Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

The Celtic Reel

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

THE CELTIC REEL (R8x32) 2C (4C set) Barry Skelton Celtic Book

1- 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 Diagrams


Dance Instruction Videos

The Celtic Reel - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction Video
Celtic Reel
Tall Bearded Iris 'Scottish Reel'


Image copyright Renee C. Fraser (Own work), Creative Commons Licence 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

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