The Captain's Balls

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 4 First lady casts off, second lady stepping up, and turns third man by the right hand.
5- 8 First lady, second man and third couple dance four hands round to the left in a circle.
9-12 First man casts off, second man stepping up, and turns third lady with the left hand.
13-16 First and third couples dance four hands round to the right in a circle. Reel
1- 8 First couple cross passing by the left shoulder to pass first corner by the right and dance a figure of eight round their corners to finish in second place in the middle of the set, facing their opposite side.
9-16 First man dances right hands across in a wheel and back with the left hand with third couple, whilst first lady does the same with second couple. First couple finish in second place on own sides, first lady facing out.

Repeat from second place, at the end first couple finish facing out and cast below third couple as the new first lady commences. Recommended tunes: Strathspey: Margaret's Fancy; Reel: The Mill Brig Note The Captain's BaIIs are two silver-plated golf balls which are suspended from crossed golf clubs in a well-known golf club in St Andrews. It is understood that new club members are expected to kiss them on joining.

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

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