Callum Donaldson

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 2 All join hands on the sides and set.
3- 6 First and second couples dance four hands round to the left in a circle, third and fourth couples do the same; finish on own sides of the set, first and third couples facing down and second and fourth couples facing up.
7- 8 All set.
9-16 Dropout chain*:
9-10 all change places on the sides giving right hand; third couple are in fourth place and drop out of the chain;
11-12 second couple cross giving left hand, whilst first and fourth couples change places on the sides giving left hand; first couple are in third place and drop out of the chain;
13-14 second and fourth couples change places on the sides giving right hand; second couple are in second place on opposite side and drop out of the chain;
15-16 fourth couple cross giving left hand to first place on opposite side.
17-20 First and second couples dance half rights and lefts.
21-24 First and second couples turn one and a half times with the right hand.
25-28 First and fourth couples Counter Splunge*, second and third couples do the same:
25-26 first and third couples face up, second and fourth couples face down; all turn (on the sides of the set) half way with the left hand to finish facing out, the ladies turning under the raised left arms as they do so;
27-28 all pull left shoulder back to dance left hands across in a wheel half way, first couple with fourth couple and second couple with third couple.
29-30 First and second couples dance right hands across in a wheel half way.
31-32 First and third couples dance left hands across in a wheel half way, second and fourth couples do the same.
33-36 First man followed by first lady casts up behind third lady and crosses to own side, at the same time fourth man followed by fourth lady casts up behind second lady and crosses to own side: on bars 35 & 36 second and third couples step down.
37-40 Second and fourth ladies turn one and a half times with the left hand to change places; second and fourth men do the same. Finish in the order 2, 4, 1, 3.

Repeat with new top couple. Recommended tune: Callum Donaldson * The Counter Splunge and dropout chain are described in the appendix of this book.

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

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