Sunday, February 3, 2013

Dances from Jan. 28

We practiced the same dances for a couple of weeks because we were doing a couple of demos.

ALICE'S REQUEST (J8x32) 2C (4C set) 
R Goldring Graded & Social Dances 2
1- 8        1s+2s circle 4H round & back
9-16       1s fig of 8 round 2s
17-24     1L+2M turn RH, 1M+2L turn RH
25-32     1s lead down the middle & up to 2nd place

THE GLEN (R8x32) 2C (4C set) S Kass Let's All Dance
1- 8        1s+2s dance RH across & LH back
9-16       1s+2s turn RH & LH
17-24     1s lead down & back to 2nd places
25-32     2s+1s circle 4H round & back

THE MINISTER ON THE LOCH (S3x32) 3C set 
 R Goldring 24 Graded & Social Dances
1- 8       1s+2s dance Diamond Poussette right round
9-16      1s dance down for 2 steps, turn 2H, dance up to top & turn 2H
17-24    1s+3s dance double fig of 8 round 2s with 1s casting to start
25-32    1M+2M turn LH 1.1/2 times while 1L+2L turn RH 1.1/2 times,
              1M+3M turn RH 1.1/2 times while 1L+3L turn LH 1.1/2 times

WILD GEESE (J8x32) 3C (4C set) RSCDS 24
1- 8       1s+3s dance in & balance in line,
              partners RH & 1s cast to 3rd place while 3s lead up to 1st place
9-16      3s+1s dance in & balance in line,
              turn partners RH & 3s cast to 3rd place while 1s lead up to 1st place
17-24    1s lead down & back to 2nd place
25-32    2s+1s dance R&L

THE WIND ON THE HEATH (R8x32) 3C (4C set) I Boyd
1- 8       1s set, 1L followed by partner casts 2 places, 1L crosses (below 3s) &
              casts up on Mens side to partners place while
              1M dances round 3L & up the middle to partners place facing out
9-16      1s dance reel of 3 on sides (RSh to 2s to start)
17-24    1M followed by partner casts 2 places, 1M crosses (below 3s) &
              casts up on Mens side to original place while 1L dances round 3L &
              up the middle to original place & 1s set
25-32    1s+2s dance the Chain Progression : -
                 1s & 2s ¾ turn RH,
                 1M+2L turn LH 1½ times while partners chase clockwise ½ way,
                 2s & 1s ¾ turn RH to end on sides in order 2 1

SHIFTIN' BOBBINS (R8x32) 3C (4C set) R Clowes Ormskirk Book
1- 8       1s cross RH to double triangle position with 2s+3s & set,
              1s cast up to top & dance down until they are between 2s & 3s
9-16      1L dances RH across with 2M+3M while 1M dances LH across with 2L+3L,
              1s followed by 2s+3s dance down centre
17-24     3s followed by 2s+1s dance up (3s+2s cast off to places),
              1L dances LH across with 2M+3M while 1M dances RH across with 2L+3L
25-32     1s dance up to top, cast down to 2nd place opposite side &
              dance 1/2 fig of 8 around 2s to end in 2nd place on own sides

THE LEA RIG (S8x32) 2C (4C set) RSCDS 21
1-16       1s+2s dance full Petronella back to places
              (2s step up & join in on bar 3 by setting then follow 1s,
               and turn to place on bars 15-16)
17-24     1s lead down centre of set & back to top
25-32     1s+2s dance RH across once round &
               1/2 Diamond Poussette to change places

THE DE'IL AMANG THE TAILORS (R8x32) 3C (4C set) RSCDS 14
1- 8       1s+2s set & dance RH across 1/2 way,
              set & dance LH across 1/2 way back to place
9-16      1s lead down the middle & back to top
17-24    1s+2s dance Allemande
25-32    2s+1s+3s circle 6H round & back

Dances from Jan. 21

We practiced the same dances for a couple of weeks because we were doing a demo.

ALICE'S REQUEST (J8x32) 2C (4C set) 
R Goldring Graded & Social Dances 2
1- 8        1s+2s circle 4H round & back
9-16       1s fig of 8 round 2s
17-24     1L+2M turn RH, 1M+2L turn RH
25-32     1s lead down the middle & up to 2nd place

THE GLEN (R8x32) 2C (4C set) S Kass Let's All Dance
1- 8        1s+2s dance RH across & LH back
9-16       1s+2s turn RH & LH
17-24     1s lead down & back to 2nd places
25-32     2s+1s circle 4H round & back

THE MINISTER ON THE LOCH (S3x32) 3C set 
 R Goldring 24 Graded & Social Dances
1- 8       1s+2s dance Diamond Poussette right round
9-16      1s dance down for 2 steps, turn 2H, dance up to top & turn 2H
17-24    1s+3s dance double fig of 8 round 2s with 1s casting to start
25-32    1M+2M turn LH 1.1/2 times while 1L+2L turn RH 1.1/2 times,
              1M+3M turn RH 1.1/2 times while 1L+3L turn LH 1.1/2 times

WILD GEESE (J8x32) 3C (4C set) RSCDS 24
1- 8       1s+3s dance in & balance in line,
              partners RH & 1s cast to 3rd place while 3s lead up to 1st place
9-16      3s+1s dance in & balance in line,
              turn partners RH & 3s cast to 3rd place while 1s lead up to 1st place
17-24    1s lead down & back to 2nd place
25-32    2s+1s dance R&L

MASON'S APRON (R8x32) 3C (4C set) Border Book
1- 8       1s turn RH, cast to 2nd place, cross RH, cast to the right
             (1M casts down to between 3s as 1L casts up to between 2s)
9-16      1s set & turn RH 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 2nd place own sides

Saturday, January 19, 2013

Dances from Jan. 14

ALICE'S REQUEST (J8x32) 2C (4C set) R Goldring Graded & Social Dances 2
1- 8        1s+2s circle 4H round & back
9-16       1s fig of 8 round 2s
17-24     1L+2M turn RH, 1M+2L turn RH
25-32     1s lead down the middle & up to 2nd place

THE GLEN (J8x32) 2C (4C set) S Kass Let's All Dance
1- 8        1s+2s dance RH across & LH back
9-16       1s+2s turn RH & LH
17-24     1s lead down & back to 2nd places
25-32     2s+1s circle 4H round & back

CA' THE EWES T' THE KNOWES (S8x32) 2C (4C set) T Wilson RSCDS 16
1- 8        1s cast & dance down own sides for 4 bars &
               turning out dance back to the top
9-16       1s turn RH, cast 1 place, dance 1/2 fig of 8 round 2s & back to top
17-24     1s+2s dance Allemande
25-32     2s+1s dance R&L

LE PAPILLON (J8x32) 3C (4C set) Skillern SCDs for Children
1- 8        1s cast to 2nd place & 1s+3s circle 4H round to left
9-16       1s cast up to top & 1s+2s circle 4H round to left
17-24     1s lead down for 3 steps, lead up & cast to 2nd place
25-32     2s+1s dance R&L

TURKEY TROT (R8x32) 3C (4C Set) J Hamilton Let's All Dance
1- 8        1s lead down for 3 steps, back to top & cast to 2nd places
9-16       1s dance RH across (Lady with 2s & Man with 3s) &
               LH across with other couple
17-24     2s+1s+3s Advance+Retire & dance BtoB
25-32     2s+1s+3s circle 6H round & back

Monday, January 7, 2013

Dances from Jan. 7

COLLIE LAW (J8x32) 2C (4C set) R Goldring 24 G & S Dances
1- 8        1s+2s Advance+Retire, turn RH
9-16       1s+2s dance Allemande
17-24     1s dance fig of 8 round 2s
25-32     2s+1s dance RH across & LH back

THE AUSTRALIAN LADIES 1 (R8x32) 3C {4C set}
R M Campbell Glasgow Assembly
1- 8       1s cross, cast down to 3rd place & 3s+1s dance RH across.
9-16      1s lead up to top, cross, cast to 2nd place & 2s+1s dance LH across.
17-24     2s & 3s set & cross RH as 1s cross RH & cast to right,
              2s+3s set on sides & change places RH
              as 1s cross up/down centre & cast to right.
25-32     3s & 2s set & cross RH as 1s cross RH & cast to right,
              3s+2s set on sides & change places RH
              as 1s cross in centre & cast to places.

CITY OF BELFAST (S3x32) 3C set L Mullholland Belfast Diamond Jubilee Bk
1-8          1s dance ½ Fig of 8 round 2s,
               1L+2M turn RH 1¼ times while 1M+2L turn LH 1¼ times and
               1s end BtoB facing opp sides
9-16        1s+2s dance reel of 4 across and
                2s end in 1st places while pass LSh to face 1st corners
17-24       1s set to 1st corner and 2nd corner
                ending (turning to right) between corners,
                all set and 1s cross RH
25-32      1s+3s dance Espagnole :
                   1s+3s cross (Ladies lead across RH passing between Men)
                   with Ladies changing places RH,
                   1s+3s cross back (Men lead across RH between Ladies)
                   with Men changing places RH
                   3s turn RH as 1s turn LH to end 231

FAIR JENNY'S JIG (J8x32) 3C (4C Set) R Wallace From the Redwood Forest
1- 8        1s set, cast 1 place, set & 1/2 turn RH to face 1st corners
9-16       1s turn 1st corner LH, turn partner RH,
               turn 2nd corner LH & turn partner RH to end 2nd place own sides
17-24     1s dance reels of 3 on sides (RSh to 3rd corner to start)
               ending BtoB facing own sides
25-32     1s dance Double Triangles ending 2nd places

THE MONTGOMERIES' RANT (R8x32) 3C (4C set)
Castle Menzies RSCDS Bk 10
1- 8        1s cross RH & cast down to 2nd place,
               cross LH & 1L casts up while 1M casts down
9-16       1s dance reels of 3 across, 1L with 2s & 1M with 3s
17-24     1s with nearer hands joined set to 2L, turn inwards & set to 3M,
              set 3L, turn & set to 2M
25-32     2s+1s+3s dance reels of 3 on sides 1s giving RSh to 2nd corner,
              1s cross RH to 2nd place own sides

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Dances for Dec. 17 - Holiday Party

Remember, our Holiday Party Potluck is next Monday, Dec. 17!

Come early at 6:30. Bring a dish to pass and a place setting for yourself.


EH3 7AF (J8x32) 3C (4C set) R Goldring RSCDS 40
1- 8       1s lead down the middle & back to top
9-16      1s+2s+3s Promenade ending with 1s casting to 2nd place
17-24    1s pass by the right & turn 1st corners RH
              to end L between 2s & M between 3s,
              1s pass by the right & turn 2nd corners RH to end between crnrs
25-32     1M dances RH across with 2s & 1L with 3s,
              1L dances up between 2s & casts to 2nd place own side
              as 1M dances between 3s & casts up

Dance Information:
EH3 7AF is the postal code for RSCDS headquarters in Edinburgh.

THE HIGHLANDMAN KISSED HIS MOTHER 1 (R8x32) 3C (4C set) 
Border Book IX
1- 8       1s set twice, cross RH & cast down to 3rd place
9-16      3s+1s circle 4H round to left,
              lead up to top & cast to 2nd place 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 corner

THE DUCHESS TREE (S8x32) 3C (4C set) J. Drewry
1-8         Mirror reels of 3 on the sides (1s cast off, 2s cross up LH, 3s cast up),
              to end 1s facing 3s nearer hands joined and 2s in 2nd pl. opposite sides
9-16       All set, all circle 6H round to the left;
              all M turn L on their right 2H, continue circle 6 (to 1,2x,3)
17-24     1s+2s dance RH across ;
              1c cast off one place and lead up to 1st place
              while 2s lead up, cross and cast off, ready for
25-32     1s+2s Allemande.

PUGWASH AND TATAMAGOUCHE (H8x32) 3C (4C set) R. Wallace
1-8         1s + 2s couples set and link
              1st and 2nd couples circle 4H round to the left
9-16       1st couple turn by the right hand to face 1 st corners,
              turn 1st corners by the left hand,
              1st couple turn by the right hand to face 2nd comers,
              turn 2nd corners by the left hand
              to finish 1M between the 2s facing down and 1L between 3s facing up
17-24     all 3 couples advance and retire
              1st couple cross up and down the dance with right hands and
              cast right to second place on own sides
25-32     all 3 couples advance and retire
              all 3 couples turn by the right hand once round

Dance Information:
Pugwash and Tatamagouche are towns in Nova Scotia and share a highway exit. As I recall the story Ron Wallace told about devising this dance, some dancers on the way to an event ended up in an accident, spinning around on the road at this location, but emerged miraculously unharmed.

REEL OF THE ROYAL SCOTS (R8x32) 3C (4C set) R Goldring SCD Leaflets
1- 8         1s 1/2 turn 2s on sides (1M RH & 1L LH) to face out,
               2s+1s+3s set, 1s 1/2 turn 3s on sides (1M LH & 1L RH)
               end 3s facing out & 2s+3s+1s set
9-16        1s followed by 3s dance up between 2s, cast down 1 place,
               dance in & 1s cast up to 2nd place 3s end in 3rd place
17-24      1s turn 1st corners RH, pass partner RSh turn 2nd corners RH
               & cross passing partner RSh to 2nd place own sides
25-32      2s+1s+3s circle 6H round & back

YouTube video of Reel of the Royal Scots.

Dances from Dec. 10

THE ROYAL DEESIDE RAILWAY (R8x32) 3C (4C set) 
R Arrowsmith RSCDS Bk 40
1- 8              1s cross down (no hands) below 3s, cast up 1 place opposite
                    sides and dance in to face 2L, 1s+2L dance RH across
9-16             1s+2M dance LH across and
                     end 1L (with partner behind her) in centre facing up,
                    1s dance up and cast 1 place on own sides and face 3M
17-24           1s+3M dance RH across, 1s+3L dance LH across and
                    end 1L (with partner behind her) in centre facing down
25-32           1s dance down below 3s and cast up on own sides to 2nd place,
                     2s+1s+3s turn RH

Dance Information:
The Deeside Way, a walking path
located on the former path of the Deeside Railway
Image via Wikipedia.

The Deeside Railway, located along the north bank of the River Dee in Aberdeenshire, was a line that travelled from Aberdeen to Ballater as a stretch of the Great North of Scotland Railway. While in operation, the railway was used by the British Royal Family during travel to their Scottish retreat at Balmoral, hence the local name the Royal Deeside Line.

THE CRANBERRY TART (J8x32) 3C (4C set) 
 T Glasspool Dances from the 7 Year Itch
1- 16            Fugue: 1M set, cast (2M up) ; set, petronella to between 3c;
                    set in line with 3c, 1M & 3C Advance+Retire,
                    1M advance alone to partner.
                    Meanwhile 1W waits for 2 bars and then repeats 1M's [1-14],
                    dancing with 2W and 2c
17-24          1L followed by partner casts & dances reel of 3 across with 2s
                    to end in 2nd place own sides
25-32          1s dance RSh reels of 3 on sides giving RSh to 3s

Dance Information:
Terry Glasspool wrote Cranberry Tart for Deirdre Heyser when she left his dance group.  The title was chosen referring to the color of her gown at a recent ball.

ST JOHN RIVER (S4x32) 4C set P Edwards Centennial Coll
1- 8             1L followed by partner casts 1 place, crosses, casts down
                    behind 3rd Man, crosses, casts behind 4th Lady &
                   1L crosses to 4th place opposite sides (the meandering brook)
9-16            1s dance up 1 place under 4s arch, turn 2H 1.1/2 times,
                    dance up under 2s arch to original places (bridges and pools)
17-24          1s followed by 2s+3s+4s lead down the middle
                    (2s, 3s & 4s dance up sides before leading down),
                    & back to places (inverting waterfalls on the tidal lower river)
25-32           All dance BtoB with partners,
                    1s change places on sides with 2s RH, with 3s LH & 4s with RH
                    (river meets the sea)

Dance Information:
This dance was written to be a representation of the course of the Saint John River, which flows through New Brunswick, Canada and discharges into the Bay of Fundy. The industrial city of Saint John is located at the mouth of the river. Near the river's mouth, there is a unique phenomenon called the Reversing Falls, caused by the high tides of the Bay of Fundy. These tides are the highest in the world and cause the river to reverse its flow twice a day in a narrow gorge in the city's centre.

SHIFTIN' BOBBINS (R8x32) 3C (4C set) R Clowes Ormskirk Bk
1- 8              1s cross RH to double triangle pstn with 2s+3s & set,
                    1s cast up to top & dance down until they are between 2s & 3s
9-16             1L dances RH across with 2M+3M
                    while 1M dances LH across with 2L+3L,
                    1s followed by 2s+3s dance down centre
17-24           3s followed by 2s+1s dance up (3s+2s cast off to places),
                    1L dances LH across with 2M+3M
                    while 1M dances RH across with 2L+3L
25-32           1s dance up to top, cast down to 2nd place opposite side &
                    dance 1/2 fig of 8 around 2s to end in 2nd place on own sides

Dance Information:
Shiftin' Bobbins represents the mechanical workings of an industrial textile mill. Wool and textiles have long been important industries in Scotland, and even today the textiles industry is the 7th largest exporter in Scotland.

BERWICK JOHNNIE (J8x32) 3C (4C set) Bk of Graded SCDs
1- 8              1s+2s set, dance 1/2 RH across, set & dance 1/2 LH across
9-16             1s lead down the middle & back to top
17-24           1s+2s dance Allemande 1s end facing 1st corners
25-32           1s turn 1st corners RH, partner LH,
                    2nd corners RH & partner LH to 2nd places

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Dances from Dec. 3

A DANCING CAREER (J6x32) 2C (3C set) Drewry
1-8          1s dance down between 2s and cast up to place;
               1s+2s dance RH across
9–16       1s fig 8 round 2s while 2C set & cross, set & cross, end facing out
17–24     1s (2s casts up to follow) down the middle,
               2s followed by 1s lead up to the top
25–32     2s+1s Promenade.

THE FALLS OF ROGIE (R8x32) 3C (4C set) J Attwood Alexander Bk 1
1- 8        1s cross RH & cast 1 place,
              1s cross RH & cast to the right (Man up Lady down)
9-16       1s dance 1/2 reels of 3 across (1M with 2s & 1L with 3s),
              1s+2s+3s set in lines across & change places RH with opposite person
17-24     Corners chase all the way cl'wise back to the start of the chase,
              while 1s chase 1/2 way & turn RH 1 1/4 to face 1st cnr positions
25-32     1s dance 1/2 reel of 4 with 1st corners, passing RSh
               dance 1/2 reel with 2nd corners & cross passing RSh to 2nd own sides

SEA TANGLE OF SKYE (S8x32) 2C (4C set)
L Donaldston Dances of an Island Clan
1- 8         1s lead down, 1/2 turn 2H, lead up & 1/2 turn 2H
9-16        1s+2s dance RH across,
               dance LH across for 2 bars & 2M+1M also 2L+1L 1/2 turn LH on sides
17-24      1s+2s set, turn 2H & circle 4H round to left,
               1s+2s end facing diagonally in
25-32      1s+2s petronella turn 1 place to right, dance RH across 1/2 way,
                petronella turn to right 1 place & dance LH across 2 1

PELORUS JACK (J8x32) 3C (4C set) B Skelton RSCDS Bk 41
1- 8         1s cross RH, cast 1 place & dance RH across with 3s,
               1s end with 1M facing his 1st corner with his partner behind him
9-16        1s dance (as 1 person) 1/2 reel of 3 with 1st corners
                (1s switching lead at the corner to put 1L in front),
               1/2 reel with 2nd corner, (1s switching lead at the corner),
17-24      1s similarly dance 1/2 reel of 3 with L's 1st corner pstn &
               1/2 reel with L's 2nd corner pstn
25-32      1M followed by partner dance into LH across with 2s,
               1s retain LH & 1/2 turn to own sides, 2s+1s+3s set

BONNIE STRONSHIRAY (S8x32) 3C (4C set) R Campbell Glasgow Assembly
1- 8        1s+2s 3/4 turn 2H to form line up/down centre & dance 1/2 reel of 4,
              3/4 turn partners 2H to own sides (having changed places)
9-16       1s set adv & turn 1st corner 2H ending 1L between 2s & 1M between 3s,
              set adv to 2nd crnr & turn 2H end 2nd place opposite sides
17-24     2s+1s+3s cross RH 1s cast to right round partners 1st corner pstns
              while corners Advance+Retire (1M between 2s & 1L between 3s),
              2s+1s+3s cross RH (up/down set),
              1s cast to right round partners 2nd corner pstns
              & in to face them while 2s+3s Advance+Retire
25-32     1s dance 1/2 RSh reel of 4 with partners 2nd corner pstn, pass LSh &
              dance 1/2 reel with partners 1st corner pstn & turn RH back to pl

FIREWORKS (J8x40) 3C (4C set) C Paris Inverness Diamond Jubilee Coll
1- 8        1s turn RH and cast 1 place, turn LH to face 1st corner
9-16       1s ½ turn 1st corner RH
               as 2nd corners dance clockwise 1 corner position to be behind 1s,
               All dance ½ diagonal reel of 4 with 1s+2nd corners in tandem,
               1s ½ turn 1st corner person RH to end facing 4th corner (pstn)
               as 2nd corner persons dance clockwise back to place
17-24     1s ½ turn 4th corner RH
               as 1st corners dance clockwise 1 corner position to be behind 1s,
               All dance ½ diagonal reel of 4 with 1s+1st corners in tandem,
               1s ½ turn 4th corners RH to end BtoB 1M facing up and 1L down
               as 1st corners dance clockwise to 3rd corner position
25-32     1s dance double triangles up/down ending in 2nd place own side
33-40     1s dance diagonal R&L