Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

Sorbie Tensome Reel

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

Sorbie Tensome Reel
Maggie and Duncan Keppie Gaelic College SCD Book 9: A Dozen in Hand
5x40 bar Reel
5-couple square set, 5th couple in centre

  1-8   CIRCLE AND BACK: around the 5th couple who set to each other using Pas de Basque or a Highland Step;

  9-16 SET AND TURN HEAD COUPLES: 5th couple sets to 1st couple and turns opposite with right hands, then sets to 3rd couple and turns opposite with left hands (end facing 1st couple);

17-24 HAND-IN-HAND REEL OF 3 WITH HEAD COUPLES: 5th couple dances a Hand-in-Hand Reel of 3 with Head couples (start 5th and 1st couples passing right shoulders), each couple switching hands at each end of the reel (end facing 4th couple);

25-32 SET AND TURN SIDE COUPLES: 5th couple sets to 4th couple and turns opposite with right hands, then sets to 2nd couple and turns opposite with left hands (end facing 4th couple);

33-40 HAND-IN-HAND REEL OF 3 WITH SIDE COUPLES: 5th couple dances a Hand-in-Hand Reel of 3 with Side couples (start 5th and 4th couples passing right shoulders), each couple switching hands at each end of the reel: on bars 39-40 5th woman followed by 5th man dances anticlockwise ΒΌ around the periphery into 1st place AS 1st couple joins nearer hands and dances into centre to face next couple on their left (i.e. 2nd couple).

Repeat with each couple in the centre.

(Dance crib compiled by the devisers, Maggie and Duncan Keppie)



Back to the top of this Scottish Country Dancing Instructions 'Sorbie Tensome Reel' page