The Celtic Reel
Scottish Country Dance Instruction
THE CELTIC REEL (R8x32) 2C (4C set) Barry Skelton Celtic Book1- 8 1s set, ¾ turn LH (as 2s step up), 1s set and ¾ turn to face other partner in line across
9-24 1s+2s dance the Celtic Reel:
9-12 1s+2s pass RSh as for reel of 4, 1s dance clockwise ¼ way while 2s dance ¾ LSh round each other to face other partner (up/down)
13-16 1s+2s pass RSh as for reel of 4, 2s dance clockwise ¼ way while 1s dance ¾ LSh round each other to face other partner (across)
17-24 1s+2s repeat bars 9-16
25-32 1s+2s set and ¾ turn (1L+2M LH and 1M+2L RH), 1s dance ½ Fig of 8 round 2s to own sides
(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)
The Celtic Reel
Barry Skelton Celtic Book
Reel 8 x 32 bars 2 Couple Repeat 4 Couple Set Longwise Set
1-2 1s set;
3-4 1s turn ¾ by the left, moving down half a position WHILE 2s step up half a place;
5-6 1s set, facing up and down;
7-8 1s turn ¾ by the left, finishing back-to-back, 1L facing 2M, 1M facing 2L;
9-24 2M1L1M2L dance the celtic reel, finishing as at the end of bar 8:
9-10 2M1L1M2L dance ¼ of a reel of four, finishing 1L facing up, 1M down;
11-12 1s chase clockwise ¼ around the set WHILE 2s pass, giving left shoulder, finishing 1L2M2L1M on the centre line, 2s back-to-back, 1L facing 2M, 2L facing 1M;
13-16 1L2M2L1M repeat bars 9-12 from new positions, finishing 2L1M1L2M in line across the set, 1s back-to-back, 1L facing 2M, 1M facing 2L;
17-24 1L2M2L1M repeat bars 9-16 from new positions, finishing as at the end of bar 8;
25-26 2M1L 1M2L set;
27-28 2M1L turn ¾ by the left WHILE 1M2L turn ¾ by the right, finishing 2s1s, 1s on opposite sides;
29-32 1s cross up into half figures across around 2s, finishing 2s1s on own sides.
(MAXICRIB. Scottish country dancing instructions compiled by Reuben Freemantle)
Dance Notes
3-4 2s step up only half a place and 1s must finish between them.
9-16 Note that the phrasing allows 6 bars for the modified half reel of four.
9-24 Whenever the dancers are in line ready to dance ¼ of a reel of four, 1M faces 2L, 1L faces 2M.
Keith Rose's Crib Diagram
Dance Instruction Videos
The Celtic Reel - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction Video
Tall Bearded Iris 'Scottish Reel'
Image copyright Renee C. Fraser, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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