Dances from Nov. 26

OH WHISTLE & I'LL COME TAE YE, MY LAD (J8x32) 3C (4C set)
RSCDS Bk 24
1- 8       1s & 3s cross RH to dance reel of 3 with 2s. (1s out & down, 2s in & up)
9-16      1s & 3s cross back RH to dance reels of 3 on own sides.
17-24    1s cast below 3s, meet, lead up & cast to 2nd place.
25-32    2s+1s+3s set & cross RH, set & cross back.

CLATTERIN' BRIG (R8x32) 3C (4C set) R Goldring G & S Dances 2
1- 8      1s lead down the middle & back to 2nd place in prom hold facing 2L
9-16     1s set to 2L, set to 3L, set to 3M & set to 2M
17-24   1s lead up & cast to 2nd place, 2s+1s+3s turn RH
             & face up for Promenade
25-32    2s+1s+3s Promenade

THE WISHING WELL (S8x32) 2C (4C Set) M Banninger RSCDS Bk 44
1- 4      1L+2M 3/4 turn RH, turn partners LH once round,
             1L+2M again join RH & nearer hand to partner
             (who has turned left about turn to face clockwise)
5- 8      1s+2s rotate clockwise 1 place,
             partners dance on 1 more place
             while 1L+2M continue turn to place opposite partner
             ending in progressed place on opposite sides
9-16      2s+1s 1/2 turn partners RH & twirl to own sides,
              2s+1s circle 4H round to left
17-24    1s set, turn 2H, dance up & cast to 2nd place
25-32     2s+1s dance Diamond Poussette right round

THE JORDANIAN JIG (J2x48) 4C Sq. Set A. Smith
1-8         1s & 3s set, ½ turn and twirl to opposite place,
               then dance on 1 place clockwise
               while 2s & 4s set on bars 3 & 4 then dance LH Across ½ way
               to face 1s & 3s, respectively
9-16        All dance reels of 4
17-20      1s & 3s, 2s & 4s dance RH across, about 1/2 way
               1s & 3s finish back in progressed place, while 2L and 4L lead into
               2s & 4s dance RH across 1/2 way
               and chase clockwise to next place, ladies leading
21-24      All set & link, finish with men facing in and ladies facing out.
25-40      All dance Schiehallion reels, with men leading off to the right.
41-48      All circle 8H round to the left & back.
Repeat from new positions.

MAIRI'S WEDDING (R8x40) 3C (4C set) Cosh 22 SCDs+2
1- 8         1s turn RH, cast to 2nd place & turn LH to face 1st corners
9-16        1s dance 1/2 diagonal Reel of 4 with 1st corners &
               1/2 diagonal reel with 2nd corners
17-24      1s dance 1/2 diagonal Reel with 3rd corners &
               1/2 diagonal reel with 4th corners
25-32      1s dance reel of 3 across Lady with 2s & Man with 3s
33-40      2s+1s+3s circle 6H round & back

MRS MACLEOD (R8x32) 3C (4C set) RSCDS Bk 6
1- 8         1s+2s dance RH across & LH back
9-16        1s lead down the middle & up to face 1st corners
17-24      1s set to 1st corners & turn 2H, set to & turn 2nd corners
25-32      1s dance reels of 3 on opposite sides giving LSh to 1st corners &
                cross to 2nd place own sides.

Dances from Nov. 21

CATCH THE WIND (R8x32) 3C (4C set) R Butterfield RSCDS Bk 45
1- 8         1s set, cast 1 place & dance 1/2 fig of 8 round 2s
9-16        1s set twice with 1L turning to face out,
                1L followed by partner casts up &
                dances down the middle 1L to face 3M while 1M faces 2M
17-24      1s RSh reels of 3 across (1M with 2s & 1L with 3s)
25-32      1L followed by partner dances down, cast up round 3M &
                crosses to end in 2nd place on own sides, 1s turn RH

THE BLACKADDER JIG (J8x32) 3C (4C set) M Johnstone Blackadder Coll
1- 8         1s set, cast 2 places & turn RH
9-16        3s+1s Set+Link, circle 4H round to left
17-24      2s+1s Reverse Set+Link, circle 4H round to right
25-32      1s+2s dance Poussette

BENEATH THE PINES (S8x32) 3C (4C set) R Sizer Pinewoods Coll 1
1- 8         1s+2s+3s Advance+Retire & dance BtoB with Men making arches
9-16        1s followed by 2s+3s dance under arches made by 2s+3s,
               1s followed by 2s+3s dance up under arches made by 2s+3s
17-24      1s+2s+3s Promenade to right
25-32      1s+2s dance Allemande

THE JORDANIAN JIG (J2x48) 4C Sq. Set A. Smith
1-8          1s & 3s set, ½ turn and twirl to opposite place,
                then dance on 1 place clockwise
                while 2s & 4s set on bars 3 & 4 then dance LH Across ½ way
                to face 1s & 3s, respectively
9-16        All dance reels of 4
17-20      1s & 3s, 2s & 4s dance RH across, about 1/2 way
               1s & 3s finish back in progressed place, while 2L and 4L lead into
               2s & 4s dance RH across 1/2 way
               and chase clockwise to next place, ladies leading
21-24      All set & link, finish with men facing in and ladies facing out.
25-40      All dance Schiehallion reels, with men leading off to the right.
41-48      All circle 8H round to the left & back.
Repeat from new positions.

Dance Information:
This dance was written by Andrew Smith for Ramez Habash, when he moved away from the Leafmore Scottish Dance Class in Atlanta.  Ramez is a native of Jordan, who was game to come to America and try all sorts of new things, like SCD, and we're so lucky to have fun, adventurous people like him.

Dances from Nov. 12

THE ROCK & THE WEE PICKLE TOW (J8x32) 2C (4C set) RSCDS Bk 3
1- 8         1s cross RH, cast 1 place, cross LH & lead up to top
9-16        1s+2s circle 4H round & back
17-24      1s lead down the middle & back
25-32      1s+2s dance Poussette

KIWI MAGIC (R4x32) 4C Sq.Set
1- 8          Ladies set Advg, set turning about once round &
                 dance RH across to end facing partner
9-16         All dance Back to Back with partner,
                 turn partner RH (4 bars) to end in original places Ladies facing out
17-24       All dance Schiehallion reels 1 place & turn partners RH (4 bars)
25-32       All circle 8H round to left,
                drop hands & chase anticlockwise back to 'new' places

THE MINISTER ON THE LOCH (S3x32) 3C set R Goldring 24 G & S 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

THE LADY WYND (J8x32) 3C (4C set) R Goldring G & S Dances 2
1- 8           1s dance in & cast 1 place,
                 2s+1s+3s turn partners RH ending centre facing partner
9-16          2s+1s+3s Promenade
17-24        1s dance fig of 8 on own sides passing dancer on right RSh
25-32        1L+2s also 1M+3s dance RH across &
                  1s pass RSh to dance LH across with other couple

FLOWERS OF EDINBURGH (R8x32) 3C (4C set) RSCDS Bk 1
1- 8            1L followed by partner casts below 3s,
                  1L crosses & dances up behind Men
                   as 1M dances up centre to 1st places on opposite side & 1s set
9-16           1M followed by partner repeat above Fig & set in own places
17-24         1s lead down the middle & back
25-32         1s+2s dance Poussette

Dances from Nov. 5

LOCHABER (J4x32) 4C Set J Kelly Let's All Dance
1- 8         1s+2s dance RH across & LH back to places
9-16        1s cross RH, cast to 2nd place & turn RH
17-24      2s+1s+3s circle 6H round & back
25-32      1s cross LH, cast to bottom & 1s turn LH to own sides

ROXBURGH CASTLE (R8x32) 2C (4C set) RSCDS Bk 6
1- 8         1s+2s chase round clockwise (in square formation) to places
9-16        1s+2s dance RH across & LH across back to places
17-24      1s lead down the middle & back to top
25-32      1s+2s dance Poussette

1314 (Thirteen-Fourteen) (S64+R64) Sq.Set J Drewry Rondel Bk
Strathspey: -
1- 8          Beginning facing partner, all dance interlocking Reels of 4
9-12         1s & 3s turn RH, & prom clockwise round to opp pl
                 while 2s & 4s Petronella turn & set
                 (1s & 3s dance between 2s and 4s as they set)
13-16       1s & 3s dance 1/2 RH across in centre back to pl
                 while 2s & 4s Petronella turn to partners original place
                 & change places RH
17-24        Repeat with 2s & 4s promenading while 1s & 3s dance petronella turns
25-32        All circle 8H round & back
33-40        All set to partner & turn RH & set to corners & turn LH
41-56        All dance full Schiehallion Reel
57-64        All turn partner RH, corner LH, partner RH & corner LH
Reel: -
1-64          Repeat in Reel time but end by turning partners only RH & LH

RORY O'MORE (J8x32) 2C (4C set) RSCDS Bk 1
1- 8           1s+2s Advance+Retire;
                 1s+2s cross over Ladies dancing under arch made by Men,
                 1s turn under 2s to 2nd place
9-16          2s+1s Advance+Retire; cross Men dancing under Ladies arch &
                 1s turn under 2s to original places
17-24        1s lead down the middle & back
25-32        1s+2s dance Poussette

THE DE'IL AMANG THE TAILORS (R8x32) 3C (4C set) RSCDS Bk 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

THE LEA RIG S8x32 2C (4C set) RSCDS 21
1-16          1s+2s dance full Petronella back to places
                  (with 2s stepping up & join in on bar 3 by setting, then follow 1s.
                  2s petronella 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 &
                  ½ Diamond Poussette to change places

Lesson Plan for Oct. 29

Figures Taught: Reel of Four, Progressive Grand Chain

THE GREEN ISLE BRIDGE (J8x32) 3C (4C set) B Forbes Craigievar Bk 4
1- 8        1s+2s+3s dance reel of 3 on sides (1s dance in & down to start)
9-16       1s cross down RH to double triangle pstn, set,
              cast down behind 3s & dance up to 2nd place
17-24     1L dances LH across with 2M+3M
              while 1M dances RH across with 2L+3L,
              1s cross to other side to continue the wheels
25-32     1s+2s dance double fig of 8 (1s crossing up to start)

SWISS LASSIE (R8x32) 3C (4C set) R Betsche RSCDS 39
1- 8       1s dance in & cast to 3rd place, 2s+1s turn partners RH 1.1/4 times
              to form a line up & down middle of set (Men facing down Ladies up)
9-16       2s+1s dance reel of 4 up & down middle of set
              ending with 2M facing Ladies side & 1L facing Mens side
17-24     2s+1s chase round clockwise 1/2 way, 1s+3s+2s Advance+Retire
25-32     3s+2s 1/2 turn partners RH, dance RH across 1/2 way,
              1s+2s 1/2 turn partners RH & dance RH across 1/2 way

MACDONALD OF THE ISLES (S3x32) 3C Set D Haynes Carnforth Coll 2
1- 8        2s dance full diagonal Reels of 4 with 1st corners,
              passing by the LSh to face 2nd corners
9-16       2s dance full diagonal Reel of 4 with 2nd corners
              to end in original places
17-24     Dance Progressive Chain:
                 1s cross RH &
                 change places LH on side with 2s
                 1s change places RH with 3s while 2s cross over RH
                 1s cross LH while 2s & 3s change places LH
25-32     3s+2s dance 1/2 R&L,
              3s dance 1/2 fig of 8 round end couples (3M up & 3L down)
              to end in 2nd places

THE HUNTING HORN (J8x32) 3C (4C set) P McBride SCD Archives
1- 8        1s cast 1 place, cross RH, cast below 3s & lead up middle to 2nd place
              BtoB in centre for Double Triangles
9-16       1s dance Double Triangles & end facing 2nd corners
17-24     1s dance diagonal reels of 4 with 2nd corners,
               pass partner LSh to face 1st corners
25-32     1s dance reels of 4 with 1st corners, pass partner LSh
               to end in 2nd place facing out to start next sequence

THE MICHIGAN REEL (R4x32) 4C set J Trew Martello Tower & Other Dances
1- 8         All Advance+Retire & dance BtoB with partner
9-16        1s+2s also 3s+4s dance R&L
17-24      All dance RSh reels of 4 on sides
25-32      1s dance down to 4th place, others step up on bars 27-28 &
                all turn partner RH

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.

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