May 25, 2008
Old Ba' Game 8x32 R
THE OLD BA' GAME or UPPIES AND DOONIES REDUX
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.
February 19, 2008
Mary Stewart Ashworth 8x32 R
MARY STEWART ASHWORTH
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.
February 01, 2008
Auchindrain 8x32 R
AUCHINDRAIN
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.
January 31, 2008
Pumpking Baker 8x32 R
THE PUMPKING BAKER
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."
November 08, 2007
De’il Amang the Gaylors 8x32 R
DE'IL AMANG THE GAYLORS
32-bar Reel for 4 couples in a 6- or 8-couple set
Formation:
2W 2M 4W 4M 6W 6M ( 8W 8M )
Top
1M 1W 3M 3W 5M 5W ( 7M 7W )
1-8 1C & 2C, and 3C & 4C: Set, RH across halfway, set, LH across halfway
9-12 1C & 4C diagonal rights and lefts halfway
13-16 2C & 3C diagonal rights and lefts halfway
17-24 All: Cross RH with opposite, set to opposite, change places LH with partner, set to partner.
25-32 Eight hands round and back
During the second repetition, 1C and 2C dance with 5C and 6C, while 3C and 4C stand out at the top.
In a six-couple set: during the third repetition 3C and 4C dance with 5C and 6C while 1C and 2C stand out at the bottom, then the pattern repeats three more times.
In an eight couple set, the progression of couples resembles the progression of individuals in a normal 8-person set.
Suitable music: De'il Amang the Tailors
Devised by Mike Briggs (briggslaw [at] yahoo.com), 2007, for Ian and the rest of the Gaylor clan of Madison,
Wisconsin
June 15, 2007
See You in Arran 8x32 R
SEE YOU IN ARRAN
32-bar reel for 3 couples in a 4-couple set
1 - 8 1st + 2nd couples dance Set and Rotate*:
Both couples, facing diagonally, set.
Turning right about, they chase round clockwise one place to face partners up and down the set.
They change places with partner, giving right hands, and continue to chase round clockwise one place further.
1st couple end up in 2nd place own side, facing down.
9 – 16 Reels of three on the sidelines 1st couple giving left shoulders to 3rd couple. At the end dancing couple pass right shoulder to face 1st corners.
17 – 24 Turn 1st corner right hand and pass partner right to face 3rd corner (= partners 1st corner).
Turn 3rd corner left hand, and pass partner left to end up facing 2nd corner. Corners dance 4 bars.
25 – 32 Turn 2nd corner right hand and pass partner right to face 4th corner (= partners 2nd corner).
Turn 4th corners left hand, pass partner left shoulder and dance a loop into 2nd place own sides.
Repeat from new positions
*NOTE: ”Set and Rotate” normally begins with couples joining nearer hands on the sidelines, but I prefer this variation with couples facing diagonally (not joining hands) as described in “The Westminster Reel”.
Devised by Martina Mueller-Franz (mcmuellerfranz [at] aol.com) . This dance is dedicated to Christine Hastie and Maggie Westley and all the other people, who helped to organise this great weekend. What a good idea to organise a dancing event at the Isle of Arran!
May 09, 2007
All In 4x32 R
ALL IN
32-bar Reel for 4 couples in a square set
1 - 8 All circle left and right
9 - 24 All dance Schiehallion Reels (ladies cast into their partners position to begin)
25 - 28 All set twice to your partner
29 - 32 All birl one place to the right (use elbow grip)
Do not get too carried away - you need to be ready to go straight into the circle.
Devised by Martin Campbell-Colquhoun (martincc [at] bigpond.net.au), Adelaide, Australia. Originally published in the Piping Shrike, Adelaide Branch RSCDS.
The dance is called "All In" as it is a term often heard in SCD and also as everyone is dancing non stop, and finally because some of the less agile dancers are 'all in' when it finishes.
Contra Temp Reel 8x48 Reel
CONTRA TEMP REEL
48-bar reel for 2-couples in a 4-couple set
1-8 The dance begins with the first couples crossing down between the second couples in a full figure of eight movement. The second couples stand still.
9-12 All couples back to back (do-si-do) by the right shoulder.
13-16 All couples full right hand turn.
17-24 The second couples now cross up between the first couples in a full figure 8 movement.
25-28 All back to back (do-si-do) by the left shoulder.
29-32 All couples full left hand turn.
33-36 In your groups of four, right hand star once around.
37-40 Take left hands and star a full turn until you are back to place.
41-48 First man and his lady cross over , skip to bottom and swing, meanwhile all other dancers step up one place then swing.
The dance starts again with the new top couple being a couple one and every other couple is also a first couple.
Music: 48-bar reel, medium pace
Devised by Martin Colquhoun (martincc [at] bigpond.net.au), 10/02/2001 , Adelaide, Australia
April 16, 2007
Rug Beater 8x32 R
THE RUG BEATER
32-bar Reel for 3 couples in a 4-couple longwise set
1-8 1s dance down the middle for 4 and up for 4, ending at the top in the middle of the set, facing up. (2s step up on bars 3-4 and face down)
9-10 1st man turns 2nd man (LH) ¾ way round to end in second place
WHILE
1st woman turns 2nd woman (RH) ¾ way round to end in second place.
11-12 1st man turns 3rd man (RH)
WHILE
1st woman turns 3rd woman (LH), 1s finish in 2nd place own sides.
13-16 2s, 1s and 3s advance for 2 and retire for 2.
17-24 All three couples set, cross (RH). All three couples chase ½ way round, clockwise
25-32 All three couples set, cross (LH). All three couples chase ½ way round anti-clockwise.
Repeat having passed a couple.
Music: Suitable Music: Scottish in Salem #3 (Reel Set - Caberfei)
Note: The link between the name and the actual dance, the pattern that is described on the floor when the first 12 bars are danced, is the shape of the old-fashioned wood-and-reed (or some other flexible woody material) rug beaters, with its long handle and lobed head. The rest is the swaying of the rug on the line, the beating of the rug, and the ensuing swirling dust
Devised by Sue Kashanski ( skashanski [at] ns.sympatico.ca), Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada
December 21, 2006
Whirlwind 8x32 R
THE WHIRLWIND
32 bar reel for 2 couples
1-4 First cpl cross with right hands and cast to second place. 2s move up on 3 &4, turning to face out as they do so.
5- 8 Cpls 1 & 2 double half figure of eight.
9-12 Cpls 1 & 2 turn on the sides 1&1/2 times, 1st man and 2nd lady left hands, 1st lady and 2nd man right hands
13-14 2nd couple cross over
15 -16 Both couples set
17-24 Quick Time Tourbillion. Moving as for strathspey version, but turning by right hand, retaining partner's right hand throughout, and facing partners to set:
17-18 Both cpls turn by right hand, finish facing partners on the side, rt. hands joined, 1st man in 2nd lady's place, 2nd lady in 1st man's place.
19-20 All set
21-22 both cpls turn by rt. Hands, finish facing partners across, rt. hands joined, 1st lady in 2nd man's place, 2nd man in 1st lady's place
23-24 All cross to own side
25- 32 Lefts and rights, beginning changing places on sides giving left hands.
Repeat from 2nd place.
Devised by Harry Ways (hways [at] ix.netcom.com) March 2005
November 02, 2006
Miri's Wedding 3x32 R
MIRI'S WEDDING
3 couple Reel in a 3-couple set
Bars
1 - 4 First and second couples set and link.
5 - 8 1st couple dance down between 3rd couple and cast up to 2nd place while 3rd couple set and cross right hand. Finish 1st couple facing up, 2nd facing down and 3rd across. Positions 2, 1, (3)
9 - 16 Dance Grand Chain for six but dance four places - i.e. take exactly two bars per hand. 3rd couple cross to start. Finish in positions (3), (2), (1)
17 - 24 Arches:
17 - 18 2nd and 1st couples change places, 2nd couple dancing under arch made by 1st couple.
19 - 20 3rd and 1st couples change places, 1st couple dancing under arch made by 3rd couple.
21 - 22 3rd and 2nd couples change places, 3rd couple dancing under arch made by 2nd couple.
23 - 24 All 3 couples give right hands to change places and stay in the centre, both hands joined.
25 - 32 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance poussette to finish in order 2, 3, 1.
Repeat from new places.
Music: Reel de mon Voisin. Suitable track is Fire in the Rye by the Music Makars on the album Jig For Joy.
Devised by Alan & Elke Paterson (alan.paterson [at] paranor.ch) to mark the occasion of the marriage of Mirjam Zbinden and Basil Binkert on 28.10.2006.
Notes:
* Bars 4-5 1st man should take care to complete the set-and-link before dancing in to meet his partner.
* Bars 8-9 3rd couple must be prepared to cross back again immediately after having crossed over.
* Bars 17-22 It is always the centre couple who goes under the arch.
* Bars 23-24 It may at first glance seem a bit of cafuffle to change from nearer hands to right hands to both hands in such a short time. But it works. Give it a go.
* Bars 25-32. Dancing Poussette with Mirjam is always a highlight, so this had to be the finish formation.
July 22, 2005
Blaine's Double Date 4x32 R
BLAINES DOUBLE DATE
32R4
1-4 1C & 4C cross RH and cast, 1C down 1 place, 4C up one place. 2C and 3C step up or down on 3-4.
5-8 1C dance figure of 8 up around 2s while 4C dance figure 8 down around 3s. 1C meet in center, facing 2M. 1W will be on 1Ms right. 4C meet in center facing 3W, 4W will be on mans left.
9-14 1C & 4C dance 6 bars of hello-good-bye in tandem.* 1C dances the track on the mens side of the dance, 4C dances the track on the ladies side, setting to each other as a couple across the dance. Couples join nearer hands when setting.
15 1C, 4C, nearer hands joined set advancing toward each other.
16 1C, 4C dance away from each other toward the side line closer to them, with traveling pas basque, to face up and down, ready for reel of 4 on the sides. (4W faces 2M, 4M faces 2W, 1W faces 3M, 1M faces 3W.) 2C and 3C face up and down.
17-24 Reels of 4 on the side
25-28 4C, giving RH, cross above 2C and cast into 2nd place. 1C, giving RH, cross below 3C and cast up to 3rd place.
29-32 4C & 1C dance RH across back to new positions on own sides.
Repeat 3 times.
*Hello-Goodbye in Tandem:
1C track:
Bar 1 - set to 2M
Bar 2 traveling pas de basque to mens side line, keeping same relative position to partner, as in petronella in tandem. Man will finish on sideline next to 3M. Woman will finish next to 2M, now on her partners left.
Bar 3 1C set to 4C, who are now on the sidelines across the set.
Bar 4 Traveling PDB to face 3M. 1M finishes closer to bottom of set, lady closer to sideline and on her partners right.
Bar 5 Couple set to 3M
Bar 6 Travel to bottom of set, facing up. Man finishes next to 3W, woman next to 3M.
4C track:
Bar 1 - set to 3W
Bar 2 traveling pas de basque to womens side line, keeping same relative position to partner, as in petronella in tandem. Man will finish on sideline next to 2W. Woman will finish next to 4W, now on her partners right.
Bar 3 4C set to 1C, who are now on the sidelines across the set.
Bar 4 Traveling PDB to face 2W. 1W finishes closer to top of set, man closer to sideline and on her partners left.
Bar 5 Couple set to 2W
Bar 6 Travel to top of set, facing down. Woman finishes next to 2M, M next to 2W.
Devised by Ellen Ternes (eternes [at] umd.edu) and Martha Anderson
Notes from Ellen: Dedicated to Blaine Peet. We were both his "partner" for General Stuart's reel at Capitol weekend, and later that night (read 4 a.m.) and a little wine (okay, a bottle) we had devised a real dance out of the makeshift petronella we had come up with in the dance. It actually works I think, and is fun. If you decide to try it, let me know if you have any thoughts for ways it might work better. One thing I'm going to try next time I do it, is to make the last 2 bars of the petronella skip change (when dancing couples dance to the sidelines).
July 01, 2005
Giants of Foudland 3x48 R
THE GIANTS OF FOUDLAND
Reel, 3 x 48 (Triangular set)
1 4 1st lady dance RH across with 3C while 1st man dance LH across with 2C; all set once to partner and turn RH once round.
9 16 Men dance round partners (RS), back to place, then dance RH across back to place.
17 24 Ladies dance round partners (LS), back to place, then dance LH across back to place and stay facing out.
25 40 All dance Schiehallion reels.
41 48 All dance 6 hands round to left & back
Devised by Alison Smith (inchgower [at] talk21.com)
Note from Alison: Inspired by the newly constructed Foudland wind turbines, seen turning for the first time in April 2005
June 08, 2005
Just a Lark 64 R
JUST A LARK
64 bar Reel for 2 Couples in a 2-couple set
Danced as a Medley with
Bars 1-32 as English Country Dance and
Bars 33-64 as Scottish Country Dance,
or else done with both halves the same.
1-2 1M smoothly step LEFT advancing, then 1W (reach out Left foot, close with Right foot)
3-4 1s 1/2 turn BH and face down with NH joined; 2s face up on Bar 4
5-6 2s smoothly step RIGHT advancing, then 1s (dropping hands)
7-8 All turn 3/4 LH (Women finish back-to-back in center)
9-16 All LS hey [reel] for 4 across the set
17-18 All Skip right advancing, then left advancing
[for SCD do Skip Change]
19-20 Men (in center) turn 1/2 RH, while Women set pulling back RS to face in
21-22 All skip right advancing, then left advancing
23-24 All cast back over RS (skip, to face partner down/up side lines)
25-32 All poussette half way, down/up and counter-clockwise
(Men start on Left foot, with Push).
All turn twice and retire facing partner down/up
[SCD: omit turns, poussette takes longer].
2M do NOT change feet before continuing
33-64 Repeat Bars 1-32 with 2s as the active couple,
from new positions oriented up/down.
Note: at Bar 36, all will be 90 degrees rotated clockwise from position at Bar 1.
Suggested Tune: "Just a Lark". The sheet music (PDF or ABC format) is available upon request from the deviser.
Tune and Dance written and Copyright 2005 Helen Powell (leap [at] mindspring.com)
May 04, 2005
Oot Dancing 4x32 R
OOT DANCING
4x32 reel for 4 couples in a 4 couple longwise set
1-4 Joining hands on the sidelines, all advance and retire.
5-6 All turn partners half way with right hands, finishing
in the middle of the set, facing partners.
7-8 Dropping hands, all cast to the opposite sidelines.
9-12 All chase clockwise half way round the set.
13-16 All dance back to back with partners.
17-24 4s and 1s cross, 3s and 2s change places on the side to
start a grand chain all round the set.
25-32 1s join nearer hands and dance to the top of the set. They
then make an arch and dance down to the bottom of the set
over the 4s, 3s and 2s. 4s, 3s and 2s dance up underneath
the arch; when they reach the top of the set they form their
own arch and start dancing down the set over the remaining
couples.
Finish in the order 2, 3, 4, 1, ready to start again.
Note: Bars 25-32 are deliberately not broken down. 4+4 doesn't work well
- the lead up is too slow and the arches too frantic. I suspect 2+6 may
be the opposite and 3+5 be about right, but play around and see what works
for you in your set - and don't worry if it varies!
Tune: The Clumsy Lover, by Neil Dickie
(cc) Ian Brockbank, March 2005 ( ian [at] scottishdance.net )
The definitive version of this dance will eventually be available on Grand Chain, Ian Brockbank's Scottish country dance web site.
Notes from Ian:
When my son Stuart was first born, his sister Lorna called him "Oot". This
then progressed to "'Ua't" and then "S'ua't". This dance was written just
before Stuart's first birthday, and is dedicated to him.
Maple Dancing 8x32 R
MAPLE DANCING
32-bar reel for 2 couples in a 4 couple longwise set
1-8 1st and 2nd couples set and rotate. 2nd lady and 1st man remain
facing out, ready for.
9-16 2nd man and 1st lady pass left shoulders to start a reel of four
across the dance.
17-18 2nd man and 1st lady turn half way left hands while 2nd lady and
1st man cast up or down on the sides.
19-20 2nd man and 1st lady turn partners once round giving right hands.
21-22 2nd man and 1st lady turn half way left hands while 2nd lady and
1st man cast up or down on the sides.
23-24 2nd and 1st men, and 2nd and 1st ladies giving right hands, turn,
finishing with 1st couple in 2nd place facing up and 2nd couple
in 1st place facing down.
25-26 All set facing up and down on the sidelines.
27-28 All set to partners.
29-32 All turn (or spin) partners with right hand.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
Note: The reel of four starts with the left shoulder in the middle, which
makes for slightly unusual timing.
Tune: Maple, by Pete Clark
(cc) Ian Brockbank, 2005 ( ian [at] scottishdance.net )
The definitive version of this dance will eventually be available on Grand Chain, Ian Brockbank's Scottish country dance web site.
Notes from Ian:
Pete Clark auctioned a tune at a charity ceilidh in aid of the Kisoro School
for the Blind in May 2001, and I was fortunate enough to be the highest
bidder. The tune he wrote was a lively reel, which I named for our cat
Maple. The back of a fiddle is made of maple wood, and the bow dances across
it during the tune, so there is a pleasing musical tie-in.
This is my second attempt at a dance to go with the tune - the first dance
was unexceptional and had some awkward sections, so I thought I'd try again.
Like the first attempt, this is a two-couple dance.
April 15, 2005
Inside Oot Fish Eater 5x32 R
THE INSIDE OOT FISH EATER
32-bar reel for 5 couples in a 5 couple longwise set
1-8 1st and 3rd couples lead down the middle and up to face first
corners. 2s and 4s step up on bars 3 and 4.
9-12 1st and 3rd couples couple dance corners pass and turn with
first corners. At the end, dancing couples approach then pull
back right shoulders to face fourth corners (partner's second
corners).
13-16 1st and 3rd couple dance corners pass and turn with fourth
corners. At the end, dancing couples approach then pull back
right shoulders to face out their own side.
17-24 2nd, 4th and 5th couples dance the first eight bars of petronella
while dancing couples dance out their own side and to the right,
across the set between the setting couples, out partner's side
and to the right, finishing 1st couple in 2nd place and 3rd couple
in 4th place, all on opposite sides of the dance, and set. (I.e.
all 5 couples are now on opposite sides of the dance, and all set
on bars 23-24).
25-26 2nd couple turn half way giving right hand while 1st couple dance
right hands across half way with 4th couple and 3rd couple dance
right hands across half way with 5th couple.
27-28 Giving hands on the sidelines, all set.
29-32 All turn (or spin) partners with right hands.
Finish in the order 2, 4, 1, 5, 3, ready to start again.
Tune: The Inside Oot Fish Eater (Peter Wood)
(cc) Ian Brockbank, March 2005 ( ian [at] scottishdance.net )
The definitive version of this dance will eventually be available on Grand Chain, Ian Brockbank's Scottish country dance web site.
Notes from Ian:
The basic concept of the dance was proposed by Caroline, and I fleshed out the details, so this is a combined effort.
Peter Wood wrote the tune "The Inside Oot Fish Eater" for Lindsay Weir.
It's a cracking tune which has really caught on with Scottish dance
musicians. I thought it was about time it had a dance to go with it.
Lindsay plays for Dunedin Dancers' Wednesday social night once a month,
and this was first danced at Dunedin on the 13th of April, 2005 with
Lindsay playing.