Gowans' Fair

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 8 1L+2L+3L advance (2 steps) and set; 1L followed by 2L+3L dances up and casts to 3rd place own side. 3L 2L 1L
9-16 Men repeat but with 3M followed by 2M+1M dancing down and casting up own side. 321
17-24 1s cross RH, cast up (2s step down); 1s dance ½ Fig of 8 up round 3s
25-32 3s+s+2s dance ½ mirror reels of 3 on sides (1s in/dow, 2s out/up); 1s dance up to top and cast to 2nd place own side. 213

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

1- 8 Top 3W, taking hands on the sides, advance for two steps and set (their partners set back). 1W, followed by 2+3W, dance up for one travelling step then following 1W cast off to third position. Order now 3, 2, 1.
9-16 Top 3M repeat bars 1-8, only this time 3M starts the casting from the bottom.
17-24 1C, now in 3rd place, cross RH and cast UP one place.
(2C move down on 19+20). 1C dance a half figure of 8 up round 3C, to finish facing in and down.
25-32 3+1+2Cs dance a HALF mirror reel on the side 1C in and down to start, 3+2Cs curve in to finish (4bars). 1C finish the reel solo by dancing up through the centre and casting to 2nd place. The order is now 2,1,3.

Repeat again from second place.

(Dance crib compiled by the devisers, Damon and Gaye Collin, August 2012)

Dance Notes

(Dance notes compiled by the devisers, Damon and Gaye Collin, August 2012)

Keith Rose's Crib Diagram

Gowans' Fair - Full Size And Key To Symbols

Dance Instruction Videos

Dance Information

After retiring with her husband, Colin, from the Hutt Valley to Waikanae, Rita continued her involvement in Scottish country dancing, both as a dancer and as a teacher within the club.

The dance title was researched by Jacki King, President of the Waikanae Scottish Country Dance Club. The word "gowan" is a name used for the meadow daisy, while Rita's given name, Marguerite, is also derived from a word meaning daisy, making the title particularly appropriate.

The dance was devised in August 2012 by Damon and Gaye Collin, who were pleased to be invited to prepare a dance in honour of Rita, a long-standing friend.

Recommended tune: "Miss Allie Anderson" from the CD Delaware Valley by Keith Smith and Muriel Johnstone.

(Dance information from notes supplied by the deviser, Gaye Collin, August 2012)

Gowan - Meadow Daisy

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