Dances for October 31, 2016

Sorry, no video for this dance

SUNSHINE VILLAGE RAMBLE
The Second Martello Tower Book of Dances
A Strathspey for four couples in a longwise set

1–8        1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance reels of three on own sides, 1st couple dance in and down, 2nd couple out and up to enter, all giving hands when meeting partner, to finish 1st and 2nd couples ready for Rondel, 3rd couple on sidelines.

9–16    1st and 2nd couples dance Rondel, 1st couple finish facing out in 2nd place on own side.

17–24    1st couple cast off round 3rd couple, lead down between 4th couple, cast up behind 4th couple, and turn partner left hand to face “first corner” position between 3rd and 4th couples (1st man facing 4th lady, 1st lady facing 3rd man), 3rd couple step up on bars 17 – 18.

25–32    1st couple set to and turn first corner (both hands), then set to and turn second corner, finishing in 3rd place on opposite sides.

33–38    3rd, 1st and 4th couples dance six hands round to left, once round, finishing in place.

39–40    1st couple lead down giving left hand and cross into 4th place own     side, 4th couple dance up on bars 39 – 40.

Repeat with new top couple.

May be danced to :   The Winding Nith
Devised by Ernst Eder in 1972 for a ski weekend in Sunshine Village, Banff National Park, Alberta.




Sorry, no video for this dance

THE “GOLDEN GAELS” REEL
THE THIRD MARTELLO TOWER BOOK OF DANCES, RSCDS Kingston Ontario Branch, 1986

1–4        1st couple turn right hand once round and cast off on own side, 2nd couple step up on bars 3–4.  

5–8        1st couple turn right hand once round to finish in 2nd place, lady facing out and down, man facing out and up ready for...

9–16    1st couple dance reels of three on their own sides with 2nd and 3rd couples; all three couples finish in promenade hold facing up in the middle (order 2-1-3)

17–24    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance promenade, 1st couple finish facing up in 2nd place in the middle nearer hands joined, 2nd and 3rd couples face each other up and down on the sidelines (see Note) ready for ...

25–32    1st couple dance up to enter figures of eight on own side finishing in 2nd place, while 2nd and 3rd couples dance rights and lefts (starting by changing places giving right hands along the sidelines).

Repeat having passed a couple.

NOTE to bars 23-24: 2nd couple finish the promenade by dancing up the middle and casting out to 1st place on the sidelines to face down, 3rd couple dance into own place facing up.

May be danced to:  Bauldy Bane’s Fiddle
Devised by John Trew in October 1985. The “Golden Gaels” is the name of the Queen’s University football team (Canadian football, not soccer).

Dances for October 24, 2016

Video: City of Belfast
Video: City of Belfast

City of Belfast
32-bar Strathspey for three couples in a three-couple set

1–4        1st couple dance a half figure of eight round 2nd couple to finish in partner’s place.

5–8        1st man and 2nd woman with left hands, 1st woman and 2nd man with right hands, turn one and a quarter times to finish with 1st couple in the middle back to back, 1st man facing 2nd woman, 1st woman facing 2nd man.

9–16    1st and 2nd couples dance a reel of four across the dance in second place, 2nd couple finish in first place and 1st couple passing left shoulders, face 1st corners.

17–20    1st couple set to first corners, set to second corners and pulling back right shoulders, finish on the opposite side between corners.

21–24    All three couples join hands and set, 1st couple cross giving right hands to finish in second place on own side.

25–32    1st and 3rd couples dance the Espagnole. Finish in order 2,3,1.

The Espagnole (devised by John Drewry)

Bars
1–2        1st and 3rd women, joining right hands, dance towards the men’s side. On the second step, 1st woman crosses 3rd woman in front of her so that 3rd woman dances out and up towards second place while 1st woman dances out and down towards third place. Meanwhile 1st and 3rd men dance across to the women’s side passing on the outside of their partners.

3–4        1st and 3rd men joining right hands, dance back towards their own side passing between their    partners. On the fourth step 1st man crosses 3rd man over in front of him so that 3rd man dances out and up towards second place while 1st man dances out and down towards third place. Meanwhile 3rd and 1st women cross back to their own side passing on the outside of their partners.

5–8    3rd couple turn with the right hand while 1st couple turn with the left hand.

Original Tune composed by Marian Anderson
Dance devised by Lucy Mulholland




Sorry, no videos of this one


ITCHY FEET
Coast to Coast with Scotch Mist, 2014
32-bar jig for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

1–4        1st couple set and cast off one place, 2nd couple step up on bars 3-4.
5–8        1st couple turn right hand 1-1/2 times to face 1st corners.
9–12    1st couple dance a half reel of four with 1st corners, pass partner right shoulder to face 2nd corners.
13–16    1st couple dance a half reel of four with 2nd corners, finishing in 2nd place on opposite sides. All three couples are now on opposite sides.
17–24    3rd, 1st, and 2nd couples set and link to finish back on own sides.
25–32    All three couples dance six hands round and back.
Repeat, having passed a couple.

Devised by John Walton, Hamilton. “When the music starts and we are itching to start dancing, then that is the time we have itchy feet”.

Dances for October 17, 2016

Sorry, no video for this one

MCKEOWN’S HORNPIPE, 40R, 3C (4C Set)
THE CANADIAN BOOK OF SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCES by John Drewry

1–8        1st couple, giving right hands, cross over to opposite sides and cast off to second place, they dance up crossing back to own sides and cast off to second place. 2nd couple half-turn by the right hand, dance up to top place on opposite sides, cast off to second place, then dance up crossing back to own sides and stay facing out.

9–16    Reels of three on own sides of the dance. To begin: -   1st couple, joining nearer hands, dance in and down; 3rd couple dance out and up; 2nd couple dance out and down. All join nearer hands with partners where possible in the reels. At the end 2nd and 3rd couples stay facing out in top and 3rd places.

17–32    1st couple dance a full Petronella figure to return to second place on own sides. They must move well up and down the set on Bars 17-18, and again on Bars 25-26 to give 2nd and 3rd couples space to dance between them. Meanwhile 2nd and 3rd couples dance as follows:-

17–18    2nd couple cast off to just above second place, and 3rd couple cast up to just below second place.

19–20    Joining nearer hands, 2nd and 3rd couples cross to opposite sides, the ladies passing under an arch made by the men. All stay facing out.

21–22    With the person on the right having precedence (i.e. 3rd man and 2nd lady here), 2nd couple and 3rd couple cross tracks so that 2nd couple cast off to third place on opposite sides, and 3rd couple cast up to top place on opposite sides.

23–24    3rd and 2nd couples, giving right hands, cross back to own sides and stay facing out.     

25–32    2nd and 3rd couples repeat Bars 17-24 from new positions except that on Bars 31-32 they half-turn partners by the right hand to finish ready for the circle.

33–40    Six hands round and back.

Repeat, having passed a couple.



Video: The Whiteadder Jig

The Whiteadder Jig, 32J 3C (4C Set)
Muriel Johnstone, The Whiteadder Collection

1-4    1st and 2nd couples set and link

5-8    1st and 2nd couples dance right hands across once round

9-10    1st couple set

11-13    1st man dance a half reel of three across with 3rd couple, giving left shoulder to 3rd lady to begin while 1st lady dances a half reel of three across with 2nd couple, giving left shoulder to 2nd man to begin.

14-16    The three men dance a half reel of three on the ladies' side, 1st man giving right shoulder to 2nd man to begin, while the three ladies dance a half reel of three on the men's side, 1st lady giving right shoulder tothird lady to begin. Finish in order 3, 1, 2

17-20    All three couples set and ling for three.

21-24    All three couples turn the opposite person once round with the right hand.

25-28    All three couples set and ling for three.

29-32    All three couples turn the opposite person once round with the right hand.

Dances for October 3, 2016

Sorry for being late with this. 

Video: The Bees of Maggieknockater


THE BEES OF MAGGIEKNOCKATER
THE CANADIAN BOOK OF SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCES by John Drewry

Maggieknockater is a hamlet two miles North-east of Craigellachie. In a field there beside the road is a large sign - “Maggieknockater Apiary” - hence the title of this dance.

Jig – 4 couples – 32 bars.
Tune – “Forres Country dance”, see alternative tune for “Holyrood House” Book 22 No. 4.

1–4        1st couple, giving right hands in passing, cross over to opposite sides and cast off to second place.  (2nd couple step up on Bars 3-4)

5–8    1st and 3rd couples dance right hands across. At the end:- 3rd lady turns towards 1st man, retaining hold of his right hand, then joins left hands with him in promenade hold facing out towards the ladies’ side; 1st lady dances similarly with 3rd man so that they finish facing out towards the men’s             side of the dance.

9–12    Reels of three on the sides. 1st man and 3rd lady, dancing together, dance half a reel of three on the ladies’ side with 4th and 2nd ladies. They pass 4th lady by the right to begin. 1st lady and 3rd man, dancing together, similarly dance half a reel of three on the men’s side with 2nd and 4th men. They pass 2nd man by the right to begin. On Bar 12, when they meet in the centre of the dance, 1st and 3rd couples drop hands and join hands with partners in promenade hold so that 1st couple are facing towards the men’s side and 3rd couple facing towards the ladies’ side.

13–16    Continuing the reels of three on the sides:- 1st couple dance half a reel of three on the men’s side with 2nd and 4th men, passing 2nd man (in fourth place) by the left; 3rd couple dance half a reel of three on the ladies’ side with 4th and 2nd ladies, passing 4th lady (in top place) by the left. On Bar 16 1st man and 3rd lady join hands in promenade hold facing the men’s side, while 1st lady and 3rd man join hands in promenade hold facing the ladies’ side.

17–20    Continuing the reels of three on the sides:- 1st man and 3rd lady dance on the men’s side passing 2nd man by the right. 1st lady and 3rd man dance on the ladies’ side passing 4th lady by the right. On Bar 20 1st and 3rd couples join hands with partners.

21–24    Continuing the reels of three on the sides:- 1st couple dance on the ladies’ side passing 4th lady by the left. 3rd couple dance on the men’s side passing 2nd man by the left.

25–28    1st man turns 3rd lady by the LEFT hand one and a half times to leave her in second place; 1st lady, similarly, turns 3rd man by the RIGHT hand. At the end 1st couple dance down crossing over to face 4th couple on own sides.

29–32    1st man turns 4th man one and a half times by the right hand; 1st lady turns 4th lady by the left hand. 1st couple finish in fourth place.

Repeat with a new top couple.




Video: General Stuart's Reel

General  Stuart’s  Reel or
The New Way of Gildon  (Reel)
Book 10 – No. 3   

1–4        1st man sets to 2nd woman and casts off one place. 2nd man steps up on bars 3–4.

5–8        1st woman sets to 2nd man and casts off to second place. 2nd woman steps up on bars 7–8.

9–12       1st couple turn first corners with the right hand then, passing each other by the right shoulder, face second corners.

13–16    1st couple turn second corners with the left hand then, passing each other by the right shoulder, face first corners.

17–24    1st couple set to first corners, set to each other across the dance, set to second corners, then set to each other up and down the dance and finish man facing up and woman facing down the dance. 1st couple turn by the right throughout.

25–30    1st couple dance reels with their corners. 1st couple begin the reels by giving right shoulders to second corners.

31–32    1st couple, giving right hands, cross over to own sides in second place.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
Bars   9-16    Corners dance two steps when turning.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
9-16    Corners must dance into middle to meet 1st cpl on bars 9 & 13 then out to places on bars 10 & 14 releasing     1st cpl to face up & down the set.






Video: The Earl of Northampton Skip to about the 9:53 point
Video: The Earl of Northampton


The Earl of Northampton

Boston Branch, RSCDS, Celebrate 50 Years of Dancing
A 32-bar Strathspey for 2 couples in a 4-couple set by Virginia Van Scoy

1–8        1st and 2nd couples set and link, flowing into four hands round to the left.

9–16    2nd and 1st couples dance back to back with partners, then turn with both hands, finishing ready for allemande.

17–24    2nd and 1st couples allemande, but on bars 23-24 each couple turns once round with the right hand, staying in the middle retaining right hands ready for the knot.

25–32    1st and 2nd couples dance the knot.

Repeat having passed a couple.

Virginia van Scoy is the founder of the Northampton, Massachusetts, class. She devised this dance in 1995 to honor fiddler Earl Gaddis’ fiftieth birthday and to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the class. Earl has played for the class since it began, joined on occasion by Karen Axelrod, who wrote the tune as an additional tribute.




Sorry, I couldn't find any video of this dance.


The Miller’s Book Room 
32 bar Jig for 3 couples                               
K Smith, Brock Summer Celebration

 1- 8    1s+2s Espagnole

 9-12    1W+2s also 1M+3s RH across (2s+3s finish in place, facing clockwise; 1s finish in the centre)

13-16    2s+3s chase clockwise to diagonally opposite corner position while 1s turn LH to face 1st corner position

17-24    1s+1st corners change RH to bring corners into the centre, facing one another; corners change places LH while 1s set; 1s+1st corners change RH to bring 1s into the centre; 1s turn LH to face 2nd corner position while 1st corners set

25-32    1s+2nd corners repeat bars 17-24, 1s finishing in 2nd place own side