The Black Bear (Mitchell)

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 6 First and second couples dance right hands across for three bars and back with the left hand across for three bars.
7- 8 First couple cross over giving left hand to finish facing first corners. Meanwhile second couple cast up into first place.
9-12 First couple dance a half reel of four with their first corners, to finish facing second corners.
13-16 First couple dance a half reel of four with their second corners, to finish facing first corners on the opposite side of the set.
17-20 First couple set to their first corners, coupé pas de basque, then change places giving right hands with two skip change of step commencing with the left foot.
21-24 First couple and first corners set coupé pas de basque commencing with the left foot, then change places giving right hand with two skip change of step commencing right foot; first couple finish facing second corners.
25-32 Repeat bars 17-24 with second corners. On bars 31-32 the dancing couple dance into second place on own side whilst second corners dance back to their positions on the opposite sides.
33-36 First couple dance half rights and lefts with their first corners to get first corners back to own sides.
37-40 First couple dance half rights and lefts with their second corners to get second corners back to own sides.
41-48 Second, first and third couples dance six hands round in circle to the left for four bars and back to the right.

Repeat from second place.

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

Keith Rose's Crib Diagram

The Black Bear (Mitchell) - Full Size And Key To Symbols