Portarlington Beckons

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1-2 All five couples set to partners.
3-4 1st couple cast off one place and finish facing in and down.
 At the same time, 5th couple cast up one place and finish facing in and up.
 At the same time, 2nd couple, giving left hands, cross up one place to finish in the middle of the dance level with first place retaining left hands, woman facing down, man facing up.
 At the same time, 4th couple, giving right hands, cross down one place to finish in the middle of the dance level with fifth place retaining right hands, woman facing up, man facing down.
 At the same time, 3rd couple, giving right hands, cross over and finish facing out and to their right.
5-8 1st, 3rd and 5th couples dance half reels of three on the sides. 1st man and 3rd woman also 3rd man and 5th woman pass by the right to begin.
 At the same time, 2nd couple, using joined left hands, turn once round to finish on opposite sides.
 At the same time, 4th couple, using joined right hands, turn once round to finish on opposite sides.
9-10 All five couples set to partners.
11-12 2nd couple cast off one place and finish facing in and down.
 At the same time, 4th couple cast up one place and finish facing in and up.
 At the same time, 5th couple, giving left hands, cross up one place to finish in the middle of the dance level with first place retaining left hands, woman facing down, man facing up.
 At the same time, 1st couple, giving right hands, cross down one place to finish in the middle of the dance level with fifth place retaining right hands, woman facing up, man facing down.
 At the same time, 3rd couple, giving right hands, cross back to own sides and finish facing out and to their right.
13-16 2nd, 3rd and 4th couples dance half reels of three on the sides. 2nd woman and 3rd man, also 3rd woman and 4th man pass by the right to begin.
 At the same time, 5th couple, using joined left hands, turn once round to finish on opposite sides.
 At the same time, 1st couple, using joined right hands, turn once round to finish on opposite sides.
17-20 1st couple, giving right hands, cross over and cast up two places to finish in third place on own sides. 3rd and 2nd couples step down on bars 19-20.
21-24 1st couple, giving left hands, cross over and cast up two places to finish in first place on opposite sides. 5th and 4th couples step down on bars 23-24.
25-28 1st couple dance down to fifth place.
 At the same time, 5th, 4th and 3rd couples follow 1st couple, dancing up sidelines to begin.
 At the same time, 2nd couple dance up sidelines to first place.
29-32 All five couples, giving both hands, turn partner. 3rd couple turn once round while the others turn one and a half times. All finish on own sides.

Repeat from new positions.
Devised by Arthur Kingsland.

(Dance crib compiled by the deviser, Arthur Kingsland)

Dance Instruction Videos

Dance Information

(Dance information by the deviser, Arthur Kingsland)

The surrounding hills feature vineyards and olive groves, offering panoramic views of Port Phillip Bay. Known for fishing and mussel aquaculture, Portarlington is a popular holiday destination and a gateway to the Bellarine Peninsula, enhanced by direct ferry links to Melbourne.

Originally inhabited by the Wathaurung people, the area contains shell middens showcasing mussels' historical importance.

Surveyed in 1850 and initially named Drayton, the town was renamed Portarlington in 1851, likely after the Irish town of the same name, reflecting its early Irish settlers.

Victoria Spring Dance Weekend, Portarlington, Victoria, Australia

Back to the top of this Scottish Country Dancing Instructions 'Portarlington Beckons' page