Posting the dances early this week. Jody and I are off to Colorado the investigate a site for the TAC Summer School in 2014. In our place Bob & Barb Anglin will be taking the class.
We have asked them to repeat Mrs Stewart of Fasnacloich. Last week we the class almost mastered the dance. This week will give you a chance to really get a grasp of the dance.
Video: Mrs Stewart of Fasnacloich
Mrs Stewart of Fasnacloich
Leaflet – No. 18
1 – 4 1st and 2nd couples Petronella turn into centre to face partners and set.
5 – 6 1st and 2nd couples turn partners by right hand three-quarters way round, then, retaining partners’ hands.
7 – 8 1st and 2nd couples dance right hands across halfway round to finish, 2nd couple in first place and 1st couple in second place, on own sides.
9 – 16 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance reels of three on the sides. To begin, 1st couple, giving right hands, cross over to third place. 1st couple finish facing second corners; 2nd and 3rd couples dance the long way round into place.
17 – 20 1st couple dance half a diagonal reel of four with second corners. Then 1st couple turn each other by the left hand to face first corners.
21 – 24 1st couple dance half a diagonal reel of four with first corners, passing left shoulders. Then 1st couple pass each other by the left to finish back to back in the centre, 1st man facing up, 1st woman facing down.
25 – 27 1st man dances three hands round with 3rd couple, while 1st woman dances three hands round with 2nd couple.
28 – 30 Releasing left hand, 1st man leads his circle down the women’s side, while 1st woman leads her circle up the men’s side to form a large circle. Six hands round to the left.
31 – 32 All 3 couples set.
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TACNotes:’
19-20 1st cpl dance a wide LH turn instead of passing L shoulder.
24 1st cpl pass L shoulder.
25-30 Controlled slip steps. If 1st cpl release LH in the small circles at end of bar 27, then large circle may be formed by end of bar 28.
Video: The Chequered Court
A short clip from a social.
THE CHEQUERED COURT
Book 42 – No. 3
(Jig)
1 – 4 1st couple, giving right hands, cross and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 3 – 4.
5 – 8 1st woman dances a half figure of eight round 3rd couple while 1st man dances a half figure of eight round 2nd couple. At the end, 1st couple pass left shoulders to finish facing first corners.
9 – 12 1st couple dance the path of corners pass and turn, and pull back right shoulders on bar 12 to finish back to back in the middle, 1st woman facing up and 1st man facing down First corners dance normal corners pass and turn, i.e. pass 1st couple right shoulder on bar 9, turn giving the right hand to face their own place on bar 10, begin dancing out to pass 1st couple right shoulder again on bar 11, and dance round to place on bar 12.
13 – 16 1st couple and partner’s second corners (2nd woman and 3rd man) repeat bars 9 – 12, and on bar 16, 1st couple pull back their right shoulder to finish back to back in the middle in second place facing their own sides (Fig. 2), ready for
17 – 22 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance six bars of double triangles.
23 – 24 1st couple, with two pas de basque, move to their right and pull back right shoulders so that 1st woman finishes between 2nd couple facing 2nd woman and 1st man finishes between 3rd couple facing 3rd man (Fig. 3). 2nd and 3rd couples continue setting.
25 – 30 Reels of three across the dance. 1st and 2nd women and 1st and 3rd men give right shoulders to begin the reels. 1st couple finish in second place on opposite sides.
31 – 32 1st couple, giving right hands, cross over.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
The Chequered Court is part of the University Hall complex at the University of St. Andrews, where the RSCDS is usually based during its annual Summer School.
Devised by Duncan Brown, York Branch.
Video: Seann Truibhas Willichan
Another video from a social
Seann Truibhas Willichan
RSCDS Book 27 #9
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.
Thomas Wilson’s Companion to the Ballroom.
Tune: My Dearie
James Johnstone, 1771
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TACNotes:’
9-12 Set facing diagonally.
Video: The White Cockade
Again from a social. Very narrow sets!
The White Cockade
RSCDS Book 5 – No. 11
32-bar reel for two couples in a four-couple longwise set
1 – 8 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples set and, giving right hands, cross over. They repeat back to places.
9 – 16 1st couple lead down the middle and up to finish in first place in the middle of the set.
17 – 20 1st couple cast off to second place on own sides. 2nd couple step up on bars 19-20.
21 – 24 1st and 3rd couples dance four hands once round to the left.
25 – 32 2nd and 1st couples dance rights and lefts.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
William Campbell: 3rd Book of New and Favourite Country Dances and Strathspey Reels, London c.1782.
Original tune: The White Cockade (Traditional, earliest version Aird 1782 as The Ranting Highlandman)
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Dances for November 22, 2012
This week we are starting to review dances for the December Social. The dances for this social are easier and we should be able to concentrate on the few difficult dances.
Cumberland Reel
RSCDS Book 1 – No. 11
32-bar jig for four couples in a four-couple longwise set
1 – 8 1st and 2nd couples dance right hands across left hands across back to places.
9 – 16 First couple lead down the middle and up to finish in first place, facing out.
17 – 22 1st couple, followed by 2nd, 3rd and 4th couples cast off and dance behind their own lines.
23 – 28 1st couple, followed by 2nd, 3rd and 4th couples dance up the middle. On bar 28, 1st couple face down and 2nd, 3rd and 4th couples join both hands with partners to make an arch in the middle.
29 – 32 First couple dance down the middle under the arches to fourth place. On bar 32, 2nd, 3rd and 4th couples release hands and step up and out to new places.
Repeat with a new top couple.
Video: Mrs Stewart of Fasnacloich
Mrs Stewart of Fasnacloich
RSCDS Leaflet – No. 18
(Reel)
1 – 4 1st and 2nd couples Petronella turn into centre to face partners and set.
5 – 6 1st and 2nd couples turn partners by right hand three-quarters way round, then, retaining partners’ hands.
7 – 8 1st and 2nd couples dance right hands across halfway round to finish, 2nd couple in first place and 1st couple in second place, on own sides.
9 – 16 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance reels of three on the sides. To begin, 1st couple, giving right hands, cross over to third place. 1st couple finish facing second corners; 2nd and 3rd couples dance the long way round into place.
17 – 20 1st couple dance half a diagonal reel of four with second corners. Then 1st couple turn each other by the left hand to face first corners.
21 – 24 1st couple dance half a diagonal reel of four with first corners, passing left shoulders. Then 1st couple pass each other by the left to finish back to back in the centre, 1st man facing up, 1st woman facing down.
25 – 27 1st man dances three hands round with 3rd couple, while 1st woman dances three hands round with 2nd couple.
28 – 30 Releasing left hand, 1st man leads his circle down the women’s side, while 1st woman leads her circle up the men’s side to form a large circle. Six hands round to the left.
31 – 32 All 3 couples set.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
19-20 1st cpl dance a wide LH turn instead of passing L shoulder.
24 1st cpl pass L shoulder.
25-30 Controlled slip steps. If 1st cpl release LH in the small circles at end of bar 27, then large circle may be formed by end of bar 28.
Video: Culla Bay
Culla Bay (Strathspey)
RSCDS Book 41 – No. 2
Dancers arranged in a square set as for the Eightsome Reel.
1 – 4 1st man and 3rd woman, and 1st woman and 3rd man, turn with the right hand half way round to face each other then, pulling back right shoulders, cast out to opposite places and remain facing out.
5 – 8 1st and 3rd couples continue dancing on clockwise one place round the set, curving in to finish back to back in the centre of the set, 1st couple facing fourth place, and 3rd couple facing second place. Meanwhile, 2nd and 4th couples repeat bars 1-4.
N.B. on bars 7 – 8, 1st and 2nd women, 1st and 2nd men, 3rd and 4th women and 3rd and 4th men dance in a curve round each other to new places, passing right shoulder.
9 – 16 All dance reels of four across the set.
17 – 20 2nd and 1st couples, and at the same time 3rd and 4th couples, dance four hands once round to the left.
21 – 24 Joining nearer hands with partner, all set, then 1st and 2nd couples and, at the same time, 3rd and 4th couples, dance right hands across half way.
25 – 28 2nd and 4th couples dance left hands across once round, to finish facing out.
29 – 32 2nd and 4th couples, passing 1st and 3rd couples by the right shoulder, dance out and progress on one place clockwise to finish with 2nd couple in first place and 4th couple in third place. All couples have now progressed one place anti-clockwise round the set.
Repeat, with original 2nd and 4th couples leading.
Culla Bay (pronounced ‘coola’) is on the island of Benbecula where Sheila Jupp spent part of her childhood.
Devised by Ann Dix, London Branch.
Tune: The Macaulays of Benbecula (copyright Frank Reid).
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The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
Bars 5–8 2nd and 4th couples finish facing in.
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TACNotes:’
5–8 2nd & 4th cpls finish facing in on bar 8.
23–24 2nd & 4th cpls shorten steps in order to flow directly into LH across on bar 25.
Blue Bonnets
RSCDS Book 3 – No. 5
32-bar jig for two couples in a four-couple longwise set
1 – 4 1st woman and 2nd man advance and retire.
5 – 8 1st woman and 2nd man dance back to back, passing by the right to begin.
9 – 16 1st man and 2nd woman repeat bars 1-8.
17 – 24 1st couple lead down the middle and up to finish in the middle of the set, facing partner with both hands joined. 2nd couple step in.
25 – 32 1st and 2nd couples dance a poussette.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
Cumberland Reel
RSCDS Book 1 – No. 11
32-bar jig for four couples in a four-couple longwise set
1 – 8 1st and 2nd couples dance right hands across left hands across back to places.
9 – 16 First couple lead down the middle and up to finish in first place, facing out.
17 – 22 1st couple, followed by 2nd, 3rd and 4th couples cast off and dance behind their own lines.
23 – 28 1st couple, followed by 2nd, 3rd and 4th couples dance up the middle. On bar 28, 1st couple face down and 2nd, 3rd and 4th couples join both hands with partners to make an arch in the middle.
29 – 32 First couple dance down the middle under the arches to fourth place. On bar 32, 2nd, 3rd and 4th couples release hands and step up and out to new places.
Repeat with a new top couple.
Video: Mrs Stewart of Fasnacloich
Mrs Stewart of Fasnacloich
RSCDS Leaflet – No. 18
(Reel)
1 – 4 1st and 2nd couples Petronella turn into centre to face partners and set.
5 – 6 1st and 2nd couples turn partners by right hand three-quarters way round, then, retaining partners’ hands.
7 – 8 1st and 2nd couples dance right hands across halfway round to finish, 2nd couple in first place and 1st couple in second place, on own sides.
9 – 16 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance reels of three on the sides. To begin, 1st couple, giving right hands, cross over to third place. 1st couple finish facing second corners; 2nd and 3rd couples dance the long way round into place.
17 – 20 1st couple dance half a diagonal reel of four with second corners. Then 1st couple turn each other by the left hand to face first corners.
21 – 24 1st couple dance half a diagonal reel of four with first corners, passing left shoulders. Then 1st couple pass each other by the left to finish back to back in the centre, 1st man facing up, 1st woman facing down.
25 – 27 1st man dances three hands round with 3rd couple, while 1st woman dances three hands round with 2nd couple.
28 – 30 Releasing left hand, 1st man leads his circle down the women’s side, while 1st woman leads her circle up the men’s side to form a large circle. Six hands round to the left.
31 – 32 All 3 couples set.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
19-20 1st cpl dance a wide LH turn instead of passing L shoulder.
24 1st cpl pass L shoulder.
25-30 Controlled slip steps. If 1st cpl release LH in the small circles at end of bar 27, then large circle may be formed by end of bar 28.
Video: Culla Bay
Culla Bay (Strathspey)
RSCDS Book 41 – No. 2
Dancers arranged in a square set as for the Eightsome Reel.
1 – 4 1st man and 3rd woman, and 1st woman and 3rd man, turn with the right hand half way round to face each other then, pulling back right shoulders, cast out to opposite places and remain facing out.
5 – 8 1st and 3rd couples continue dancing on clockwise one place round the set, curving in to finish back to back in the centre of the set, 1st couple facing fourth place, and 3rd couple facing second place. Meanwhile, 2nd and 4th couples repeat bars 1-4.
N.B. on bars 7 – 8, 1st and 2nd women, 1st and 2nd men, 3rd and 4th women and 3rd and 4th men dance in a curve round each other to new places, passing right shoulder.
9 – 16 All dance reels of four across the set.
17 – 20 2nd and 1st couples, and at the same time 3rd and 4th couples, dance four hands once round to the left.
21 – 24 Joining nearer hands with partner, all set, then 1st and 2nd couples and, at the same time, 3rd and 4th couples, dance right hands across half way.
25 – 28 2nd and 4th couples dance left hands across once round, to finish facing out.
29 – 32 2nd and 4th couples, passing 1st and 3rd couples by the right shoulder, dance out and progress on one place clockwise to finish with 2nd couple in first place and 4th couple in third place. All couples have now progressed one place anti-clockwise round the set.
Repeat, with original 2nd and 4th couples leading.
Culla Bay (pronounced ‘coola’) is on the island of Benbecula where Sheila Jupp spent part of her childhood.
Devised by Ann Dix, London Branch.
Tune: The Macaulays of Benbecula (copyright Frank Reid).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
Bars 5–8 2nd and 4th couples finish facing in.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
5–8 2nd & 4th cpls finish facing in on bar 8.
23–24 2nd & 4th cpls shorten steps in order to flow directly into LH across on bar 25.
Blue Bonnets
RSCDS Book 3 – No. 5
32-bar jig for two couples in a four-couple longwise set
1 – 4 1st woman and 2nd man advance and retire.
5 – 8 1st woman and 2nd man dance back to back, passing by the right to begin.
9 – 16 1st man and 2nd woman repeat bars 1-8.
17 – 24 1st couple lead down the middle and up to finish in the middle of the set, facing partner with both hands joined. 2nd couple step in.
25 – 32 1st and 2nd couples dance a poussette.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Dances for November 15, 2012
Video: The Royal Deeside Railway
This looks like a social dance in someone's house.
The Royal Deeside Railway (Reel)
RSCDS Book 40 – No. 9
1 – 4 1st couple, without giving hands, dance down, cross below 3rd couple and cast up to finish in the middle of the set facing 2nd woman. 2nd couple step up on bars 3-4.
5 – 8 1st couple and 2nd woman dance right hands across once round.
9 – 12 1st couple and 2nd man dance left hands across once round. 1st couple finish in the middle of the set facing up, with the woman in front of the man.
13 – 16 With 1st woman leading, 1st couple dance up and cast off on own sides round 2nd couple to finish in the middle of the set facing 3rd man.
17 – 20 1st couple and 3rd man dance right hands across once round.
21 – 24 1st couple and 3rd woman dance left hands across once round. 1st couple finish in the middle of the set facing down, with the woman in front of the man.
25 – 28 With 1st woman leading, 1st couple dance down and cast up on own sides round 3rd couple to second place.
29 – 32 All three couples turn with the right hand once round.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
Devised in 1987 by Ron Arrowsmith, Vancouver for the Kerrisdale Community Centre Scottish Country Dance Class.
Tune: On the Fiddle (Copyright J. Hornsby)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
5–12 1st woman is ahead of her partner in both ‘wheels’. 1st cpl finish in middle below 2nd cpl – approximately at 2nd position.
17–24 1st woman is again ahead of partner in both ‘wheels’, 1st cpl finish in middle at 2nd place, above 3rd cpl.
BRAVEHEART
THE BANKHEAD BOOK, Part 6, Scottish Country Dances by JOHN DREWRY, 1995 – 1996
dance devised in September 1996
A dance to mark the passage of 700 years since the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297
Strathspey – 3 couples – 32 bars
1 – 4 1st couple set to each other and then, giving right hands cross over to second place on opposite sides and stay facing out. 2nd couple step up on bars 3-4.
5 – 8 1st couple dance round their first corners, passing them by the right and then turn each other with the left hand to finish in the middle of the dance in second place with the man facing down and the woman facing up.
9 – 12 2nd, 1st and 3rd men dance right hands across on the men’s side, while their partners dance right hands across on the women’s side. At the end, 1st couple pass each other by the right.
13 – 16 1st woman dances left hands across with 2nd and 3rd men on the men’s side while 1st man dances left hands across with 2nd and 3rd women on the women’s side. 1st man finishes between 2nd couple in first place all facing down, while 1st woman finishes between 3rd couple in third place all facing up.
17 – 20 All set in lines of three facing down and up and then change places with the opposite person giving right hand.
21 – 24 All set again in lines of three facing down and up and then change places with the opposite person giving right hand. 2nd couple stay facing up in first place, 3rd couple stay facing down in third place and 1st couple turn right about to finish facing each other (Man facing down, woman up).
25 – 32 1st man dances a reel of three across the dance in first place with 2nd couple, beginning by giving right shoulder to 2nd man. 1st woman, similarly, dances a reel of three across the dance in third place with 3rd couple, beginning by giving right shoulder to 3rd woman. At the end, 1st couple dance to second place on own sides.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
Video: Rest and be Thankful
REST AND BE THANKFUL
The Grampian Collection of Scottish Country Dances by Jack McConachie
Bars
1 – 4 First couple, giving right hands, cross over and cast off one place on the opposite side. Second couple move up on Bars 3 – 4.
5 – 8 First couple, giving left hands, cross over and first lady casts up round second lady, while first man casts off round third man, to finish beside their 1st Corner.
9 – 12 First couple, holding their 1st Corner in Promenade position on their right, leads them round behind their 2nd Corner and places them in the opposite 1st Corner position. At the same time the 2nd Corners Advance towards each other and Retire (Diagram 1).
13 – 16 First couple turn each other with left hands to finish beside their 2nd Corner. (Turn strongly for one and a quarter times.)
17 – 20 First couple, holding their 2nd Corner in Promenade position on their right, leads them round behind their 1st Corners (who are on the wrong side) and places them in the opposite 2nd Corner position. At the same time the 1st Corners Advance towards each other and Retire.
21 – 24 First couple turn each other with left hands to finish facing their usual 1st Corner position (first lady faces third lady while first man faces second man).
25 – 28 First couple dance a half Reel of Four diagonally across the Set with their 1st Corners —first couple , passing by the right to begin, curve by their right round the 1st Corner position, while the Corners pass each other by the left in the middle to their own sides.
29 – 32 First couple, passing each other by the right in the middle, dance a half Reel of Four diagonally across the Set with their 2nd Corners—again passing by the right to begin, then crossing over by the right to finish in 2nd place on their own sides (Diagram 2).
First couple repeat from the 2nd place and cross by the left, down between fourth couple, to the bottom. Each couple repeat in turn as first couple.
Video: Round Reel of Eight
There are quite a few videos of this dance.
Round Reel of Eight
RSCDS Book 27 #7
1 – 8 All 4 women cast by the right and dance outside the set back to original places.
9 – 16 All 4 men repeat bars 1–8 but cast by the left.
17 – 32 Grand chain half-way round in 6 steps. All set to partners, continue grand chain back to places in 6 steps and set to partners.
33 – 35 First and third couples change places. First couple dance between third couple.
36 – 38 Repeat bars 33–35 back to original places. Third couple dance between first couple.
39 – 40 First and third couples turn with right hands into allemande hold ready for promenade.
41 – 48 First and third couples promenade round the inside of the set back to original places.
49 – 64 Second and fourth couples repeat bars 33–48. Second couple dance between fourth couple on bars 49–51; fourth couple between second couple on bars 52–54.
65 – 68 First and third couples ½ right and left.
69 – 72 Second and fourth couples ½ right and left.
73 – 80 Repeat bars 65–72 back to original places.
81 – 88 All 4 couples, 8 hands round and back.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Dances for November 8, 2012
Video: Bratach Bana
The video is a performance of children from Japan
Bratach Bana
THE BON ACCORD BOOK OF SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCES by John Drewry
Reel - 3 couples - 32 bars
Tune - "Bratach Bana"
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.
Video: Cherrybank Gardens
This is from a social in Vancouver, Washington.
CHERRYBANK GARDENS
THE BANKHEAD BOOK, Part 1, Scottish Country Dances by JOHN DREWRY
December 1991
for Betty Keir of Perth
to be used in promoting the “Tourist Trail”
Strathspey – 3-couple set – 32 bars
Tune – “Calluna” by J. Berry
1 – 4 1st and 2nd women and 1st and 2nd men, joining nearer hands, set and then “petronella in tandem” to finish facing down and up.
5 – 8 1st and 2nd women and 1st and 2nd men, joining nearer hands, set facing down and up and then “petronella in tandem” to finish on opposite sides in the order 2, 1.
9 – 12 2nd and 1st couples, joining nearer hands, set on opposite sides and then 2nd couple cross over giving right hands, while 1st couple cross over giving left hands.
13 – 16 1st woman dances right hands across with 2nd couple, while 1st man dances right hands across with 3rd couple. 1st couple finish in second place on own sides.
17 – 20 1st and 3rd couples, joining nearer hands on the sides, set and “link” to change places.
21 – 24 3rd and 1st couples dance four hands round to the left to finish with 3rd couple facing down and 1st couple facing up.
25 – 32 2nd, 3rd and 1st couples dance a grand chain.
Repeat with a new top couple.
The Lochalsh Reel
The Skye Collection of Scottish Country Dances, Volume 2
8 x 40 Bar Reel
1 – 8 1st couple turn with right hands and cast off 1 place. 2nd couple step up on bars 3 and 4. 1st couple cross giving left hands, cast off 1 place and join up in promenade hold 1st woman on the left of 1st man facing 3rd man.
9 – 16 1st and 3rd couples dance a reel of three across the dance 1st couple giving left shoulder to 3rd man to start. Finish between 3rd couple facing up and drop hands.
17 – 24 1st couple divide and dance reels of three on the sides, 1st woman giving right shoulder to 2nd man, 1st man giving left shoulder to 2nd woman to begin. Finish in the centre facing up.
25 – 28 1st couple joining nearer hands dance up to the top and turn the 2nd couple with their free hands.
29 – 32 1st couple dance down between 3rd couple, cross back to own sides and cast up to 2nd place.
33 – 40 1st couple dance right hands across, 1st woman with 2nd couple and 1st man with 3rd couple. 1st couple pass right shoulders and dance left hands across, 1st woman with 3rd couple and 1st man with 2nd couple to finish in 2nd place on own sides.
Repeat from 2nd place.
Devised by Pat Burnett, present teacher of the South Skye Class.
Video: Round Reel of Eight
A Demonstration dance. You will have to move to about the 8 minute mark to see the dance
Round Reel of Eight
RSCDS Book 7
1 – 8 All 4 women cast by the right and dance outside the set back to original places.
9 – 16 All 4 men repeat bars 1–8 but cast by the left.
17 – 32 Grand chain half-way round in 6 steps. All set to partners, continue grand chain back to places in 6 steps and set to partners.
33 – 35 First and third couples change places. First couple dance between third couple.
36 – 38 Repeat bars 33–35 back to original places. Third couple dance between first couple.
39 – 40 First and third couples turn with right hands into allemande hold ready for promenade.
41 – 48 First and third couples promenade round the inside of the set back to original places.
49 – 64 Second and fourth couples repeat bars 33–48. Second couple dance between fourth couple on bars 49–51; fourth couple between second couple on bars 52–54.
65 – 68 First and third couples ½ right and left.
69 – 72 Second and fourth couples ½ right and left.
73 – 80 Repeat bars 65–72 back to original places.
81 – 88 All 4 couples, 8 hands round and back.
The video is a performance of children from Japan
Bratach Bana
THE BON ACCORD BOOK OF SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCES by John Drewry
Reel - 3 couples - 32 bars
Tune - "Bratach Bana"
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.
Video: Cherrybank Gardens
This is from a social in Vancouver, Washington.
CHERRYBANK GARDENS
THE BANKHEAD BOOK, Part 1, Scottish Country Dances by JOHN DREWRY
December 1991
for Betty Keir of Perth
to be used in promoting the “Tourist Trail”
Strathspey – 3-couple set – 32 bars
Tune – “Calluna” by J. Berry
1 – 4 1st and 2nd women and 1st and 2nd men, joining nearer hands, set and then “petronella in tandem” to finish facing down and up.
5 – 8 1st and 2nd women and 1st and 2nd men, joining nearer hands, set facing down and up and then “petronella in tandem” to finish on opposite sides in the order 2, 1.
9 – 12 2nd and 1st couples, joining nearer hands, set on opposite sides and then 2nd couple cross over giving right hands, while 1st couple cross over giving left hands.
13 – 16 1st woman dances right hands across with 2nd couple, while 1st man dances right hands across with 3rd couple. 1st couple finish in second place on own sides.
17 – 20 1st and 3rd couples, joining nearer hands on the sides, set and “link” to change places.
21 – 24 3rd and 1st couples dance four hands round to the left to finish with 3rd couple facing down and 1st couple facing up.
25 – 32 2nd, 3rd and 1st couples dance a grand chain.
Repeat with a new top couple.
The Lochalsh Reel
The Skye Collection of Scottish Country Dances, Volume 2
8 x 40 Bar Reel
1 – 8 1st couple turn with right hands and cast off 1 place. 2nd couple step up on bars 3 and 4. 1st couple cross giving left hands, cast off 1 place and join up in promenade hold 1st woman on the left of 1st man facing 3rd man.
9 – 16 1st and 3rd couples dance a reel of three across the dance 1st couple giving left shoulder to 3rd man to start. Finish between 3rd couple facing up and drop hands.
17 – 24 1st couple divide and dance reels of three on the sides, 1st woman giving right shoulder to 2nd man, 1st man giving left shoulder to 2nd woman to begin. Finish in the centre facing up.
25 – 28 1st couple joining nearer hands dance up to the top and turn the 2nd couple with their free hands.
29 – 32 1st couple dance down between 3rd couple, cross back to own sides and cast up to 2nd place.
33 – 40 1st couple dance right hands across, 1st woman with 2nd couple and 1st man with 3rd couple. 1st couple pass right shoulders and dance left hands across, 1st woman with 3rd couple and 1st man with 2nd couple to finish in 2nd place on own sides.
Repeat from 2nd place.
Devised by Pat Burnett, present teacher of the South Skye Class.
Video: Round Reel of Eight
A Demonstration dance. You will have to move to about the 8 minute mark to see the dance
Round Reel of Eight
RSCDS Book 7
1 – 8 All 4 women cast by the right and dance outside the set back to original places.
9 – 16 All 4 men repeat bars 1–8 but cast by the left.
17 – 32 Grand chain half-way round in 6 steps. All set to partners, continue grand chain back to places in 6 steps and set to partners.
33 – 35 First and third couples change places. First couple dance between third couple.
36 – 38 Repeat bars 33–35 back to original places. Third couple dance between first couple.
39 – 40 First and third couples turn with right hands into allemande hold ready for promenade.
41 – 48 First and third couples promenade round the inside of the set back to original places.
49 – 64 Second and fourth couples repeat bars 33–48. Second couple dance between fourth couple on bars 49–51; fourth couple between second couple on bars 52–54.
65 – 68 First and third couples ½ right and left.
69 – 72 Second and fourth couples ½ right and left.
73 – 80 Repeat bars 65–72 back to original places.
81 – 88 All 4 couples, 8 hands round and back.
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