Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

The Gentleman

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

THE GENTLEMAN (S8x32) 3C (4C set) Roz Scott Huxley 1986 RSCDS Book 35

1- 8 1s turn 2H and remain in middle facing each other as 2s step up, 1s+2s set (1s advancing and pass LSh to face opposite partner) and dance ½ reel of 4 across with 2s with 1s ending reel giving LH to face down on own side between 2s
9-16 1s dance down to end between 3s and face each other, 1s+3s set (1s advancing and pass LSh to face opposite partner) and ½ reel of 4 across with 3s 1s end giving LH to face up on own side between 3s
17-24 1s lead up to top, cross over and cast to 2nd place and ½ reels of 3 across (L with 2s and M with 3s)
25-32 2s+1s dance Diamond Poussette. 213

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


The Gentleman
Roz Scott Huxley RSCDS Book 35
Strathspey 8 x 32 bars 3 Couple Repeat 4 Couple Set Longwise Set

  1-2   1s turn both hands WHILE 2s step up behind them;

  3-4   2s set WHILE 1s set advancing and pass giving left shoulder;

  5-8   2M1L1M2L half reel of 4 across, finishing 2s in 1st place, 1s turning by the left to face down on own sides;

  9-10 changing to nearer hands, 1s lead down to finish facing each other between 3s;

11-12 3s set WHILE 1s set advancing and pass giving left shoulder;

13-16 3M1L1M3L half reel of 4 across, finishing 3s in 3rd place, 1s turning by the left to face up on own sides;

17-20 retaining left hands, 1s cross up between 2s and cast to 2nd place on opposite sides;

21-24 2s1L 1M3s half reels of 3 across, finishing in 2nd place on own sides;

25-32 2s1s Strathspey Poussette:

25-25 2L 1M set advancing, giving left shoulder, to finish back-to-back on a diagonal line at right angles to the line joining their places at bar 24 WHILE 2M 1L (changing to the left foot) set advancing to face partners;

26-26 taking both hands, 2s 1s set to 2M's 1L's right, turning 16 on the third beat (2M 1L turning on the spot in their own side lines);

27-27 2s 1s set to 2M's 1L's left, finishing on the centre line;

28-28 1s 2s turn 56, finishing having almost exchanged places (from the end of bar 1);

29-30 repeat bars 26-27, 1s dancing as 2s, 2s as 1s;

31-31 2s 1s turn 23, finishing on the centre line between original places;

32-32 releasing hands, 2s 1s set retiring to places.

(MAXICRIB. Scottish country dancing instructions compiled by Reuben Freemantle)


Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams


Dance Instruction Videos

The Gentleman - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction Video

Dance Information

This is one of the most popular Scottish country dances. It has been in the top twenty most frequent dances appearing on dance programmes, for decades.

This strathspey, The Gentleman, is attributed to the deviser's father, Group Captain David Huxley who acted as Master of Ceremonies at St. Andrews Ceilidhs.



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