Captain E.G. Elder's Medley

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 2 All set to partner.
3- 4 First and third couples turn with the right hand, whilst second and fourth couples turn with the left hand.
5-12 First man and fourth lady dance a figure of eight round their partners, dancing in front of partner to start, whilst third man and second lady dance a similar figure of eight round their partners.
13-16 Diagonal half rights and lefts:
13-14 first man and fourth lady change places giving right hand as second lady and third man do the same;
15-16 first man and second lady change places with the left hand to finish back to back between third lady and and fourth man, whilst third man and fourth lady change places with the left hand to finish back to back between first lady and second man.
17-24 Diagonal reels of four, all pass the person they are facing by the right shoulder to commence: first lady with third man, fourth lady with second man; third lady with first man, second lady with fourth man; finish facing the same person in a square formation.
25-32 Grand chain, one step to each hand, commencing by giving right hand to the person facing.
33-40 Eight hands round to the left in a circle and back to the right. Note: first and third men have changed places as have second and fourth ladies.
41-42 All set: first man to third lady, second man to fourth lady, third man to first lady and fourth man to second lady.
43-44 First lady and third man turn with the left hand, as do first man and third lady, whilst second lady and fourth man turn with the right hand, as do second man and fourth lady.
45-52 First lady and second man dance a figure of eight round third man and fourth lady, dancing in front of them to commence; whilst third lady and fourth man dance a similar figure of eight round second lady and first man.
53-56 Diagonal half rights and lefts:
53-54 first lady and second man change places giving right hand, third lady and fourth man do the same;
55-56 first lady and fourth man change places with the left hand as do third lady and second man; they finish back to back facing partners.
57-64 Diagonal reels of four, first couple with fourth couple and second couple with third couple; all pass partner by the right to commence and finish facing partner. again in a square formation..
65-72 Grand chain, one step to each hand, commencing by giving right hand to partner.
73-80 Eight hands round to the left in a circle and back to the right. Order is now 3, 4, 1, 2. Reel

1-80 Repeat the whole dance, as described above, to return to original places. Recommended tunes: Strathspey: Capt. E. G. Elder; Reel: A Tribute To Lindsay Ross

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

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