Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

The Blainslie Fancy

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

THE BLAINSLIE FANCY (R8x32) 3C (4C set) John Bowie Dickson Dunedin Dances Book 5

1- 8 1s cross RH, cast 1 place, cross LH, 1L casts up to face down between 2s as 1M casts down to face up between 3s
9-16 2s+1s+3s set, 1s ¾ turn RH to opposite sides, 2s+1s+3s set and 1s ¾ turn LH ready for...
17-24 1L+2s also 1M+3s dance RH across, 1s pass RSh to dance LH across with other couple. 1s end in centre RSh to RSh facing opposite sides
25-32 Fig of 8 for 3 couples:
 25-28 1s pass RSh, 2M+2L follow 1M through 3L and 3M place while 3L+3M follow 1L through 1M and 1L place. 1s end in centre LSh to LSh
 29-32 All repeat Fig of 8 passing LSh

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


Dance Notes

25-28 This is a derivative of the snake/smoke figure, starting on the first corners' diagonal.

29-32 This is the standard form of the snake/smoke figure, starting on the second corners' diagonal.


Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams


Dance Information

The Blainslie Fancy was devised for Robert and Marjorie Hamilton from Blainslie in the Scottish Borders.

Blainslie is in Galashiels, Selkirkshire, Scotland about 30 miles south east of Edinburgh.

Bull at Upper Blainslie
Bull At Upper Blainslie


Image copyright Heather Mohieddeen under this Creative Commons Licence 2.0.

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