The Minnowburn

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 8 1s turn 2H; 1s+2s set, 1s dance down to 2nd place while 2s cast up to 1st place
9-16 Mirror reels of 3 on sides (2s in/down, 1s out/down, 3s in/up). 1s end in 2nd place own side
17-20 1s turn 2H moving down to 3rd place in centre facing partner (3 bars) while 3s cast up to 2nd place and advance 1 step. Bar 20: 3s+1s join hands and retire 1 step
21-24 All 4 couples join hands on sides, set advancing, pull back RSh and dance back out to place. 2314
25-28 2s and 1s dance down between couple below and cast back up to place
29-31 2s+3s circle 4H round to left ending in centre facing partner (3 bars) while 1s turn 2H moving down to 4th place in centre while 4s cast up to 3rd place and advance 1 step
32 All 4 couples join hands on sides and retire 1 step to sides. 2341

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

1- 4 1s turn (both hands joined)
5- 8 1s and 2s set. 1s dance to 2nd place in the centre of the set WHILE 2s cast up to 1st place.
9-16 2s, 1s and 3s dance mirror reels of 3 on the sides. (Start: 2s in and down; 1s out and down, 3s in and up). 1s end in 2nd place on the sides.
17-20 In 3 bars (17-19): 1s turn (both hands) progressing to 3rd place in the centre of the set (still facing partner), WHILE 3s cast up to 2nd place and advance 1 step. Bar 20: 3s and 1s, hands joined on the sides, retire 1 step.
21-24 2s, 3s, 1s and 4s (hands joined on the sides) set advancing, then all pull back right shoulder and cast to place.
25-28 2s and 1s dance between the couples below and cast up to place.
29-32 In 3 bars (29-31): 2s and 3s circle four hands round once to the left and end in the centre of the set (facing partners); WHILE 1s turn (BH) progressing to 4th place in the centre of the set (facing partner), and also WHILE 4s cast up to 3rd place and advance 1 step. Bar 32: 2s, 3s, 4s and 1s, hands joined on the sides, retire 1 step.

(Dance crib compiled by the deviser, Maurice Gilbert Hughes, 2012)

Dance Instruction Videos

Dance Information

This strathspey represents its journey.

Water rises at the source (bars 1-4), flow begins and pebbles are cast aside (5-8), the stream forms (9-16), with swirling eddies (17-20), until it meets a pebbly shoal (21-24), then flow increases (25-28) until stream becomes river (29-32).

Recommended music: The Minnowburn composed 2011, by Maurice Gilbert Hughes, (Copyright July 2011 Bedeque).

Minnowburn - Information Video

The Minnowburn Bridge, Belfast, 2013

(Dance information by the deviser, Maurice Gilbert Hughes)

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