General Stuart's Reel

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

GENERAL STUART'S REEL (R8x32) 3C (4C set) C Menzies RSCDS Bk 10

1- 8 1M sets to 2L and casts 1 place, 1L sets to 2M and casts 1 place
9-16 1s turn 1st corner RH and pass partner RSh, turn 2nd corner LH pass partner RSh to face 1st corners
17-24 1s dance 'Hello-Goodbye' setting and end BtoB (1M facing up and 1L facing down)
25-32 1s giving RSh to 2nd corner and dance reels of 3 on sides with 2s+3s and cross RH to 2nd place on own sides

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

General Stuart's Reel
Castle Menzies MSS   RSCDS Book 10
Reel   8 x 32 bars   3 Couple Repeat   4 Couple Set   Lengthwise Set

1-2      1M2L set;
3-4      1M cast;
5-6      1L2M set;
7-8      1L cast;
9-12    1s turn first corners by the right and pass by the right to face second corners;
13-16  1s turn second corners by the left and pass by the left to face first corners;
17-24  hello-goodbye setting;
25-30  2s1s3s reels of 3 on opposite sides (1s giving right shoulder to second corners);
31-32  1s cross by the right.

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

Dance Notes

3-4      2M step up.
7-8      2L step up.
13-16  The original instructions don't say explicitly how the 1s get to first corners; passing by the left flows better.
17-24  hello-goodbye setting: set back-to-back facing first corners, then facing from opposite side lines, then back-to-back facing second corners, then 1M facing down between 2s and 1L facing up between 3s, finishing 1M facing up and 1L down ready to give right shoulders to second corners. Travel on the first beat of the left foot step only and rotate on beats 2 and 3; the right foot step should be on the spot, facing corner or partner appropriately.

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