Auld Luckie Scaup

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 8 All four couples dance a grand chain, one step to each hand.
9-16 First couple lead down the middle and up to place. Reel
1- 8 All four couples dance reels of four on own side of set: The ladies dance a right shoulder reel and the men dance a left shoulder reel. It will ease entry into the reel if the first couple finish the strathspey figure facing out and cast to start the reels. All give nearer hands to partners during the reels. At the end of the reel, first couple finish in the middle of the set facing the top with nearer hands joined, between second couple who face down the room: first and second men join left hand and first and second ladies join right hands.
9-16 Spectacle Progression:
9-10 first and second couples set;
11-16 first and second men turn one and a quarter times with the left hand whilst first and second ladies turn one and a quarter times with the right hand approximately three bars) first couple finish facing out and cast off to fourth place. Second, third and fourth couples join hands and step up on the last two bars.

Repeat with a new top couple. Recommended tunes: Strathspey: Auld Luckie; Reel: Luckie Scaup Editor's note to the 2021 edition The name "spectacle progression" is adopted as the figure roughly traces out the shape of a pair of glasses. It is unknown whether this term is in use elsewhere, or introduced here.

(Dance crib reproduced from The Whetherly Book Of Scottish Country Dances, revised and republished by Alison Mitchell)

Keith Rose's Crib Diagram

Auld Luckie Scaup - Full Size And Key To Symbols

Back to the top of this Scottish Country Dancing Instructions 'Auld Luckie Scaup' page