Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

Joyce MacLeod

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

JOYCE MACLEOD (J5x32) 5C set Damon And Gaye Collin The Musicians' Wedding

1- 8 2s+3s+4s turn partners RH, remain in middle, Ladies facing down, Men facing up. 4L followed by 3L and 2L dance down, cast up round 5M to end in order (4) (3) (2) on Men's side while 1M followed by 2M and 3M dance up, cast round 1L to end in order (4) (3) (2) on Ladies' side
9-16 3s dance diagonal R&L with 4s+2s (3M up, 3L down). 3s finish facing out on opposite sides
17-24 3s dance to Left to dance reel of 3 on sides (3L+4M+5M, 3M+2L+1L). Bars 23-24 3s cross LH to own sides while supporting dancers complete the reel. 1L finishes facing out
25-32 1L casts 2 places while 1M dances down middle 2 places (2s+3s step up 27-28). 1M casts down behind 4M+5M while 1L dances down middle. 1s end in 5th place (4s+5s step up 29-30). All set

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


Joyce MacLeod
Damon and Gaye Collin  
Jig 5 x 32 bars 5 Couple Repeat 5 Couple Set Longwise Set

  1-3   2s 3s 4s turn by the right, finishing side-by-side, Mn facing up, Ls down;

  4-8   2M, followed by 3M4M, chase up, cast above 1L and dance down WHILE 4L, followed by 3L2L, chase down, cast below 5M and dance up, finishing 1M4L3L2L5M on Mn's side, 1L4M3M2M5L on Ls' side;

  9-16 4s3s2s dance diagonal rights and lefts, 3L going down, 3M up, to start, finishing 1s2s3s4s5s, 3s on opposite sides facing out;

17-22 1L2L3M 3L4M5M ¾ of reels of 3 on the sides;

23-24 1L2L 4M5M continue their reels normally WHILE 3s cross by the right, finishing 1s2s3s4s5s, 1L facing out;

25-26 1M dance in and down the centre line 2 places WHILE 1L cast 2 places;

27-28 2s3s step up WHILE 1M dance out through 3rd place WHILE 1L dance in to the centre line;

29-30 4s5s step up WHILE 1M cast WHILE 1L dance down the centre line, finishing 2s3s4s5s1s;

31-32 2s3s4s5s1s take hands on the sides and set.

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

Dance Notes

  1-24 3s are the dancing couple throughout this part of the dance.

17-24 The deviser recommends that the dancers be "generous and full with the shape of these reels" but they must finish in original places.

27-28 2s must take care to step up to the original 1st place, only.


Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams


Dance Instruction Videos

Joyce MacLeod - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction Video

Dance Information

The music for this dance is on the CD, The Musicians' Wedding, by Marian Anderson and her Band.

This jig, Joyce MacLeod, was devised for Joyce MacLeod who teaches in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia. While dancing with the Coffs Harbour group one night Joyce (the tutor) taught us John Drewry's The Recumbent Stone, a dance for five couples which didn't start with first and third couples doing something; we felt it was very refreshing and came away thinking of alternative formats for five couple dances. Joyce always has an interesting programme and we never fail when dancing with her to come away with a new dance to try out back home.

Joyce started dancing with a newly formed group at Woolgoolga in 1966. She danced at Highland Gatherings at Tamworth, Armidale, Walcha and Maclean. After about four years the club folded and she didn't dance again for thirty six years. In 2006 she joined a small group again at Woolgoolga and enjoyed dancing but wanted more. On the 12th of October 2009 with a lot of help and support from Elma See she started her own class. She thoroughly enjoys teaching and now teaches three classes a week.

(Dance information by the devisers, Damon and Gaye Collin)


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