Lead Down

To Lead down the dancers Take hands and Travel Down the Centre line of The set.

The distance to be Travelled is either explicitly stated (for example, Lead down Below 3rd Couple) or determined by the following Figure (for example, Lead down and Cast up round 3rd Couple) or determined by the number of bars allocated coupled with the dancers' enthusiasm and the space available.

Three dancers Take Nearer hands. A Man and a Lady normally Take Right hands unless the following Figure is better suited by Nearer hands or Left hands. For example:

• if the next Figure is Cast up on the same Sides, Take Nearer hands;

• if the dancers are on Opposite Sides and the next Figures are Cross and Cast up, Take Left hands;

• if the next Figure is a movement involving Both hands (but not crossed as in Promenade), Take Nearer hands.

The Time allocated is commensurate with the distance to be Travelled.

For example, here are some Scottish Country Dances in which the term, Lead down, is used in either the Minicrib or the Maxicrib Dance instructions or both -
12 Coates Crescent
Dark Mile
Duncan Maccalman
Fair Jennie's Jig
Greenburn Reel
High Close Lassies
Lothian Lads
More Bees A-Dancing
Salute To Miss Milligan
Silver Glen
St Margaret's Jig
Tomtain Brae
Worcester Permain

Figures

Travelling

Advance
Advance and Retire
Dos-à-dos
Lead
Lead Down
Lead Down And Up
Lead Out Of The Side
Lead Out Of The Side, Crossing
Lead Up
Pass
Petronella Turn With Skip Change
Promenade Round
Retire
Slip Down
Slip Down And Up
Slip Up

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