Lead Up

To Lead up, the Scottish Country Dancers Take hands and Travel Up the Centre line of The set. The distance to be Travelled is either explicitly stated (for example, Lead up to 2nd Places) or determined by the following Figure (for example, Lead up and Cast to 2nd Places) or implied as Lead up to Original Places if following Lead down.

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 down on the same Sides, Take Nearer hands;

• if the dancers are on Own sides and the next Figures are Cross and Cast down, 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 up, is used in either the Minicrib or the Maxicrib Dance instructions or both -
Balvenie Castle
Bridge Of Sighs
Campbell's Frolic
Drumheller
Dunivard Reel
Granny Knot
Last Of The Lairds
Lorn Strathspey
Ravelston Reel
Raven's Dance
Rotherham Romp
Tambourine Reel.
Trefoil Badge.
Vintage 62
Weaver

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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