Canterbury In Autumn

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 8 1s cross RH and face down, 1s+3s dance ¾ Double Fig of 8. 321
9-16 2s+1s dance first 6 bars of Tourbillon. Bars 15-16: 1s+2s ½ turn RH to face up un prom hold, Bar 16: 3s dance in (left foot) and take prom hold
17-24 3s+1s+2s dance 3 couple Allemande. 2134
25-32 1s cross RH and cast (3s step up); 1s cross LH and cast (4s step up). 2341

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

1- 2 1C cross over RH, and finish facing down.
3- 8 1+3Cs dance ¾ of a Double Fig of 8, finishing 3C at the top, 1C in 3rd place.
9-16 2+1Cs (in the centre) dance the first 6 bars of The Tourbillion. On bars 15 and 16, 1+2Cs ½ turn RH to finish in the centre facing up in promenade hold.
 WHILE, on bar 16, 3C (at the top) dance in on the left foot to also finish facing up in promenade hold.
17-24 3+1+2Cs dance a 3C Allemande, order 2,1,3,4.
25-32 1C (in 2nd place) cross over RH and cast off one place (3C step up on 27+28). 1C then cross LH and cast off to 4th place (4C step up on 31+32).

Repeat with a new top couple.

(Dance crib compiled by the deviser, Gaye Collin, 2024)

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Dance Information

To say I was delighted to be asked would be the understatement of the year. I have taught an afternoon of my dances in Wellington, and at the Perth Winter School in 2022 John Brenchley asked if I would teach some of my dances to the Advanced Low Impact class, which of course was amazing. However, this was a step up on both of those occasions and it was exciting to take up this opportunity.

I was to take an advanced class in the afternoon and a general class in the morning. I set to work looking first through my published dances, and then my brand-new material. They all went on a spread sheet to make sure I was covering lots of formations for both levels.
I also decided to devise a brand-new dance to give to the Canterbury Region to thank them for this wonderful opportunity to teach a day of my dances.

The dancers on the day were asked for suggestions for a name, for this brand-new Strathspey and 8 names came forward. Damon and I chose "Canterbury in Autumn" as looking out the windows of the hall it was the most beautiful sunny autumn day with such amazing colours in the trees all around us - the dance really named itself. Surely the prettiest season of the year in Christchurch.

The day went well, and I loved it from start to finish, and the cream on the top was that the new President of the Region asked if I would come back again the following year to do another day with them.

Recommended tunes: CD Vintage Goldring M Johnstone K Smith, Track 16 Double Diamond Strathspey.

(Dance information by the deviser, Gaye Collin)

Located on the east coast, it lies near the Pacific Ocean and the Canterbury Plains. The city was established as a planned settlement by British settlers in 1850 and officially became a city in 1856.

Christchurch has a strong association with the Anglican Church and is home to the University of Canterbury. It experienced significant damage from major earthquakes in 2010 and 2011.

Autumn In Hagley Park, Christchurch, New Zealand

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