Mary's Strathspey (Williams)

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

MARY'S STRATHSPEY (S8x32) 3C (4C set) Roberta Riegel Williams 4 SCD in Memory of Mary Nixon

1- 8 1s set and cross RH to face down, set to 2s on sides and change places LH
9-16 1s+2s dance Ladies' Chain and 1s end in 2nd place opposite sides facing up while 2s face down
17-24 2s+1s+3s dance LSh reels of 3 (1s dance up to start)
25-32 1s turn 2H in centre and end BtoB (Lady facing up and Man down), 1s circle 3H round to left (Lady with 2s and Man with 3s) ending 2nd place

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

Dance Information

Also see the dance Mary's Strathspey (Collins) by Joan Collins.

This dance, Mary Branigan Nixon, was devised by Roberta Riegel Williams and published in Four Scottish Country Dances In Memory Of Mary Nixon, (published by Winnipeg Branch RSCDS, 1994) in Memory of Mary Branigan Nixon.

Mary came to Winnipeg in 1964 as the wife of Archie Nixon, one of our teachers. She came from Hamilton, Ontario, where she and members of her family had settled after emigrating from Edinburgh in the early 1950's.

Mary was very active in Scottish Country Dancing in Hamilton, where she served for some time as head teacher in the Hamilton Branch. She was a founding member of Teachers' Association (Canada).

With this experience, Mary brought a new dimension to dancing in Winnipeg. She was a constant source of knowledge, enthusiasm and vitality to all who came in contact with her and was known widely throughout North America as one of our most accomplished and popular teachers.

It is in tribute to the memory of this gracious lady, who made such a tremendous contribution to Scottish Country Dancing in North America, that these dances were devised.

Whether or not we had the privilege of knowing Mary, and being taught by her, we have all benefitted from the legacy that she left us, and will continue to do so through the spirit of the dance.

(Dance information by Christine M. Couling, RSCDS Winnipeg)

Mary Branigan Nixon

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