Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

Greyfriar's Bobby

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

GREYFRIAR'S BOBBY (S3x32) 3C set Barry Priddey Twelvesome Reel+4

1- 8 1s cross RH, cast 1 place and turn LH
9-16 1s dance reels of 3 on opposite sides giving LSh to 1st corner, 1s ½ turn RH as 2s and 3s loop round into middle
17-24 2s+1s+3s dance Allemande and end crossing LH to opposite sides
25-28 3s+1s+2s chase anticlockwise for 2 bars and cast back to form lines across (Men at top and Ladies at bottom)
29-32 All change places with partner RH and chase clockwise to own sides. 312

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

Dance Information

Greyfriars Bobby was a Skye Terrier who became known in 19th-century Edinburgh after reportedly spending 14 years guarding the grave of his owner, John Gray, until he died himself on 14 January 1872.

A year later, Lady Burdett-Coutts had a statue and fountain erected at the southern end of the George IV Bridge to commemorate him.

Statue of Greyfriar's Bobby
Greyfriar's Bobby Statue, Edinburgh, Scotland, 2003
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Text from this original Greyfriars Bobby article on Wikipedia.
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Additional search terms: Grey friars.

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