My Spouse Nancy
Scottish Country Dance Instruction
MY SPOUSE NANCY (R8x32) 3C (4C set) Jim Taylor RSCDS Leaflet Dances 221- 8 1s set, cast to 2nd place and turn RH 1½ times to end in centre Man facing down Lady up
9-16 1s dance LH across with 2s/3s, pass LSh and dance RH across on own sides, 1s pass RSh to end in centre facing out on opposite sides
17-24 1s join hands with corners and set, dance reels of 3 on sides giving RSh to 1st corners, 1s pass LSh to end facing own sides
25-32 1s repeat 17-24 on own sides
(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)
Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams
Dance Instruction Videos
My Spouse Nancy - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction VideoDance Information
It is tempting to assume that Jim Taylor, the deviser, chose the title of this dance from the My Spouse Nancy - Song written by Robert Burns in 1793.Husband, husband, cease your strife,
Nor longer idly rave, sir;
Though I am your wedded wife,
Yet I'm not your slave, sir.
One of two must still obey,
Nancy, Nancy;
Is it man or woman, say,
My spouse Nancy?
However, Colin Lamb, who knew him well in his dancing heyday, believes that the dance was simply named after Jim's wife, Nancy.
My Spouse Nancy Song - Information Video
My Spouse Nancy Song - From The Illustrated Book Of Scottish Songs From The Sixteenth To The Nineteenth Century, c. 1854
Image copyright (cropped) https://digital.nls.uk/special-collections-of-printed-music/archive/90351391 under this Creative Commons Licence 4.0.
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