The Owl And The Pussy Cat
Scottish Country Dance Instruction
THE OWL AND THE PUSSY CAT (J4x48) 4C set John Drewry Donside Book3s and 4s start on opposite sides
1- 8 1M+2M and 3M+4M turn LH on sides while 1L+2L and 3L+4L turn RH, 2s and 3s dance ½ Fig of 8 round end couples
9-16 2s+3s ¾ turn partners LH into middle and Balance-in-Line, 1s+2L dance RH across as 2M+3M turn RH as 3L+4s dance RH across and all end in original place
17-24 1s+2s also 3s+4s advance and retire, 1s+2s also 3s+4s circle 4H round to left
25-32 1M+2M and 3M+4M turn RH on sides while 1L+2L and 3L+4L turn LH, 1L crosses down and casts up as 1M crosses and casts 2nd place (2L up) while 4L crosses up and casts as 4M crosses and casts (3L down)
33-40 1s and 4s cross LH diagonally and cast up/down, cross RH diagonally and cast up/down
41-48 1s and 4s ½ turn partners RH to end in 2nd/3rd places and dance RH across ½ way, turn partners RH. 24(1)(3)
(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)
Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams
Dance Information
The title of this dance, The Owl And The Pussy Cat, comes from the Owl And The Pussy Cat - Poem written by Edward Lear, first published during 1871 as part of his book Nonsense Songs, Stories, Botany, and Alphabets.The Owl and the Pussy-Cat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat:
They took some honey, and plenty of money
Wrapped up in a five-pound note.
"The poem tells the whimsical and fantastical story of an owl and a cat who embark on a boat journey to get married.
The characters encounter various peculiar situations and creatures during their voyage, adding to the nonsensical and imaginative nature of the narrative. Lear, recognized for his contributions to limericks and nonsense literature, created this piece as part of his body of work that aimed to entertain and engage readers with playful language and imaginative scenarios.
The poem's lasting popularity has led to its incorporation into children's literature and cultural references, contributing to its status as a notable piece within the genre of literary nonsense.
The Owl And The Pussy Cat Poem - Information Video
Edward Lear's Illustration Of The Owl And The Pussy Cat
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Text from this original The Owl And The Pussy Cat article on Wikipedia.
Image from Edward Lear, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
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