Merchiston Castle Jig

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

MERCHISTON CASTLE JIG (J4x32) 4C set Ian Brockbank Dunedin Dances Book 6
2 chords - 2nd chord 3s and 4s cross to opposite sides

1- 8 1s+2s and 3s+4s dance ½ R&L; all set, all cross RH
9-12 2s+1s and 4s+3s dance RH across
13-16 1M followed by 1L casts up round 2M, 1M dances down centre to face 3L and 1L faces 2M while
4M followed by 4L casts down round 3M, 4M dances up centre (passes 1M LSh) to face 2L and 4L faces 3M
Positions now: lines of 4 across, 1L and 4M at top between 2s facing down, 1M and 4L at bottom between 3s facing up
17-24 Reels of 4 across. Bar 24: centre dancers instead of passing LSh ½ turn LH (Men polite turn). Lines across 2L 4M 1L 2M face down, 3L 4L 1M 3M face up
25-32 1s+4s set, Petronella turn in tandem (Ladies lead); 1s+4s turn partners RH. 24(1)(3)

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

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Merchiston Castle Jig - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction Video

Dance Information

Merchiston Tower, also called Merchiston Castle, was likely built around 1454 by Alexander Napier, the 2nd Laird of Merchiston, and serves as the seat of Clan Napier.

It was the birthplace and home of John Napier, the 8th Laird of Merchiston and inventor of logarithms, born there in 1550.

Today, the tower is located at the heart of Edinburgh Napier University's Merchiston campus.

Merchiston Tower

Text from this original Merchiston Tower article on Wikipedia.
Image copyright Kim Traynor under this Creative Commons Licence 2.0.

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