Delvine Side

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 8 1s+2s set and cross passing RSh, set and cross back passing RSh
9-16 1s lead down the middle and back for Allemande
17-24 1s+2s dance Allemande 1s end facing 1st corners
25-32 1s turn 1st corner 2H, pass partner RSh, turn 2nd corner 2H and cross passing RSh to 2nd place on own sides

(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)

Keith Rose's Crib Diagram

Delvine Side - Full Size And Key To Symbols

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Dance Information

(Dance information copyright, reproduced here with the kind permission of George Williams)

The estate occupied a prominent position on the left bank of the River Tay and included a mansion known as Delvine House. Records from the 18th and early 19th centuries indicate that the estate was actively managed, with documents detailing leases, accounts, and local barony court matters.

The area around Delvine has a longer history, as it lies on land previously used for Inchtuthil Roman legionary fortress and camp (also known as Pinnata Castra), with evidence of walls, ramparts, and ditches, though by the 19th century much of these had been levelled by agricultural activity. The estate was associated with the Mackenzie family in the 18th century, passing later to their descendants. The mansion itself was demolished in the 20th century, but maps and estate records continue to mark Delvine as a distinct locality.

Given this, the name of the Scottish country dance "Delvine Side" is very likely derived from this place. While no surviving records confirm that the dance was first performed at Delvine, the connection between the name of the estate and the dance in William Campbell's 1790 collection supports the association. The estate's historical presence, documented management, and long-standing recognition in maps and records make it a plausible origin for the dance's name.

Site Of Inchtuthil Roman Legionary Fortress

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