Patricia Reesby

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 8 1L+2L+3L set advancing while partners set, Ladies cast right, back to place while Men set advancing; Ladies set while Men cast right, back to place, all set
9-16 1s+3s dance Double Fig of 8 (1s cross down, 3s cast up)
17-24 2s followed by 1s dance down nearer hands joined, cast up round 3s, dance up nearer hands joined and cast into original place, all set
25-32 1s+2s dance La Spirale:
 25-26 1s+2s ¾ turn 2H
 27-28 1M+2L pull back RSh and cast round each other (1M to 2M's place, 2L to 1L's place) while 1L and 2M chase clockwise ½ round. 213
 29-32 2s+1s turn partner 2H

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

1-2 The three ladies set advancing to the men who set back, the men and ladies joining hands on the sidelines to begin.
3-4 The ladies cast right about back to places, whilst the men set advancing.
5-6 The men cast right about back to places. The ladies set.
7-8 All set on the sidelines, taking hands.
9-16 The first and third couples dance a double figure of eight around the second couple, first couple crossing down and third casting up to begin.
17-22 Second couple dances down between third couple casts up around them, meet in the centre in second place, dances up around first couple's position, and casts back into second place. First couple follows second couple down the centre casts up around third couple meet in the centre in second place, and then dances up the centre, casting into original place.
23-24 All take hands on the sides and set.
25-32 First and second couple dance la spirale.
La Spirale is a new progression. (described here for 1C and 2C)
 25-26 First and second couple dance ¾ of a two hand turn to finish in a line of 4 up and down, first man back to back with second lady.
 27-28 First man and second lady cast around each other (pulling back RS) to finish first man in second man's place and second lady in first lady's place, while first lady dances clockwise around the outside of the set to second lady's place and similarly second man to first man's place.
 29-32 1C and 2C turn partners with 2 hands.

(Dance crib compiled by the deviser Rod Downey, Johnsonville SCD Club Tutor)

Dance Notes

1-2 First and second couple dance ¾ of a two hand turn to finish in a line of 4 up and down, first man back to back with second lady.
3-4 First man and second lady cast around each other (pulling back RS) to finish first man in second man's place and second lady in first lady's place, while first lady dances clockwise around the outside of the set to second lady's place and similarly second man to first man's place.
5-8 1C and 2C turn partners with 2 hands.

When teaching La Spirale, it is important that the casting couples remain with a tight cast and do not cast by going forward first. Else the covering will be lost.

When teaching this formation, it is often helpful if the first lady retains right hand with first man's left momentarily at the beginning of bar 3, and similarly second man's right with second lady's left.

Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams

Patricia Reesby - Full Size And Key To Symbols

Dance Instruction Videos

Dance Information

Pat Reesby is a keen dancer, writer and Johnsonville club secretary.

Recommended music is "Calum's Road" by Donald Shaw, and suitable recorded music is "Moranbank" from "All the best from Banffshire" by Colin Dewar and his band. (Calum's Road appears as track 2).

(Dance information from The Johnsonville Collection Of Scottish Country Dances, reproduced here with the kind permission of the deviser, Rod Downey)

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