Eight by Thirty-Two

Heathery Breeze 4x32 S

HEATHERY BREEZE
32-bar Strathspey for 4 couples in a 4-couple set

1-8     1s dance Mirror Crossover Reel of Three finishing in partner's original place

9-10     1s cross down to second position own sides facing out while 2s continue reeling to finish in top position

11-12     1s turn 3s halfway on the sidelines, men by LH, ladies by RH

13-16     1M dances down between 4s and casts up and around 4L to finish in the center facing up while 1L dance up between 3s and casts down and around 3M to finish in the center facing down. 1s are back to back

17-24     1s circle three hands round to the left, 1M with 3s, 1L with 4s, cross up/down to circle three hands round to the right, 1L with 3s, 1M with 4s, 1s finishing in third position opposite sidelines, 1M facing up, 1L facing down

25-30     Reels of three on opposite sides in six bars, begin passing facing person by right shoulder, 1s finish back in third position facing down

31-32     1s cross down to fourth position own sides while 4s continue reeling to finish in third position

Devised by Bob Davidson (piobbeag [at] aol.com) after listening to a tune by the same name performed by Matt Molloy.

Suggested recorded music: "The Double Diamond Strathspey" from the Muriel Johnstone/Keith Smith album, Vintage Goldring.

Groundhog Day 8x32 S

GROUNDHOG DAY
32-bar Strathspey for 2 couples in a 4-couple set

1-4    1s+2s Set & Cross RH
5-8     Set & 3/4 Turn Both Hands to face each other in the middle (Man facing down, ladies facing up).
9-16    1s+2s dance reel of 4 in the middle
17-20     1s+2s Set to each other in the middle & turn RH to the own Side.
21-24     1s+2s Set & 3/4 Turn Both Hands in the middle (facing up), ready for...
25-32    1s+2s dance Allemande.

Devised by Sergey Kargapoltsev (robroyway [at] gmail.com).

Suggested recorded music: "Cuillins of Skye" by Alastair Hunter & the Lorne Scottish Dance Band - http://my.strathspey.org/dd/recording/5142/

Graduation Reel 8x40 R

THE GRADUATION REEL
40-bar reel for 3 couples in a longwise set

1-8    1C dance below 2C, cast up to 1st place. 1C dance below 3C and cast to 2nd placeon own sides. 2C step up on bars 7-8.

9-12     2C, 1C, 3C dance half reels across, 1L with 3C, 1M with 2C. 1C give right shoulder to their second corners to begin. 1C finish in 2nd place on opposite sides, 1L facing up, 1M facing down.

13-16     2C, 1C, 3C dance half left shoulder reels on the sides, 1C give left shoulder to person in their first corner position. 1C pass left shoulder in center to end back to back, facing their partner's first corner position. (Their first corner person will be there.) 2C, 3C dance a loop to finish the reel.

17-24     1C set to first corner, partner, 2nd corner, partner. On bar 8, 1C sets advancing to the right, to finish back to back in center, facing their own first corner positions.

25-32     Corners pass and twirl. 1C dance pattern of corners pass and turn to finish in 2nd place on own sides. 1st corners change places with turn and twirl - dance into center, turn RH half way, turn right about (twirl) and dance out to progressed positions (having changed places.) 2nd corners repeat.

33-40    2C, 1C, 3C circle hands around and back.

Suitable music: Waverley Station, First Stop, 8x40 reels

Devised by Ellen Ternes (ellenter [at] comcast.net) in celebration of the first graduating seniors of RSCDS@UMD, University of Maryland, especially Chris Tabisz and Gabi Kocerha, who got this awesome group started with their imagination, dedication, and unbeatable Terp spirit. Fear the Kilt!

Ginger Sharks 8x32 R

GINGER SHARKS

32-bar reel for 3 couples in a 4-couple set

1 - 4     First and second couples dance right hands across once round (1L face out);

5 - 8     Mini chase: First lady dances down behind second lady and across to 2nd place on the men's side and face out - First man follows and ends in second lady's place. Second couple step up on 7&8.

9 -16     First and third couples dance left hands across (1L face out); first lady dances up behind second man and across to own place facing out - first man follows to end in own place. Second couple step down on 7&8.

17-24     First couple, lady leading, dance down behind second and third ladies, into and up the center, and turn with right hands (2 bars) to face first corners. Second couple step up on 5&6.

25-32     First couple set to corner-partner (Hello-Goodbye).

Repeat from second place.

Suggested music: "Kiss Me Quick, My Mither's Coming" - 7 Favourite Scottish Dances Vol. 4, George Stirrat's Band or "Mrs Leslye Buchanan" - Dancing Fingers 2, Muriel Johnstone

Devised 21 September 2011 by Peter M Price (peter.price1672 [at] gmail.com) and dedicated to Rudi and Bugs, ginger cats who, at the opening of the front door, my sitting in the living room rocker, or the sound of a can being opened, come circling. When sitting in the rocker often only the tip of their tails are visible.

Corners' Hello 8x32 S

CORNERS' HELLO

32-bar Strathspey for 3 couples in a 4-couple set

1-8     1st and 2nd couples Set and Rotate. 2nd couple finish in first place and 1st couple in 2nd place, all facing in.

9-12     1st couple, passing left shoulder, set advancing to first corner and turn that corner in two bars finishing woman between 2nd couple and man between 3rd couple, both facing their own side of the dance (fourth corner position).

13-16     1st woman with 2nd couple and 1st man with 3rd couple, half reel of three across the dance passing the person they are facing by the left shoulder to begin. Finish with 1st couple facing each other up and down the set.

17-20     1st couple passing left shoulder, set advancing to 2nd corner person (third corner position) and turn that corner in two bars to finish man between 2nd couple and woman between 3rd couple, both facing the opposite side (second corner position).

21-24     1st man with 2nd couple and 1st woman with 3rd couple, half reel of three across passing that corner position by the left shoulder to begin. Finish in lines of three across, 1st man between 2nd couple all facing down and 1st woman between 3rd couple all facing up.

25-28     1st man with 2nd couple and 1st woman with 3rd couple, Set and Link finishing in order 2, 1, 3 on opposite side of the dance.

29-32     All set and, giving right hand to partners, cross to own side.

NOTES:

If you feel adventurous, try this dance in Jig or Reel Time.

Bars 11-12 and 23-24 Turning corners will be standard 2-hand turns in strathspey time or right hand turns in jig or reel time.

Bars 17-18 Setting to corners in Jig or Reel Time - 1s can pass their partner by the right shoulder directly toward the corner to their left.

Devised by Gary Lindsey (gary.lindsey [at] sbcglobal.net)

Just a Dozen 6x40 R

JUST A DOZEN

40-bar reel for two 3-couple sets, side by side

1-4    1st couple in both sets, lead down (right hands) to cross below 3rd couple, cast up to 2nd place on opposite sides.

5-8    1st couples, 1st woman with 3rd couple, 1st man with 2nd couple, dance right hands across. Finish facing 3rd corners.

9-16    1st couples half reel of four with 3rd corners, pass right shoulders, then half reel of four with 4th corners. 1st couples again pass right shoulders, to finish facing inwards in 2nd place on opposite sides.

17-24    1st couples from the two sets dance full reel of four across the sets. Meanwhile, 3rd and 2nd couples set to partner, turn right hand with partners right round, and dance ½ reels of four across the sets.2nd and 3rd couples are now in the opposite set, in 3rd and 1st places, on own sides.

25-30    1st couples cross right hands with partner, then cast to their right, man around 3rd man to dance in the top of the set, and the woman around 2nd woman to dance in the bottom of the set.

31-32    Both 1st couples dance right hands across, half way round.

33-34    1st couples retain right hands in the star, and join left hands with the dancers in the 'inside' lines of the two sets. 1st men will join with 2nd man or woman (in 3rd place), 1st women will join with 3rd man or woman (in 2nd place). These dancers all set. (Fig. 1)

35-40    All drop hands. In the left hand set (viewed from the top), 1st man followed by his partner dance down, across below 2nd couple (in 3rd place), cast up one place on the ladies side, and the man crosses to 2nd place on his own side. In the right hand set, 1st woman followed by her partner dance up, across above 3rd couple (in 1st place), cast off on the men's side, and the woman dances crosses to 2nd place on her own side. (Fig. 2)

All finish in the opposite set, in order 3, 1, 2. Repeat from new places.

Suggested recorded music: Suggested Music: 'Red House Revisited', Vallin Suite 1, Track 1. (Neil Barron)

Devised by Jeffery Green (jeffery.green [at] wideband.net.au)

UPDATE: Bars 25-30 corrected 13 October 2011

The Red Squirrel 4x32 S

THE RED SQUIRREL

32-bar Strathspey for 4 couples in a 4-couple set

1 - 4    1st couple set, turn with both hands finish in the middle facing down.
5 - 8    1st couple dance down 1 place and turn with both hands to 1st corner, 2nd couple step up on bars 5 & 6
9 - 12    Highland Schottische Setting with 1st corners
13 - 16    1st couple turn their 1st corner with right hand, partner with left hand to finish facing 2nd corner
17 - 20    Highland Schottische Setting with 2nd corners
21 - 24    1st couple turn their 2nd corner with right hand, partner with left to finish in the middle facing up
25- 28    1st couple cast off 2 places, 3rd and 4th couple step up on bars 27 & 28
29- 32    1st couple turn with both hands 1 ½ times

Finish in the order 2341

Recommended recorded music: "The Fair Maid of Perth" by Jim Cameron and his Scottish Dance Band from the album The Duke & Duchess of Edinburgh.

Devised by Sybille Spägele (macrudi [at] t-online.de), June 2011. Dedicated to Jim Rae of Lockerbie

Redfoot's Ramble 4x32 S

REDFOOT'S RAMBLE

32-bar Strathspey for 4 couples in a 4-couple set

1-8     1C lead down the middle and up, the other three couples creating arches (virtual).

9-12     1C turn by the RH 1 ½ times moving down between the 2C so 1W faces 2M and 1M faces 2W

13-16     1C and 2C dance a half reel of four, 2C dancing up into first place at the end and 1C turning down by the RH to between 3C

17-20     1C & 3C repeat 13-16, 3C finishing on opp. side in 2nd place, 1C moving down to between 4C

21-24     1C & 4C repeat 13-16, 4C dancing up to 3rd place opposite side, 1C turning RH to finish on opposite side.

25-32     All four couples on opposite sides, join nearer hands on the side and advance and retire (one step each) twice, then turn partner w/both hands once and a half t finish on own side progressed.

Note: Bars 9 through 24 are the figure known as the "spurtle".

Tune: "Morlan Fancy" by Linda Lieberman

Devised by Linda Lieberman (lindasuzan [at] aol.com) assisted by the Monday night Scottish dancers at St. Luke's church, Des Moines, Iowa.This dance is dedicated to Paige Morlan and Jonathan Rothfus on the occasion of their marriage, Saturday, July 23, 2011. We wish them all the best as they start their new life together.

The Erlangen Reel 8x32 R

THE ERLANGEN REEL

32-bar reel for 3 couples in a 4-couple set

1- 4    1st couple turn, giving right hands and cast off 1 place, finishing slightly in from the sidelines. 2nd couple step up on bars 3-4.

5- 8    1st couple turn giving left hands and cast 1st lady up round 2nd lady to finish between 2nd couple facing 2nd man, and 1st man down round
3rd man to finish between 3rd couple facing 3rd lady.

9-16     Reels of three across the dance. 1st couple pass the person they are facing right shoulders to begin. On bar 16, 1st couple half turn each
other left hand to finish in the middle of the set left shoulder to left
shoulder facing their own side.

17-24     Reel of three across the dance. 1st man passes 2nd man and 1st lady passes 3rd lady right shoulder to begin. On bar 24 1st couple half turn
each other left hand to finish facing 1st corners.

25-32     1st couple turn 1st corner right hand, pass each other right shoulder to face 2nd corner, turn 2nd corner right hand and pass each other right
shoulder to finish in 2 place own sides. Corners dance for 4 bars.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Duncan Brown (duncanqlnbrown [at] tiscali.co.uk). Erlangen in southern Germany has a young group of energetic dancers, for whom I taught a day school in 2009. I thought this rather energetic dance might suit them. Bars 9-24 are inspired by bars 9-24 of 'The Colonel' as interpreted by the RSCDS in their 75th Anniversary leaflet.

Recommended Tune: A Trip to Windsor (Dan R MacDonald) published in the Trip to Windsor Collection, or a version from the Web

NOTE: It is advised that some "intelligent anticipation" is used to start the left hand turn in bar 5 some way in from the sidelines to ensure 1st couple get round the standing people in time for the reels starting in bar 9.

The City of Christchurch 2x32 S + 2x32 R

THE CITY OF CHRISTCHURCH
32 bar medley for 4 couples in a 4-couple set (2x32S, 2x32R)

3rd and 4th couples start on opposite sides
One chord only

1-4    1st and 4th couples dance petronella turns into the centre and set to partners up and down the dance. 2nd and 3rd couples step up or down on bars 3-4.

5-8    1st couple passing each other left shoulder, dance right shoulder round 2nd couple (1st woman round 2nd man and 1st man round 2nd woman) to finish back in the centre, in the same positions, facing each other up and down the dance.

4th couple dance likewise round 3rd couple (4th man round 3rd woman and 4th woman round 3rd man).

9-12    1st and 4th couples dance half a right shoulder reel of four up and down the centre.

13-16    4th and 2nd couples and likewise 1st and 3rd couples dance petronella turns one place on to the right and set. 2nd and 3rd couples finish in a line of four in the centre facing their partners up and down the dance, 4th couple in 1st place on opposite sides and 1st couple in 4th place on own sides.

17-18    2nd and 3rd couples turn partners once round with right hands.

19-20    2nd woman dance right shoulder round 4th man into 2nd place on the women's side.

3rd woman dance likewise round 1st man into 3rd place on the men's side.

Meanwhile 2nd and 3rd men turn about half way round with left hands and dance out to the sidelines to face out - 3rd man in 2nd place on the men's side and 2nd man in 3rd place on the women's side.

21-24    2nd and 3rd couples dance half a ladies chain. The order is now 4,3,2,1 with 4th and 2nd couples on opposite sides and 3rd and 1st couples on own sides.

25-30    4th and 1st couples cross over giving right hands, cast down or up one place and dance right hands across half way round. 3rd and 2nd couples step up or down on bars 27-28.

31-32    3rd, 1st, 4th and 2nd couples set.

Repeat from new positions.

Devised by Wouter Joubert (wouterj2305 [at] gmail.com), March 2011, as a tribute to the people of Christchurch, New Zealand who are rebuilding their lives and their city after two devastating earthquakes.

Recommended tunes:"The City of Christchurch" (strathspey) and "Hope" (reel)
Suitable recording: Demonstration Medley #3 om the CD Kardinia Capers by David South and his SDB

UPDATE 26 April 2011: Corrections made to bars 13-16 and 21-24
UPDATE 4 May 2011: Corrections/clarifications made to bars 5-8
UPDATE 27 May 2011: Clarification made to bars 19-20

The Kölbls' Reel

THE KOELBLS' REEL

32-bar reel for 3 couples in a 4-couple set

1-4    1st couple, with nearer hands joined, dance down between 2nd and 3rd couples and cast up round 3rd couple.

5-8    1st couple cross up giving left hands and cast off into 2nd place. 2nd couple step up on bars 7-8.

9-12    1st couple going diagonally to their right (i.e. man up, lady down) dance half diagonal rights and lefts. 1st couple finish facing the person they have just changed with on the sidelines.

13-16    Half reels of three on the sidelines. 1st couple pass the person they are facing left shoulders to begin the reel. 2nd and 3rd couples finish by dancing the loop on the end of the reel.

17-20    1st couple going diagonally right again (i.e. lady up, man down) repeat bars 9-12. 1st couple again finish facing the person they have just changed with on the sidelines.

21-24    Half reels of three on the sidelines. 1st couple pass the person they are facing left shoulders to begin the reel. 2nd and 3rd couples finish by dancing the loop on the end of the reel to finish facing up and down the dance.

25-32    1st couple cross over giving right hands, chase clockwise round the set a quarter (to finish facing up and down), change up and down the set giving right hands and chase clockwise a quarter round the set, to finish in 2nd place.

At the same time, 2nd man with 3rd man, 2nd woman with 3rd woman change right hands on the sidelines, chase a quarter round the set, cross over with the same person they changed with (2M with 3M and 2W wih 3W) and chase clockwise a quarter round the set to finish with 2nd couple in 1st place and 3rd couple in original places.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by Duncan Brown (duncanqlnbrown [at] tiscali.co.uk) for Dirk and Kay Kölbl shortly after their wedding 2010.

Recommended Tune: The Blackberry Bush (Trad, 3rd & 4th parts D MacLeod)

UPDATE: Instructions for 2nd and 3rd couples on bars 25-32 have been corrected as of 17 February.

As Cedar Falls, So Falls Waterloo 4x32 J

AS CEDAR FALLS, SO FALLS WATERLOO

32-bar jig for 4 couples in a square set

1-4    1st cpl dances symmetrical back-to-backs with their corners. (1st woman and her corner dance a back-to-back giving right shoulder; 1st man and his corner dance a back-to-back giving left shoulder)

5-8    1st cpl, taking nearer hands, advances solo toward opposite cpl (3rd cpl). 1st cpl and 3rd cpl "high five". 1st cpl retires.

9 - 12    1st man dances left hands across with the cpl on his left (2nd cpl) while the 1st woman dances right hands across with the cpl on her right (4th cpl).

13 - 16    1st woman crosses in front of first man to turn opposite woman (3rd woman) by the right; first man crosses to turn opposite man (3rd man) by the left.

17 - 20    1st woman crosses in front of first man to dance out between 4th cpl, while 1st man crosses to dance out between 2nd cpl.

20 - 24    The 1st cpl meet back home and turn by the right.

25 - 32    Eight hands round and back.

On the second repetition, the 2nd cpl dances symmetrical back-to-backs, etc.
On the third repetition, the 3rd cpl dances symmetrical back-to-backs, etc.
On the fourth repetition, the 4th cpl dances symmetrical back-to-backs, etc.

NOTE: At the end of bar 6, 1st couple uses their free (outer) hands to "high five" the opposite couple. This hand is the hand used for the hands across figure and the turn on bars 9-16. The 1st man uses left hand for both figures, and the 1st woman uses right hand.

Devised by Doug Schneider (ParadiseMO [at] aol.com) for Lee and Karen Potter; September 2010

46664 Jig 4x64 J

46664 JIG

64-bar Jig for 4 couples in a 4-couple set.

1-8    1st and 2nd couple circle four hands round and back.

9-16    1st couple with 2nd couple and 3rd couple dance reels of 3 on opposite sides of set.

17-24     1st couple with 2nd couple and 3rd couple dance reels of 3 on own sides.

25-26     1st couple set advancing to meet in the middle with nearer hands joined facing down.

27-30     1st couple dance down to 4th place, 2nd, 3rd couple and 4th couples join hands and step up on bars 27-28.

31-32     1st couple set.

33-36     1st woman dances right hands across with 4th and 3rd woman while 1st man dances left hands across with 4th and 3rd man, 1st couple ends in 4th place.

37-40     1st couple set twice.

41-48     1st couple with 4th couple and 3rd couple dance reels of 3 on opposite sides of set.

49-56     1st couple with 4th couple and 3rd couple dance reels of 3 on own sides.

57-64     4th and 1st couple circle four hands round and back.

Devised by Heather McBurnie and Andrew Hodgson (andrew [at] hodgson.za.net), Cape Town, July 2008 in honour of Nelson Mandela on the occasion of his 90th birthday. First danced on Saturday 18th July 2009, the inaugural Mandela day. You can learn more about Mandela day by visiting http://mandeladay.com

Suggested tune: Willie's Ga'en A-coortin
Suitable CD recording: Peggy's Wedding, Twelve Modern Scottish Country Dances from Book 22 by David Cunningham and his Scottish Dance Band.

Ke Nako - It is Time 3x32 S

KE NAKO - IT IS TIME

In honour of the 2010 Soccer World Cup - proudly hosted by South Africa.

32-bar Strathspey for 3 couples in a 3-couple set

1 - 2     1st, 2nd and 3rd couples turn partners once round with two hands and stay in the middle facing their partners.

3 - 4     1st, 2nd and 3rd couples set to their partners and pass left shoulders on the second setting step to finish back to back with their partners facing opposite sides.

5-8     1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance out to opposite sides and chase half way round the set to finish in the order 3, 2, 1 with 2nd couple facing 1st corners.

9 - 16      2nd couple dance set to corners and partners with their corners. On the last two bars 2nd couple set advancing and pass left shoulder on the second setting step to finish with 2nd woman facing 3rd couple at the top and 2nd man facing 1st couple at the bottom.

17 - 20     2nd woman and 3rd couple dance right hands across once round. 2nd man and 1st couple dance likewise.

21 - 24     2nd woman, followed by 3rd woman and 3rd man and at the same time 2nd man, followed by 1st man and 1st woman, dance the snake pass to finish on own sides in the order 1, 2, 3:

2nd woman, followed by 3rd woman and 3rd man, cross down and chase anticlockwise through 3rd man and 3rd woman's place to 2nd woman's place while 2nd man, followed by 1st man and 1st woman, cross up and chase anticlockwise through 1st woman and 1st man's place to 2nd man's place. 2nd couple pass left shoulder to start.

25 - 28     1st and 2nd couples set, 1st couple cast off into 2nd place while 2nd couple, joining nearer hands with partners, dance up and curve the long way round into 1st place.

29 - 32     1st and 3rd couples set, 1st couple, joining nearer hands with partners, dance down and curve the long way round into 3rd place while 3rd couple cast up into 2nd place.

The order is now 2, 3, 1.

Repeat twice more.

Devised by Wouter Joubert (WouterJ [at] tshwane.gov.za), Pretoria, South Africa, June 2010.

Recommended tune: "Of Meetings and Partings" by Wouter Joubert

The Tswana expression "Ke nako" which can be translated with "It is time" was widely used during the 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa.

[UPDATED to correct wording of bars 29-32 on 5 July 2010]

Laird of Dalnair 8x32 R

THE LAIRD OF DALNAIR

32-bar reel for 3 couples in a 4-couple set

1- 8     1st couple cross right hand and cast off 1 place. 2nd couple step up on bars 3 and 4. 1st couple dance a ½ figure of eight up through the 2nd couple.

9-12     1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance set and link for three.

13-16     1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance set and link for three but as 2nd man and 3rd lady dance forwards on the last two bars they dance a half left hand turn so that 2nd man finishes facing up and 3rd lady finishes facing down. 2nd lady casts to finish in the middle of the set facing up and 3rd man casts to finish in the middle of the set facing down. 1st couple cast as normal to 2nd place on the opposite side of the dance. See fig

                    Top

                     3M

                     2M

               1L           1M

                      3L

                      2L

17-24     1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance a "weasel reel of four":
As 3rd lady gets to the end of the reel of four, she dances clockwise for 4 bars and joins the other end of the reel of four for the last 2 bars. She is replaced in the reel of four by 1st man who joins the reel letting 3rd lady dance out in front of him, and leaves the reel of four to chase, leaving the reel in front of 3rd lady. Likewise 2nd man dances clockwise from the end of the reel and is replaced by 1st lady, with 1st lady leaving the reel in front of 2nd man. 2nd lady and 3rd man dance a full reel of four. All finish the reel of four where they started.

25-28     3rd and 2nd men and 3rd and 2nd ladies dance ½ a right hand turn and face that person. While 2nd man and 3rd lady set, their partners using pas de basque pull back right shoulder to change places in the middle. (This is the same movement as would be found in double triangles to change sides).
2nd and 3rd couples dance a petronella turn out to their own side of the dance.

1st couple take 6 bars to chase clockwise through the couples (1st man through the 3rd couple and 1st lady through the 2nd couple) to finish in 2nd place on their own side.

31-32     All 3 couples taking hands set on the sidelines.

Devised by Alasdair Brown (alasdairglrbrown [at] btinternet.com)

Tune: "The High Drive" by Gordon Duncan

This dance is dedicated to Alan Munro. He lives at Dalnair farm and has been affectionately called "The Laird of Dalnair".