The Hurdy-Gurdy

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 4 1st and 2nd couples dance Right Hands across and dance out to original places, but remain facing clockwise.
5- 8 1st lady followed by her partner casts 2 places to 3rd place on opposite sides
 While 2nd man casts up and across to 1st lady's place, followed by his partner, also finishing on opposite sides.
 3rd couple step up to 2nd place on bars 7-8.
9-15 1st and 3rd couples dance four hands round to left. (8 steps) On bar 12, 3rd couple open out to allow 2nd couple to join the circle and all dance halfway round the set. (6 steps)
16 Set on Left Foot, finishing in the order 1, (3), 2.
17-22 3rd and 1st couples dance 6 bars of a double figure of eight. 1st couple cross down to begin and 3rd couple dance up the sides. Finish all on own side 3, 1, 2.
23-24 All 3 couples set advancing (without taking hands on the side) and take promenade hold with their partner.
25-32 3rd, 1st and 2nd couples dance the allemande.

Repeat having passed a couple.

(Dance crib compiled by the deviser, Neville Pope, April 2010)

Dance Information

Hurdy-Gurdy is a name for a barrel organ and also another musical instrument, shaped like a lute and operated by turning a handle.

Recommended music: Any good Reel.

Recommended Recording: CD 1 track 3 (Selection of Reels) from Celtic Fire in the Music by Bobby Brown: Willie Davie - My Gentle Milkmaid - Struy Lodge - Weary With You All The Day.

(Dance information copyright, reproduced here with the kind permission of the deviser, Neville Pope, 2010)

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