Borders' Traditional

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 8 1s+2s set, cross RH; set and cross LH to finish facing partner 2H joined ready for...
9-16 1s+2s dance Borders Poussette:
 9-13 Normal Poussette (all pas-de-basque, Men start Right foot)
 14 1s+2s ¼ turn into line up/down centre (2L 2M 1L 1M)
 15-16 1s+2s pull back RSh and cast to own sides, 1s face out
17-24 RSh reels of 3 on sides, 1M up (RSh to 2M) 1L down (RSh to 3L), corners dance loops at end, 1s face 2nd corners
25-32 1s+2nd corners dance LH Corner pass and turn (1s pass corners LSh, corner turn LH); 1s pass LSh to face 1st corners, 1s+1st corners dance LH Corner pass and turn, 1s pass LSh to 2nd place own side. 213

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

1-8 First and second couples set (2), cross right hand (2), set (2) and cross left hand (2), but finishing in the middle with both hands joined ready for...
9-16 A Borders' Poussette. To wit (all in pas de Basque):
 9-13 All dance the first 5 bars of a standard poussette, except that the men begin on the right foot.
 14 All dancers dance a quarter turn instead of a half turn for a normal poussette. All dancers are in a line up and down the centre of the set, in order from the top, 2W, 2M, 1W, and 1M. Dancers should be careful not to be too far apart from their partners.
 15-16 All dancers cast to own sides pulling back right shoulders, as in double triangles. First couple finish facing out.
17-24 The three men dance a reel of three on the sides, first man giving right shoulder to second man to begin. Likewise on the lady's side, the first woman giving right shoulder to third lady to begin. At the end, after bar 6, first couple dance into the centre of the set, and the first couple finish left shoulder to left shoulder facing their second corners. Second lady needs to anticipate the entry to the reel. The reels are 8 bars for the corners, and should have full loops at the ends.
25-32 First couple and corners dance a left handed corners pass and turn. To wit:
 25-28 First couple dance around second corner position passing their second corners by the left and around each other by the left shoulder to finish facing first corners. Meanwhile second corners turn left hand and dance out to place.
 29-32 First couple repeat 25-28 with first corners, but this time pass left shoulder to finish in second place on own sides.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

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

Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams

Borders' Traditional - Full Size And Key To Symbols

Dance Instruction Videos

Dance Information

I only learned of this figure from the old book A Complete Guide to Scottish Country Dancing by Allie Anderson and John Duthie (McDougall's Educational Co, Ltd), where it is called "Poussette Second Form" (pages 30-31).

Apparently at the time of the writing of this old edition, this method of dancing the poussette was danced in the South-East Borders Counties. The instructions for bars 6-8 say to quarter turn, hesitate, turn and retire. On reconsideration (as pointed out by Iain Boyd) likely this means continue to turn, and then retire. However, I like the mis-interpretation and kept it for that reason.

Recommended music is "The Daggs of Craighouse" by Moira Reekie played ABAB, this being the lead tune for "A Tribute to the Borders." Good recordings include the ones on "Music for Leaflet Dances Vol. 2" by Neil Copland and his Scottish Dance Band, and on "Dancing Live" by The Muriel Johnstone Trio.

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

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