The Johnsonville Diamond
Scottish Country Dance Instruction
The Johnsonville DiamondRod Downey The Johnsonville Collection 2015
Strathspey 8 x 32 bars 2 Couple Repeat 4 Couple Set Longwise Set
1-2 Mn set WHILE Ls set advancing;
3-4 Ls pull left shoulder back and dance to places;
5-8 repeat bars 1-4, Ls dancing as Mn, Mn as Ls;
9-16 1s cross down into figures of 8 across;
17-24 modified la spirale progression:
17-18 1s 2s turn ¾ with both hands to finish facing partners on the centre line, 1M2L back-to-back;
19-20 1M 2L pull right shoulder back and dance clockwise around each other WHILE 1L cast WHILE 2M cast up, finishing 2s1s on own sides;
21-22 2s 1s turn both hands, retaining hold;
23-24 2s 1s release hold and pull right shoulder back to dance out to the side lines;
25-32 2s1s dance strathspey poussette.
(MAXICRIB. Scottish country dancing instructions compiled by Reuben Freemantle)
Dance Notes
19- 1s 2s briefly retain nearer hands to face clockwise.
The Johnsonville Diamond 32 bar Strathspey for 2 Couples Rod Downey The Johnsonville Collection
A two Couple strathspey in a four couple set.
1-2 Taking nearer hands, first and second ladies set advancing to first and second men who set back.
3-4 First and second ladies cast left about back to place.
5-8 Repeat 1-4 this time with the men advancing and casting.
9-16 First couple dance a figure of 8 around the second couple crossing between them to begin.
17-24 First and second couple dance a modified la spirale. (The Alec Hay Variation.)
La Spirale is a new progression. (described here for 1C and 2C)
17-18 First and second couple dance ¾ of a two hand turn to finish in a line of 4 up and down, first man back to back with second lady.
19-20 First man and second lady cast around each other (pulling back RS, beginning tightly and then opening out) to finish first man in second man's place and second lady in first lady's place, while first lady dances clockwise around the outside of the set to second lady's place and similarly second man to first man's place. (These dancers should not cast but dance straight onwards.)
21-24 For this dance, 1C and 2C turn partners with 2 hands. (5-6) and, staying in the middle, cast back to place. (Full turn, hesitate and cast.)
25-32 Second and first couples dance an all round poussette.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
(Dance crib compiled by the deviser Rod Downey, Johnsonville SCD Club Tutor)
Dance Notes
La Spirale is a new progression. (described here for 1C and 2C)1-2 First and second couple dance ¾ of a two hand turn to finish in a line of 4 up and down, first man back to back with second lady.
3-4 First man and second lady cast around each other (pulling back RS, beginning tightly and then opening out) to finish first man in second man's place and second lady in first lady's place, while first lady dances clockwise around the outside of the set to second lady's place and similarly second man to first man's place. (These dancers should not cast but dance straight onwards.)
5-8 For this dance, 1C and 2C turn partners with 2 hands. (5-6) and, staying in the middle, cast back to place. (Full turn, hesitate and cast.)
Note that in La Spirale, the cast of 1M and 2W should be tight else the covering will be lost.
When teaching this formation, it is often helpful if the first lady retains right hand with first man's left momentarily at the beginning of bar 3, and similarly second man's right with second lady's left.
"The Alec Hay" variation is the modification of the last 4 bars, which are usually a 4 bar 2 hand turn.
Alec Hay was a New Zealand devisor of dances who gave us half turn hesitate and cast, set and link, inverted double triangles, amongst other things, as well as shuttle step.
(Dance notes by the deviser, Rod Downey)
Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams
Dance Instruction Videos
The Johnsonville Diamond - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction VideoDance Information
This dance, The Johnsonville Diamond, was devised on 18/10/2015.2015 was the diamond jubilee (60th anniversary) of the formation of the Johnsonville club, as best we can tell.
Recommended music is "The Braes of Busby" by Joseph MacFadyen played ABAB and a suitable recording is the RSCDS one for dances from Book 9, by Liam Stewart.
Dance information from The Johnsonville Collection Of Scottish Country Dances, reproduced here with the kind permission of the deviser, Rod Downey.
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