The Dancing Master
Scottish Country Dance Instruction
THE DANCING MASTER (J96) Sq.Set John Drewry Donside Book1- 8 1s and 3s set and pivot to right and dance round ¼ clockwise inside set (L follows M) and face in, 1s+3s change places with other partner RH and dance clockwise back to partner's place (M follows L)
9-16 1s and 3s dance RH across with corner 2L/4L, 1s and 3s dance across and LH across with other corner 4M/2M to end in place facing clockwise (M behind L)
17-24 1s also 3s dance Tandem reels of 3 with corners, 1s and 3s ending in prom hold facing out
25-32 1s and 3s dance clockwise ½ way round outside of set and dance in back to original places (pass RSh) while 2s and 4s (prom hold) advance and retire
33-64 2s and 4s repeat above Figs from beginning (bars 1-32)
65-72 All set to partners and change place RH, Ladies dance ¾ RH across while Men cast 1 place clockwise to meet opposite Lady
73-80 All repeat this Fig (bars 65-72) to end with own partners (opposite to where they started)
81-88 All dance ½ Schiehallion Reel (2 places) back to original places
89-96 All circle 8H round and back. 1234
(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)
The Dancing Master
John Drewry Donside Book
Jig 96 bars 4 Couple Repeat 4 Couple Set Square Set
1-2 1M3L 1L3M set, turning on the spot ¾ to finish facing clockwise;
3-4 1s3s chase ¼ round inside the set finishing facing across between 2s4s;
5-6 1M3L 1L3M cross by the right;
7-8 1s3s chase ¼ round clockwise finishing in partners' places;
9-12 1s2L 3s4L right hands across;
13-16 1s4M 3s2M left hands across;
17-24 2L(1L1M)4M 4L(3L3M)2M reels of 3 (1s 3s dancing in tandem, Ls leading), finishing with 1M 3M moving forward and left of partner for promenade hold;
25-28 1s 3s promenade clockwise outside the set WHILE 2s 4s advance and retire;
29-32 1s 3s passing right shoulder promenade across the set to original places.
33-64 Repeat the previous 32 bars, 2s 3s 4s 1s dancing as 1s 2s 3s 4s, respectively.
65-68 All set to partners and turn by the right halfway;
69-72 Ls right hands across ¾ round WHILE Mn cast clockwise, chase ¼ round and cast inwards to face the opposite lady (4M2L 1M3L 2M4L 3M1L);
73-80 repeat bars 65-72 from new positions, finishing all on opposite sides, Ls facing out;
81-88 all Schiehallion reels halfway;
89-96 8 hands round and back.
(MAXICRIB. Scottish country dancing instructions compiled by Reuben Freemantle)
Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams
Dance Instruction Videos
The Dancing Master - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction VideoDance Information
This jig, The Dancing Master, was devised in April 1989 by John Drewry to mark Bill Ireland's retirement as teacher of the London Branch RSCDS demonstration class after nearly 40 years.Bill Ireland taught around the world and was himself taught by Miss Jean Milligan.
Dancing Master - (Not Bill Ireland!)
"A Man Called Mr. Wood, The Dancing Master" Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788), Oil On Canvas, c. 1757
Image copyright Thomas Gainsborough, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
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