The Bonnie Tree

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

THE BONNIE TREE (S8x32) 3C (4C set) Romaine Butterfield RSCDS Book 46

1- 8 1s dance down below 3s and cast up behind 3s, dance up between 2s and cast to 2nd place
9-16 2s+1s+3s ½ turn partner 2H and twirl to opposite place, all circle 6H round to left ¾ way into lines across (Men facing down at top)
17-20 1s change places RH and cast right to 2nd place own side while (bar 19) 3M+2L change places diagonally RH
21-24 1s cross RH and cast right into middle while (bar 23) 2M+3L change places RH all end in lines across (Ladies facing down, Men up)
25-32 All ½ turn partner 2H and twirl to opposite place, all circle 6H round to left to own sides. 213

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

Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams

The Bonnie Tree - Full Size And Key To Symbols

Dance Instruction Videos

The Bonnie Tree - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction Video

Dance Information

This strathspey was dedicated to the memory of Catriona Budge, who died in 2004. Catriona was a dancer in Wellington, New Zealand, and an Island Bay and formerly a Lower Hutt SCD club member. She was also a "staunch environmentalist" according to the deviser.

A suggestion at the funeral was that each person attending plant a tree in Catriona's memory.

This strathspey represents a tree from Romaine, the deviser.

The full crib in Book 46 quotes from the Rowan Tree - Song from 'Lays From Strathearn' by Carolina Oliphant, (Lady Nairne), 1766-1845.

There was na sic a bonnie tree
In all the country side

Romaine Butterfield also devised the dance Rowan Tree (Butterfield).

A Bonnie Tree, New Zealand

Image copyright Rob Chandler (The Original Party Tree!, Hobbiton, New Zealand) Creative Commons Licence 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Additional search terms: Bonny.

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