Grace And Flow
Scottish Country Dance Instruction
GRACE AND FLOW (S8x32) 3C (4C set) Gaye Collin, 20251- 8 1s dance in and cast to 2nd place (2s step up on 3-4); 1s dance down between 3s and cast up to finish in the middle 1L facing 2s and 1M facing 3s
9-16 1s dance RH across, 1L with 2s, 1M with 3s. On bar 12, 1L joins 3s ahead of 1M, 1s+3s dance LH across while 2s turn LH. All end in the middle in promenade hold, 2s+3s facing up, 1s face down
17-24 2s+1s+3s dance Circulating Allemande:
2s+3s dance normal Allemande but end in 3rd/1st place as 1s dance Allemande down and up to 2nd place opposite sides. 3(1)2
25-32 3s+1s+2s set. 1s dance DoSiDo and cross RH while 3s+2s dance ¾ R&L. 213
End of 2nd turn: 1s repeat bars 1-4 dancing in and casting to 4th place as 4s step up
(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)
Grace And Flow (S8x32) 32bar Strathspey for 3Cs in a 4C set, Gaye Collin
1- 8 1C dance towards each other taking nearer hands then cast off into 2nd place, (2C step up on 3&4), 1C dance down and cast up round 3C to finish in the middle, 1W facing 2C, and 1M facing 3C.
9-16 1C dance RHs across 1W with 2C, 1M with 3C. On bar 12 1W leaves 2C and joins 1M with 3C to dance LH across, 1W entering the hands across in front of her partner. (1M needs to dance a little further round in the 3Hs across to leave space for his partner). Meanwhile, 2C turn LH.
ALL 3Cs finish facing for a Circulating Allemande. i.e. 1C are in the centre facing down, 2C are in the centre at the top facing up, 3C are in the centre facing up. All couples in promenade hold.
17-24 2+1+3Cs dance the Circulating Allemande.
25-32 3+1+2Cs take hands on the side and set, 1C dance back-to-back, then cross over RH: While 3+2Cs dance ¾ R&Ls, to finish in the order, 2.1.3
When the new 1C begin the dance, the original 1C repeat bars 1-4 to finish in 4th place, and 2+4Cs step up on bars 3+4.
(Dance crib compiled by the devisers, Gaye Collin, 2025)
Keith Rose's Crib Diagram
Dance Instruction Videos
Grace And Flow - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction VideoDance Information
The dance originated from an incident at the Wellington Region New Dancers Celebration dance when a newcomer forgot to change ends during a figure of three hands across and back.As a result, the intended three-person hands-across figure became one involving all four dancers. The unexpected variation caused considerable amusement, and the original first couple took some time to locate each other and return to their correct positions.
The dance was completed in October 2025 while the deviser and her husband, Damon, were visiting family in Coffs Harbour, Australia. During the night, the idea came to her that the original first couple could repeat the opening four bars to progress to fourth place, rather than using a conventional step-down movement. This solution was incorporated into the final version of the dance and can be seen in the accompanying video recording.
The deviser has noted that dance ideas frequently develop while she is asleep, with solutions often appearing during the night and remaining clear on waking. The events that inspired this dance continue to raise a smile whenever they are recalled.
(Dance information from notes supplied by the devisers, Damon and Gaye Collin, 2025)
Published in Grace And Flow, reproduced here with the kind permission of the deviser, Gaye Collin, 2025.
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