Scottish Dance in a Hexagon Set November 19, 2013

Transcription

1 Scottish Dance in a Hexagon Set November 19, 2013 Square dancing introduced me to adapting square-set figures for a 6-couple hexagon set. I would enjoy testing some Scottish dances in a hexagon set (see diagram below). The rules for figures are modified when dancers travel through the center of the set, but are preserved on the edges. It is frequently necessary to adapt the figures of a dance in order for the dance to work in a hexagon set. I examined Ian Powerie s Farewell to Auchterarder and I believe it can be danced without modification. Something I wonder about is: a hexagon set is larger, so dancers would need to travel faster in order to travel the required distance. We might need to slow down the music. See below for Square and Hexagon descriptions. An interesting quality is that the parallel reels of 4 across the set involve three side couple or head couple spokes. Dancer begins dancing the reel in parallel with partner. Partners separate and travel along different spokes and then rejoin when they return to the original spoke. Reference

2 IAN POWRIE'S FAREWELL TO AUCHTERARDER (J128) Square Set 1-8 All circle 8H round to the left & back 9-24 Ladies dance in front of partner & behind next Man, into RH across, in front of Man opposite own partner & behind next Man, into RH across & back to place All Promenade clockwise s & 3s dance clockwise behind next couple & Men dance past couple as Ladies dance in between couple & all turn R to face couple, all set & turn RH All dance parallel reels of s & 3s dance a full figure of 8 round the standing 2s/4s s & 3s dance LH across, 1s & 3s dance back to places (Men round & Ladies through the standing 2s & 4s) s & 4s repeat All Promenade anticlockwise Men dance in front of partner & behind next Lady, into LH across, dance in front of Lady opposite own partner & behind next Lady, into LH across & back to place All circle 8H round to the right & back IAN POWRIE'S FAREWELL TO AUCHTERARDER (J128) Hexagon Set 1-8 All circle 12H round to the left & back 9-24 Ladies dance in front of partner & behind next Man, into RH across, in front of Man opposite own partner & behind next Man, into RH across & back to place All Promenade clockwise s & 3s & 5s dance clockwise behind next couple & Men dance past couple as Ladies dance in between couple & all turn R to face couple, all set & turn RH All dance parallel reels of s & 3s & 5s dance a full figure of 8 round the standing 2s/4s/6s s & 3s & 5s dance LH across, 1s & 3s & 5s dance back to places (Men round & Ladies through the standing 2s & 4s & 6s) s & 4s & 6s repeat All Promenade anticlockwise Men dance in front of partner & behind next Lady, into LH across, dance in front of Lady opposite own partner & behind next Lady, into LH across & back to place All circle 12H round to the right & back

3 Another classic dance, Culla Bay, might work in a hexagon set. A side effect is dancers become separated from their partners on bars 1-8. Ladies progress one place anticlockwise while men progress three places across the set. Couples reunite on the opposite side of the set after three times through the dance. Parallel reels of 4 travel along the three spokes. Reference 3:00 CULLA BAY (S4x32) Square Set 1-4 1s & 3s advance & 1/2 turn opposite partner RH & cast out to opposite side 5-8 1s & 3s chase 1/4 round set clockwise & dance in passing 2s/4s RSh curving in to face 2s/4s as 2s & 4s repeat bars 1-4 & turn right about to face 1s/3s 9-16 All dance parallel reels of 4 across set s+1s also 4s+3s circle 4H once round to left, set & dance RH across 1/2 way s+4s dance LH across once round, 2s & 4s dance out through sides passing opposite partner RSh & chase round set clockwise to next place CULLA BAY (S6x32) Hexagon Set 1-4 1s & 3s & 5s advance & "1/2" turn adjacent "head" partner RH & cast out to adjacent "head" side 5-8 1s & 3s & 5s chase 1/6 round set clockwise & dance in passing 2s/4s/6s RSh curving in to face 2s/4s/6s as 2s & 4s & 6s repeat bars 1-4 & turn right about to face 1s/3s/5s 9-16 All dance parallel reels of 4 across set s+1s also 4s+3s also 6s+5s circle 4H once round to left, set & dance RH across 1/2 way s+4s+6s dance LH across once round, 2s & 4s & 6s dance out through sides passing opposite partner RSh & chase round set clockwise to next place

4 Another classic dance The Piper and the Penguin can be danced without modification. The Rights and Lefts figure is adapted to Grand Chain for 6 dancers. Reference THE PIPER & THE PENGUIN (R88) Square Set 1-8 Ladies dance RSh round their corners, dance RH across ending in centre 9-16 Ladies dance LSh round their partners, dance LH across & back to places Men dance RSh round their partners, dance RH across ending in centre Men dance LSh round corners, dance LH across & back to places s & 3s turn partners RH 1.1/4 times, Men followed by partners dance out between side couples & back to places (1M thru 4s & 3M thru 2s) s+3s dance R&L s+4s repeat bars Ladies dance in turning right about to dance out, cast clockwise to opposite Lady's place Men dance in turning left about to dance out, cast anticlockwise to opposite places All turn partners RH 1.1/4 times into prom hold, Promenade anticlockwise 1/2 way round to original places THE PIPER & THE PENGUIN (R88) Hexagon Set 1-8 Ladies dance RSh round their corners, dance RH across ending in centre 9-16 Ladies dance LSh round their partners, dance LH across & back to places Men dance RSh round their partners, dance RH across ending in centre Men dance LSh round corners, dance LH across & back to places s & 3s & 5s turn partners RH "1.1/4" times, Men followed by partners dance out between side couples & back to places (1M thru 6s & 3M thru 2s & 5M thru 4s) s+3s+5s dance Grand Chain s+4s+6s repeat bars Ladies dance in turning right about to dance out, cast clockwise to opposite Lady's place Men dance in turning left about to dance out, cast anticlockwise to opposite places All turn partners RH 1.1/4 times into prom hold, Promenade anticlockwise 1/2 way round to original places

5 Another classic dance Mrs Milne of Kinneff can be danced without modification. Reference 2:50 MRS MILNE OF KINNEFF (S4x32) Square Set 1-8 1s & 3s join hands with partner & adv for 2 steps, turn opposite partner RH once round, retaining opposite partner hand dance RH across with 2s/4s 9-16 Dancing couples (1M+3L & 1L+3M) facing side couples dance parallel reels of 4 across the dance Dancing couples (1M+3L & 1L+3M) set to side couples Dancing couples (1M+3L & 1L+3M) dance out between side couples & cast to original places while side couples separate & dance into centre to meet partners then holding nearer hands dance out to original places All turn partners 2H All circle 8H 1/2 way round to left, 3/4 turn partners RH into prom hold (Ladies on inside) & all Promenade 1 place clockwise MRS MILNE OF KINNEFF (S6x32) Hexagon Set 1-8 1s & 3s & 5s join hands with partner & adv for 2 steps, turn adjacent head partner RH once round, retaining opposite partner hand dance RH across with 2s/4s/6s 9-16 Dancing couples (1M+3L & 3M+5L & 5M+1L) facing side couples dance parallel reels of 4 across the dance Dancing couples (1M+3L & 3M+5L & 5M+1L) set to side couples Dancing couples (1M+3L & 3M+5L & 5M+1L) dance out between side couples & cast to original places while side couples separate & dance into centre to meet partners then holding nearer hands dance out to original places All turn partners 2H All circle 12H 1/2 way round to left, 3/4 turn partners RH into prom hold (Ladies on inside) & all Promenade 2 places clockwise

6 The Book 47 dance Flight to Melbourne can be danced without modification. Reference FLIGHT TO MELBOURNE (R4x32) Square Set 1-8 1M+3L dance Fig of 8 round 2s while 1L+3M dance Fig of 8 round 4s s in prom hold dance reel of 3 across with 4M+2L (RSh to 4M) while 3s dance reel of 3 with 2M+4L (RSh to 2M) All Set+Link, turn partners RH & all chase clockwise 1 place All circle 8H round & back Repeat from new places FLIGHT TO MELBOURNE (R6x32) Hexagon Set 1-8 1M+3L dance Fig of 8 round 2s while 3M+5L dance Fig of 8 round 4s while 5M+1L dance Fig of 8 round 6s s in prom hold dance reel of 3 across with 6M+2L (RSh to 6M) while 3s dance reel of 3 with 2M+4L (RSh to 2M) while 5s dance reel of 3 with 4M+6L (RSh to 4M) All Set+Link, turn partners RH & all chase clockwise 1 place All circle 12H round & back Repeat from new places

7 The Book 47 dance The Mentor can be danced without modification. Reference THE MENTOR (S96) Square Set Part All Men dance RH across 1.1/4 cast right round opposite Lady & curve in to face her 9-16 All dance interlocking Reels of 4 (no hands in middle) ending with all Men facing in All Men circle 4H round to right & pivot left to face same Lady, all set & 1/2 turn RH to change places & all Ladies face in All Ladies dance LH across 3/4 as Men dance 1 pl clockwise & all Men turn new partners RH Repeat bars but end all facing in (Ladies on left of Men) facing original partners across the set Part Ladies repeat bars 1-32 with Ladies leading & end with own partner ( ) Part All set to partner & turn RH into prom hold, all promenade clockwise round to original places s & 3s set & rotate then dance clockwise to face across the dance, 1s+3s circle 4H round to left 1/2 way & 1s & 3s dance out to original places s+4s repeat bars 9-16 to original places All dance 8H round & back THE MENTOR (S96) Hexagon Set Part All Men dance RH across 1.1/4 cast right round opposite Lady & curve in to face her 9-16 All dance interlocking Reels of 4 (no hands in middle) ending with all Men facing in All Men circle 6H round to right & pivot left to face same Lady, all set & 1/2 turn RH to change places & all Ladies face in All Ladies dance LH across 3/4 as Men dance 1 pl clockwise & all Men turn new partners RH Repeat bars but end all facing in (Ladies on left of Men) facing original partners across the set Part Ladies repeat bars 1-32 with Ladies leading & end with own partner ( ) Part All set to partner & turn RH into prom hold, all promenade clockwise round to original places s & 3s & 5s set & rotate then dance clockwise to face across the dance, 1s+3s+5s circle 6H round to left 1/2 way & 1s & 3s & 5s dance out to original places s+4s+6s repeat bars 9-16 to original places All dance 12H round & back

8 Classic dances that are challenging to adapt to a hexagon set are: The Robertson Rant, Clutha, The Dancing Master, Round Reel of Eight. References The Robertson Rant Clutha The Dancing Master 1:36 Round Reel of Eight