Espagnole
The Espagnole Figure is used as a Progression to interchange adjacent Couples in a Longwise set in Quick tempo dances and Strathspeys, using the appropriate Travelling step.
When performed in Scottish Country Dances by 1st and 2nd Couples, from their Original Places, espagnole consists of:
Bars 1-2
1st Man and 2nd Man Dance Across the set to Partners' Places, 1st Man Pulling right shoulder back, 2nd Man Pulling left shoulder back, to Finish Facing each other While 1st Lady and 2nd Lady Cross By the right, 1st Lady Pulling left shoulder back, 2nd Lady Pulling right shoulder back, to Finish Facing away from each other, 2nd Lady in 1st Man's Place and 1st Lady in 2nd Man's Place, as shown in Diagram 91;
Bars 3-4
2nd Lady and 1st Lady Dance Across the set to the Opposite Places and Turn on the spot towards each other to Finish Facing In While 1st Man and 2nd Man Cross By the right, 1st Man Preceding 2nd Man, and Turn on the spot away from each other to Finish Facing In, 2nd Man in 1st Man's Place and 1st Man in 2nd Man's Place;
Bars 5-8
2nd Couple Turn By the right once round, Finishing in 1st Place While 1st Couple Turn By the left.
The movement for 1st and 2nd Ladies in bars 1-2 is very quick and so they may not be able to Cross all the way to the Opposite side lines in Time. However, it is important that they reach 2nd and 1st Man's Positions (i.e., near the Men's side line and on the Line across joining these Couples' Places), respectively, so that there is ample room for their Partners to Cross between them and similarly for 1st and 2nd Men in bars 3-4.
The paths followed in bars 3–4 are the same as in bars 1-2 from the new Positions, the Men repeating their Partners' movements, 1st Lady repeating 2nd Man's and 2nd Lady repeating 1st Man's.
Note that the Dancing couple's paths in Diagram 91 show the asymmetry (cf. Diagram 37) which is necessary in order to achieve Precedence.
The extent of the 1st Couple's Turn in bars 5-8 and their final Positions depend strongly on the next Figure; in Courage Reel they Turn almost 1½ times to Finish Facing 1st Corners; in some dances they Finish in 2nd Place Facing In, in others back to back in 2nd Position Facing Out for Double triangles.
For example, here are some Scottish Country Dances in which the term, Espagnole, is used in either the Minicrib or the Maxicrib Dance instructions or both -
Ardgilzean
Braes Of Strathlene
Breeks Are Loose
Castle Park Jig
Courage Reel
Foxhill Court
Glayva
Hazel Tree
Joy Newman's Jig
Maid Of The Mist
Newholme Jig
Rinty's Rant
- Complex Figures
- Allemande
The Bourrel
Courage Reels
En Rond
Espagnole
Inveran Reels
Kilt Pin Reel
The Knot
La Baratte
Pass And Turn
Poussette Movements
Promenade
Rondel
Sash Pin Reel
Schiehallion Reels
Set And Link
Set And Rotate
The Spoke
The Spurtle
The Swirl
The Targe
The Tourbillon
The Tournee
Additional search terms; Espagnôle.
Back to the top of this Scottish Country Dancing 'Espagnole' page