Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

The Ancient Gordon

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

The Ancient Gordon
Maggie and Duncan Keppie Gaelic College SCD Book 10: Gordon Reels
8x32 bar Strathspey
3-couple dance in 4-couple longways set

  1-8   SET, CAST AND TURN: 1st couple set, cast off one place (2nd couple stepping up), and turn 1½ time round with right hands ending with woman turning under arms into Gordon Hold (as in Gay Gordons/allemande) facing man's 1st corner (i.e. 3rd woman);

  9-16 GORDON REEL OF 3 WITH 1ST CORNERS: 1st couple in Gordon Hold dance a right shoulder Reel of 3 with 1st corners (1st couple turn as in the Gay Gordons at each end of the Reel and on Bar 16 turn to the right to face woman's 2nd corner (i.e. 3rd man);

17-24 GORDON REEL OF 3 WITH 2ND CORNERS: 1st couple in Gordon Hold dance a right shoulder Reel of 3 with 2nd corners (1st couple turn as in the Gay Gordons at each end of the Reel, and end in the middle facing down);

25-32 FIGURE OF 8: 1st couple dance between 3rd couple, drop right hands and cross over with left hands to cast up on own side, dance up between 2nd couple joining nearer hands, and cast down into 2nd place on own side.

Repeat from 2nd place.

(Dance crib compiled by the devisers, Maggie and Duncan Keppie)



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