Double Triangles In Scottish Country Dancing
Double triangles is logically an 8-bar derivative form of Balance in line found in Longwise, Active set with 3 Couples though historically it is probably the precursor; it requires four complete Pas-de-basque Setting steps.
Bars 1-2
the Dancing couple, in 2nd Place, starting back to back in the centre of The set and Facing Out on Own sides (as shown in Diagram 51), Take Right hands with Partner's First corners and left with Partner's Second corners and all Set;
Bars 3-4
all drop hands and, While the Corners continue to Set, the Dancing couple, using Pas-de-basque, Dance round each other halfway clockwise, maintaining their back to back relative Position;
Bars 5-6
the Dancing couple, now Facing Out on Opposite Sides, Take Right hands with First corners and Left hands with Second corners and all Set;
Bars 7-8
all drop hands and, While the Corners continue to Set, the Dancing couple, using Pas-de-basque, Dance round each other halfway clockwise, maintaining their back to back relative Position, Finishing in their Starting Positions.
Depending upon the succeeding Figure, the Dancing couple are likely to have to adapt the movement in bars 7-8, though still using Pas-de-basque.
It is polite to acknowledge the adjacent dancers while Setting, making Eye contact with the dancer to the right during the first bar of Pas-de-basque and with the dancer to the left during the second.
This Scottish Country Dancing Figure is supposed to represent a St Andrew's Cross as seen from above and so, even more than in other Balancing Figures, the arms should be extended as fully as is practicable; the Dancing couple should be almost touching back to back. Diagram 51 shows the Position of the dancers during the first two bars of the Figure as in bars 9-10 of The Hunting Horn. When the axis of the Figure is defined as the line joining the joined hands (as in Balance in line), this axis is parallel to, but not exactly the same as, the Side lines since the Corners again do not move from their Standing places.
In an alternative form, the Dancing couple start Facing their Opposite Sides; in another, they start
Facing Up and down. A derivative form exists for 5 Couples with two Dancing couples, one in 2nd Place, the other in 4th; the dancers in 3rd Place are First corners for one Dancing couple and Second corners for the other as in bars 33-40 of Linkumdoddie.
The Figure cannot be performed using the Strathspey setting step because this would involve sideways movement with alternate dancers going in opposite directions.
For example, here are some Scottish Country Dances in which the term, Double triangles, is used in either the Minicrib or the Maxicrib Dance instructions or both -
Connie's Jig
Lochnagar
Mary Erskine
Reids O' Monymusk
Starry Eyed Lassie
Whistling Wind.
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