Mrs May Sinclair

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

Mrs. May Sinclair A 32 bar strathspey for five couples, danced in a longwise set. Lily Davison 1989

1- 4 All cross over giving right hand and set.
5- 8 1st, 3rd and 5th couples petronella turn to the centre and set.
9-16 1st, 3rd and 5th couples dance interlocking reels of three. 3rd woman dances with 1st couple, 3rd man with 5th couple (Fig. 1).
Note: 3rd couple begin with a wide half turn with left hand while 1st and 5th couples pass partner right shoulder, then give left hand to the dancer from the other reel to turn back into their own reel.
i.e. 5th woman will turn 1st man then 5th man will turn 1st woman. All finish facing partner.
17-20 1st, 3rd and 5th couples turn partners. 1st couple turn right hand 1¼ turns to opposite sides in top place; 3rd couple turn left hand 1¼ turns to opposite sides in 3rd place; 5th couple turn right hand 1¾ turns to own place.
21-24 1st couple with 2nd, 3rd with 4th dance half rights and lefts.
25-32 1st couple with 4th, 3rd with 5th dance the Knot.

Repeat four times.

(Dance crib compiled by the deviser, Lily Davison, 1989)

Mrs May Sinclair Figure 1

Dance Information

Inscribed to Mrs. May Sinclair, who was secretary of the Adelaide Branch of the R.S.C.D.S. for 15 years, and taught the Branch class for 25 years until her retirement in 1988.

Recommended Tunes: "McFarlane's Strathspey; Niel Gow's Wife; Lady McKenzie of Coull".

(Dance information by the deviser, Lily Davison, 1989)

Published in The Thistle And Vine, Copyright 2025, reproduced here with the kind permission of the president of RSCDS Adelaide And Districts Branch, Australia, 2025. All rights reserved.
Published in The Thistle And Vine Original, Copyright 1989, reproduced here with the kind permission of the president of RSCDS Adelaide And Districts Branch, Australia, 2025. All rights reserved.

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