A Bit On The Side

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

A Bit On The Side 32 bar Reel for 3 couples Rod Downey The Golden Bear Collection
A 32 Bar reel for 3 couples.

1-2 1C set.
3-4 1C cast one place, 2C step up.
5-6 1C set.
7-8 1C cross RH and finish facing on sides, 1L facing 2M, 1M facing 3L.
9-12 1L sets to and turns 2M in Pas de Basque and finishes facing 3M, similarly 1M and 3L.
13-16 1L set to and turns 3M and finishes facing 2M on side, similarly 1M and 2L.
17-24 1L dances a LS figure of eight on the side around 2M and 3M giving LS to begin, and finishes facing 2M, in second place on the men's side.
Similarly 1M giving S to 3L.
25-30 1L with 2M and 3m, 1M with 3L and 2L, LS reels on the side.
31-32 1C cross giving RH to second place on own sides.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

(Dance crib compiled by the deviser Rod Downey, Johnsonville SCD Club Tutor)

Dance Notes

Used for teaching set to and turn corners followed by reels on the side.

(Dance notes by the deviser, Rod Downey)

Dance Information

This reel, A Bit On The Side, was devised on 14/11/2020. Inspired by an idea of Iain Boyd, to put the corner turns on the side; and clearly part of a teaching sequence where we teach set to and turn corners and follow with reels.

After this I would likely teach Mrs MacLeod (Of Raasay), and include also Jeanette's Hornpipe.

Suggested music is any good reel preferably played ABAB, and I used "Kirk's Hornpipe" (trad) from "Set of Hornpipes" in Kardinia Kapers, by David South and his Band.

Choose music with strong 4 bar phrases.

(Dance information from The Golden Bear Collection Of Scottish Country Dances, reproduced here with the kind permission of the deviser, Rod Downey)

Published in The Golden Bear Collection, reproduced here with the kind permission of the deviser, Rod Downey.

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