Dances for April 26, 2012

Now that the Ottawa branch ball is over we will be focusing on the dances for the Beginner Ball. The cribs for the beginner ball are available from the Ardbrae website here


Video: Petronella

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".






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)



                   


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.  (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 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




McMARLEY’S CROSS  3S32
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)




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)

Dances for April 19, 2012

Here are the dances for this week. These are from the welcome dance for the Ottawa branch ball. Again these are dances worth knowing and will likely come up again on a social.


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

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.)





Muirland Willie
RSCDS, Book 21
32-bar jig for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

Bars                        Description

1 – 4    1st couple lead down the middle crossing over, dance out through third place and up to second place. 2nd couple set and, giving right hands, cross down to finish in third place. 3rd couple cast up to top and, giving right hands, cross over. All are now on opposite sides of the dance in the order 3, 1, 2.

5 – 8    All three couples set and turn with both hands to own sides of the set.

9 – 12    3rd couple lead down the middle crossing over, dance out through third place and up to second place. 1st couple set and, giving right hands, cross down to finish in third place. 2nd couple cast up to top and, giving right hands, cross over. All are again on opposite sides of the dance in the order 2, 3, 1.

13 – 16    All three couples set and turn with both hands to own sides of the set.

17 – 20    1st couple lead up to top. 2nd and 3rd couples step down on bars 19-20.

21 – 24    1st couple set twice to each other, 2nd couple joining them in bars 23-24 as both couples advance to meet partners in the middle of the set.

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

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Collected from an old MS.




THE BYRON STRATHSPEY
The Deeside Book of Scottish Country Dances, Part 2 by John Drewry
Strathspey   :   3 - couple set   :   32 bars
Tune   :   “The Byron Strathspey”    by Andrew Rankine

Bars

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

5 – 8    1st, 2nd and 3rd couples turn partners with both hands one and a quarter times to return to original places.       

9 – 12    2nd lady dances right hands across with 1st couple, while 2nd man dances right hands across with 3rd couple.

13 – 16    Passing his partner by the right, 2nd man dances left hands across with 1st couple, while 2nd woman dances left hands across with 3rd couple. At the end, 2nd couple dance in to join hands in promenade hold facing up, 1st couple stay facing out, and 3rd couple return to places.

17 – 24    2nd couple, dancing together, dance a reel of three across the dance with 1st couple, passing 1st lady by the right to begin.

At the end:- 2nd couple dance up the centre of the dance to top place, 1st couple dance down to second place then in to meet behind 2nd couple, and 3rd couple, on Bar 24, dance in on the left foot to meet, covering with 1st couple.

25 – 32    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance a three-couple allemande to finish in order 3, 1, 2.

Repeat from new positions.




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

Fig - Bar 16

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).

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.

Dances for April 12, 2012

Here are the dances. We are continuing to go over the dances on the Ottawa branch ball. We have also included a dance from the welcome dance.



THE WHITE HEATHER JIG
TWENTY-TWO SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCES by JAMES B. COSH and TWO OTHERS

To the adapted music of the Six Twenty Two Step.

Music.                    Description.
Bars
1 – 4    First couple turn with right hand and cast off to second place. (Second couple step up.)

5 – 8    First couple turn with left hand 1½ times and finish back to back between second couple, first woman facing second man and first man facing second woman.

9 – 16    First and second couples a reel of four across (first couple pass right shoulder to finish facing first corner.)

17 – 24    Turn corner with right hand, partner with left hand, second corner with right hand and turn partner with left hand to finish back to back between third couple (first woman facing third man and first man the third woman.)

25 – 32    First and third couples a reel of four across, first man particularly a full reel of four. Third couple finish in second place, (First couple meet in centre between third and fourth couples.)

33 – 36    First couple turn with left hand and cast down on own    side. (Fourth couple step up.)

37 – 40    First couple turn with right hand.



The Saltire Strathspey
Book 45.  No. 4
(Strathspey)

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.

9 – 12    All set and link to change places with partners.

13 – 16    All set and link finishing on the sidelines facing partners.

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.



Bratach Bana
THE BON ACCORD BOOK OF SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCES by John Drewry
Reel  -  3 couples - 32 bars
Tune - "Bratach Bana"

BARS
1.4 1st couple turn by the right hand and cast off to second place on own sides. (2nd couple move up on Bars 3 - 4)

5 – 8    1st man dances down between 3rd couple and then casts up to second place on the ladies' side. 1st lady dances up between 2nd couple and then casts off to second place on the men's side.

9  - 12    Half reels of three on the sides. 1st man gives right shoulder to 2nd lady, while 1st lady gives right shoulder to 3rd man.

13 – 16 Half reels of three across the dance. 1st man cuts up between 3rd couple who are in top place, giving left shoulder to 3rd man. 1st lady cuts down between 2nd couple who are in 3rd place, giving left shoulder to 2nd lady.       

NOTE    The 2nd and 3rd couples dance round loops on the corners between the half reels.

(1st couple are now in second place on own sides, 2nd couple are in third place on wrong sides, and 3rd couple are in top place on wrong sides).

17 – 18    1st couple turn each other with the left hand.
19 – 20    1st couple turn first corners (who are on the wrong sides) by the right hand.
21 – 22    1st  couple pass each other by the right shoulder to face second corners.
23 – 24    1st couple turn second corners by the right hand and finish on own sides in second place retaining hold of second corners by the right hand and giving them left hands also in promenade hold.

25 – 26    1st couple lead their second corners diagonally across the dance, 1st man and 2nd lady passing above 1st lady and 3rd man.

27 - 28    Dropping left hands, 1st couple turn their second corners half-way round by the right hand, so that 1st couple finish in second place on wrong sides while their corners are in their proper places i.e. 2nd lady is in top place, and 3rd man in third place on own sides.**

29 - 30    1st man and 3rd lady change places giving right hands. 1st lady and 2nd man change places similarly.

31 - 32    1st and 2nd men, and 1st and 3rd ladies change places on the sides giving left hands. This last four bar figure is like half rights and lefts but on the diagonal, and 2nd man and 3rd lady do "polite" turns at the end.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

* * I am indebted to Derek Haynes for suggesting this improvement in the dance. Originally I had 1st couple and their second comers turning with two pas de basque, while retaining promenade hold.




The Moudiewort
RSCDS Book 11 – No. 7
32-bar jig for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

Bars                        Description

1 – 4    1st man and 2nd woman set advancing and, giving right hands, turn once round.

5 – 8    1st woman and 2nd man repeat bars 1-4.

9 – 16    1st couple lead down the middle and up and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 15-16.

17 – 20    1st couple dance down between 3rd couple, cast up one place and cross over to face first corners.

21 – 24    1st couple set to first corners and then to second corners.

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

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

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Bowman MS, c. 1755-1760.

Original tune:  The Moudiewort  (Oswald’s Caledonian Pocket Companion, 1752).     Burns wrote the song  An’o for ane an’ twenty  to a version of this tune.

Dances for April 5, 2012

Here are the dances for this week. Again we are focussing on the Branch Ball dances. It doesn't seem like many are going to the Branch ball so we may switch and focus on the Friday night dances. There are a couple of links to videos but you will have to go to the blog to get to them

A HIGHLAND WELCOME                    
3 - Couple Jig
The Cockleroy Collection, Seven Scottish Country Dances by John Bowie Dickson
Dedicated to Barbara Little

Bars

1 – 4    First couple cross over to opposite side giving right hand in passing and cast off one place.  Second couple step up on bars 3-4.
5 – 8    First couple dance half a Figure of Eight round second couple and finish in the centre of the dance facing down.   

9 – 12    First couple, with promenade hold, dance half a Reel of Three across the dance with third couple, passing third man by the right shoulder to begin.

13 – 16    First couple, still with promenade hold, dance half a Reel of Three across the dance with second couple, passing second woman by the left shoulder to begin and finish by dancing out through second place on own side into….

17 – 24    Reels of Three at the sides.  First couple dance out and down to begin and finish in the centre of the dance facing down.

25 – 28    First couple cross down below third couple and cast up into second place on the wrong side.

29 – 32    Taking hands at the sides, second, first and third couples, set and cross back to own side giving right hand to partner in passing.

Repeat from second place.  The second time through, on bars 31-32, first and fourth couples dance right hands across halfway round to change places.

Music:   “Martin’s Tin Whistle’ – Gordon MacCullough and his Scottish Country Dance Band, POLYDOR SELECT 2460-260,




Video: The Saltire Society Reel 
This is the Edinburgh Mens demonstration team. All very good dancers.

The Saltire Society Reel
RSCDS Leaflet – No. 9
(Reel)

Music                             Description
Bars
1 – 2    1st couple cross over to second place on opposite sides without giving hands and face out. 2nd couple step up.

3 – 4    1st woman and 3rd man turn with left hands, while 1st man and 3rd woman turn with right hands. 1st couple meet between 3rd couple at the end of bar 4.

5 – 6    1st couple, with nearer hands joined, dance up the middle.

7 – 8    1st woman and 2nd man turn with left hands, while 1st man and 2nd woman turn with right hands. 1st couple finish in second place on opposite sides of dance facing down.

9 – 16    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance reels of three on the sides. To begin: 1st couple cross down. 3rd couple dance out and up. 2nd couple dance out and down. On bar 16 1st couple dance into the middle joining left hand with partner to face first corners.

17 – 18    1st couple set to first corners and turning inwards on bar 18 join right hand with partner.

19 – 20    1st couple set to partner’s first corner. On bar 20 first corners advance to join right hands across.

21 – 24    1st couple and first corners dance right hands across. First corners finish in original places while 1st couple retaining partner’s right hand finish facing second corners.

25 – 28    1st couple repeat bars 17-20 with second corners but 1st couple join left hands on bar 26 and second corners join left hands across on bar 28.

29 – 32    1st couple and second corners dance left hands across. Second corners finish in original places while 1st couple finish in second place on own sides.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Roy Goldring, 1985.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
9-16    1st cpl cross down to begin, woman in front of partner to give L shoulder to 3rd woman, & 1st man R shoulder to 3rd man.



Video: The Silver Tassie
In order to balance things out here is a womens team dancing The Silver Tassie. Again all good dancers

The Silver Tassie
RSCDS Leaflet – No. 1
(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.

Devised by John Drewry
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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.
25-32    On bar 32, cpls dance straight into places.




Wedderburn’s Reel.   (Reel.)
RSCDS Graded Book – No. 18.

Music.                Description.
Bars.
1 – 8    1st couple cast off, and dance down behind own line for 4 skip change of step, turn outward and dance 4 steps back to place.

9 – 16    1st couple lead down the middle for 3 skip change of step, lead up for 3, then cast off round 2nd couple and finish facing 1st corner.  2nd couple move up on 15 and 16.

17 – 24    1st couple turn 1st corner with right hand for 2 skip change of step, turn partner in the middle with left hand for 2, 2nd corner with right hand for 2, then partner with left for 2, finishing 1st man between 2nd and 3rd women and 1st woman between 2nd and 3rd men.

25 – 28    1st man with 2 women, and 1st woman with 2 men, advance and retire, 2 skip change of step forward and 2 back.

29 – 32    1st couple turn each other with right hand 1 ½ times to finish on own side, one place down.

Repeat, having passed a couple.
   
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Note:   The diagrams in the original RSCDS Book contain errors. The diagrams shown above are correct.