Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

Indian River Strathspey

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

INDIAN RIVER STRATHSPEY (S3x32) 3C Triangular set George Senyk

1- 8 1s+2s+3s in prom hold dance a reel of 3 across the set, 1s passing 3s RSh to start
9-16 1s (with Lady leading) dance RH across with 3s and dance LH across with 2s
17-24 2s+3s dance Ladies' Chain across the set while 1s set (2 bars) and then dance between 2s+3s and cast individually back to places
25-32 1s+3s dance ½ R&L, 1s+2s dance ½ R&L to end 312

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


Indian River Strathspey
George and Onie Senyk
Strathspey 3 x 32 bars 3 Couple Repeat 3 Couple Set Triangular Set
Numbered clockwise, 1s facing down.
While making up, it can be helpful to take hands in a circle to establish the correct format.

  1-8   All take promenade hold for reel of 3 across the set, 1s giving right shoulder to 3s to start, all finishing in places;

  9-12 1L followed by 1M dance right hands across with 3s;

13-16 1L followed by 1M dance left hands across with 2s, all finishing in places, 2M 3M facing out;

17-24 2s3s ladies' chain WHILE 1s take nearer hands and set (facing down), lead down and cast to places:

17-18 2M 3M pull left shoulder back to cast to partner's place WHILE 2L3L cross by the right to opposite M's original place WHILE 1s set;

19-20 2M3L 3M2L turn by the left WHILE 1s lead down with nearer hands joined, finishing below 3L 2M's places;

21-24 2s3s complete the ladies' chain WHILE 1s cast up, all finishing in original places, facing in;

25-28 1s3s half rights and lefts, finishing 3s2s1s;

29-32 1s2s half rights and lefts, finishing 3s1s2s.

(MAXICRIB. Scottish country dancing instructions compiled by Reuben Freemantle)

Dance Notes

  1-32 Since the dancers never take hands in a circle at any time, it may be difficult to maintain the correct, evenly spaced, hexagonal format of the dancers in the triangular set.

    -8   2s must be careful to finish in original places, facing in.

    -12 3s must be careful to finish in original places, facing in.

29-32 3s, standing in 1st place, should make any slight adjustment to their positions needed to re-establish the set format.

    -32 1s must be careful to finish in 2nd place, 2s in 3rd.


Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams


Dance Instruction Videos

Indian River Strathspey - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction Video
Back to the top of this Scottish Country Dancing Instructions 'Indian River Strathspey' page