The Newmachar Strathspey

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

THE NEWMACHAR STRATHSPEY (S4x32) 4C Set 3s and 4s on opp sides J Drewry

1- 8 1s+2s also 3s+4s dance RH across, 1s cross down to 2nd place while 2s cast up also 3s cast down 1 place while 4s cross up and 1s and 4s dance up/down behind 2s/3s
9-16 1s in prom hold dance reels of 3 across with 2s (RSh to 2M to start) while 4s in prom hold dance reel of 3 across with 3s (RSh to 3M to start)
17-24 1s+4s (prom hold) dance clockwise round each other and dance out ends and cast to 2nd/3rd places
25-32 1s+4s dance ½ RandL and all turn partners 2H. 24(1)(3)

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

Dance Information

Newmachar is a village in the north-east of Scotland, 10 miles to the north-west of Aberdeen.

The Gaelic word machar or machair refers to a fertile low-lying grassy plain found on some of the north-west coastlines of Ireland and Scotland, in particular the Outer Hebrides.

Two distinct types of Machar exist:

  • A type of sand-dune pasture, subject to agricultural cultivation, which prevails in wet and windy conditions;
  • The land between a beach and the area where sand encroaches on peat bogs further inland.
Machar Photograph
Machar On Barra

Dance Information licensed under this Creative Commons Licence.
Text from this original Newmachar article on Wikipedia.
Text from this original Machair article on Wikipedia.
Image Copyright Laurence Abbott.

Back to the top of this Scottish Country Dancing Instructions 'The Newmachar Strathspey' page