Rennie's Bridge
Scottish Country Dance Instruction
Rennie's BridgeReuben Freemantle Substantially adapted from Teviot Bridge, RSCDS Book 5
Jig 8 x 32 bars 2 Couple Repeat 4 Couple Set Longwise Set
1-8 1s turn by the right 2½ times, finishing on opposite sides, facing down;
9-12 1L2M 1M2L turn by the left 1½ times on the sides, finishing Ls facing in, Mn out;
13-20 2s1s ladies' chain finishing Ls facing in, Mn out;
21-22 2M1L 2L1M cross by the left, Ls finishing with polite turns;
23-24 1s set advancing and turn both hands halfway WHILE 2s set advancing and take both hands, 1s 2s finishing facing partner on the centreline, retaining hold;
25-32 1s 2s dance borders' poussette.
It is acceptable to use the standard poussette in any group whose members are still trying to master the basic form.
(MAXICRIB. Scottish country dancing instructions compiled by Reuben Freemantle)
Dance Notes
1-8 The phrasing is at an intermediate speed; take 3 bars for the full turns and 2 bars for the final half turn and finish facing down.
9-12 The speed is again intermediate; cover in the turns and Mn finish facing out.
15-32 These are the changed figures. Note that this simplification has required the dance repeat to be extended from 24 bars to the more usual 32.
16-17 Continue the ladies' chain smoothly over this musical phrase break.
23-23 1s 2s cover on the right foot step, finishing by taking both hands with partner.
24-24 1s turn halfway on left foot step WHILE 2s set on the spot.
25-32 Borders' poussette is a slightly modified version of pas-de-basque poussette in which Mn start on the right foot:
-25 a shorter step and so 1M 2L do not reach the sidelines;
26-26 1M 2L also turn on the left foot step;
27-27 a longer step so that 2s finish straddling 1st position, 1s straddling 2nd position;
28-28 2M 1L also turn on the left foot step;
29-29 a shorter step to reach the centreline;
30-30 quarter turns, only, all finishing on the centreline facing partner and releasing hands;
31-31 a backward, right foot step, pulling right shoulder back, to finish facing in, halfway to the sideline;
32-32 as in poussette.
Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams
Dance Information
This jig, Rennie's Bridge, is a derivative of Teviot Bridge and is intended for those who have difficulty with the substantial modification of the quite complex figures, half ladies' chain and poussette, in bars 15-20 of the original. Acknowledging the original deviser's choice of a modified form of poussette and recognizing that Rennie's Bridge and the Teviot Bridge are within 10km of the English border, the local variant, borders' poussette, is preferred for the final 8-bar figure.The title, Rennie's Bridge, is by association with the Teviot Bridge, both in Kelso; it is about 1km downstream from the Teviot Bridge and below the confluence of the River Teviot with the, much larger, River Tweed. Also known as Kelso Bridge, it is the 1803 replacement, designed by John Rennie, for the old Kelso Bridge a few metres away which failed in 1797. Both crossed the Tweed, which meanders east/west at that point, just below the point where the Teviot joins on the south side.
The, much smaller, Teviot Bridge is about 1km upstream from the junction and gives access to the area between the Teviot and the upper Tweed.
Rennie's Bridge, Kelso
Image copyright G Laird under this Creative Commons Licence 2.0.
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