, second couple dance out and up, third couple dance in and up.

17 – 24    First couple dance down the middle (4 steps), set to each other and dance up. They finish in the centre of the dance in second place, facing up. Second couple step up on bars 19 – 20.

25 – 28    First woman dances right hands across with second and third women while first man dances left hands across with second and third men.

29 – 32    First couple dance up to the top and cast off to second place on own side.

Repeat having passed a couple.
Recommended tune:- Jessie Walker (M.A.J.)

Hooper’s Jig
Miss Milligan’s Miscellany of Scottish Country Dances
32-bar jig for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

   Bars                        Description

1 – 4        All clap and 1st couple, passing right shoulders, cross over and cast off one place on opposite sides.  2nd couple step up on bars 3-4.

5 – 8        1st and 3rd couples dance right hands across once round.

9 – 12        All clap and 1st couple, passing by the right, cross over and cast up to original places.  2nd couple step down on bars 11-12.

13 – 16    1st and 2nd couples dance left hands across once round.

17 – 18    1st man and 3rd woman, giving right hands, change places.

19 – 20    1st woman and 3rd man, giving right hands, change places, while 1st man and 3rd woman dance round ready to cross back.

21 – 22    1st man and 3rd woman, giving right hands, change places and 1st man faces out.  At the same time, 1st woman and 3rd man dance round ready to cross back.

23 – 24    1st woman and 3rd man, giving left hands, cross over with 3rd man guiding 1st woman into second place while 1st man casts off to second place.  2nd couple step up. 

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

        Repeat, having passed a couple.

Rutherford, D:  Compleat collection of 200 of the most celebrated country dances, both old and new, c. 1756, London
Customary tune:  Peter’s Peerie Boat  (Tom Anderson)

The Silver Tassie
Leaflet – No. 1
Devised by John Drewry
(Strathspey)
MUSIC                          DESCRIPTION
Bars
1 – 4        1st, 2nd and 3rd couples, giving right hands to partners, cross over and joining hands on the sides, set.

5 – 8        Repeat bars 1 – 4.

9 – 16        1st couple dance a figure of eight round 2nd couple, who stand still. 1st couple dance down between 2nd couple, crossing over, to begin the figure. 3rd couple also dance a figure of eight round 2nd couple, beginning by casting up to top place, then dancing down crossing over.

17 – 24    1st couple, followed by 2nd and 3rd couples, dance down the middle for four steps. 1st couple dance up the middle, while 2nd and 3rd couples divide to allow 1st couple through. 2nd couple meet and dance up between 3rd couple, who then meet and dance up.

25 – 32    1st and 2nd couple Rondel, i.e.
   
      25          1st couple dance down under the arch made by 2nd couple, who dance up.
      26-27    2nd and 1st women cross in front of partners, then all cast to meet the other woman or man on the opposite sides and join nearer hands.
       28    2nd and 1st women and at the same time 2nd and 1st men cross to own sides, the women         passing under the arch made by the men.
       29-30    1st man and 1st woman cross in front of 2nd man and 2nd woman, then all cast to meet             partners in original places as in bar 25.
       31-32    1st couple dance under the arch made by 2nd couple and all dance out to own sides,             having changed places.

        Repeat, having passed a couple.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
Bars 17 – 24    1st, 2nd and 3rd couples give nearer hands throughout, i.e. they dance down and dance up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
17-24    Note use of word “dance”, i.e. all 3 cpls use nearer hands, down and up.

As promised the instructions for the first dance we taught last evening.

Sister Blanche of St. Andrews
32 bar Jig for 3 couples

1-8 1st couple dance a figure of eight on the sides around 2nd &3rd couples. 1st couple begins by dancing in and down.

9-16 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance back to back and turn once around with the right hand

17-24 1st couple lead down the middle and up. 1st couple stay together and 2nd couple step in ready for a poussette.

25-32 1st & 2nd couple dance the poussette.
Repeat having passed a couple

The poussette:
Bar 1: out to the side,
Bar 2: quarter turn,
Bar 3: progress up or down
Bar 4: quarter turn,
Bar 5: move into the middle
Bar 6: half turn
bars 7 & 8: retire to the side lines

Hope this helps.

Tonight we will be introducing a new formation to the class: poussette. This is a figure for two couples and takes eight bars or Pas de Basque. At the end of the figure you the two couples will have changes places. We will put the formation in the dance Sister Blanche of St. Andrews. At the time of writing I don’t have the full instructions with me. I post the instructions in the near future.

The other dance we plan to cover will depend on how many attend tonight. On the list is The Piper and The Penguin. This dance is in a square set and requires exactly four couples. So, if the number attending work out we will do this one. If the numbers don’t work out we will do The De’il Amang the Tailors. A very popular dance and one worth doing and remembering.

All the mentioned dances will be on the Ardbrae Christmas dance, December 4. Mark you calendar.

Hope to see all of you tonight.

The Deil amang the Tailors
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 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.

We are starting to repeat dances that will be on the Ardbrae Christmas Social. The Silver Tassie was covered a couple of weeks ago. Check the blog history. Teaching the Rondel to dancers in the first six months is not commonly done. It is an interesting challenge for us and I maintain that it is no more difficult than the Allemande.

We will also cover one of The Reel of the Royal Scots or The Piper and The Penguin. Both are on the Christmas social but the latter requires exactly 4 couples. If we don’t have the right number of dancers we will do The Reel of the Royal Scots, another very popular dance.

Here are the dance instructions.

The Silver Tassie
Leaflet – No. 1
Devised by John Drewry
(Strathspey)
MUSIC                          DESCRIPTION
Bars
1 – 4        1st, 2nd and 3rd couples, giving right hands to partners, cross over and joining hands on the sides, set.

5 – 8        Repeat bars 1 – 4.

9 – 16        1st couple dance a figure of eight round 2nd couple, who stand still. 1st couple dance down between 2nd couple, crossing over, to begin the figure. 3rd couple also dance a figure of eight round 2nd couple, beginning by casting up to top place, then dancing down crossing over.

17 – 24    1st couple, followed by 2nd and 3rd couples, dance down the middle for four steps. 1st couple dance up the middle, while 2nd and 3rd couples divide to allow 1st couple through. 2nd couple meet and dance up between 3rd couple, who then meet and dance up.

25 – 32    1st and 2nd couple Rondel, i.e.
      25        1st couple dance down under the arch made by 2nd couple, who dance up.
      26-27   2nd and 1st women cross in front of partners, then all cast to meet the other woman or man on the opposite sides and join nearer hands.
      28        2nd and 1st women and at the same time 2nd and 1st men cross to own sides, the women passing under the arch made by the men.
      29-30   1st man and 1st woman cross in front of 2nd man and 2nd woman, then all cast to meet partners in original places as in bar 25.
      31-32   1st couple dance under the arch made by 2nd couple and all dance out to own sides, having changed places.

        Repeat, having passed a couple.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
Bars 17 – 24    1st, 2nd and 3rd couples give nearer hands throughout, i.e. they dance down and dance up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
17-24    Note use of word “dance”, i.e. all 3 cpls use nearer hands, down and up.

The Reel of the Royal Scots
RSCDS Leaflets (Reel)

    MUSIC                                  DESCRIPTION
Bars
1 – 2    1st and 2nd women turn with the left hand, while 1st and 2nd men turn with the right hand, 1st couple finishing back to back in the centre of the set in second place.

3 – 4    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples set as in double triangles.
   
5 – 6    1st and 3rd women turn with the right hand, while 1st and 3rd men turn with the left hand to change places.

7 – 8    2nd, 3rd and 1st couples set as in double triangles.

9 – 16    1st couple followed by 3rd couple, dance up between the 2nd couple and cast off, then dance down to third place and cast up to second place, 3rd couple finishing in original places. (1st and 3rd couples join nearer hands with partner on every occasion when dancing up or down in the centre). (Fig.).

17 – 24    1st couple turn first corners with right hands. 1st couple pass each other by the right shoulder.
1st couple turn second corners with right hands. 1st couple passing right shoulders cross to second place on own sides.

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

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Roy Goldring to celebrate the 350th  Anniversary of The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) in 1983.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
17-24    Corners dance for 4 bars.
25-32    On bar 32, cpls dance straight into places.

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.