Keppoch Charm

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

Keppoch Charm
J. Duncan Keppie
3x32 bar Reel
3-couple dance in 3-couple longways set

1-8 1s SET, CAST and CIRCLE WITH 2s (who have stepped up on 3-4);

9-16 HAND-IN-HAND REELS OF 3: 2nd, 1st, and 3rd couples dance Hand-in-Hand reel of 3, starting with 2nd and 1st couples passing right shoulders (this reel is performed by dancing a reel of 3 nearer hands joined with partner when dancing up or down the reel and changing hands at the top and bottom of the reel as one reverses direction so staying on your own side of the set);

17-24 CHASE: 1M followed by 1W casts up around 2M, dances across top of set, cast off around 2W, and across (end with 1s facing 3s ready for):

25-32 KEPPOCH: 1s and 3s advance and retire using modified Pas de Basque (2 bars) (Bar 1: Beat 1: advance onto right foot in 4th intermediate position, Beat 2: beat left foot in rear 3rd position, Beat 3: step onto right foot in 3rd position, Beat 4: extend left foot into 4th intermediate rear aerial position; Bar 2: retire with regular Pas de Basque), pass opposite couple by the left using Skip Change of Step ending back-to-back with them (2 bars) and, dropping front hands, turn partner (4 bars) to finish in the side lines, 2s3s1s.

Repeat with new 1st couple.

(Dance crib compiled by the deviser, J. Duncan Keppie)

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Keppoch Charm - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction Video

Dance Information

The word Keppoch is of Scottish origin and is most commonly encountered as a place name or surname.

It appears in various locations across Scotland, with notable historical associations in the Highlands, particularly with the Keppoch area.

The name likely comes from the Scottish Gaelic word ceapach, which refers to a small plot of arable or cultivated land. In rural Highland communities, this term was commonly used to describe areas suitable for growing crops. Over time, the Gaelic word was anglicised, leading to several forms such as Keppoch, Keppock, and similar variants.

One of the most historically significant uses of the name is in connection with the Clan MacDonell of Keppoch. This branch of Clan Donald held lands in the Lochaber region, near Spean Bridge and Roy Bridge. The chiefs of this clan were traditionally known by the Gaelic title Mac Mhic Raonuill, meaning "son of the son of Ranald". The MacDonells of Keppoch were active in various Highland conflicts and played a part in the Jacobite risings.

Today, Keppock can still be found as a place name in Scotland. It also appears in some urban areas, such as Glasgow, where it has been used in street names and neighbourhood designations. Though less common, Keppock is also found as a family name, usually linked to Highland ancestry.

Different spellings of the name have been recorded historically, often reflecting regional pronunciation or variations in transcription. The forms Keppoch and Keppock are both accepted and historically documented.

Mac Donald Of Keppoch, Robert Ronald McIan (1803-1856), Illustration, c. 1835
From The Highland Clans Of Scotland, 1923

This page uses content under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, along with original copyrighted content and excerpts from Wikipedia and other sources.
Text from this original Clan MacDonald of Keppoch article on Wikipedia.
Image from English: Robert Ronald McIan (1803-1856)., public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

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