Reel Of The Gordon Highlanders

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

REEL OF THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS (R8x32) 3C (4C set) Aad L M Boode Delft Bk of SCDs

1- 8 1s cross RH, cast 1 place and dance ½ Figs of 8 (Lady round 2s and Man round 3s) to end 2nd place on own sides
9-16 1s dance reels of 3 on sides giving LSh to 3rd corner and ending in diagonal line RH joined and LH to 3rd corners
17-24 1s dance the Spoke - Balance-in-Line, 1s move clockwise to 2nd corner, repeat with 1st corner and 4th corner, 1s ending in 2nd place
25-32 2s+1s+3s circle 6H round and back

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

THE REEL OF THE GORDON HIGHLANDERS (32 bar reel for three couples in a four-couple set)

1 – 8 1st couple cross over giving right hand, cast off 1 place (2nd couple move up); 1st man dances a ½ figure of eight between 3rd couple and round 3rd man – while – 1st woman does the same between 2nd couple and round 2nd woman, to finish 1st couple in 2nd place on own sides
9 – 16 1st couple dance reels of three on own sides with 2nd and 3rd couples, giving LEFT shoulder to the person on their LEFT to begin, i.e.: 1st and 2nd men pass left shoulder and 1st and 3rd women pass left shoulder, to finish 1st couple in a diagonal line RIGHT hand joined with partner and LEFT hand with partner's 1st corner. 2nd and 3rd couples turn the long way round to places
17 – 24 Balance in line RIGHT ROUND or THE SPOKE (clockwise)
Note: Everyone is dancing for 8 pas de basque steps. Only 1st couple move round, the other dancers set diagonally across the set when hands are not joined diagonally
(1st couple may use skip change of step on last bar)
1st couple retaining partner's RIGHT hand throughout,
- balance in line with partner's 1st corner
- move on a ¼ turn clockwise
- balance in line with 2nd corner
- move on a ¼ turn clockwise
- balance in line with 1st corner
- move on a ¼ turn clockwise
- balance in line with partner's 2nd corner
- 1st couple drop hands and dance into 2nd place own sides
25 – 32 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance six hands round to the left and back
Repeat, having passed a couple.

(Dance crib compiled by the devisor, Aad L.M. Boode, Delft, 1994.)

Dance Notes

Tune: The Reel of the Gordon Highlanders, by Pipe-Major Stuart D. Samson.

(Dance Notes by the devisor, Aad L.M. Boode.)

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