A Comprehensive Scottish Country Dancing DictionaryScottish Dance Instruction Pages and Technical Terms Explained - by Reuben FreemantleThis Scottish Country Dancing website is intended as a reference to the traditional dancing of Scotland. It contains two main elements:
How to use this Scottish Country Dancing website If you are seeking the description of an individual dance, select Dance Instructions A-Z Dance Cribs (on the side navigation bar on every page) which links to a list, in alphabetical order, for each of those Scottish dances for which a Scottish Country Dance crib (instruction) is supplied. Dancing instructions originate from one or more of:
If you are seeking the definition of any technical term used in the description of a dance, select Comprehensive DICTIONARY of Dance Terms (on the side navigation bar on every page) and then select from the alphabetical list of links. This is the simplest way to find the explanation of a Scottish Country Dancing term.
The structure of this Scottish Country Dancing DictionaryThe navigation bar on the right hand side of each page shows the main elements of the structure. This Home page is primarily concerned with how to use the website. Dance Instructions A-Z Dance Cribs links to an alphabetical list of descriptions of many Scottish Country Dances. Comprehensive DICTIONARY of Dance Terms links to an alphabetical list with a page for every technical Scottish Country Dancing term defined.
Preface covers organization and conventions, notably the significance of Italic font, and the arrangement of content and also has links to:
Types of dance is concerned with the classification of Scottish Country Dances by musical tempo and has links to:
Footwork covers the Scottish Country Dance steps needed for Scottish Dances classified by musical tempo with main links to:
Hand positions (and other niceties) covers the various ways in which hands are joined (Holds or Grips) and includes some other matters of SCD etiquette (Eye contact and Precedence). Types of sets describes the formats of The set in Scottish Country Dancing and the numbers of Scottish Country Dancers required for each format. The essential feature, Progression, which, in most Scottish dances, enables every dancer to perform at least one Repeat in every Place of the Active set, is covered in detail.
Set Structure is concerned with the "geography" of the various formats of The set and "navigation" within and around it. The defined terms are categorized under the main links: Dancers; the Positions within The set to and from which they move; and the absolute and relative Directions by which they achieve those movements. Figures covers all the basic choreographed movements from which the complete Repeat of a Scottish dance is made up. This section defines the simpler movements which the beginner learning dancing needs to master, because they will appear in most class or ball programmes. They are also the building blocks from which the more Complex figures are constructed.
Complex figures lists those dancing movements which are either combinations of, or derivative forms of those on the Figures pages. They are in no way logically different, but it can be helpful to a Scottish Country Dance learner to know that mastering these is of secondary priority, because they occur much less frequently. Note however that, because they occur in many traditional Scottish dances and so appear in most class or ball programmes, Crown triangles, Double triangles and Hello-goodbye setting are included in the basic Figures section rather than here, even though they are quite complex. Timing covers the number of bars allocated to each Figure, the Phrasing of Figures to suit the distance to be traversed and Covering. Accuracy in these makes an ordinary Scottish dancing experience into a delight. Diagrams and other support pagesThe subsequent links on the navigation bar are not Scottish Dance Instruction (Link To Wikipedia SCD Page) technical terms as such, and so, like the dances listed in Dance Instructions A-Z Dance Cribs, do not appear in the Comprehensive DICTIONARY of Dance Terms. Diagrams links to a list, in numerical order, of the 100+ diagrams used in this website. Each individual Diagram is shown in full size and has an extended navigation bar with links forward and backward within the list. Where appropriate, a link is also provided here to the Diagram showing the conventions applicable to this type of diagram. A further link, Explanation of this diagram, leads to the page on which this Diagram appears in context. Hovering over this link shows the name of that page. Resources, Contact and Translate this Scottish Country Dancing site into your language have their conventional significance. The Site map found on the navigation bars of all pages contains many pages sorted into a logical order, whereas the All Pages Site Map is similarly sorted but contains links to every page on this site, all on the same page.
© COPYRIGHT 1982 - 2012 All Rights Reserved
Reuben Freemantle and Laurence Abbott No part of this dancing site may be reproduced in any form without our written permission, except the cribs on the Scottish country dance instruction pages, but you still need to see the copyright page for details. Additional search terms; scdd, scotish, scottich, danse, schottische. Jump back to the top of this 'Scottish Country Dance Dictionary' page. (This is at the foot of most long pages) |
Site search by Freefind
|