Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

Atholl Brose

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

ATHOLL BROSE (J4x64) 4C set John Drewry Canadian Book
3s and 4s start on opposite sides

1- 8 1s+2s also 3s+4s dance ½ double Fig of 8 (2s and 3s cross up/down to start), 1M+2M also 3M+4M turn RH on sides while partners turn LH
9-16 Repeat using other hand to turn on sides
17-24 17-18 2L+3M cross to Men's side (2L passing in front of 3M to 3rd place, 3M to 2nd place) while partners cross to Ladies' side opposite partners
19-20 2M+3L cross back to Men's side (3L passing in front of 2M, 3L to 2nd place, 2M to 3rd place) while partners cross to Ladies' side opposite partners
21-24 3s (in 2nd place) turn partner RH while 2s turn LH
25-32 2s and 3s repeat 17-20 back to original place; 2s turn RH while 3s turn LH
33-40 All Petronella turn into centre, set and ¾ turn RH, 1s+2s also 3s+4s dance ½ RH across. 21(4)(3)
41-48 1s+4s dance LH across, 2s+1s also 4s+3s dance RH across
49-56 All dance reels of 4 on sides ending 1M and 4L also 1L and 4M passing RSh giving RH into prom hold to face each other across set
57-64 1M+4L and 4M+1L promenade ½ way round each other (Ladies passing RSh. On 4th bar they dance in to join nearer hands with partner with 4s in 2nd place facing up and 1s in 3rd place facing down; 4s and 1s dance up/down and cast to 2nd/3rd place. 24(1)(3)

(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)


Dance Information

This jig, Atholl Brose, was dedicated by John Drewry to Bill Clement of Thornhill.

Bill Clement was a teacher for the Thornhill Scottish Dancing group which is an accomplished team of festival-winning and touring dancers.

In July 2008, Bill Clement was made an MBE by Her Majesty the Queen for his services to piping and Scottish country dancing. For more on Bill See also Bill Clement MBE

Thornhill itself is a small rural village situated in the heart of Dumfries and Galloway, close to Drumlanrig Castle, the ancestral home of the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry.

Atholl Brose is a Scottish sweet oatmeal dessert drink obtained by mixing oatmeal brose, honey, whisky, and sometimes cream particularly on festive occasions. When made with cream the drink is somewhat like Baileys Irish Cream.

According to legend, the drink is named after the 1st Earl of Atholl, who quashed a Highland rebellion in 1475 by filling the rebel leader's well with the mixture, making him easily captured.

Atholl Brose recipe; 7 parts oatmeal brose, 7 parts whisky, 5 parts cream, 1 part honey.



Dance information licensed under this Creative Commons Licence 3.0.
Text from this original Atholl Brose article on Wikipedia.

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