Doon The Burn Davie Lad

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 4 The men advance for two steps, turn to their left and retire to finish, having moved one position anticlockwise, whilst the ladies cast round their partner's place to the next lady's position. All are now opposite their partners.
5- 8 The ladies advance for two steps, turn to their right and retire, whilst the men cast anticlockwise. All finish on the opposite side of the set.
9-10 First and third couples advance.
11-12 First and third couples collect second and fourth couples in two straight lines and all retire to finish facing up and down.
13-16 All set and cross, giving right hand with opposite person; finish back in the square, men have their partners on their left.
17-24 Repeat with second and fourth couples leading; they advance collect first and third couples, all retire, set and cross right hand to original places.
25-32 Eight hands round to the left in a circle and back to the right.
33-36 First and third couples dance right hands across in a wheel.
37-40 First man and third lady dance left hands across in a wheel with second couple, whilst first lady and third man do the same with fourth couple. Second and fourth couples finish facing out, with others behind them.
41-44 Second and fourth couples cast away from own partner and dance in to meet in original places; first man leads third lady out to second place as third man leads first lady out to fourth place, these couples similarly separate and cast to meet partner in original places.
45-48 All turn partner with the right hand once round and set.
49-64 Repeat, sixteen bars, second and fourth couples dancing in to give right hands across to commence.
65-72 First man and fourth lady dance a double figure of eight round their partners, passing in front of own partner to commence. Third man and second lady do the same.
73-80 First lady and second man dance a figure of eight round their partners, passing in front of own partner to start. Third lady and fourth man do the same.
81-84 All turn partner one and a quarter times with two hands, men finish in the centre of the set, ladies on the outside with nearer hands joined all facing clockwise.
85-88 Men give right hands across and all dance round in a grand star half way.
89-92 All turn partner with two hands one and a half times to bring the ladies into the centre, all facing anticlockwise with nearer hands joined with partner.
93-96 The ladies give left hands across and all dance a grand star half way round. The ladies finish back to back in the centre facing partners.

Recommended tune: Doon The Burn Davie Lad

(Dance crib reproduced from The Whetherly Book Of Scottish Country Dances, revised and republished by Alison Mitchell)

Back to the top of this Scottish Country Dancing Instructions 'Doon The Burn Davie Lad' page