Brochan Lom

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

BROCHAN LOM (S8x32) 3C (4C set) Iain MacFarlane

1- 8 1s+2s+3s Set and Petronella turn to face partner up and down; All ¾ turn partner 2H to opposite sides and all Set
9-16 All advance and retire (1 step each) twice; All turn partner 2H once round
17-24 Cross-over Mirror Reels:
1s cross down, 2s out/up, 3s in/up to start. As each couple reaches 1st place they cross down to finish reel on own side. End 1s in centre nearer hands joined facing down, 2s nearer hands joined facing up, 3s in 3rd place own side
25-32 1s+2s dance Rondel

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

Brochan Lom
Iain MacFarlane 1970
Strathspey 8 x 32 bars 3 Couple Repeat 4 Couple Set Longwise Set

1-2 All take hands on the sides and set;

3-4 all petronella turn to finish 1L1M2L2M3L3M on the centre line;

5-6 all turn partner ¾ both hands, finishing 1s2s3s on opposite sides;

7-8 all take hands on the sides and set;

9-12 all advance and retire twice;

13-16 all turn partner both hands, finishing 1s2s3s on opposite sides;

17-24 modified mirror reels of 3 on the sides, 1s crossing down to start, each supporting couple crossing down on reaching top place to finish 1s2s3s on own sides, 1s facing down, 2s up;

25-32 1s2s rondel:

25-26 1s cross down under arch made by 2s dancing up, 2s finishing half a place above 1st place, 1s half a place below 2nd place, all on opposite sides facing out;

27-27 2s cast to 1st place WHILE 1s cast up to 2nd place, finishing 2s1s on opposite sides;

28-29 2L1L cross under arch made by 2M1M dancing across, all finishing in original places, 1s facing up, 2s down;

30-30 1s dance up, in and down WHILE 2s dance down, in and up, finishing 1s facing down, 2s up, all with nearer hands joined;

31-32 1s lead down under arches made by 2s finishing 2s1s3s.

(MAXICRIB. Scottish country dancing instructions compiled by Reuben Freemantle)

Dance Notes

13-16 Sedate turn.

25-32 On the 2nd, 4th and 6th repeats, use rondel for 3 couples with the following modified movements:

30-30 1s dance up, in and down WHILE 2s dance down, in and up WHILE 3s advance (left foot step) and face up, finishing 1s facing down, 2s 3s up, all with nearer hands joined;

31-32 1s lead down under arches made by 2s3s, all finishing 2s3s1s.

Dance Instruction Videos

Brochan Lom - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction Video

Dance Information

This strathspey, Brochan Lom, was first taught at a Teacher's Council Workshop in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, on March 20th, 1970.

lain writes, "The dance was not meant to be published and was one I wrote myself to work with a group of teachers on the Rondel which had just been devised about that time. I think I was also demonstrating the fact that some Strathspeys are what we called 'Highland' tempo, hence the use of the tune Brochan Lom."

The tune for this dance is Brochan Lom - Song, the traditional children's Gaelic song whose title means "Thin gruel".

"Brochan lom" should be pronounced as "Broch~n lom" in English with stress on the first syllable of both words and the following conventions:
  "o" is as in "not";
  "ch" is as in "loch"; and
  "~" represents the very short, indeterminate, vowel sound.
See Gaelic Dance Names for more information on Gaelic spelling and pronunciation.

(Dance information by Jo Hamilton, 1987, and Reuben Freemantle)

Brochan Lom Song - Information Video

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