Cape Wrath Light

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 4 First couple dance a half figure of eight round second couple, crossing below second couple to commence. Meanwhile third couple dance a similar half figure eight round fourth couple, also crossing down to commence.
5- 8 Second and third couples dance a half ladies' chain.
9-16 All four couples dance a grand chain, giving right hands on the sides to commence. One step to each hand, on the final step all finish facing own partner, first couple at the top, third couple on the ladies' side, fourth couple at the foot and second couple on the men's side: dancers are now in a square formation. Reel
17-20 All dance four bars of petronella, ladies finish back to back in the centre facing their partners.
21-32 Double reels of four, to commence the men pass their partners by the right shoulder and give left hands across in a wheel half way; all finish back in square formation, the ladies on their partners' right. Jig
33-36 First man followed by his partner dance clockwise behind third couple, first man dances round third man and in to face third man whilst first lady dances between third couple to face third lady. At the same time fourth man dances behind second couple to finish facing second man and fourth lady follows him to dance between second couple and face second lady.
37-40 First and third couples dance right hands across in a wheel, as do second and fourth couples.
41-44 First and fourth couples dance left hands across in a wheel.
45-48 First man passes third man by the right and casts round third man to the foot of the set, first lady passes third lady by the right to follow her partner. At the same time fourth man passes second man by the right and dances behind him to the top of the set, fourth lady passing second lady by the right to follow her partner. All finish back in square formation, ladies on their partners' right, all the ladies finish facing out. Strathspey
49-64 Reel of eight as in Schiehallion: ladies cast to follow their partners. Meanwhile the men dance across passing by the left to the position occupied by the lady to the right of their partner, all continue to follow this track back to place. Reel
65-72 Eight hands round in a circle to the left and back to the right.
73-76 Third lady dances up to the top behind fourth couple and round to finish in front of fourth lady facing down the set, third man follows his partner and dances between fourth couple to finish in front of fourth man also facing down. At the same time second lady dances down behind first couple to finish in front of first lady facing up whilst second man follows his partner and dances between first couple to finish in front of first man facing up.
77-80 Second third and fourth couples dance half reels of three on the sides, to commence second and third couples pass by the right shoulder. Jig
81-88 Third and fourth couples dance eight bars of petronella to return to own side of the set.
89-96 Reels of four on the sides of the set. Finish in the order 2, 3, 4, 1. Repeat with new top couple. Recommended tunes: Strathspey: Rose Among the Heather; Reel: Lass O'Patie's Mill; Jig: The Bugle Horn; Strathspey: The Iron Man; Reel: The Storrers; Jig: Stool of Repentance

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

Keith Rose's Crib Diagram

Cape Wrath Light - Full Size And Key To Symbols

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