The Ptarmigan Reel

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 8 2s set, cross RH and dance ½ reels of 3 on sides (1s in/down, 2L out/up, 2M out/down, 3s in/up) ending in triangle formation, 2M+3L nearer hands joined on Ladies' side top place, 3M+2L nearer hands joined on Men's side top place, couples facing diagonally in and 1s nearer hands joined at bottom facing up
9-12 All set with Men moving in to face Ladies, all set again with Men moving out to finish with Lady to their left
13-16 Repeat 9-12with Ladies dancing in and ending on 'partners' left (all in same positions as bar 9)
17-24 All circle 6H round and back. 3s end in 1st place facing down and 2s in 2nd place opposite sides, 1s in 3rd place facing up. 3(2)1
25-28 3s+1s set to each other (down/up) and 3M+1M also 3L+1L ½ turn RH and retain hands while 2s step up to top place. (2)31
29-32 1s+3s dance RH across to end with 1s facing down, 3s facing up
33-38 All dance Grand Chain 1 bar per hand
39-40 2s cross RH while 1s+3s change places RH on sides. 231

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

Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams

The Ptarmigan Reel - Full Size And Key To Symbols

Dance Information

Preferring a sedentary lifestyle, the Rock Ptarmigan is known for breeding in arctic and subarctic regions of Eurasia and North America, including Greenland. This bird species typically inhabits rocky mountainsides and tundra.

While it is abundant in the Arctic Cordillera, it also exists in scattered populations across various mountainous regions, such as Scotland, the Pyrenees, the Alps, Bulgaria, the Urals, the Pamir Mountains, the Altay Mountains, and Japan.

Ptarmigan Balancing-in-Line Across, Bars 7-8

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