Lesson Plan for Oct. 22

Figures Taught: Reel of Three, Petronella

THE MAIDS OF CURRIE (R8x32) 3C (4C set) 
H&T Cruickshank SCDs for Children
1- 8       1s dance fig of 8 round 2s+3s (own sides) giving RSh to 2s
9-16      1s+2s Advance+Retire & dance RH across
17-24    1s followed by 2s lead down & 2s lead back followed by 1s,
             1s end facing 1st corners
25-32    1s turn 1st corners RH, partner LH,
             2nd corner RH & cross LH to 2nd place own sides

Dance Information:

Currie Kirk
Image via Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

Currie is a suburb of Edinburgh, Scotland, situated within Midlothian 10 kilometres southwest of the city centre, between Juniper Green and Balerno on the Lanark Road. The earliest record of a settlement in the Currie area is a Bronze Age razor (1800 BC) found at Kinleith Mill and the stone cists (500 BC) at Duncan's Belt and Blinkbonny. There are a few mentions of this area in mediaeval and early modern documents, but the Index of Charters 1309-1413 records Currie as being 'favourite hunting grounds' for the Lords and Knights of Edinburgh Castle. A settlement took shape around Currie Kirk and the main Lanark Road. The weaver poet James Thomson was brought up in the village in the late 18th century, and is commemorated by the dell of the Kinleith Burn being named the "Poet's Glen" where it runs down from beside his cottage at Mid Kinleith Farm to join the Water of Leith.

FALLING LEAVES (J8x32) 3C (4C set) M Glenn
1- 8       1s cross RH, cast 1 place, cross LH & cast up to places
9-16      1s dance reels of 3 on own sides dancing down between 2s to start
17-24    1s lead down the middle & back to top
25-32    1s+2s dance Poussette

THE BYRON STRATHSPEY (S3x32) 3C set J Drewry Deeside Bk 2
1- 8       All petronella turn into the centre, set to partner &
             turn 2H 1.1/4 times back to places
9-16      1s+2L & 3s+2M dance RH across,
              2s pass RSh & dance LH across with other couple
17-24    2s in prom hold dance reel of 3 with 1s passing 1L RSh,
             end 2s in centre at top
25-32    2s+1s+3s dance Allemande

Video of Byron Strathspey

THE DEN O'MAINS (J8x32) 3C (4C set) 
D Henderson Douglas Henderson Coll
1- 8       1s+2s+3s turn RH,
             1s set, cast 1 place into middle facing up in prom hold
9-16      1s dance reel of 3 with 2L+3M giving RSh to 2L
17-24    1s dance reel of 3 with 2M+3L giving LSh to 2M &
             1s end BtoB facing own side ready for…
25-32    1s dance Double Triangles with 2s+3s

MASON'S APRON (R8x32) 3C (4C set) Border Bk
1- 8       1s turn RH, cast to 2nd place, cross RH, cast to right,
              ending 1M between 3s & 1L between 2s
9-16      1s set & turn RH 1 1/4 to opposite sides between 2s+3s,
              set & turn RH to face 1st corners
17-24    1s set & turn 1st corners, set & turn 2nd corners
25-32    1s dance reels of 3 on opposite sides
              giving LSh to 1st corners & cross to own sides

Dance Information:

George Washington's Embroidered Masonic Apron
Image via Pennsylvania Grand Lodge
See their page for symbolic explanations.

White lambskin Master Mason aprons are an emblem of Freemasonry, derived from the working aprons of ancient stone masons.  These aprons are considered emblems of purity of mind and body.  Read more on the Masonic Lodge of Education page.