Carlton And Alex

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1-4 Second couple dance up between first couple with nearer hands joined and cast down round second couple on own sides to finish on the side-lines midway between second and third places
while
third couple turn upwards with both hands and pas de basque once round to finish in the middle in second place facing up with nearer hands joined.
5-8 Second couple turn with left hands twice round to finish on own sides in the middle with second man facing down and second woman facing up
while
third couple dance up between first couple with nearer hands joined and cast down round second couple on own sides to finish on the side-lines midway between second and third places.
9-12 Second woman dances a half reel of three across with first couple passing first man by left shoulders to begin
while
third couple turn with right hands one and a half times to finish on opposite sides in the middle with third woman facing up and third man facing down
while
second man dances a half reel of three across with fourth couple passing fourth woman by left shoulders to begin.
Second couple finish on opposite side-lines midway between second and third places.
13-16 Third woman dances a half reel of three across with first couple passing first man by right shoulders to begin
while
second couple turn with both hands and pas de basque once round to finish with second woman facing first man and second man facing fourth woman - ie. 'first corners'
while
third man dances a half reel of three across with fourth couple passing fourth woman by right shoulders to begin. Third couple finish on own side-lines midway between second and third places.
17-24 Second and third couples dance "hello and goodbye" setting 'chase' with first and fourth couples.
17-18 Second couple set to 'first corners' and dance out to opposite side-lines
while
third couple advance with pas de basque towards 'first corners'.
19-20 Second couple set to partner across the set and dance in to finish back to back facing 'second corners'
while
third couple set to 'first corners' and dance out to opposite side-lines.
21-22 Second couple set to 'second corners' and dance up or down to finish with second man between first couple facing down and second woman between fourth couple facing up
while
third couple set to partner across the set and dance in to finish back to back facing 'second corners'.
23-24 Second couple dance a "Petronella" turn out to own side-lines midway between second and third places
while
third couple set to 'second corners' and dance up or down to finish with third man between first couple facing down and third woman between fourth couple facing up.
25-28 Second couple set twice
while
third couple turn with right hands once round to finish in the middle facing second man with hands joined in 'promenade' hold - third woman on her partner's left.
29-36 Third couple dance a reel of three across with second couple passing second man by right shoulders to begin. At the end of the reel second couple dance up the side-lines to finish in original places while third couple dance down the middle and out to own sides to finish in original places.
37-40 First, second, third and fourth couples set twice with nearer hands joined on the sides. On bars 39-40 all advance into the middle.
41-48 First, second, third and fourth couples dance a Poussette. First couple progress down the men's side to fourth place while second, third and fourth couples progress up the women's side one place.

Repeat with a new top couple.

(Dance crib compiled by the deviser Rod Downey, Johnsonville SCD Club Tutor)

Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams

Carlton And Alex - Full Size And Key To Symbols

Dance Instruction Videos

Dance Information

Devised for my sons - Carlton (aged 4½) and Alex (aged 2½) - as a reminder of the night they attended the Ithaca Scottish Country Dance Club and 'joined in'. The couple who moves first represents Carlton while the couple who moved second represents Alex - who follows most of the time. The middle reel represents the two of them running in and out of the sets.

The recommended tune is "Greenwoodside".

Suitable music - "Up Helly' Aa" recorded by Ian Muir and the Craigellachie Band on "Bath Scottish Dancers" (EO 838), side 2, track 5.

(Dance information from The Cane Toad Collection Of Scottish Country Dances, reproduced here with the kind permission of the deviser, Rod Downey)

Tawa Main Street, Wellington, New Zealand

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