Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

Midnight Toil

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

MIDNIGHT TOIL (R5x32) 5C set Martin Sheffield

1- 8 1s and 3s set, dance down 2 places, cast up 1 place and cross RH to face 1st corners
9-16 1s and 3s turn 1st corners LH, partner RH, 2nd corner LH and partner RH to face 3rd corners retaining hands
17-22 1s and 3s set to 3rd corner, releasing hands dance pass and turn and turn RH to face 4th corners
23-28 1s and 3s repeat with 4th corners
29-32 1s and 3s turn RH and cast 1 place. 24153

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


Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams


Dance Information

Midnight Toil is a clever wordplay on the title of the famous, similarly named dance Midnight Oil.

"Toil" refers to hard, continuous work or labour, often strenuous and exhausting.



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