Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

The Kenora Reel

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

THE KENORA REEL (R8x32) 3C (4C set) John Drewry Bankhead Book 2

1- 8 1s cross down and dance reflection reels of 3 on opposite sides, all giving nearer hands where possible. 1s+3s end in the middle (1s face down and 3s up)
9-16 1s+3s dance Ladies' Chain up/down middle of set, ending 1s facing down, 3s facing up, nearer hands joined with partners
17-24 1s+3s set and Petronella-in-tandem (skip change) to side as 2s cross RH and cast round to right; 1s+3s set and petronella to ends as 2s cross RH (up/down) and cast to right
25-32 1s+2s+3s chase clockwise ½ way, 1s cross RH and cast 1 place

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


The Kenora Reel
John Drewry Bankhead Book 2
Reel 8 x 32 bars 3 Couple Repeat 4 Couple Set Longwise Set

  1-8   1s cross down into mirror reels of 3, 1s 3s finishing beside the centre line, (1L 3M facing down, 1M 3L up);

  9-16 1s3s ladies' chain, 1s finishing facing down, 3s up;

17-20 1s 3s set and petronella turn in tandem, 1s to the Mn's side, 3s to the Ls', WHILE 2s cross and cast to the right;

21-24 1s 3s set and petronella turn in tandem to the ends WHILE 2s cross up and down and cast to the right, finishing 3s2s1s;

25-28 3s2s1s chase clockwise halfway to original places, 1s finishing on opposite sides;

29-32 1s cross by the right and cast to 2nd place.

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


Dance Notes

  7-10 The natural finishing positions of 1s 3s in the reels are not convenient as starting points for the ladies' chain; the following is recommended:

  7-8   Ls speed up slightly, dance outside their normal finishing positions (1L in 1M's, 3L in own) and pull right shoulder back to finish 1L halfway between 1M's place and the centre line facing down, 3L halfway between her own place and the centre line facing up WHILE Mn hold back to finish 1M facing up, 3M down, just outside their normal finishing positions (1M in 1L's, 3M in own);

  9-10 1L 3L dance the first two bars of ladies' chain normally WHILE 1M 3M cast anticlockwise to finish in the places occupied by their partners at the end of bar 8.

    -16 1M 3M make a polite turn to finish, nearer hands joined with partner, 1s (on opposite sides) facing down, 3s up.

    -28 1L must hold back to arrive on time (or even slightly late) in 1M's place so that she can flow smoothly into crossing and casting.

31-32 At the end of the second, fourth and sixth repeats, 1s cast to 4th place of the full set WHILE 3s take nearer hands and lead up one place, retaining the hold ready for the mirror reels in the next repeat.


Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams


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Kenora Reel - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction Video
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