Kristin MacDonald's Strathspey

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 8 1s dance in and down nearer hands joined (2 bars), turn 2H; cast up 1st place own side while
2s cast up (2 bars), dance in and down nearer hands joined (2 bars); turn 2H (2 bars), dance down and cast up into 3rd place while
3s dance in and cast up to top (4 bars); dance in and down nearer hands joined and turn 2H to 2nd place
9-16 1s and 3s dance Double Fig of 8 giving hands (1s cross down, 3s cast up to start)
17-24 1s+3s+2s dance 6 bar mirror reels of 3 on sides (1s in/down, 3s out/up, 2s in/up), 1s dance down to 2nd place while 3s cast to top and 2s turn 2H
25-28 3s turn 2H to face down while 1s+2s set facing down/up on sides (2 bars); 3s (at top) and 2s (3rd place) set while 1s turn 2 hands (2 bars). 312
29-32 1s+3s dance down and cast, 1s into 3rd place, 3s into 2nd place while 2s cast up to 1st place (2 bars), 2s+3s+1s set

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

1-8 First couple dance in towards each other (1 bar), dance down the middle with nearer hands joined (1 bar) to finish in the middle in second place facing partner, turn with both hands once round (2 bars) dancing down the set to finish in the middle in third place facing down, cast up (dancing down to begin) and dance up the side-lines to finish in original places
while
second couple cast in and up to top place (2 bars), dance in towards each other (1 bar), dance down the middle with nearer hands joined (1 bar) to finish in the middle in second place facing partner, turn with both hands once round (2 bars) dancing down the set to finish in the middle in third place facing down and cast up (dancing down to begin) to finish in third place
while
third couple cast in and up to top place (4 bars), dance in towards each other (1 bar), dance down the middle with nearer hands joined (1 bar) to finish in the middle in second place facing partner and turn with both hands once round to finish in the middle in second place facing down.
9-16 First and third couples dance a Double Figure of Eight. First couple lead down with right hands and cross over while third couple cast up to begin.
Dancers give right hands the first time they cross over and left hands the second time they cross over. Third couple finish on own sides in second place facing out.
17-22 First, third and second couples dance reels of three on own sides. First couple dance in and down, third couple dance out and up while second couple dance in and up to begin. Third couple finish facing out.
23-24 First couple dance down the middle with nearer hands joined to finish in the middle in second place facing down
while
third couple dance up the side-lines to top place
while
second couple turn with both hands once round to finish in the middle facing up.
25-26 Third couple turn with both hands once round to finish in the middle facing down
while
first and second couples set with nearer hands joined with partner.
27-28 Third couple set with nearer hands joined
while
first couple turn with both hands once round to finish in the middle facing down
while
second couple continue setting.
29-30 Third couple dance down the middle with nearer hands joined and cast into second place
while
first couple dance down the middle with nearer hands joined and cast into third place
while second couple dance up own side-lines to top place.
31-32 Second, third and first couples set once with nearer hands joined on the sides.

Repeat with a new top couple.

(Dance crib compiled by the deviser Rod Downey, Johnsonville SCD Club Tutor)

Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams

Kristin MacDonald's Strathspey - Full Size And Key To Symbols

Dance Instruction Videos

Dance Information

Kristin is my wife. This was the first dance I ever wrote.

The recommended tune is "Ms Gillian McMullen Of Cambridge" composed by Ed Pearlman and played ABAB.

Suitable music - "Ms Gillian McMullen Of Cambridge" recorded by Ed Pearlman and Beth Robinson on "Boston Hospitality" (PAD101), side 2, track 3. Note that this music is played four times through.

(Dance information from The Cane Toad Collection Of Scottish Country Dances, reproduced here with the kind permission of the deviser, Rod Downey)

Tioga Street, Ithaca, New York