Slàinte Mhòr

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 8 1s and 3s dance out between side couple on Left (Man leading) onto opposite place, all circle 8H round to Left ½ way
9-16 2s and 4s dance out between side couple on Right (Lady leading) onto opposite place and all circle 8H round to Right ½ way
17-24 Ladies dance RH across, set and turn partner RH into middle
25-32 Men dance LH across, set and turn partner RH into prom hold
33-40 1s and 3s Promenade ½ way clockwise while 2s and 4s advance and retire, 2s and 4s Promenade ½ way clockwise while 1s and 3s advance and retire
41-48 1s+3s dance ½ R&L, 2s+4s dance ½ R&L
49-56 1s and 3s dance out between side couple on Right (Lady leading) onto opposite place and all circle 8H round to Right ½ way
57-64 2s and 4s dance out between side couple on Left (Man leading) onto opposite place and all circle 8H round to Left ½ way

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

1- 4 1st and 3rd men followed by their partners, dance between the couple on their left to finish on the opposite side.
5- 8 8 hands half way round to the left.
9-12 2nd and 4th women followed by their partners, dance between the couple on their right to finish on the opposite side.
13-16 8 hands half way round to the right.
17-20 Women dance right hands across to face partners, backs to the centre.
21-24 Set and turn partner right hands half way round. (Men now in middle)
25-32 Men dance left hands across to face partner, set and turn right hands into promenade hold. (1st and 3rd couples half turn to face clockwise, 2nd and 4th couples ¾ turn to face the centre of the set).
33-36 1st and 3rd couples promenade half way round clockwise while 2nd and 4th couples advance and retire in promenade hold.
37-40 1st and 3rd couples advance and retire while 2nd and 4th couples promenade halfway round clockwise.
41-44 1st and 3rd couples half rights and lefts.
45-48 2nd and 4th couples half right and lefts.
49-52 1st and 3rd women followed by own partners dance between the couple on their right to finish on the opposite side.
53-56 8 hands half way round to the right.
57-60 2nd and 4th men followed by their partners dance between the couple on the left to finish on the opposite side.
61-64 8 hands half way round to the left.

(Dance crib compiled by Moira Stacey, - copyright by Moira Stacey. All rights reserved)

Dance Information

"Slàinte Mhòr" in Gaelic means "Great Health"; like "Slàinte Mhath", which means "Good Health", it is used as a greeting but much more commonly as a toast with a dram of whisky. "Slàinte Mhòr" should be pronounced as "Sslah~nch~ Voer" in English, and "Slàinte Mhath" as "Sslah~nch~ Vah", with stress always on the first syllable and where:
  "ss" is as in "less";
  "ah" is as in "shah";
  "~" represents the very short, indeterminate, vowel sound;
  "ch" is as in "chat"; and
  "oe" is as in "toe".
See Gaelic Dance Names for more information on Gaelic spelling and pronunciation.

Recommended music: The Diamond and Mr Stewart Junior of Carnock's Reel.
(Recommended by Moira Stacey)