The Badger s Sett A collection of new Scottish dances in traditional form Devised by Ian Brockbank
Foreword This booklet contains scottish country dances I have written, together with music where this is possible (ie where I have permission from the copyright holder, if relevant). This version of the collection contains the complete set of my dances (except for dances I have completely rejected as failed experiments which are not even interesting for academic purposes). I have organised the dances into the following categories: Ceilidh: easy dances, suitable for ceilidhs as well as SCD The Badger s Sett A collection of new Scottish dances in traditional form Ceilidh Dances Contents A Canonbie Ceilidh... 40 bar Reel, repeated ad lib... 5 Bruntsfield Links... 4c32 bar Reel... 6 Highland Cathedral... 32 bar slow air... 7 The Marmalade Sandwich... 8x32 bar Reel... 8 Easy SCD dances: easy dances, but due to the style probably more suited to Mist-covered Mountains... 16 bar waltz... 9 SCD programmes than ceilidhs The Packhorse Rant... 32 bar Reel... 10 Moderate: dances which shouldn't prove too challenging for a moderately Seeing Purple... 32 bar Reel, repeated ad lib... 11 experienced dancer Teviot Square... 4x48 bar Jig... 12 For connoisseurs: dances which will take a bit of thought or practice, or Easy SCD Dances possibly careful phrasing Brodie s Fancy... 8x32 bar Reel... 13 Challenging: dances which are challenging and probably not suited for social dancing, but might prove an interesting challenge for a group of Cherry Blossom... 8x32 bar Strathspey... 14 experienced dancers with an hour or two to fill The Happier Meeting... 32 bar Reel, repeated ad lib... 15 These dances may be freely danced, performed, put on dance programmes, so long as the source is acknowledged (Ian Brockbank, unless otherwise specified). If you try any of these dances, please let me know how you get on and what you think of them. The President s Dilemma... 4x32 bar Jig... 19 Upstairs Downstairs... 4x32 bar Reel... 18 Moderate Dances Auld Mahoun s Revenge... 8x32 bar Reel... 28 I run a web site for Scottish dancers at http://www.scottishdance.net/. This The BAMFAD... 8x32 bar Reel... 20 contains resources for Scottish dancers, including: The Broderer... 8x40 bar Strathspey... 22 http://www.scottishdance.net/dances/ - the latest version of this collection http://www.scottishdance.net/bands/ - Scottish dance bands (SCD and ceilidh) http://www.scottishdance.net/groups/ - Scottish dance groups worldwide http://www.scottishdance.net/events/ - forthcoming Scottish dance events http://www.scottishdance.net/links/ - links useful to Scottish dancers http://www.scottishdance.net/scd/tips/ - useful tips for Scottish dancers http://www.scottishdance.net/books/ - recommended reading Dancing Dustbins... 8x32 bar Reel... 23 Gloomy Winter s Noo Awa... 8x32 bar Strathspey... 25 Maple Dancing... 8x32 bar Reel... 26 The Mara... 8x32 bar Strathspey... 28 New Scotland Gold... 8x32 bar Jig... 28 Nifty Shiftin... 4x32 bar Reel... 27 Skagits in Stockbridge... 4x40 bar Strathspey... 28 Skye Barbecue... 8x32 bar Reel... 28 Triskelion... 3x32 bar Strathspey + 3x32 bar Reel... 28 For Connoisseurs The Gairloch Hornpipe... 5x48 bar Reel... 28 The Geese in the Bog... 8x32 bar Jig... 28 2 3
The Gloomy Winter...8x32 bar Strathspey... 28 The Golden Thistle...4x48 bar Jig... 28 In Scottish Spirit...4x48 bar Reel... 28 Mill of Towie...8x32 bar Strathspey... 28 The One O Clock Canon...4x64 bar (overlapping) Reel... 28 Challenging Dances The Cotton Reel...8x32 bar Reel... 28 McEwan s Revenge...160 bar Reel...Back page The Palindrome...128 bar Reel... 28 Xaxanaka...128 bar Strathspey... 28 Ceilidh dances These are easy dances, suitable for ceilidhs as well as beginners to Scottish Country Dancing. 4 5
Circular dance for any number of couples A Canonbie Ceilidh 40 bar Reel, repeated ad lib Couples form a large circle round the room, ladies on the right of their partners. 1 8 All circle round to the left and back. 9 16 Men dance a figure of eight round their partner and the lady on their left, dancing in front of their partner to begin. 17 24 Ladies dance a figure of eight round their partner and the man on their right, dancing in front of their partner to begin. 25 28 Joining hands in a large circle, all advance and retire. 29 30 All advance and drop hand not attached to partner. 31 32 Ladies retire while men turn to face their partner, joining both hands, and chase her out to place. Finish with the ladies facing in and the men facing their partners. 33 36 All dance back to back with partner, men with hands joined to form arches. 37 40 All look to the right for a new partner (the person with whom you have just passed right shoulder) and birl them, finishing back in a large circle around the room, ladies on the right of their new partners, to begin again. Bruntsfield Links A dance for four couples in a 4-couple longwise set 4x32 bar Reel 1 8 First couple lead down the middle and back up to first place. 9 16 First and second couples dance right hands across in a wheel, and left hands back, finishing in promenade hold facing the top (3s come in on the final step) for 17-24 First, second and third couples dance a promenade. 25-32 First couple, followed by second, third and fourth couples, cast off to the bottom of the set. First couple make an arch, and the other couples dance under it and up to new positions. Finish in the order 2,3,4,1, ready to start again. Note: this dance may be danced 8 times through if preferred, giving each couple two turns at the top. Repeat ad lib. Devised for Sophia Marriage and Jonathan Pryce in honour of their wedding in St Martin of Tours Episcopal Church in Edinburgh on the 6 th of July, 2002 and performed at the ensuing celebrations in The Hub. With much love and best wishes for the future. Sophi and Jonathan both lived in Bruntsfield throughout their courtship, and bought a house together in Bruntsfield as their first marital home. This dance was devised for Hazel Easey and James Williams and presented to them on the occasion of their wedding in Canonbie, Dumfriesshire on August 624th, 1996. With Caroline Bradshaw, May 1996 Tune: Islay Ranter's Reel (Charlie McKerron) July 2002 * or The Pryce of Marriage, but C wouldn't let me call it that. 7
Highland Cathedral Dance for couples around the room 8 x 32 bar Reel 1 Moving diagonally forward to the right, step onto the left foot and point with the right foot. 2 Step behind on the right, beside on the left, in front on the right, and beside on the left. 3 Moving diagonally forward to the left, step onto the right foot and point with the left foot. 4 Step behind on the left, beside on the right, in front on the left, and swing round changing grip to face partner, both hands joined. 5 Balance away from partner and towards. 6 Moving along line of dance, turn solo away from partner (i.e. lady pulls back right shoulder and man pulls back left shoulder). 7 Balance towards partner and away. 8 Move towards partner, lady dancing under man s raised right arm to finish with lady in front of man facing along line of dance, with lady s arms crossed, man s arms around lady, hands still joined. 9-10 In this position, take two side steps to the right and two side steps back again. 11-12 Repeat bars 9-10, unwinding at the end of bar 12 so the lady faces the man. 13-14 Take two side steps to the right (note this is now away from your partner) and two side steps back again, and join with right hand on partner s waist and left hand on partner s shoulder. 15-16 Birl. The Marmalade Sandwich Dance for 4 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 4x48 bar Reel 1 8 1st lady, followed by 2nd, 3rd and 4th ladies, dances across the top of the set, behind the men s line, across the bottom of the set and back to place. 9-16 1st man, followed by 2nd, 3rd and 4th men, dances across the top of the set, behind the ladies line, across the bottom of the set and back to place. 17-20 All dance back to back with partners. 21-24 All turn partners by the right hand. 25-32 1st couple, joining both hands, slip down the middle of the dance and back up to the top. 33-36 2nd, 3rd and 4th couples advance and retire (without giving hands) while 1st couple casts off one place and turns by the right hand. 37-40 Repeat bars 33-36. 41-44 Repeat bars 33-36. 45-48 All turn or birl partners. Repeat from new positions. Repeat ad lib. At a party after the Edinburgh Branch Festival Fringe Show Spirit of Scotland on the 9 th of August, 2002, Shona Pearmain was bemoaning the fact that no-one had ever written a dance for her. When asked what she would like, she said it wasn t to be a 4-couple set, it should include unusual movements, and it should include a birl. When asked for suggestions for tunes, she specified Highland Cathedral with the additional restriction that the dance wasn t to be a strathspey. I think this satisfies all the specifications. I presented her with the first attempt before the matinee performance next day, and we tried it out in the garden at the end-of-show party that evening. It was not particularly danceable. So this is a revised attempt which retains much of the character of the original while making it (I hope) much easier and more pleasant to dance. 8 Tune: Highland Cathedral (Roever/Korb) August 2002 Devised for Samantha Lyall and Craig Townsend on the occasion of their Wedding in Edinburgh on April 21 st, 2001, with love from Ian and Caroline Brockbank. The name comes about as follows: the original tune is The Black Bear, Craig s favourite tune, and Craig and Samantha live in Portobello. Paddington was also a bear, who frequently visited Portobello Road. Paddington was fond of marmalade sandwiches. Two common brands of marmalade are Golden Shred and Silver Shred things Samantha often sees in her work as a jeweller. Tune: The Black Bear (Traditional) April 2001 9
The Packhorse Rant Seeing Purple Dance for couple facing couple around the room 32 bar Reel Dance for couple facing couple around the room 32 bar Reel 1-8 All dance right hands across and left hands back. 9-12 Ladies dance back to back. 13-16 Men dance back to back. 17-20 Joining both hands with partner and men passing back to back, slip step past the other couple and on round the room. 21-24 Return to place, ladies passing back to back. 25-28 All advance and retire. 29-32 Pass on to the next couple, one couple making an arch and the other couple dancing underneath. Repeat ad lib. 1-4 Joining hands with partner, all advance and retire. 5-8 Dropping hands, all dance back-to-back (do-si-do) with the person opposite. 9-16 Joining hands in the sets of 4, all circle 4 hands round to the left and back. 17-20 All set to partner using any setting step (or other step) of choice. 21-24 All turn or spin partners by the right. 25-32 Joining right hand in right hand, left hand in left hand with partner, ladies on the right of their partner, all promenade at random around the room, finishing facing a new couple ready to start again. Repeat ad lib. Devised for Cath Millar and Gareth Mathieson for the occasion of their Wedding in Bristol, Sep. 5 th 1998, with love from Caroline Bradshaw and Ian Brockbank. 10 The Packhorses played for the evening ceilidh. August 1998 Written when I worked for IndigoVision plc, and danced at a company ceilidh in Prestonfield House, Edinburgh, on Saturday 5th May, 2001. 11 May 2001
Teviot Square Dance for 4 couples in a square set 4x48 bar Jig 1-8 All circle eight hands round to the left and back. 9-12 1 st and 3 rd couples join nearer hands and dance across the set to change places, 1 st couple dancing under an arch made by the 3 rd couple. 13-16 3 rd and 1 st couples repeat back to place, 1 st couple making the arch. 17-20 1 st man and 3 rd lady spin by the right. 21-22 1 st man turns 2 nd lady by the left while 3 rd lady turns 4 th man by the left. (This is the person of the opposite sex on their left.) 23-24 1 st man and 3 rd lady turn each other ¾ by the right. 25-26 1 st man and 3 rd lady turn partners by the left. 27-28 1 st man and 3 rd lady turn each other ¾ by the right. 29-30 1 st man turns 4 th lady by the left while 3 rd lady turns 2 nd man by the left. 31-36 1 st man and 3 rd lady turn each other 1¼ by the right. 37-40 All turn partners by the left. 41-48 In promenade hold, all dance anticlockwise around the set. Easy SCD dances Repeat with 2 nd man and 4 th lady (2s and 4s making arches), then 3 rd man and 1 st lady (1s making the arch first), then 4 th man and 2 nd lady (4s and 2s making arches). Note: the turns on bars 21-32 should be danced using elbow grasp, as in Strip the Willow. These are easy dances, but due to the style probably more suited to SCD programmes than ceilidhs. Devised for Stephen Brockbank for the ceilidh celebrating his 21 st birthday on the 22 nd of June, 2000. The ceilidh was held on the 17 th of June in the University of Edinburgh s Teviot Union and was run by his brother Ian and sister-in-law Caroline. 12 Tune: Mpho s Majority (Ian Brockbank) June 2000 13
Brodie s Fancy Cherry Blossom Dance for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 8x32 bar Reel Dance for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 8x32 bar Strathspey 1 4 1st couple set and cross over giving right hand. 5-8 1st and 2nd couples face on the sides, set and change places, with the 1st couple moving into the middle: 1st lady gives right hand to 2nd man while 1st man gives left hand to 2nd lady. Fig. Finish in double triangle formation. 9-16 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance double triangles. Finish with 1st couple facing their 1st corners. 17-24 1st couple turn their 1st corner by the right hand, partner by the left hand, 2nd corner by the right hand and partner by the left hand to finish in 2nd place on the opposite side of the dance. 25-28 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples join hands on the sides and advance and retire. 29-32 1st couple turn 1 1/2 times by the right hand to finish in 2nd place. Repeat, having passed a couple. 1 4 First couple cross across the dance by the right hand and cast off one place. Second couple step up on bars three and four. 5-8 First lady dances right hands across with the third couple once round while first man dances right hands across with the second couple once round; first couple leave their wheels early and first lady casts up around second man while first man casts down around third lady. 9-16 First lady dances a reel of three across the dance with the second couple giving left shoulder to second lady to start, while first man dances a reel of three across the dance with the third couple giving left shoulder to third man to start. 17-20 First couple pass by the right shoulder in the middle of the dance to face their second corners. First couple and their second corners set to each other (ie first lady and third man set to each other while first man and second lady set to each other). 21-22 First couple change places with their second corners giving right hands, to finish with the second corner people in the middle of the dance and first couple in second corner positions on the wrong side of the dance. 23-24 Second corner people turn one and a quarter times round by the left hand to finish facing first corner positions while first couple and first corner people dance on one place clockwise. 25-26 Second corner people change places with first couple (who are now in first corner positions on the wrong side of the dance), giving right hands to finish with first couple in the middle of the dance, second couple in first place on the wrong side of the dance and third couple in third place on the wrong side of the dance. 27-28 First couple turn by the left hand to finish in second place on the wrong side of the dance. 29-32 The three ladies joining hands on the sideline and the three men joining hands on the sideline, all set to partner; all give right hand to their partner to cross back to their own side to finish in the order second couple, first couple, third couple, ready to start the dance again with the first, third and fourth couples. First couple step to the bottom of the set after dancing twice through the dance, and the second couple become the new first couple, as usual. This dance was written for New Scotland social dancing early in the year, following a class by Caroline on double triangles. My kilt tartan is Brodie. 14 Tune: Loch Torridon (Traditional) December 1992 This is the first dance I wrote. The movements reminded me of the cherry blossom which swirls in the streets in Edinburgh in late spring. Tune: Manchester Caledonians (???) Spring 1992 15
The Happier Meeting The President s Dilemma Dance for couple facing couple around the room 32 bar Reel 1-8 Men dance a figure of eight around their partners, passing partners right shoulders to begin while ladies set and change places right hand, set and change places right hand. 9-16 Ladies dance a figure of eight around their partners, passing partners left shoulders to begin while men set and change places left hand, set and change places left hand. 17-18 Joining both hands, the couples slip past each other, men passing back to back. 19-20 Still with hands joined, all set, men retiring and ladies advancing. 21-22 The couples slip past each other again back to place, ladies passing back to back. 23-24 Set, dropping the man's left hand, ladies right hand on bar 24 to finish facing across the set. 25-28 With nearer hands joined, advance and retire, and clap. 29-32 Pass right shoulder to face a new couple. Dance for 4 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 4 x 32 bar Jig 1 8 1st couple with 2nd couple and 3rd couple with 4th couple dance right hands across and left hands back. 9 16 1st and 3rd couples lead down the middle and back up to between 2nd and 4th couples respectively, men facing men and ladies facing ladies; 2nd and 4th couples step up on bars 11 and 12. 17 24 1st couple with 2nd couple and 3rd couple with 4th couple dance reels of four across the dance. 25 28 1st couple followed by 2nd, 3rd and 4th couples casts off to the bottom of the set. 29 32 1st couple form an arch and 2nd, 3rd and 4th couples dance underneath and back up to places. Finish in the order 2,3,4,1 ready to start again from new positions. Repeat ad lib. Devised by Caroline Bradshaw. Any resemblance to "The Happy Meeting" (RSCDS book 29) is completely 16 intentional. 28 th June 1998 Dance written for Sophia Marriage, then president of New Scotland, when she complained that all dances containing reels of four contained other figures which were too complex for beginners. Tune: Davie s Brae (J. Johnstone) October, 1996 17
Upstairs Downstairs Dance for 4 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 4x32 bar Reel This dance starts with two chords. On the second chord, 3rd and 4th couples cross over to the opposite sides. 1-2 1st man casts off while 4th man casts up (2nd man stepping up and 3rd man stepping down). 3-4 1st and 4th men set to each other. 5-8 1st and 4th men turn once round right hand. 9-16 1st and 4th ladies repeat, turning left hand. 17-20 2nd and 1st couples, and 4th and 3rd couples dance right hands across once round. 21-24 1st and 4th couples dance left hands across once round, to finish back to back in the centre, 1st couple facing 2nd couple and 4th couple facing 3rd couple, all facing someone of their own sex. 25-32 1st and 4th couples dance hello goodbye setting to change places and sides. Moderate SCD dances Finish in the order 2,4,1,3, 1st and 3rd couples on the opposite side of the dance, ready to start again. These are dances which, while not suitable for the complete beginner, shouldn't prove too challenging for a moderately experienced dancer. Devised for Diana Fair and Sandy Small and presented to them on the occasion of their Wedding in Birmingham, Oct. 24 th 1998, with love from Ian Brockbank. Diana and Sandy met when Diana lived in the flat immediately above Sandy s in a Marchmont tenement. Tune: 18 Book 1) Sandy s New Chanter (Tom MacAllister jnr, published in Marking Time October 1998 19
Auld Mahoun s Revenge or The Exciseman Returned Dance for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 8x40 bar Reel 1-4 1 st couple cast off 1 place and turn right hand once round. Remain facing out ready for 5-8 1 st couple cast round the person on their right (3 rd corner, or partner s 1 st corner) to finish in lines of three across the dance, 1 st lady between 2 nd couple facing down, and 1 st man between third couple facing up; all set. 9-16 1 st man with 2 nd couple and 1 st lady with 3 rd couple dance reels of three across the dance, 1 st couple giving right shoulder to the person on their right to begin. At the end, 1 st couple pass left shoulder to face 1 st corner. 17-20 1 st couple set to 1 st corner and turn them both hands to finish in lines of three across the dance, 1 st lady between 2 nd couple facing down, and 1 st man between third couple facing up. 21-24 In the lines of three, all advance and retire. 25-32 1 st lady with 2 nd couple and 1 st man with 3 rd couple dance reels of three across the dance, 1 st couple again giving right shoulder to the person on their right to begin. At the end, 1 st couple pass left shoulder to face 2nd corner. 33-36 1 st couple set to 2 nd corner and turn them both hands to finish in lines of three on the sides, 1 st couple in second place on the opposite side of the dance. 37-40 In the lines of three, 2s, 1s and 3s advance, 1 st couple swiftly change places giving both hands, and all retire. Repeat, having passed a couple. Note: The phrasing of the first four bars is deliberately left ambiguous. The BAMFAD or Peutherer s Garrett Dance for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 8x32 bar Reel 1-2 First couple lead down the middle of the set. 3-4 First couple turn half way right hand. 5-8 First couple lead up to the top of the set, cross and cast off one place while second couple step up. 9-12 First lady dances half a reel of three across the dance with second couple while first man dances half a reel of three across the dance with third couple. 13-16 Second, first and third ladies, and second, first and third men dance half reels of three on the sidelines. 17-20 First couple pull back right shoulder and cast round the person on their left (their first corner position) to finish in the middle of the set, lady facing down, man facing up, while third and second ladies, and third and second men advance towards each other and retire. 21-22 Third and second ladies, first couple, and third and second men change places giving right hands. 23-24 First couple set to each other while second and third couples set facing up or down for one bar and then set facing across for one bar. 25-28 First couple pull back right shoulder and cast round the person on their left (their second corner position) to finish second place on their partner s side of the set, while second and third couples advance towards partners and retire. 29-30 Second, first and third couples cross over giving right hands. 31-32 Joining hands on the sidelines, second, first and third couples set to partners. Repeat, having passed a couple. The deil cam fiddlin through the toon an he danced awa wi th exciseman, and ilka wife cried Auld Mahoon, I wish ye luck o the prize, man! The deil s awa, the deil s awa, the deil s awa wi th exciseman. He s danced awa, he s danced awa, he s danced awa wi th exciseman. I wrote this dance for the tune The Deil s Awa Wi th Exciseman after hearing Iain MacPhail play his set The Deil s Conundrum on the regular Radio Scotland programme Take the Floor. I have since learned that there are several dances to this tune, called either by the full name of the tune or by the shortened form The Deil s Awa, so I decided to call this one Auld Mahoun s Revenge instead. It is 20 a lively dance, as befits a dance with the devil. Tune: The Deil s Awa Wi th Exciseman, played AABAB. August 1996 Devised for Brian and Marion Peutherer (née Garrett) for the first anniversary of their wedding. We thought it was a shame no-one wrote a dance to celebrate their wedding, so this was at least is a dance in honour of it. Hence the name Brian And Marion s First Anniversary Dance, or the BAMFAD for short. Tune: Welcome to Tyneside (David Findlay), published in The Newcastle Collection of Country Dance Tunes. 21 May 1999
The Broderer Dancing Dustbins Dance for 4 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 4x40 bar Strathspey Dance for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 8x32 bar Jig 1-2 First couple set advancing towards each other. 3-4 First couple turn once round with both hands. 5-6 Retaining nearer hands, first couple dance down one place while second couple step up. 7-8 First couple turn half way giving both hands, finishing facing first corners. 9-10 First couple set to first corners. 11-12 First couple turn first corners by the left hand. 13-14 First couple turn second corners by the right hand, finishing in second place on the opposite side of the dance. 15-16 All four couples set to partners. 17-24 All dance reels of four on the sidelines. 25-26 First couple set to each other. 27-28 First couple cast off one place while third couple step up. 29-32 First couple dance half a figure of eight around fourth couple. 33-34 First and fourth couples turn once round giving both hands, opening out into 35-36 First and fourth couples dance four hands round to the left half way. 37-40 Fourth and first couples turn one and a half times with both hands. Finish in the order 2,3,4,1, ready to start again. 1-4 1 st couple set and cast off two places. 2 nd and 3 rd couples step up on bars 3 and 4. 5-8 1 st couple turn right hand and lead up one place while 2 nd couple set and cast off two places. 3 rd couple step up on bars 7 and 8. 9-12 1 st and 2 nd couples turn right hand and lead up one place while 3 rd couple set and cast off two places. 13-16 1 st couple cast off one place and set advancing, pulling right shoulder back to finish back to back in 2 nd place facing own sides while 2 nd couple turn right hand and lead up one place while 3 rd couple turn right hand. 17-24 1 st couple dance double triangles with 2 nd and 3 rd couples. 25-32 1 st couple dance reels of three across the dance, 1 st man with 2 nd couple and 1 st lady with 3 rd couple. 1 st man gives right shoulder to 2 nd man and 1 st lady gives right shoulder to 3 rd lady to begin. Finish in the order 2,1,3, with everyone on their own side of the dance. Repeat, having passed a couple. Written for Joy Bradshaw, Christmas 1998. In 1998 Mrs Bradshaw was awarded The Broderer's Prize for her services to The Embroiderers' Guild. 22 Tune: The Thistle (traditional, from Kerr s collection) December 1998 Written at 5am while sitting with my 3 week-old daughter Lorna trying to get her off to sleep. We were listening to George Meikle on Highlander Music CD 10, (because dancing music lulled her) and the tune Donald Iain Rankin came up in the set for Spiffin, and I started thinking about how it makes my wife think of dustbins dancing around, and of the song she has put to it: What will I do with the fuss and the bother And what will I do when the budgie escapes? Presented to her on our third wedding anniversary on the 23 rd of October 2002 (when Lorna was 5½ weeks old), with much love. Tune: Donald Iain Rankine (Andrew Rankine) October 2002 23
Gloomy Winter s Noo Awa Dance for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 8x32 bar Strathspey 1-2 1 st lady casts off below 2 nd lady while 1 st man dances across the dance into 1 st lady s place. 3-4 1 st man casts off one place while 1 st lady dances across the dance to 2 nd man s place while 2 nd couple step up. 5-8 1 st couple turn 1½ times by the left hand. 9-12 1 st lady with 2 nd couple, 1 st man with 3 rd couple dance right hands across once round. 13-16 1 st couple pass right shoulder to dance left hands across once round, 1 st man with 2 nd couple and 1 st lady with 3 rd couple. 17-20 1 st couple pass left shoulder in the centre to start half a diagonal reel of four with their first corners. At the end of the half reel, 1 st couple pass right shoulder in the middle of the dance and 1 st man curves round to follow behind 1 st lady (see Figure 1), into 21-24 1 st lady, followed by 1 st man, gives right shoulder to 3 rd man to start half a diagonal reel of three with second corners. 1 st couple dance this half reel as a unit. 25-28 1 st lady, still followed by 1 st man, gives right shoulder to 2 nd man (in 3 rd lady s place) to start half a diagonal reel of three with first corners. Again, 1 st couple dance this half reel as a unit. 29-32 1 st lady casts round 1 st man (passing right shoulder), and gives right shoulder to 2 nd lady (in 3 rd man s position) while 1 st man gives right shoulder to 3 rd man (in 2 nd lady s position), to start half a reel of four with partner s second corners. See Figure 2. At the end of the reel, 1 st couple pass right shoulders to return to 2 nd place on their own sides of the dance. 1 st lady remains facing out, ready for her cast Maple Dancing Dance for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 8x32 bar Reel 1 4 1 st couple turn once round by the right hand while 2 nd couple set and turn half way with the right hand into 5-8 1 st and 2 nd couples dance right hands across once round, remaining in the centre. 9-16 1 st and 2 nd couples dance a ladies chain, 1 st man casting off, 2 nd man casting up and 1 st and 2 nd ladies continuing their right hand turn to start. 17-20 1 st couple followed by 2 nd couple lead down the middle, right hands joined (2 nd couple dancing up the side to start). 21-24 2 nd couple lead back up the middle right hands joined, cross over and cast off to 2 nd place while 1 st couple lead up to 1 st place, finishing with both hands joined in the middle ready for 25-32 1 st and 2 nd couples dance a poussette. Repeat, having passed a couple. Repeat, having passed a couple. Note (from CB): in the reels, the funny reel is 180 opposite the one it is supposed to be. For the woman it is the 4 th reel, and for the man it is the 2 nd. This is a variant on the dance Gloomy Winter which I gave to Sophi for her 25 th birthday. Bars 9-16 didn t really work, so it never caught on and wasn t going to*. I hope this version catches on better. Written for Sophia Marriage and presented to her on the occasion of her 30 th birthday in December, 2001, with love from Ian Brockbank. 24 Tune: Gloomy Winter (Traditional) December 2001 Pete Clark auctioned a tune at a charity ceilidh in aid of the Kisoro School for the Blind in May 2001, and I was fortunate enough to be the highest bidder. The tune he wrote was a lively reel, which I named for our cat Maple. The back of a fiddle is made of maple wood, and the bow dances across it during the tune, so there is a pleasing musical tie-in. I wrote this dance to go with the tune (which I gave to my wife Caroline for her birthday). It is relatively simple, and is my first foray into the world of two-couple dances. Tune: Maple Dancing (Pete Clark) October 2001, revised February 2002 25
The Mara New Scotland Gold Dance for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 8x32 bar Strathspey 1-4 1 st couple set and cast off one place. 2 nd couple step up on bars 3 and 4. 5-8 1 st couple dance half a figure of eight around 2 nd couple. 9-10 1 st couple advance and retire, joining right hand for as long as possible while 2 nd and 3 rd couples cross over giving right hand. 11-12 1 st couple turn half way giving right hand remaining in the centre while 2 nd and 3 rd couples chase one place clockwise around the set. 13-16 1 st couple dance out the side and cast to the right around 3 rd corner position while 2 nd and 3 rd couple dance left hands across. 17-24 1 st man dances a reel of three with 2 nd and 3 rd ladies while 1 st lady dances a reel of three with 2 nd and 3 rd men. 25-26 1 st couple advance and retire, joining right hand for as long as possible while 2 nd and 3 rd couples cross over giving left hand. 27-28 1 st couple turn half way giving right hand remaining in the centre while 2 nd and 3 rd couples chase one place anti-clockwise around the set. 29-32 1 st couple dance out the side and cast to the right around 3 rd corner position while 2 nd and 3 rd couple dance right hands across. Repeat, having passed a couple. Dance for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 8x32 bar Jig 1-2 1 st man and 3 rd lady change places giving left hands. 3-4 3 rd lady casts off one place while 1 st man casts up one place while 2 nd man and 2 nd lady step up and down respectively. 5-8 All turn or birl the person opposite left hand to finish back on own sides. 9-10 1 st lady and 3 rd man change places giving right hands. 11-12 3 rd man casts off one place while 1 st lady casts up one place while 3 rd lady and 1 st man step up and down respectively. 13-16 All turn or birl the person opposite right hand to finish back on own sides. 17-24 3 rd and 1 st couples join in promenade hold with partners and pass left shoulders to start a reel of four up and down the centre of the set; 2 nd man and 2 nd lady dance across the ends of the set ready to enter the reel by passing 1 st and 3 rd couples respectively right shoulder. Finish in the order 3,2,1, hands joined with partner ready for 25-32 3 rd, 2 nd and 1 st couples dance a three-couple poussette 3 rd couple moving down and 2 nd and 1 st couples moving up. Finish in the order 2,1,3. Repeat, having passed a couple. Note 1: Note 2: The length of the turns on bars 5-8 and 13-16 are deliberately not specified, but all should be at least a full turn. The dancing couple have to incorporate a half turn to get back to their own sides (ie 1½, 2½, 3½ or turns). The reel on bars 17-24 is not quite a full reel. It finishes when 2 nd couple meet in the middle for the second time. This dance was written for Caroline and given to her on our first wedding anniversary. We were sponsoring the mara at Edinburgh Zoo at the time mara are a sort of cross between a rabbit and a deer. We stayed in a bed and breakfast called Ferryman s Cottage in Pitlochry to celebrate. When I was booking the B&B it sounded like it was called Fairy Mines Cottage so I decided to try my hand at writing a strathspey tune and to call it that. I m still waiting for a tune I m happy with, but I like the name 26 Tune: Fairy Mines Cottage (Ian Brockbank) August 2002 The first 16 bars show the partner swapping for which New Scotland is noted. Then the reel symbolises a trip, wandering all over the continent and eventually returning back to where it started, and the three couple poussette is an amendment to second times through the dance Muirland Willie (to get 1 st couple to the bottom and out of the way) which is popular in New Scotland. Tune: Davie s Brae (Traditional) August 2002 27
Nifty Shiftin Dance for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 8x32 bar Reel Note: Throughout the description I will refer to "in" and "out". "In" means towards the middle of the dance (ie down from 1st place and up from 4th place) and "out" means away from the middle of the dance (up from 2nd place and down from 3rd place). This dance has two chords. On the second chord, 3rd and 4th couples change sides. 1-4 1st and 4th couples cross over givng right hands and cast in. 2nd and 3rd couples step out on bars 3 and 4. 5-8 1st and 4th couples turn half way giving left hands and melt into left hands across half way. Finish in a St. Andrews cross formation, left hands joined in the centre, right hands joined with corners. 9-16 1st and 4th couples dance a double spoke - set joining hands with each corner in turn, rotating one place anticlockwise each time (2 bars per corner). 17-20 4th man followed by 4th lady dances out the men's side and casts up while 1st man followed by 1st lady dances out the ladies' side and casts off while 2nd and 3rd couples cross over giving right hands and set. Finish with 4th couple side by side at the top of the dance, facing down, and 1st couple side by side at the bottom, facing up, men on the left of their partners. 21-22 All change place with the facing person giving right hands (2L with 3L, 4L with 1M, 4M with 1L, 2M with 3M). 23-24 1st lady followed by 1st man cast to their right and off while 4th lady followed by 4th man cast to their right and up while 3rd and 2nd couples set. Finish with (from 1M position) 3L, 4L, 4M, 2L facing 3M, 1M, 1L, 2M. 25-26 All cross with the facing person giving right hands. 27-28 1st man followed by 1st lady cast up and to their right while 4th man followed by 4th lady cast off and to their right while 3rd and 2nd couples set. Finish with 1st couple side by side at the top of the dance, facing down, and 4th couple side by side at the bottom, facing up, men on the left of their partners. 29-30 All change place with the facing person giving right hands (3M with 2M, 1L with 4M, 1M with 4L, 3L with 2L). 31-32 4th and 1st couples separate and cast off or up respectively while 2nd and 3rd couples set. Finish in the order 2,4,1,3 ready to start again. Nifty Shiftin For Brian and Clare East, our role models. Brian suggested the title to me at the New Scotland Annual Ball at the end of January, 1999, and the tune Tam Lin fitted the name, but it took me more than a year to find the steps to go with them. 28 Tune: Tam Lin (???) 5 th March 2000 29
Skagits in Stockbridge Skye Barbecue Dance for 4 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 4x32 bar Strathspey Dance for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 8x32 bar Reel This dance starts with two chords. On the second chord, 3rd and 4th couples cross over to the opposite sides. 1-2 1 st and 4 th couples set. 3-4 1 st couple cast off one place while 4 th couple cast up one place. 5-8 1 st and 4 th couples dance right hands across, finishing in promenade hold with partner, 1 st couple facing 2 nd man and 4 th couple facing 3 rd man. 9-12 1 st and 4 th couples dance half a diagonal reel of four with 2 nd and 3 rd men, finishing with 1 st and 4 th ladies dancing ¾ of the way round each other by the right shoulders to join in promenade hold with the other man, 1 st lady and 4 th man facing 2 nd lady, and 1 st man and 4 th lady facing 3 rd lady. 13-16 Repeat bars 9-12 with 2 nd and 3 rd ladies. 17-24 Repeat bars 9-16 to finish on the sidelines in the order 2,4,1,3, 1 st and 3 rd couples on the opposite sides of the dance. 23-32 2 nd and 4 th couples, and 1 st and 3 rd couples dance a strathspey poussette once round. 1-8 1C cross down (no hands) between second and third couples to start reels of three on the opposite side of the dance. 9-16 1C cross down (no hands) between second and third couples to start reels of three on their own sides. Finish with 2nd couple in 1st place and 1st couple flowing into... 17-20 First couple turn right hand, moving down to second place, and cast to second place own side while 2nd and 3rd couples set and cross over giving right hands. 21-24 1st couple dance clockwise half way round the set while 2nd and 3rd couples dance right hands across. 25-28 First couple turn right hand and cast to second place on opposite side while 2nd and 3rd couples set and cross over giving left hands. 29-32 1st couple dance clockwise half way round the set while 2nd and 3rd couples dance left hands across. Repeat, having passed a couple. Finish in the order 2, 4, 1, 3, 1st and 3rd couples on the opposite side of the dance, ready to start again. Dedicated to Leslie (née Henderson) and Peter Hastings. Peter and Leslie got married on the 26 th of March, 2001 in the company of members of the Skagit SCD group in Annacortes, WA, and held a ball in celebration on the 27 th of July, 2002, in Cluny Church Hall, Edinburgh. At the time of the celebration they were living in Stockbridge in Edinburgh. 30 Tune: Miss Lyall () July 2002 Iain MacPhail played the Alastair Fraser tune "Skye Barbecue" in one of the sets he played for the RSCDS Edinburgh Branch show "Strictly Scottish" in August 2001. I was one of the dancers in the show, and was so taken by the tune that I felt it deserved its own dance. This is the result. It's a lively, showy tune, so it's a lively, showy dance. Tune: Skye Barbecue (Alastair Fraser) August 2001, revised March 2003. 31
Triskelion Dance for 3 couples in a triangular set 3x32 bar Strathspsey + 3x32 barreel This dance is danced through 3 times in Strathspey time, followed by 3 times in Reel time. 1-2 Men dance across the set to the position of the lady on their right, passing left shoulders in the middle, while ladies cast into their partner s place. 3-4 Ladies dance across the set to the position of the lady on their right (currently being occupied by a man), passing left shoulders in the middle, while men cast into the man s place. 5-8 Repeat bars 1-4. 9-12 1st and 3rd couples (in 2nd and 1st places respectively) dance half a men s chain. 13-16 1st man, 3rd lady and 2nd couple (in 1st and 3rd places respectively) dance half a men s chain. Men have now all progressed one place anticlockwise from their original position. 17-24 Ladies dance a petronella turn to the position on their right, and set with the man in that place. Repeat. All are back with original partners. 25-32 All circle 6 hands round and back. For connoisseurs Finish in the order 2,3,1 ready to start again. Note: bars 1-8 are like 8 bars of Schiehallion reels in a triangular set. These are dances which will take a bit of thought or practice, or possibly careful phrasing. For Clare Lyddon and Peter Edwards on the occasion of their wedding on 16 th March 2002. Tune: Strathspey: The Lass o Corrie Mill (Traditional) 32 Reel: Alasdair of the Dun (Traditional) February 2002 33
The Gairloch Hornpipe Dance for 5 couples in a 5 couple longwise set 5 x 48 bar Reel 1-2 Joining hands on the sides, all set. 3-4 1 st couple with 2 nd couple and 4 th couple with 5 th couple dance half right hands across in a wheel while 3 rd couple cross over giving right hands. 5-8 Joining hands on the sides again, all set, and cross over giving left hands. 9-12 1 st and 5 th couples turn once round right hand. 1 st man and 5 th lady remain facing out ready for 13-16 1 st man followed by his partner casts up round 2 nd man and dances down the dance while 5 th lady followed by her partner casts off around 4 th lady and dances up the dance. Finish with 1 st lady between 2 nd couple, 1 st man and 5 th lady back to back between 3 rd couple, and 5 th man between 4 th couple, 1 st couple facing the men s side and 5 th couple facing the ladies side. See Figure 1. 17-24 1 st lady with 2 nd couple and 5 th man with 4 th couple dance reels of three across the dance while 1 st man and 5 th lady with 3 rd couple dance a reel of four across the dance. Finish with 2 nd, 3 rd and 4 th couples on the sidelines where they started the reel, and 1 st and 5 th couples in a line up and down the dance, hands joined, in order 1 st lady, 5 th lady, 1 st man, 5 th man, (see Figure 2) ready for 25-26 1 st lady, 5 th lady, 1 st man and 5 th man, balance in line. 27-28 1 st lady changes places left hand with 5 th lady while 1 st man changes places left hand with 5 th man. 29-30 5 th lady, 1 st lady, 5 th man and 1 st man balance in line. 31-32 1 st lady and 5 th man change places right hand while 5 th lady and 1 st man set. Finish with the dancing couples, left hands joined with partner, facing 2nd corners. See Figure 3. 33-34 Dancing couples set to partners (left hands still joined) while their 2 nd corners set advancing to join them. 35-36 Dancing couples and 2 nd corners dance right hands across in a wheel half way. Finish with corners having swapped places and dancing couples turning a little further to face their 1 st corners. See Figure 4. 37-40 Repeat bars 33-36 with 1 st corners and hands reversed: dancing couples set to partners, holding right hands while 1 st corners set advancing to join them; dancing couples dance left hands across in a wheel half way with 1 st corners to finish with corners having swapped places and dancing couple turning a little further to face 2 nd corner positions again (note there will be new people here now). 41-44 Repeat bars 33-36. 45-48 5th couple set to each other with right hands joined and cross down left hand to 3 rd place while 1 st couple set to each other with right hands 34 joined and cross down left hand to 5 th place. 3 rd and 2 nd couples step up on bars 47-48. The dancers should now be in the order 4,3,5,2,1, ready to start again. Note: The reels should flow from the previous movement. This dance is dedicated to Dougie, the Fireman of Gairloch, who very kindly broke into our car for us after we locked the keys inside on stopping in Gairloch for lunch during a whirlwind tour of friends in Scotland. 35 Tune: The Inside-oot Fish Eater (Peter Wood)
The Geese in the Bog Dance for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 8x32 bar Jig 1-4 1st couple and 2nd couple dance half a rights and lefts. 5-8 2nd and 1st couples set, 2nd couple cross over giving left hand while 1st couple turn by the left hand to face their 1st corners. 9-16 1st couple dance half a diagonal reel of four with their 1st corners, followed by half a diagonal reel of four with their 2nd corners. 17-18 1st man with 3rd couple (at the top) and 1st lady with 2nd couple dance right hands across in a wheel half way round. 19-22 3rd and 2nd couples dance left hands across in a wheel once round, while 1st couple chase half way clockwise round the set. 23-24 1st lady with 3rd couple and 1st man with 2nd couple dance right hands across in a wheel half way round. 25-28 3rd man and 2nd lady lead a snake pass: 3rd man followed by 3rd and 1st ladies dances down to 2nd lady's place, across to 2nd man's place, down to 3rd man's place and across to 3rd lady's place while 2nd lady followed by 2nd and 1st men dances up to 2nd man's place, across to 2nd lady's place, up to 1st lady's place and across to 1st man's place. The "snakes" pass by the left shoulder. Effectively what happens is that the wheels unwind, with 1st couple tagging on at the ends of the respective wheels. Finish in the order 2,1,3, all on the opposite side of the dance. 29-32 All set and cross over giving right hands. Repeat, having passed a couple. The Gloomy Winter Dance for 3 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 8 x 32 bar Strathspey 1 4 1st lady casts off below 2nd lady and dances across to 2nd man s place while 1st man dances across to 1st lady s place and casts off into 2nd place. 2nd couple step up on bars 3 and 4. 5 8 1st couple turn 1¾ times by the left hand. 9 10 1st lady and 2nd couple dance right hands across half way while 1st man casts up on the ladies side. 11 12 1st couple passing left shoulder, 1st man takes 1st lady s place and dances left hands across half way with 2nd couple while 1st lady casts off on the ladies side. 13 16 1st couple repeat bars 13 16 with 3rd couple, lady with the left hand and man with the right hand. 17 20 1st couple pass left shoulder in the centre to start half a diagonal reel of four with their 1st corners. At the end of the half reel, 1st couple pass right shoulder in the middle of the dance and 1st man curves round to follow behind 1st lady, into 21 24 1st lady followed by 1st man gives right shoulder to 3rd man to start half a diagonal reel of three with 2nd corners. 1st couple dance this reel of 3 as a unit. 25 28 1st couple give right shoulder to 2nd man (in 3rd lady s place) to start half a diagonal reel of three with 1st corners. 29 32 1st lady casts round 1st man (passing right shoulder) and gives right shoulder to 2nd lady (in 3rd man s position) while 1st man gives right shoulder to 3rd man (in 2nd lady s position), to start half a diagonal reel of four. At the end of the reel, 1st couple pass right shoulders to return to 2nd place on their own sides of the dance. 1st lady remains facing out, ready to cast off again Repeat, having passed a couple. This dance and 'The Mill of Towie' came out of the concept of the alternating wheels (sorry, hands across), with 1st couple throwing the others into a muddle in the middle and drifting safely round the outside before taking pity and bringing them back out to place. They were my first Sunday-morning dances. I heard the tune on a 'Boys of the Lough' recording, and it seemed to fit the dance, conjuring up images of strings of geese meandering aimlessly yet purposefully, all the time lost. Of course, it helps that it's a good tune. This dance was published in Dunedin Dances 4. 36 Tune: The Geese in the Bog (Traditional) 1993, or thereabouts This dance was written for Sophia Marriage and presented to her on the occasion of her 25th birthday. Tune: Gloomy Winter (Traditional, from Kerr s Collection) 37 November 1996
The Golden Thistle Dance for 4 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 4 x 48 bar Jig 1 8 1st and 3rd couples cross down (no hands) while 2nd and 4th couples dance out and up, to start reels of four on the sidelines. See Figure 1. Note this is a right shoulder reel of four on the men s side, but a left shoulder reel on the ladies side. the right shoulder, dance clockwise round the outside of the set to the next corner, dance all the way round that corner by the right shoulder, and dance on, to finish with 4th couple in 2nd place and 1st couple in 3rd place. See Figure 2. 2nd and 3rd couples step back out to place on bars 39 and 40. Finish in the order 2,4,1,3, with 4th and 3rd couples on the opposite side of the dance. TOP Figure 1 9 10 1st lady and 2nd man, and 3rd lady and 4th man (on the men s side of the dance) change places giving right hand while 1st man and 2nd lady, and 3rd man and 4th lady change places giving left hand. Finish with 1st and 4th couples in the centre facing diagonally in. 11 12 1st and 4th couples set. 13 14 1st and 4th couples dance left hands across half way. 15 16 4th and 1st couples set to 2nd and 3rd couples respectively, who set back. Everyone should be facing someone of the opposite sex. 17 28 All dance diagonal interlocking reels of four. Finish with 4th and 1st couples facing diagonally in. 29 30 4th and 1st couples dance left hands across half way. 31 32 All set, 1st and 4th couples facing 2nd and 3rd couples respectively. 2nd and 3rd couples advance towards 1st and 4th couples while setting. 33 40 1st and 4th couples dance The Loop pass the corner they are facing by TOP Figure 2 41 42 In lines on the sides, all set. 43 46 4th and 3rd couples cross up, giving right hands, and cast off on their own sides. 47 48 All set on the sidelines. Note: Finish in the order 2,4,1,3 ready to start again from new positions. The figure The Loop first appeared in the Strathspey Tom s Friends, devised by Roy Goldring. In Scottish Spirit Dance for 4 couples in a 4 couple longwise set 38 Tune: Tartan Andy s Half Pint Shandy (W.J.A. Gray) 39 4 x 48 bar Reel This dance was written to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the Edinburgh University New Scotland Society, and was first performed as part of a medley of dances at the Inter-Varsity Folk Dance Festival in Cambridge in 1997. Its public debut was at the 50th Anniversary Ball in The Assembly Rooms on the 3rd of May, 1997. With James M. Williams, December 1996