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

2 Chords – on the second chord 3rd and 4th couples cross over with partner

1- 4    Taking hands on the sides, all set and turn partner both hands once round, to melt into:

5- 6     1st couple with 2nd couple and 3rd couple with 4th couple four hands round to the left halfway, finishing out on the sidelines.

7- 8     2nd and 3rd couples cross over with partners giving right hands, while 1st and 4th couples ½ turn partner right hands to finish in promenade hold (men have partners on their right) 1st couple facing 2nd woman and 4th couple facing 3rd woman.

9-12     1st and 4th couples ½ diagonal reel of four with 2nd and 3rd women. 1st and 4th couples pass each other right shoulder at the end to finish 1st couple facing 2nd man and 4th couple pacing 3rd man.

13-16     1st and 4th couples ½ diagonal reel of four with the 2nd and 3rd men. At the end, 1st and fourth couple approach the other couple dropping hands with partner at the end of bar 16 to finish in promenade hold 1st and with 4th woman facing out the women's side and 1st woman with 4th man facing out the men's side.

17-20     ½ reels of three on the sidelines. To begin, 1st man & 4th woman give right shoulder to 2nd man and 1st woman & 4th man give right shoulder to 3rd man to begin. At the end of bar 20, 1st and 4th couples drop hands finish in promenade hold with own partners, 1st couple facing out the men's side and 4th couple facing out the women's side.

21-24     ½ reels of three across the dance. To begin, 1st couple pass 3rd man left shoulder and 4th couple pass 2nd man left shoulder. At the end of bar 24, 1st and 4th couples approach each other again.

25-28     1st and 4th couple dance right hands across once round, finishing by retaining hold of partner's right hand ready for:

29-32     1st couple lead down, crossing below 3rd couple and cast up into 3rd place opposite sides, while 4th couple lead up crossing above 2nd couple and cast off in to 2nd place own sides.

Finish in the order 2 4 1 3.

Devised by Duncan Brown, Chudleigh, Devon, UK (duncanqlnbrown [at] tiscali.co.uk).

Tune: Any good strathspey, I really don't mind what at the moment (slow airs or more trad type).

Notes: Ladebraes in St Andrews, Scotland is a short cut between South Street and the Boys Brigade Hall used by dancers 'in the know' on the long walk to the hall. Ladebraes was one of the possible titles of The Chequered Court when I wrote it in 2001. However, I decided that Ladebraes sounded like a strathspey rather than a quick time dance, so here is the dance to go with the title!

1 - 4    1st and 4th couple cross giving right hands, 1st couple cast off one place while 4th couple cast up one place. 2nd and 3rd couples step up or down on bars 3-4

5 - 8    1st and 4th couples dance right hands across once round, 1st and 4th couples keep hold of their partners right hand and finish 1st couple facing up and 4th couple facing down.

9 - 12    1st couple lead up, crossing over and cast off one place while 2nd couple cast off one place and cross up left hand to curve into first place.At the same time, 4th couple lead down, crossing over and cast up one place while 3rd couple cast up one place and cross down right hand to curve
into 4th place.

13 - 16     1st and 4th couples dance half rights and lefts.

17 - 24     4 couple set and link:
    17 - 18     All 4 couples, joining hands, set on the sidelines
    19 - 20     4th man, followed by 2nd man and 1st women followed by 3rd woman pulling the right shoulder back, cast and curve round to the right while 1st man followed by 3rd man and 4th woman followed by 2nd woman dance through the middle of the set, men passing left shoulders with the women and curve to the right to end in lines of four across the dance as shown in figure 1.
    21 - 22     All set in lines of 4 across the dance.
    23 - 24    4 4th man followed by 2nd man and 1st woman followed by 3rd woman, pulling the right shoulder back, cast and curve round to the right while 3rd man followed by 1st man and 2nd woman followed by 4th woman dance through the middle of the set and curve to the right to end in the sidelines in the order 3, 1, 4, 2, everyone on their own side of the dance.

25 - 32     Eight hands round and back.

Repeat from new positions.

Note:
In the 4 couple set and link, the same people are on the right hand ends of the lines in bars 17 -18 and 21 - 22 i.e. 2nd man and 3rd woman however on the left hand end of the line, the people change, so in bars 17 - 18 3rd man and 2nd woman are on the end, whereas in bars 21 - 22 1st man and 4th woman are on the end.

Devised by Chris Godwin, 8th September 2007. Dedicated to Roy Goldring, who devised so many of my favourite dances.

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

1 - 4     1st and 2nd couples set and cross with partners giving right hand, and face out.

5 - 8     2nd couple followed by 1st couple dance down the sides, and in and up around 3rd couple. 2nd couple lead to the top, cross and face out in 1st position. 1st couple lead to centre of the set in 2nd position facing up.

9 - 16     1st, 2nd, and 3rd couples dance Reels of Three on the sides; 1st man with 2nd and 3rd ladies, and 1st lady with 2nd and 3rd men. To begin the 1st couple dance up and out, the 2nd couple out and down, and the 3rd couple out and up. 2nd and 3rd couples finish in 1st and 3rd places respectively, on their own sides by looping into place, while 1st couple finish in 2nd place on their opposite sides.

17 - 20     1st man with 3rd couple, and 1st lady with 2nd couple, dance Three Hands Round to the left. On bar 20 1st couple pass by their right to change circles. ( 2nd and 3rd couples retain their partner's hand, and the shape of the formation while 1st couple change circles.)

21 - 24     1st man with 2nd couple, and 1st lady with 3rd couple, dance Three Hands Round to the right. On bar 24 1st couple pull back left shoulders to face one another in the centre of the set; man facing down lady facing up.

25 - 28     1st couple set to one another and dance a petronella turn to 2nd place on their own sides

29 - 32     2nd, 1st and 3rd couples turn with both hands to places.

Repeat from new positions.

Music: "Miss Dow's Fancy” by John Reid ( arranged by Nan Main)

Devised by Alan Macpherson (amdmac [at] blueyonder.co.uk).
"Miss Dow was a very influential figure in promoting and developing SCD in the Dundee area and some have described her as the "Miss Milligan" of the East. Alistair Macfadyen was of the opinion that Miss Dow deserved more recognition from the Society than was accorded to her, and Alistair suggested that a dance in her honour would be a fitting tribute and that I should write such a dance for publication by the Society. The strathspey, "Miss Dow's Strathspey", was devised by me and submitted to the Society in the mid 90s, but unfortunately it was rejected."

"The composer of the tune 'Miss Dow's Fancy' was John Reid (1869-1942), a famous Angus "Dancie" from Newtyle. He taught step dancing at the early Summer Schools and his Newtyle Orchestra provided the music for the Younger Hall dances. 'Miss Dow's Fancy' was first played by John Reid's orchestra at a Dundee Branch dance in the Training College Hall on the 14th December, 1934"

32-bar jig for two couples in a three- or four-couple longways set

1-4     1C dance half figure of eight around 2C to finish on opposite sides.

5-8     1M dance in and down to face 2W while 1W dance in and down to face 2M (1C are back to back; 1C and 2C are in line across the set). All set on bars 7 and 8.

9-16     1C and 2C dance a reel of four across the set, finishing where the reel began (line across the dance, 1M facing 2W and 1W facing 2M).

17-24     All set. On bars 19-22, 1C dance out the set below the person they are facing (1M passing 2W left shoulder and 1W passing 2M right shoulder) and cast up to first place on opposite sides. 1C half- turn with right hands to finish facing up in promenade hold. 2C step in and take promenade hold on bar 24.

25-32     1C and 2C dance the allemande.

Devised by Donald L. Fuell, Jr. (fuell [at] mindspring.com) and Patty Lindsay. 200 King Street North is the address of the King Street Residence, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, Canada, used as the residence hall for the Teachers’ Association (Canada) Summer School in 2008, where this dance was devised.

©2008, Donald L. Fuell, Jr. and Patricia A. Lindsay. May be reproduced for instructional purposes.

32-bar strathspey for three couples in a three-couple longways set

1 - 8     1st and 2nd couples Set and Link; 1st and 3rd couples Set and Link (finishing in order 2, 3, 1).

9 - 16    All set. In four bars, 1st couple cast to 1st place while 2nd couple dance down the middle and cast into 3rd place. All set again (finishing in order 1, 3, 2).

17-24    1st, 3rd and 2nd couples turn once round with right hands in four bars, finishing the turn facing up in Allemande hold. 1st, 3rd and 2nd couples set with Highland Schottische setting step (women are slightly in front of their partners; men’s working feet are behind their partners’).

25-32    1st, 3rd and 2nd couples Allemande.

Music: Strathspeys suitable for Highland Schottische.
Recommended recorded music: “The Highland Minstrel Boy,�? track 13 from “For Old Tymes Sake�? by Bobby Brown and the Scottish Accent.

Devised by Donald L. Fuell, Jr. (fuell [at] mindspring.com), 2008. May be reproduced for dance instruction and use.

Molly MacLay of Kilfinnan is the full name of the devisor’s black Labrador retriever, who while in her sixties in human years personifies Miss Milligan’s philosophy of controlled abandon – well, almost controlled…You can see pictures of Molly and her adopted pack mate Jasmine at http://picasaweb.google.com/Lee.Fuell/Dogs.

32-bar strathspey for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1-8     1st and 2nd couples set, turn partners with both hands, and circle four hands round to the left.

9-16     1st and 2nd couples dance the knot; 1st couple finish facing first corners.

17-24     1st couple dance corners pass and turn with first corners, pass right shoulders in the center of the set, dance corners pass and turn with second corners, and pass right shoulders across the set to finish in second place on own sides, facing out. (Corners turn with both hands.)

25-32     1st couple dance figures of eight on their own sides in six bars, beginning by giving right shoulder to the person on their right, finishing with 1st woman between 2nd couple facing down and 1st man between 3rd couple facing up. On bars 31 and 32, 1st couple turn with left hands ¾ to finish in 2nd place on own sides, ready to begin again.

The Blethering Ghillie is the deviser’s pub, located in the basement of his home in Beavercreek, Ohio, USA. Much blethering has transpired there over the years, especially at afters parties following dance events.

Devised by Donald L. Fuell, Jr. (fuell [at] mindspring.com), 2008. May be reproduced for dance instruction and use.

UPDATE 9 June 2008: Corrected the last sentence of the instruction for bars 25-32.

32 bar Reel (or Jig?) for 4 couples in a longwise set

1-8     1C and 3C dance fig. 8 down, 1C around 2C and 3 around 4C. Finish side by side in the center of the set, facing down, 1C between 2C and 3C between 4C.

9-16     In lines across the dance, 1C with 2C and 3C with 4C dance down, pull back right shoulder and dance back up. 2C and 4C dance into their original places.

17-20     1C dance up to first place and cast off around 2C, into third place, while 3C dance up the middle and into 1st place. Can dance long or short way into place, depending on how you feel.

21-24    3C with 2C and 1C with 4C dance right hands across. All couples finish in center, in positions where they began the hands across, ready for poussette.

25-3     3C with 2C, and 1C with 4C poussette. Should finish in order 2,3,4,1. Repeat 3 times.

Good music: Duke of Perth encore, Terpsichore, Caledonian Muse

Devised by Ellen Ternes (ellenter [at] comcast.net), after reading a wonderful feature in the Washington Post about the Christmas Ba' game on Kirkwall, Orkney, to evoke the up and down energy of the event. I called it Uppies and Doonies until I found out there was already a dance by that name. So I stole the Post headline, The Old Ba' Game.

32 Bar Jig for 3 couples in a 4-couple longwise set

1-8     1s lead down the middle and up

9-16     1s, 2s and 3s dance 3 couple Allemande

17-20     3s and 2s set and link (two top couples) Finish 2, 3, 1

21-24     3s and 1s set and link (two bottom couples) Finish 2, 1, 3

25-28     2s, 1s, 3s set and cross RH.

29-32     2s, 1s, 3s chase halfway round, to finish 3, 1, 2*

Repeat having passed a couple.

*Please Note: This dance has an unusual progression, with the 3rd couple at top place after the first turn of the dance. The original 2s are top couple on the 4th repetition of the dance.

A lively jig is recommended. I use Marianne Anderson’s Kangaroo Paw, Cut #14

Devised by: Merrill Heubach (nika [at] eastlink.ca), Lunenburg, NS

UPDATE 20 March 2008: Bars 25-32 corrected
UPDATE 24 March 2008: Explanation of progression corrected

1-4     1s set, cross down to 2nd place facing out (2s step up)

5-8     1L cast up round 2M, down the middle & pull back R Sh to face up, while
1M cast down round 3L, up the middle & pull back R Sh to face down, back to back with 1L

9-16     1s dance out through the ends, cast round to the right, dance in through 2nd place and pull back R Sh to face out, back to back in the middle, while 2s & 3s set, advance and retire (6 bars); All take hands and set as in double triangles (2 bars)

17-24     1s dance out through the sides, cast round to the right, dance in through the ends and pull back R Sh to face up and down, back to back in the middle, 1M facing up while 2s & 3s set facing up and down, advance & retire up and down the dance (6 bars); All take hands and set as in double triangles (2 bars)

25-32     1s reel of three on the side, R Sh to 2nd corner (6 bars); 1s cross over RH (2 bars)

Devised by Joyce Cochrane (jcochrane [at] jcochrane.karoo.co.uk) in memory of a fellow branch member who died recently.

A 32-bar Reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set.

1 - 4     First couple set, cross down one place. Second couple move up.

5 - 8     First couple dance down behind third couple and dance up (near hands joined) to finish back to back in the center of the dance facing corners ready for…

9 -16     Double Triangles. First couple end back to back in the middle facing corners as before.

17-24     First couple turn first corners with the right hand, pass one another by the right shoulder in the middle; turn second corners with right hands and, passing one another by right shoulders, cross back to own sides and face out in second place. Corners dance for four bars.

25-32     Second, first and third couples dance right shoulder reels of three on the sides. To begin: Second couple dance in and down; first man dances out and up; first woman dances out and down; third couple dance in and up.

Repeat from second place.

Tune: Auchindrain (© Nigel Gatherer)

Dance devised 28 November 2007and © 2007 by Peter M. Price (peter.price1672 [at] gmail.com). All rights reserved. Permission is granted for verbatim reproduction and non-profit distribution of this leaflet provided that this notice remains intact.

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

1-8     Mirror reels of 3, 1C dancing in and down to begin

9-12     1C mirror turns with 2C 1-1/2 times to change places, women
turning LH, men turning RH

13-16     1C mirror turn 3C about 1-3/4 round with the other hand (women RH, men
LH) to end back-to-back in the middle ready for

17-24     Double triangles.

25-32     Six hands round and back.

Tune: No specific tune assigned as of yet, but a driving reel is suggested.

Devised by Craig Chamberlain and Lara Friedman-Shedlov (lfriedmanshedlov [at] gmail.com) in December 2007, based on a sequence of formations Craig thought he remembered doing before. We couldn't find a dance that had the sequence, so we made one up. The word "pumpking" originated as a typo for the word pumpkin, but was subsequently given its own definition: "to gorge on deliciousness."

A 96 bar Strathspey for 4 couples in a square set.

First Figure.

1 - 8    All four men dance right hands across 1-1/4 round; they dance out and cast to the right, behind the lady opposite their partner, and curve round by the right to face her.

9 -16    All four couples dance a double reel of four.

17 - 24     The men dance four hands round to the right in the centre finishing by pulling back their left shoulders to face the opposite lady; all set and, giving right hands, change places.

25 - 32    All dance a double targe:

The ladies dance left hands across 3/4 round while the men dance on one place clockwise. The men turn the ladies with the right hand; these four bars are repeated, but on bars 31-32 all turn 3/4 to finish facing into the centre with the ladies on the left of the men.

Second Figure.

1 - 8    All four ladies dance right hands across 1¼ round; they dance out and cast to the right, behind their (original) partner, and curve round by the right to face him.

9 -16     All four couples dance a double reel of four.

17 - 24    The ladies dance four hands round to the right in the centre finishing by pulling back their left shoulders to face their partner; all set and, giving right hands, change places.

25 - 32    All dance a double targe:

The men dance left hands across 3/4 round while the ladies dance on one place clockwise. The ladies turn their partner with the right hand; these four bars are repeated, but on bars 31-32 all turn partner 3/4 to finish facing into the centre opposite original places.

Third Figure.

1 - 8    All set to their partners turn 3/4 with the right hand to promenade hold and dance two places clockwise to original places.

9 - 16    First and third couples, set and, pulling their right shoulders back, cast into the set to face across the dance. They dance four hands round for two bars and the men lead their partners out to original places.

17 - 24    Second and fourth couples repeat bars 9 - 16.

25 - 32    Eight hands round and back

Music: suitable recorded music is "Singing Sands" on Reflections of Dalriada.

Devised by Brian Charlton (briangcharlton [at] gmail.com), October, 2007. This dance was written to honour Margaret Sim on the occasion of her being presented with a well-deserved RSCDS Branch Award at the Branch Closing Social on 8th December 2007. Margaret has been a mentor for dancers, teachers, clubs and the Branch over many years.

32-bar strathspey for 5 couples in a longwise set

1 - 4     1s & 3s lead down two places, cross over below 4s & 5s, and cast up one place (2s & 4s step up on 1 & 2)

5 - 8     All 5 couples turn partners with both hands(2s, 4s and 5s turn once finishing in sidelines; 1s & 3s turn 1-1/2 and finish in middle, facing up, nearer hands joined)

9 - 12     1s & 3s dance up for 2, set to partners,

13 - 16     1s & 3s dance down for 2, turn partners with both hands and finish facing first corners (lady pulls back R Sh, as in Sugar Candie)

17 - 24     1s & 3s set to first corners, dance round each other (R Sh back) to face second corners, 1s & 3s set to second corners, dance round each other to finish 1L between 2s facing 2L, 3M between 5s facing 5M, 1M 3L between 4s, 1M facing 4M, 3L facing 4L (1M & 3L pass L Sh)

25 - 32     1s & 3s dance the LOOP and cross down to third & fifth places, i.e.

     [3] half reels of three / four across (R Sh to start) – on bar 3 1s & 3s change to other reel

     [3] half reels of three / four across (R Sh)

     [2] 2s 4s 5s loop round / dance up to finish 2s at top, 4s in 2nd place, 5s in 4th place, while 1s & 3s cross down to 3rd & 5th place, passing partners L Sh

NOTE: in bars 25 – 32, although the reels are continuous, the priority changes in the reels of three, so they are actually two half reels

Devised by Malcolm Brown (mlamontbrown [at] btopenworld.com). Miss Ilona Brown is one of his grand-daughters. This dance was the result of having five couples in the class when wanting to teach a three couple dance (in a four couple set).

32-bar Jig for three couples in a 4-couple longwise set.

Bars
1 - 8     First couple set to one another, cross over giving right hands; cast off one place, and set again, pulling back right shoulders on bar 8 to face out in second place improper. (Second couple step up on bars 5-6).

9 -16     Right shoulder reels of three on the sides. To begin - corners dance in, first lady dances out and up and first man dances out and down. On bars 15-16 first couple cross from the ends of their reel into second place own sides facing out.

17-24     Left shoulder reels of three on the sides . To begin - corners dance in, first lady dances out and up and first man dances out and down. On bars 23-24 first couple cross from the ends of their reels to end back to back in the middle of the set facing partner's side of the dance.

25-32     Inverting Double Triangles:
     25-26     All set in double triangles position.
     27-28     All set advancing and pull right shoulders back. End - first couple in second place improper facing one another across the dance and corners in the center of the set, back to back with partner, facing own sides.
     29-30     All set in inverted double triangles positions.
     31-32     First couple, giving right hands, cross back to own sides while corners set advancing and pull back right shoulders to end in place facing partner.

Repeat from second place.

Tune: Short Apron (Traditional) (ABC notation below)

Dance devised 1/4/08 by Peter M. Price (peter.price1672 [at] gmail.com) in honor of Jean Attwood, author of 'The Falls of Rogie' and many other good dances. This dance is drawn, shamelessly, from her dance
'Glen Falloch' in Alexander Dances #2.

© 2008 by Peter M. Price. All rights reserved. Permission is granted for verbatim reproduction and
non-profit distribution of this leaflet provided that this notice remains intact.

ABC Notation for "Short Apron":

X: 1
T: Short Apron
C: Traditional
L: 1/8
M: 6/8
R: Jig
Q: 1/4 = 168
K: F
f | cAA fAA | aAA cGG |1 cAA aAA | aAc ~d2 :|2 AGF fga | ge^c d2 ||
c |Acd cAF | (A/B/c)A (G2 B) |1 Acd cAF | f2 e d2 :|2 AGF f>ga | ge^c d2 ||