Our Key To Florence

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 8 1s+2s set and link flowing into RH across. End 2s in 1st place own side, 1s retain RH briefly turning to face 1st corners
9-16 1s dance Corner pass and turn with 1st corners, pass RSh and repeat with 2nd corners, passing RSh to end in 2nd place own side facing out/down
17-24 Modified Double Fig of 8:
 1s+4s dance double Fig of 8 round 3s (1s cast down, 4s cross up to start). Bars 23-24: 3s step up to 2nd place while 1s cross up to 3rd place, 4s finish in 4th place
25-32 1s+4s dance RH across. Bar 28: 1L and 4L curve in to face up, join nearer hands with partner; 1s+4s dance up and cast round 3s to end 1s in 4th place, 4s in 3rd place own side. 2341

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

1- 8 1+2Cs Set and Link, flowing immediately into RH across to finish with 2C in top place own side on bar 8, While, 1C retaining RH dance on a little more to finish facing 1st corners.
9-16 1C dance corner pass and turn with 1st corners and 2nd corners, passing RS on bars 15-16 to finish facing out and down on own side in 2nd place.
17-24 A Modified Double Figure of Eight:
 1+4Cs dance a double figure of 8, 4C crossing up to start as 1C cast. On bars 23-24, 3C step up into 2nd place as 1C finish this move by crossing up to 3rd place.
25-32 1+4Cs dance RH across. On bar 28, 1+4W curve inwards to face up, and taking nearer hands 1+4Cs dance up and cast round 3C to finish 1C in 4th place and 4C in 3rd place.

Repeat with a new top couple.

(Dance crib compiled by the deviser, Gaye Collin, 2020)

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Dance Information

Bars 17-24 (the modified double figure of 8), signifies the unlocking of the front door to our apartment. On the last two bars, third couple stepping up reminds me of the last rotation of the lock, and the noise it made when releasing the last cog. You had to turn the large key at least 3 times to unlock the apartment door.

In June of 2010, Damon and I travelled to Florence for the first time. We were lucky enough to stay a whole week in an apartment which was on the third floor in the old part of this beautiful city. The key that opened our front door was very large, old fashioned, quaint. It opened not one, but three separate locks.

It was an amazing, unforgettable place to stay. Our bedroom had a door opening out onto the roof where we sat on several occasions to watch the locals go about their daily activities.

We took a photo of the key, which reminds us both of this memorable week, in a beautiful city.

(Dance information by the deviser Gaye Collin, 2020)

Our Key To Florence

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