Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

The Highland Gambler

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

The Highland Gambler
Maggie and Duncan Keppie Gaelic College SCD Book 2: Six And Half A Dozen
Strathspey 8 x 32 bars 2 Couple Repeat 4 Couple Set Longwise Set

  1-4   HALF FIGURE OF 8: 1st couple dance a half figure of 8 around 2nd couple;

  5-8   TURN: 1st man turns 2nd woman left hand AS 1st woman turns 2nd man right hand, once round ending with 1st couple in promenade hold facing down between 2nd couple;

  9-16 PROMENADE REEL OF 3: 1st couple dance a promenade reel of 3 with 2nd couple starting by passing right shoulder with 2nd man (2nd couple dance half reel of 3, then on bars 13-16, they turn once around with right hands to end in the middle in promenade hold facing down) (1st couple end behind 2nd couple);

17-24 DOWN MIDDLE AND UP: 2nd couple followed by 1st couples dance down middle, on bar 20 drop left hands, raise right hands for the women to dance under the arch as men dance below partner to lead back up on own side to original places;

25-32 ROULETTE: 1st and 2nd couples dance into centre with petronella turn (2 bars), turn partner halfway round with both hands opening out with 1st couple facing woman's side and 2nd couple facing men's side (2 bars), 1st woman and 2nd man join right hands and start to dance a double wheel (1 bar), then dropping partner's hands, 1st man and 2nd woman dance round outside to progressed places AS 1st women and 2nd man turn right hands just over once round to progressed places.

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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