The Dundee Dragon

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

THE DUNDEE DRAGON (R8x32) 3C (4C set) Bill Forbes Craigevar Book 5

1- 8 1s cross RH, cast (2s step up), 1s dance ½ Fig of 8 round 3s finishing facing 1st corners
9-16 1s set to 1st corners, dance RSh round partner to face 2nd corners, 1s dance ½ reel of 4 with 2nd corners finishing facing 4th corner position (2nd corner person)
17-24 1s set to 4th corners, dance RSh round partner to face 1st corners, 1s dance ½ reel of 4 with 1st corners, passing RSh to face out in 2nd place. (3)1(2)
25-32 Dragon's Chains:
25-26 1s cast to Left as 2nd corners cross RH
27-28 1s ½ turn corners LH (1L+2L also 3M+1M) finish in 2nd place own side, facing out
29-30 1s cast to Right as 1st corners cross LH
31-32 1s ½ turn corners RH (3L+1L also 1M+2M) 213

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

Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams

The Dundee Dragon - Full Size And Key To Symbols

Dance Instruction Videos

The Dundee Dragon - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction Video

Dance Information

This reel, The Dundee Dragon, was devised for Clare Davitt who took a keen interest in dragons.

The Balluderon Stone, otherwise known as Martin's Stone is a class II Pictish cross slab in situ at Balluderon, Angus, Scotland.

The slab, of which only the lower half remains, bears the remnants of a Celtic cross, two mounted riders, a serpent and z-rod symbol and a Pictish beast design. Local tradition associates the slab with the Legend of the Nine Maidens who were devoured by a dragon which was subsequently slain by a hero named Martin, hence Martin's Stone.

This Pictish symbol stone is in the middle of a field, surrounded by an iron fence.

Martin's Stone is 1.2m in height by 0.7m width, and it carries both Pictish and Christian symbols and has long been associated with the tale of the Dundee Dragon.

The farmer at nearby Pitempton had nine daughters, and one day he sent one to the well for water. When she did not return, he sent another, and so on until all nine were missing. When he investigated he found their mangled remains along with a great serpent or dragon. A young man named Martin, lover of one of his daughters, attacked the dragon and eventually slew it.

Folk etymology names this as the origin of Strathmartine, the valley in which the slab stands.

Martin's Stone, Balluderon, Angus, Scotland

Dance information licensed under this Creative Commons Licence 3.0.
Text from this original Balluderon Stone article on Wikipedia.
Text from this original Martin's Stone article on Geograph.
Image copyright Val Vannet under this Creative Commons Licence 2.0.

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