Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Dances for December 1, 2011

We are closing in on the Christmas dance for the Ottawa branch. We will try to cover a number of the dances off that program. We may omit a few of the easier dances. Our hope is that you will be able to read those dances and comfortable with them.

The dance Best Set in the Hall has been popular in the Ottawa area over the past few years. The dance has been adopted by the RSCDS in Book 46. It does have a counter intuitive figure in the middle of the dance. So, you may have to do a little thinking in this class.


Best Set in the Hall
8 x 32 Jig for 3 couples

Devised by: Helen Greenwood November 2003
Dedicated to Campbell Mackay President, RSCDS Auckland Region


Bars

1 – 8    1st couple set. 1st woman casts off two places, dances across the set below 3rd couple, casts up behind 3rd man and dances straight in to finish facing 1st corner. At the same time 1st man follows his partner by dancing across the set, casts off two places dances up the middle of the set to face 1st corner. 2nd couple step up on bars 7 and 8

9 – 12    1st couple set to their first corner, then cast around each other to finish in their partner’s 1st corner position while their corners dance into the centre and turn by the right to face their original position

13 – 16    1st couple and 1st corners set to each other, then corners cast around each other to finish in each other’s original position while 1st couple dance into the centre and, pulling back right shoulders, finish back to back in the middle facing their second corner

17 – 24    1st couple repeat bars 9 – 16 with 2nd corner and pass by the right shoulder to finish in 2nd place on the opposite side of the set, man facing down and woman facing up. 2nd corners are in each other’s position on the opposite side

25 – 28    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples chase clockwise half way round the set

29 – 32    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples turn with the right hand once round.

Repeat having passed a couple

NB Bars 9-24  - this movement was first devised in strathspey rhythm by the late Alex Hay as published in his dance “Peter White”.




Balmoral Strathspey  (Strathspey)
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.







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

 Bars                         Description

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.



Thursday, November 24, 2011

Dances for November 24, 2011

Sorry for the delay in posting these dance instructions. We did the move to the new house this past weekend. I give Gary and Karen MacLean a big thank you for helping us on the weekend. I'm sure we would still be shifting boxes without their help.

We are focusing on the dances for the Christmas social now. All of the dances this week are popular dances and worth the effort of learning.



General  Stuart’s  Reel or
The New Way of Gildon  (Reel)
RSCDS Book 10 – No. 3   

MUSIC                     DESCRIPTION
Bars

1 – 4        1st man sets to 2nd woman and casts off one place. 2nd man steps up on bars 3–4.
5 – 8        1st woman sets to 2nd man and casts off to second place. 2nd woman steps up on bars 7–8.

9 – 12        1st couple turn first corners with the right hand then, passing each other by the right shoulder, face second corners.
13 – 16    1st couple turn second corners with the left hand then, passing each other by the    right shoulder, face first corners.

17 – 24    1st couple set to first corners, set to each other across the dance, set to second corners, then set to each other up and down the dance and finish man facing up and woman facing down the dance. 1st couple turn by the right throughout.

25 – 30    1st couple dance reels with their corners. 1st couple begin the reels by giving right shoulders to second corners.

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

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Source:  The Register of Dances at Castle Menzies, 1749.
Music:      The Stuarts’ Rant, Bremner, 1768.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
Bars   9-16    Corners dance two steps when turning.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
9-16    Corners must dance into middle to meet 1st cpl on bars 9 & 13 then out to places on bars 10 & 14 releasing     1st cpl to face up & down the set.







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

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 HIGHLAND RAMBLER
(a 40 bar reel for 3 couples)
Roy Goldring, Leeds Branch, Silver Jubilee.

1 – 4        1st couple dance towards each other then cast to 2nd place; 2nd couple steps up.
5 – 8        1st and 3rd couples dance Right Hands Across once around;1st lady remains facing out.

9 – 12        1st and 2nd couples dance Left Hands Across once around; 1st lady remains facing out.
13 – 16    1st lady followed by her partner casts up around 2nd lady and dances down the middle to finish 1st lady between 3rd couple and 1st man between 2nd couple; all facing down.

17 – 24    In lines of three, all dance down the set, turn (pulling back right shoulders) and dance up again; 1st couple remains facing up.

25 – 28    1st man followed by his partner casts off one place on the ladies’ side and dances across the set to 2nd place on his own side; 1st lady finishes on her own side.
29 – 32    1st couple turns by the Right Hand.

33 – 40    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance Six Hands Round and back.


Repeat, having passed a couple.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Dances for November 17, 2011

We are planning to cover a number of dances for the social tomorrow. There should be a little less emphasis on steps and more emphasis on the dances and formations. We will be starting with a strathspey devised by Ottawa's own Barb Anglin.


The Saltire Strathspey
A 32 bar Strathspey for 4 couples
Book 45.  No. 4, Barb Anglin

Bars                               Description

1 – 4    1st man and 2nd woman, 3rd woman and 4th man turn with both hands one and a half times to change places.

5 – 8    All four men dance left hands across once round. Staying in the middle, all release left hands and, giving right hands to partner, all finish facing anticlockwise, nearer hands joined with partners.  (Fig. 1)

9 – 12     All set and link to change places with partners.
13 – 16  All set and link finishing on the sidelines facing partners.  (Fig. 2)

17 – 24  All dance reels of four on the sides.

25 – 28 1st woman and 2nd man, 4th woman and 3rd man turn with both hands one and a half times to change places, all finishing on opposite sides in the order 2,1,4,3.
29 – 30 2nd  and 3rd couples, giving right hands, cross over while 1st and 4th couples dance left hands across halfway round finishing in the order 2,4,1,3.
31 – 32  All set to partners.
Repeat from new positions.

Devised by Barbara Anglin, RSCDS Ottawa Branch and originally published by that branch in A Gatineau Gathering (2001).

Tune:   Blinkbonny, George Meikle

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
Bars 1-4        1st man & 4th man finish facing in, anticipating the change of direction on bar 5.
Bars 11-12    Women dance well into middle to prevent spreading of set outwards at bar 16.
Bars 25-28    1st & 4th women finish similarly to bar 4.






THE DANCING BEES
32 bar reel for 3 couples
24 GRADED and SOCIAL DANCES by Roy Goldring

Bars
1 – 8    First couple lead down the middle, turn inwards on bar 5 and lead up. They finish in the centre of the dance in second place, facing up. Second couple step up on bars 3 – 4.

9 – 16        First couple, taking promenade hold, dance a reel of “three” with second couple. To begin, first couple pass second woman by right shoulder. First couple finish in the centre of the dance, facing down.

17 – 24    First couple dance a reel of “three” with third couple. To begin, first couple pass third woman by left shoulder. First couple finish in the centre of the dance in second place, man facing down, woman facing up.

25 – 28    First couple set to each other then dance a petronella turn to second place on own side.

29 – 32    All turn partners once round with right hands.
Repeat having passed a couple.

For Penny and Robert Bee
Recommended tune:-  Redheugh  (M.A.J.)






   
Light and Airy
32-bar jig for three couples in a four-couple longwise set
Book 4 – No. 5

Bars                           Description

1 – 4    1st couple set and cast off two places on own sides. 2nd and 3rd couples step up on bars 3-4.
5 – 8    1st couple set and cast up to original places. 2nd and 3rd couples step down on bars 7-8.
9 – 16    1st couple lead down the middle and up, finishing in the middle facing up.
17 – 24    1st and 2nd couples dance an allemande, 1st couple finish facing first corners.
25 – 32    1st couple turn first corners with the right hand, partner with the left hand, second corners with the right hand and giving left hand to partner, cross over to second place on own sides.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

William Campbell:  19th Book of New and Favourite Country Dances and Strathspey Reels, London 1798. Original tine:  Light and Airy (Neil Gow’s Collection)





Anderson’s Rant
32-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set
Miss Milligan’s Miscellany of Scottish Country Dances

Bars                        Description

1 – 16    1st couple dance reels of three on opposite sides of the set and then on own sides.
17 – 24    1st couple lead down the middle and up to second place. 2nd couple step up on     bars 19-20.
25 – 28    1st couple dance a half figure of eight round 2nd couple.
29 – 32    1st couple dance a half figure of eight round 3rd couple, to finish in second place on own sides.
Repeat, having passed a couple.

Customary tune:  Elliot Anderson (Muriel A. Johnstone)

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Dances for November 10, 2011


Thanks to Sandra for taking the class last week. She mentioned that the class would like to do The Reel of the Royal Scots again so we have included that this week. We were planning to do The Saltire Society Reel from the November Social but I don’t think we will have time for that one. Too bad, it is a fun dance. 

Here are the dances, all from the November Social.

St. Andrews Gardens
A 32 bar Jig for 3 couples
Book XXXV – No. 7

Music                            Description
Bars
1 – 8    “EN ROND” Progression as follows:
        1 – 4    1st and 2nd women, and at the same time 1st and 2nd men, giving left hands, change places on the sides and, joining nearer hands, set to partners.
        5 – 8    2nd and 1st couples dance four hands round to the right to finish on the sidelines.

9 – 12    1st couple, dancing in slightly, cast to the left – 1st woman up behind 2nd woman and 1st man down behind 3rd man – and then, approaching each other, curve to the right to face first corners. 

13 – 16    1st couple turn first corners with the right hand to finish with 1st woman between 2nd couple facing down and 1st man between 3rd couple facing up.  Joining nearer hands in lines of three facing down and up, all set. 2nd and 3rd couples remain facing down and up.)

17 – 20    1st couple, dancing in slightly, cast to the left – 1st woman down behind 2nd man and 1st man up behind 3rd woman – and then, approaching each other, curve to the right to face second corners.

21 – 24    1st couple turn second corners with the right hand to finish in second place on opposite sides and then 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples, joining nearer hands, set on the sides.

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

29 – 32    1st couple turn with both hands halfway round (2 pas de basque) and then retire to own sides in second place (2 pas de basque).

        Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Betty Grant, Toronto, Ontario, 1986.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
9-12    Do not pivot.  (Also bars 17-20).



THE QUAICH
THE RONDEL BOOK OF SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCES by JOHN DREWRY
To Miss J.C. Milligan.
Strathspey – 3 couples – 32 bars.
Tune – “Lady Marie Parker”  “Old Scottish Music”  collected by Annie Shand, page 12 (Kerr).

BARS
1 – 2    1st, 2nd and 3rd couples, joining nearer hands, set.
3 – 4    They turn petronella-wise to form a straight line down the centre of the dance, with the ladies facing down and the men facing up.

5 – 8    1st, 2nd and 3rd couples set to partners, then turn petronella-wise into the opposite sides,  i.e. into partners’ places.

9 – 12    1st, 2nd and 3rd couples, joining nearer hands, set, then cross over to own sides, giving right hands to partners. 1st couple finish facing down, and 2nd couple facing up.

13 – 16    1st man sets to 2nd man then turns him right round by the right hand, while 1st lady sets to 2nd lady and turns her by the left hand. 1st couple are now in top place, facing in, and 2nd couple are in second place, facing out.

17 – 24    1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance “Inveran “ reels. At the end of the reels, 1st couple dance in to join nearer hands, facing down, while 2nd couple join nearer hands as they dance up, and stay together, facing up.

25 – 32    1st and 2nd couples dance the “Rondel” to change places.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

This dance is dedicated with permission to Miss J.C. Milligan.  It illustrates her connection with the R.S.C.D.S. right from its inception (Petronella is Book 1  No. 1) up to the present.  The “Rondel” my new progression, which Miss Milligan herself named, is due to appear officially this year in Book 23 in the dance “Mrs. Hamilton of Wishaw”.



The Reel of the Royal Scots
(Reel)
RSCDS Leaflet - No.7

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.