Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

Smouldering Teapots

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

Smouldering Teapots (S4x32) A 32 bar strathspey for four couples. Murrough Landon

1-6 1st and 2nd couples also separately 3rd and 4th couples dance the first six bars of a two couple bourrel.
7-8 2nd and 3rd couples each finish the bourrel normally turning with both hands to the sidelines. Meanwhile 1st and 4th couples half turn with both hands and twirl away from each other, pulling right shoulder back, to end in the centre with women facing up, men facing down: 1st woman facing 2nd couple, 1st man facing 4th woman, 4th man facing 3rd couple.
9-12 1st woman with 2nd couple (in 1st place) and 4th man with 3rd couple (in 4th place) dance left hands across while 1st man and 4th woman dance one and a half times around each other passing left shoulder without giving hands (but with plenty of eye contact). 1st and 4th woman also 1st and 4th men pass left shoulder to end with 4th woman facing 2nd couple, 4th man and 1st woman facing each other up and down respectively in the centre and 1st man facing 3rd couple.
13-16 4th woman with 2nd couple and 1st man with 3rd couple dance right hands across while 1st woman and 4th man dance one and a half times around each other passing right shoulder without giving hands (but with plenty of eye contact). All end on the sides in the order 2413 with 2nd and 1st couples facing down and 4th and 3rd couples facing up.
17-24 All dance parallel right shoulder reels of 4 up and down on the sides.
25-32 2nd and 4th couples also separately 1st and 3rd couples circle 4 hands round and back. On the last time through all circle 8 hands round and back (1st man and 4th woman have to twirl for this). End in the order 2413.

(Dance crib compiled by the deviser, Murrough Landon, CC BY-SA June 2012)


Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams


Dance Instruction Videos

Smouldering Teapots - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction Video

Dance Information

The figure in bars 9-16 has teapots with two of the dancing couples at a time circling each other up close with plenty of opportunity for smouldering glances.

All four couples are dancing all the time.

Recommended Music: Set of Strathspeys (Terpsichore by Caledonian Muse), Double Diamond Strathspey (Vintage Goldring by Muriel Johnstone and Keith Smith).

(Dance information by the deviser, Murrough Landon, CC BY-SA June 2012)



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