The Model Couple
Scottish Country Dance Instruction
The Model Couple (S3x32) A 32 bar strathspey for three couples in a longwise set, Murrough Landon December 20231- 4 1st and 2nd couples dance half left hands across, then set on the sides.
5- 8 2nd and 1st couples half turn with both hands and face their partner in the centre. Then 2nd couple pull right shoulder back and cast away to their own side while 1st couple pass their partner right shoulder and curve out to the opposite side.
9-12 Modified Set and Link for three couples:
2nd, 1st and 3rd couples set on the sides.
Then 3rd man and 2nd woman each cast to the other end of their own line (as usual for the right hand free person in Set and Link).
Meanwhile 2nd man and 1st woman, also 1st man and 3rd woman, each dance in tandem in front of their own line to end one place to their right (as for the left hand free person in Set and Link for two couples).
The order is now 3rd man, 2nd man, 1st woman down the men's side and 1st man, 3rd woman and 2nd woman down the women's side. All face clockwise.
13-14 All chase a quarter clockwise to lines of three across and face up or down.
15-16 2nd man and 1st woman, giving right hands, change places diagonally to their left with 1st man and 3rd woman (3rd man and 2nd woman, who cast in bars 11-12, stand still).
The new lines across are, from men's to women's sides: 3rd woman, 1st man and 3rd man at the top and 2nd woman, 1st woman and 2nd man at the bottom.
17-24 All repeat the pattern of bars 9-16 to end on their own sides in the order 2,1,3.
25-26 All join hands and set advancing towards the centre. At the end of the left setting step all release hands and start to pull left shoulder back.
27-30 All chase half way round anticlockwise to the opposite side.
31-32 All cross over giving left hands to end in the order 3,1,2.
(Dance crib compiled by the deviser, Murrough Landon, CC BY-SA December 2023)
Dance Instruction Videos
The Model Couple - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction VideoDance Information
This dance is for Hamish Todd and Alan Ip, who have been told that they were considered as role models because of their long and stable relationship.Hamish and Alan have also been long term members of the Gay Gordons group in London.
Recommended music: Suggested tune: Miss Trotter (James Mcintosh).
Suitable recording: The Partnership (Keith Smith and Muriel Johnstone: Vintage Goldring).
The three couple Set and Link variation used here also appears in other dances, for example The Copper Beech by Iain Boyd.
(Dance information by the deviser, Murrough Landon, CC BY-SA December 2023)
Published in The Model Couple, reproduced here with the kind permission of the deviser, Murrough Landon. Licensed under CC BY-SA.
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