Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

Snowdrops In The Glen

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

SNOWDROPS IN THE GLEN (R8x32) 3C (4C set) Ruth Beattie Glasgow 90th Anniversary

1- 8 1s cross RH, cast, dance ½ Fig of 8 round 3s (2s step up bars 3-4)
9-16 1s lead down the middle and back to 2nd place
17-24 2s+1s+3s join hands on sides advance and retire, all turn partners RH into promenade hold
25-32 2s+1s+3s dance Promenade

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


Snowdrops in the Glen
Ruth Beattie Glasgow 90th Anniversary
Reel 8 x 32 bars 3 Couple Repeat 4 Couple Set Longwise Set

  1-4   1s cross by the right and cast;

  5-8   1s cross down into half figures of 8 around 3s, finishing in 2nd place;

  9-16 1s lead down and back;

17-20 2s1s3s advance and retire;

21-24 2s 1s 3s turn by the right, finishing in promenade hold, facing up on the centre line;

25-32 2s1s3s promenade round.

(MAXICRIB. Scottish country dancing instructions compiled by Reuben Freemantle)


Snowdrops In The Glen (R4x32) 3C (4C set) Ruth Beattie

1- 8 1st couple cross and cast second couple move up. 1st couple dance ½ figure of eight round 3rd couple to finish in second place own side.
9-16 1st couple dance down the middle and up finishing in 2nd place.
17-24 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples joining hands advance and retire with two steps once. 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples turn right hand to finish in promenade hold.
25-32 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples promenade.

(Dance crib compiled by the deviser, Ruth Beattie)


Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams


Dance Instruction Videos

Snowdrops In The Glen - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction Video

Dance Information

Snowdrops In The Glen was devised to pay tribute to James Cameron, a talented musician who was a member of Wellington Church, Glasgow.

With unfailing generosity, he played accordion for ceilidhs and entertainments held by the congregation and their International Welcome Club. He also wrote many bagpipe tunes which proved to be popular not only with pipers but Scottish Dance Bands who regularly featured his music on BBC's 'Take The Floor' radio programme.

Ruth is also a member of Wellington Church and was elected Royal Scottish Country Dance Society Chairman in 2010 and worked with James at many social dance events.

A walk through Glendaruel when it was white with snowdrops, soon after James death (24 March 2010), captured for Ruth some of the magic that James had created through his music. This reel, Snowdrops In The Glen, is the result.

After being tried out by advanced dancers of the society, Snowdrops In The Glen was first taught by Ruth to students at Wellington International Welcome Club. They in turn, demonstrated it at the church's St Andrew's Night Ceilidh in November 2010 when it was given its first public airing.

The music 'James M Cameron's Farewell To Arran' was composed for this dance by Iain T MacPhail, a long-time friend of James.

Snowdrops In The Glen
Snowdrops Amongst The Leaves At Snowdrop Valley


Image copyright Dave Hunt under this Creative Commons Licence 2.0.
Additional search terms: Snow drops.

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