Lesson Plan for Oct. 15

Figures Taught: Poussette, Set To and Turn Corners

BLUE BONNETS (J8x32) 2C (4C set) RSCDS Bk 3
1- 8        1L+2M Advance+Retire & dance BtoB
9-16       1M+2L Advance+Retire & dance BtoB
17-24     1s lead down the middle & back
25-32     1s+2s dance Poussette

THE COUNTESS OF SUTHERLAND'S REEL R8x32 3C 4C set MMM II
1- 8        1s cast to 3rd place, set, cast up to top & set
9-16       1s lead down the middle & back, cross to end facing 1st corners
17-24     1s set & turn 1st corners, set & turn 2nd corners both hands
25-32     1s turn RH 1½ times & 2s+1s+3s turn RH

Dance Information:

Arms of the Countess of Sutherland
Image via Wikipedia

The current Countess of Sutherland, Miss Elizabeth Millicent Sutherland-Leveson-Gower became the 24th holder of the title in 1963. She also inherited large land-holdings, including Dunrobin Castle, hereditary seat of Clan Sutherland and the largest house in the northern Highlands. She subsequently changed her surname to Sutherland in order to be recognized as Chief of Clan Sutherland.

Dunrobin Castle
Image via Wikipedia

I do not know if the dance was written for her or for an earlier Countess.  It was published in 1977 by Jean Milligan, one of the founders of the RSCDS, in Miss Milligan's Miscellany.

Location of the County of Sutherland in Scotland
Image via Wikipedia

Sutherland is, counter-intuitively, one of the northern-most areas of mainland Scotland.  The name comes from the time when this area was under Norse rule, along with Orkney and Caithness.  From the perspective of its ruler, the Jarl of Orkney, Sutherland was actually the southern-most part of his domain! Sutherland boasts dramatic scenery, especially on its western fringe where the mountains meet the sea with high cliffs and deep fjords. The inland landscape is rugged and very sparsely populated. Despite being Scotland's 5th largest former county in terms of area, it has a smaller population than a medium-size lowland Scottish town. In the 18th century, Sutherland suffered from The Highland Clearances more than most parts of the Highlands, forceful eviction of people from their homes to make way for large sheep farms, displacing people to live along the coast scraping a life as fisherfolk and scattering others far and wide across the globe. The villages produced by this policy form the last Gaelic speaking communities to be found on the east coast of Scotland.

SIMON BRODIE (S8x32) 3C (4C set) J Young SCDs of 18th Cent
1- 8        1M+2L set advancing, turn 2H, 1L+2M repeat
9-16       1s lead down, cross below 3s & cast up to 2nd place opposite sides
               dance R&L (1 bar per hand) to end facing 1st corners
17-24     1s set & turn 2H 1st corners & 2nd corners
               ending in middle facing Ladies side Lady on Mans L
25-28     1s dance out between 2L & 3L
               cast round nearest Lady to meet in the middle,
               turn 2H to end facing Mens side Lady on Mans right
29-32     1s dance out between 2M & 3M
               cast round nearest Man to meet in the middle,
               turn LH to places

Dance Information:

Simon Brodie Lyrics:

Symon Brodie had a cow:
The cow was lost, and he cou'd na find her;
When he had done what man cou'd do,
The cow came hame, and the tail behind her.

Chorus:
Honest, auld Symon Brodie,
Stupid, auld, doited bodie;
I'll awa' to the North Countrie,
And see my ain dear Symon Brodie.

Symon Brodie had a wife,
And wow but she was braw and bonnie;
She took the dish-clout aff the bink,
And prin'd it to her cockernonie.

Heard ye e'er o' our gudeman,
The gaucy laird o' braid Dunwodie,
The wale o' cocks at cap or can,
Honest canty Symon Brodie!

Symon Brodie had ane wife,
I wat she was baith proud and bonny,
He took the dishclout frae the bink,
And preen't it till her cockernony!

An' Symon had a branded cow,
He tint his cow and couldna find her,
He sought her a' the lee lang day,
But the cow cam hame wi' her tail ahind her.

Other variations.

LORD ROSSLYN'S FANCY (J8x32) 3C (4C set)
Button+Whittaker RSCDS Bk 15
1- 8        1s+2s set, dance 1/2 RH across, set & dance 1/2 LH across
9-16       1s+2s+3s all set & cross RH, set & cross back RH
17-24     1s+2s dance Poussette
25-32     1s dance Double Triangles

ALLISON'S INVENTION (R8x32) 3C (4C set) A Collins Martello Tower Bk 4
1- 8        1s lead down for 4 bars,
              Lady passes under Mans arm & lead up to 2nd place
9-16       2s+1s+3s set, cross RH,
              set, 2s & 3s cross LH while 1s pass LSh to face 1st corner
17-24     Set & turn 1st corner, set & turn 2nd corner
25-32     1s dance 1/2 fig of 8 round standing 2s & 2s+1s+3s turn RH