The Eightsome Reel

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

THE EIGHTSOME REEL (R40+8x48+40) Sq.Set RSCDS Bk 2

Introduction :-
1- 8 All circle 8H round and back
9-16 Ladies dance RH across (partners on their left) in St Andrews Cross formation, change to Men dancing LH across in centre back to places
17-24 All set to partners twice and turn 2H
25-40 All dance Grand Chain (2 steps to each person, 16 bars total)

Dance :- 8 times through firstly with 1L in centre, then 2L, 3L, 4L, 1M, 2M, 3M, 4M
1- 8 With 1L in centre of dance setting (special steps?) the others dance 7H round and back
9-16 1L sets to partner and turns 2H, 1st Lady sets and turns 3rd Man
17-24 1L dances reel of 3 with partner and 3rd Man passing partner LSh
25-32 1L sets in centre while others circles 7H round and back
33-40 1L sets to 4th Man and turns 2H, 1st Lady sets to 2nd Man and turns 2H
41-48 1L dances a reel of 3 with 4M+2M across dance passing 4M LSh and 1L retires to place as 2L goes into centre

Finale :-
1-40 Repeat Introduction

(MINICRIB, Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton. Deeside Caledonian Society.)

The Eightsome Reel
Anon   RSCDS Book 2
Reel   464 bars   4 Couple Repeat   4 Couple Set   Square Set

1-40        Chorus:
1-8          8 hands round and back;
9-12        Ls right hands across with Mn outside;
13-16      Mn left hands across with Ls outside;
17-20      all set twice to partners;
21-24      all turn partners twice;
25-40      grand chain all round.
41-88      1L's Solo:
41-48      7 hands round and back WHILE 1L dances any solo setting step in the centre;
49-52      1L and partner set and turn by the right;
53-56      1L and opposite M set and turn by the left;
57-64      1L, partner and opposite M reel of three (1L and partner right shoulder to start);
65-72      repeat bars 41-48;
73-76      1L and first corner (M originally next on the side away from her partner) set and turn by the right;
77-80      1L and second corner (M originally next on her partner's side) set and turn by the left;
81-88      1L reel of three with these two men (1L right shoulder to first corner), finishing with 1L back in place.
89-136    2L repeat 1L's Solo.
137-184  3L repeat 1L's Solo.
185-232  4L repeat 1L's Solo.
233-280  1M repeat 1L's Solo (with M and L interchanged in the instructions).
281-328  2M repeat 1M's Solo.
329-374  3M repeat 1M's Solo.
377-426  4M repeat 1M's Solo.
425-464  All repeat Chorus (bars 1-40).

(MAXICRIB, Scottish country dancing instructions compiled by Reuben Freemantle.)

Dance Notes

Not quite RSCDS but who cares!
9-12        For the right hands across, it's easier for the men to hold partners round the waist.
13-16      Similarly for the left hands across, ladies hold partners round the waist.
25-40      Slow chain, 2 bars per person.
448-464  If you make the chain quicker and can get back to place soon enough, swing your partner.

Dance Instruction Videos

Eightsome Reel - YouTube Scottish Country Dancing Instruction Video
Performance of The Eightsome Reel by RSCDS Twin Cities Branch, St. Paul, Minnesota 2010.

Dance Information

This was the most popular Scottish social dance around 1900 to 1920, combined features of the Scotch reel and the Quadrille and was probably devised by the Earl of Dunmore and friends in the early 1870's.

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