Pretty Polly
Scottish Country Dance Instruction
PRETTY POLLY (S8x32) 3C (4C set) RSCDS Book 281- 8 1s cast 1 place, turn 2H, 2s repeat this Fig back to places
9-16 1s clap, cast 1 place, 2s+1s cross RH, 2s+1s dance ½ R&L with full LH turn on sides
17-24 2s+1s dance RH across, 1s+3s dance LH across end ready for Grand Chain
25-32 2s+1s+3s dance Grand Chain
(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)
Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams
Dance Instruction Videos
Pretty Polly - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction VideoDance Information
Pretty Polly is a Scottish Country Dance it was published by John Young (Playford family) in 1710 as "Pretty Poll", and interpreted by the RSCDS in Book 28, 1977.John Young wrote:
The first Couple cast off and turn Hands
- This to the first Strain play'd once -
The second Couple do the same
- This to the first Strain play'd twice -
Then the first Couple clap Hands and cast off below the second Couple, then all four change Places, and Right and Left half round and cast off
- This to the second Strain play'd once -
Then clap Hands and turn single
- This from the Repeat. -
- This to the first Strain play'd once -
The second Couple do the same
- This to the first Strain play'd twice -
Then the first Couple clap Hands and cast off below the second Couple, then all four change Places, and Right and Left half round and cast off
- This to the second Strain play'd once -
Then clap Hands and turn single
- This from the Repeat. -
The original music was in 3/2 time and consists of a 5 bar strain and an 8 bar strain, designed to be played AABA.
(Dance information copyright, reproduced here with the kind permission of George Williams)
Back to the top of this Scottish Country Dancing Instructions 'Pretty Polly' page