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.
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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.
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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.
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