Mervyn's Reel

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 2 First and second couples dance right hands across half way in a wheel, third and fourth couples do the same.
3- 4 First and fourth couples dance left hands across in a wheel half way whilst second and third couples cross over giving right hands in passing.
5- 6 Second and fourth couples dance right hands across in a wheel half way, first and third couples do the same.
7- 8 Second and third couples dance left hands across in a wheel half way whilst first and fourth couples cross giving right hands.
9-16 Repeat bars 1-8 to return to original places.
17-18 First couple cast off into second place, second couple step up, whilst fourth couple cast up into third place and third couple step down.
19-22 First couple dance a half figure of eight around second couple whilst fourth couple dance a half figure of eight round third couple.
23-24 First and fourth couples turn half way to own side of the set giving right hand.
25-32 First and fourth couples change places with Quern progression*: turn with the right hand once round, right hands across half way and cross to own side of the set giving right hand in passing. Finish in the order 2, 4, 1, 3.

Repeat with new top couple. Recommended tune: Mervyn's Reel * A list of all new figures introduced in Whetherly books & sheets, together with a reference to the book where the figure first appeared and is best described, can be found in a separate file called "Whetherly Collection of New Figures" also available for download.

(Dance crib reproduced from The Whetherly Book Of Scottish Country Dances, revised and republished by Alison Mitchell)

Keith Rose's Crib Diagram

Mervyn's Reel - Full Size And Key To Symbols

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