Head Of The Pin

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

Head Of The Pin
Maggie and Duncan Keppie Gaelic College SCD Book 3: A Dime A Dozen
Jig 8 x 32 bars 2 Couple Repeat 4 Couple Set Longwise Set

1-8 1ST COUPLE SOLO: 1st couple lead down the middle between 2nd and 3rd couples (2 bars), cross over and cast up around 3rd couple (2 bars), join nearer hands and dance up middle (2 bars), and cast off one place ending on the opposite side in 2nd place (2nd couple step up on bars 7-8);

9-12 PROMENADE: 1st man with 2nd woman, 2nd man with 1st woman, promenade into middle, then men promenade partner around to the left back to side of dance, (i.e. 2nd couple dance up and to their left ending on the men's side of the dance AS 1st couple dance down and to their left ending on the women's side of the dance);

13-16 REPEAT: bars 9-12 with partner and opposite;

17-24 LADIES' CHAIN: 1st and 2nd couples dance ladies' chain across the dance;

25-32 1ST COUPLE SET: spring points, set and cross over with right hands to 2nd place on own side.

Repeat having passed a couple.

(Dance crib compiled by the devisers, Maggie and Duncan Keppie)

Dance Notes

As with all dances having the format, 2-Couple Repeat in a 4-Couple Set, if dancer numbers so dictate it can be performed in a 3-Couple or 5-Couple Set and with the number of repeats adjusted appropriately.

(Dance notes by Reuben Freemantle)

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