A Reel For Freddie Stewart

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

A REEL FOR FREDDIE STEWART (R5x32) 5C Set Mike Murray

1- 8 1s+2s+3s+4s set, ½ turn partners RH flowing into 1s+2s also 3s+4s dance ½ RH across. 2s and 4s finish on sides, 1s and 3s turn partner RH to face 1st corners
9-16 1s and 3s dance Corners pass and turn with 1st corners, 1s+3s pass RSh and dance Corner pass and turn with 2nd corners. 1s and 3s finish in middle, Men facing up, Ladies facing down
17-24 All dance reels up/down:
1s+3s reel of 4 in centre, Men's side: 2M+4M+5M reel of 3 (4M RSh to 5M), Ladies' side: 2L+4L+5L reel of 3 (4L RSh to 2L). 2s, 4s and 5s end on sides in original places while 1s and 3s remain in middle facing partner (Men facing up, Ladies facing down)
25-32 1s and 3s set twice; 1s and 3s turn partner 2H moving down to 3rd/5th place (4s and 5s step up 31-32). 24153

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

A Reel For Freddie Stewart (R5x32) 5C set Michael Murray

1-2 Couples 1,2,3 and 4 SET
3-4 ditto HALF TURN with the R
5-6 1s with 2s; 3s with 4s: HALF RIGHT HANDS ACROSS (2s and 4s dance back to sidelines one place up and prepare to be corners)
7-8 1s and 3s still with RH long arm TURN and finish as if to pass 1st Corners.
9-12 1st CORNERS PASS and TURN (1s and 3s pass by the right to)
13-16 2nd CORNERS PASS and TURN (1s and 3s finish in the middle Men facing up)
17-24 REELS up and down the dance: 3 men with 4th M giving R to 5th M; 1s and 3s R of 4 in the middle; 3 Ladies with 4th L giving R to 2nd L (if 4th M and 4th L can put in a polite turn, that helps the awkward change of direction) All finish as you started
25-28 1s facing each other; 3s ditto SET TWICE
29-32 1s PIVOT TURN down the middle to finish in 3rd place; 3s ditto to 5th place 4s and 5s stepping up on the last two bars.
1s ready to repeat the dance with a new top.

(Dance crib compiled by the deviser, Michael Murray, Crinan 2007)

Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams

A Reel For Freddie Stewart Keith Rose's Diagram

A Reel For Freddie Stewart - Full Size And Key To Symbols

Dance Instruction Videos

A Reel For Freddie Stewart - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction Video

Dance Information

This dance, A Reel For Freddie Stewart, was devised by Michael Murray from the Mid-Argyll branch of RSCDS as a tribute to a fellow dancer, Freddie Stewart (1983-2007) who died after a kayaking expedition got into difficulties in the Sound of Jura, Argyll and Bute, Scotland.

Eulogy (By Mike Murray):

When I first laid eyes on Freddie on a dance floor in Ardfern I was appalled at his weird and un-politically correct style. A genuine hooligan on the floor, I thought. I was amazed and pleased when he turned up with some other youngsters at my class in Kilmelford and I pompously assumed that I would have the opportunity to teach him how to dance 'properly'. Not a bit of it. He steadfastly retained his individuality and I slowly began to realise, and then admire, his fluidity of movement and unique style of expressing the music was his way of enjoying it..... and why not?!

I then realised that I had an ambassador to the next generation of young men who might be persuaded onto the dance floor. The more complicated the dances the more Freddie enjoyed them. Midnight Oil and Caddam Wood were his favourites, so phrases from those dances are included in A Reel for Freddie Stewart.

It is now over ten years since he died and I hoped his spirit and enthusiasm will live on through this dance and the music composed by Archie John.

Freddie died of hypothermia after going out in a kayak with a friend into the Sound of Jura. They both capsized in turbulent water and were swept away on very strong tides for 4 hours before being picked up. His friend was resuscitated. Freddie was 23 years old.

(Dance information by the deviser, Michael Murray, Crinan, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. 2022)

Freddie Stewart (1983-2007)

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