Farewell To Helensburgh
Scottish Country Dance Instruction
FAREWELL TO HELENSBURGH (S8x32) 3C (4C set) Brian Charlton RSCDS Book 481- 6 1M+2L set as 1L+2M ¾ turn LH to finish 2M facing 1M, 1L facing 2L. 1s+2s dance ½ diagonal reel of 4
7- 8 2L dances across to 1L place, 1L to 1M place, 2M to 2L place, 1M to 2M place (1s on Men's side, 2s on Ladies' side)
9-12 1s+2s set, Petronella-in tandem to middle, 1s facing up, 2s facing down
13-16 1s+2s set and link. 1s finish in 2nd place facing out, 2s in 1st place
17-20 2s+1s+3s dance ½ reels of 3 on sides (1M+2M, 1L+3L pass RSh). Bar 20 1s ¾ turn LH to face opposite sides
21-24 3s+1s+2s dance ½ reels of 3 on sides (1M+3L, 1L+2M pass LSh). Bar 24 1s turn RH to own sides 2nd place
25-32 2s+1s+3s dance 6H round and back
(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)
Farewell To Helensburgh A 32 Bar Strathspey For 3 Couples In A 4 Couple Set.
1 - 2 First man and second lady set, while first lady and second man turn with the left hand to finish back-to back in the centre, first lady facing second lady and second man facing first man.
3 - 6 First and second couples dance a half reel of four on the diagonal.
7 - 8 First lady dances to first man's place, first man to second man's place, second lady to first lady's place and second man to second lady's place.
9 - 12 First and second couples set on the sides and dance petronella in tandem to finish with first couple facing second couple in the middle of the dance.
13 - 16 First and second couple set and link to finish in progressed places, with first couple facing out.
17 - 20 Second, first and third couples dance half reels of three on the side, first lady giving right shoulder to third lady and first man giving right shoulder to second man to begin. First couple turn ¾ with the left hand on bar 20.
21 - 24 Continue reels of three on the sides, first lady giving left shoulder to second man (third place) and first man giving left shoulder to third lady (second place). First couple turn ¾ with the right hand on bar 24 to finish in second place on own sides.
25 - 32 Second, first and third couples dance six hands round and back.
Repeat from second place.
(Dance crib compiled by the deviser, Brian Charlton, June 2003)
Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams
Dance Instruction Videos
Farewell To Helensburgh - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction VideoDance Information
The dance was written to celebrate the 18th and last annual social of the Helensburgh Scottish Country Dance Class on 6th September 2003. Note that this Helensburgh is the town in New South Wales, not the one in Scotland, and that "burgh" is pronounced "berg" rather than "borough", there.Recommended Music: A suitable recording is 'Alltshellach' recorded on the Cairngorms CD.
(Dance information by the deviser, Brian Charlton, and Reuben Freemantle)
Helensburgh is a small town in New South Wales, Australia. Helensburgh is located 45 kilometres south of the Sydney central business district and 35 kilometres (22 mi) north of Wollongong, approximately halfway between Sydney and Wollongong, at the southern end of the Royal National Park.
Originally called Camp Creek, Helensburgh was established as a workers' camp in the 1880s to accommodate coal miners, who worked in the coal mine in the area. Helensburgh Post Office opened on 1 December 1886.
Although it is not confirmed, the naming of Helensburgh is likely related to emigration from Scotland to Australia; as there is a Scottish town located by the Clyde river which is also named Helensburgh.
The duplicated curved platform is a rare remainder of early railways. The old Helensburgh railway station, opened in 1889 as part of the final completed segment of the original South Coast railway line, was covered in earth until recent years but has been partially uncovered for historical purposes. The old railway line was serviced by steam trains until it was closed in 1915.
Old Helensburgh Railway Station, 1904
Dance information licensed under this Creative Commons Licence 3.0.
Text from this original Helensburgh New South Wales article on Wikipedia.
Image copyright Public Domain, Source - National Library of Australia, via TroveLA ID 43732243, "Helensburgh railway station, old Illawarra Railway, New South Wales, 1904, via Picryl.
Back to the top of this Scottish Country Dancing Instructions 'Farewell To Helensburgh' page