Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

My Wife's A Winsome Wee Thing

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

MY WIFE'S A WINSOME WEE THING (J8x32) 3C (4C set) Tony Moretti Pinewoods Collection 2

1- 8 1s dance mirror Figs of 8 on own sides round standing 2s and 3s, dancing in/down to start
9-16 1s cross down and dance mirror reels of 3 on opposite sides
17-24 1s cross RH and cast to 2nd place, cross down between 3s and cast up to 2nd place opposite sides
25-32 2s+1s+3s advance and retire, 1s turn RH 1½ times

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


Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams


Dance Instruction Videos

My Wife's A Winsome Wee Thing - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction Video

Dance Information

The title of this dance, My Wife's A Winsome Wee Thing, comes from My Wife's A Winsome Wee Thing - Song written by Robert Burns in 1792.

She is a winsome wee thing,
She is a handsome wee thing,
She is a bonnie wee thing,
This dear wee wife o' mine!

Tony Moretti devised My Wife's A Winsome Wee Thing for his wife, Betty Moretti.

Glasgow born Tony Moretti met Betty when they were both working in a Rolls Royce factory during the war. They later worked in service together as a husband and wife butler and housekeeper in houses of the Scottish wealthy.

They moved to the USA together to perform the same roles, and settled there permanently.

My Wife's A Winsome Wee Thing Song - Information Video

My Wife's A Winsome Wee Thing - Rolls Royce Factory
Production Of Merlin Engines At A Rolls Royce Factory, c. 1942
Female Workers Attaching The Induction Manifolds To The Cylinder Blocks


Image copyright (cropped) Richard Stone, Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

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