Dances for March 14, 2013

Video: Mrs Stewart's Jig

Mrs Stewart's Jig
RSCDS Book XXXV - No.1

1 – 8     1st couple set and then 1st woman, followed by her partner, casts off; she crosses below 3rd couple and dances up behind 3rd  man to second place on the men's side; 1st  man dances below 3rd  woman and up the middle to second place on the women's side. 1st  couple finish facing down. 2nd  couple step up on bars 7 – 8.

9 – 16    2nd , 1st and 3rd couples dance Grand Chain, 2nd and 1st men finish facing out.

17 – 24    2nd and 1st couples dance Ladies’ Chain.

25 – 32 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples advance and retire and then 1st couple turn with the right hand one and a half times to second place on own sides.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Frans Ligtmans, Eindhoven, 1986.
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TACNotes:’
1 – 8    On bar 8, 1st cpl curve by right into 2nd place on opposite side, to finish facing down.





Video: Neidpath Castle

Neidpath Castle
RSCDS Book 22 – No. 9
32-bar strathspey for three couples in a three-couple longwise set

1 – 2    1st, 2nd and 3rd couples set to partners.

3 – 6    1st, 2nd and 3rd couples, giving both hands, turn twice round.

7 – 8    1st, 2nd and 3rd couples set to partners.

9 – 16    1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance a grand chain.

17 – 24    1st couple dance figures of eight on own sides, dancing in and down to begin and giving nearer hands when possible. 1st couple finish in the middle and, on bar 24, 2nd couple dance in to form a diagonal line with 1st couple, 1st woman and 2nd man back to back.

25 – 28    1st and 2nd couples dance a half poussette, 2nd couple finishing in top place while 1st couple turn in the middle. On bar 28, 3rd couple dance in to form a diagonal line with 1st couple, 1st woman and 3rd man back to back.

29 – 32    1st and 3rd couples dance a half poussette to finish in the order 2, 3, 1.

Repeat with a new top couple.

Devised by Derek Haynes, Liverpool Branch.
Original tune: Dr and Mrs Green (K Macaulay-Jones)
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TACNotes:’
25–28       Slow turn for 1st cpl on bars 27-28.



Video: J. B. Milne

J. B. Milne
The Angus Fitchet Album by Hugh Foss, 1954

1 – 4    1st man and 2nd woman set, approaching, and turn by the right hand back to places.

5 – 8    1st woman and 2nd man do the same.

9 – 12    1st couple set to each other, approaching, and turn with both hands, the man letting go with his left hand first.

13 – 14    1st couple cast off into 2nd place (2nd move up),

15 – 16    And turn, as in Petronella, so that the man is between 3rd couple and woman between 2nd.

17 – 18    1st couple set to each other, while 2nd and  3rd women – and men – change places, giving right hands.

19 – 20    1st couple turn by the right hand three-quarters round to ‘wrong’ sides, 2nd place, while 2nd and 3rd couples set to partners

21 – 24    1st couple set to each other and turn three-quarters round by the right hand. Meanwhile 2nd and 3rd couples cross over, giving right hands to partners, then 2nd and 3rd women – and men – set to each other.

25 – 28    1st couple set to each other, facing up and down the dance, and change places, giving right hands, while 2nd and 3rd women – and men – change places, giving right hands, and set to partners.

29 – 30    Continuing, 1st woman casts off, and 1st man casts up, to 2nd place, own sides, while 2nd and 3rd couples cross over, giving right hands to partners  (See Fig. 2).

31 – 32    Taking hands at the sides, all three couples set to partners.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

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The following is an excerpt from a letter written by Bob Campbell in either October 1985 or January 1986 to the editor of TACTALK which was printed in the first issue of 1986:

“… it is said there are no turns for 2nd and 3rd couples in the new figure. Actually there are turns. These follow necessarily from an amendment that Hugh Foss made to the dance by way of a general newsletter in October 1967. Reference is to the setting by 2nd and 3rd couples on bars 19-20, 21-24 and 25-28. I quote Hugh’s words: ‘When 2nd and 3rd couples set they should do the first setting facing the person they have just passed and the second facing the person they are going to pass.’ It follows that for smooth performance the dancers going counter-clockwise round the square will have a long, or ‘polite’ turn. At the time, the change was considered an improvement in an already good dance.

As far as I know J. B. Milne is the only dance with setting shared in this way. It should be noted that such setting does not occur in The Australian Ladies, although the counter-clockwise dancers do have a long turn. (The diagram requires amendment.)”


Video: Maxwell's Rant

Maxwell’s Rant
RSCDS Book 18 – No. 10
32-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1 – 16    1st couple, with 2nd and 3rd couples, dance reels of three on opposite sides and then on own sides. 2nd and 3rd couples remain on own sides throughout.

17 – 20    1st couple, giving right hands, cross over and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 19-20.

21 – 24    1st couple dance a half figure of eight round 2nd couple.

25 – 28    1st couple dance down between 3rd couple and cast up to second place on own sides.

29 – 32    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples, giving right hands, turn once round.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Rutherford: Compleat Collection of 200 of the most celebrated Country Dances both old and new… Vol 1, London, c. 1755 as Maxwill’s Rant.

Original tune: Maxwell’s Rant (Traditional)