Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

Spanish Ghost

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

Spanish Ghost 32 bar Strathspey for 4 couples Rod Downey The Golden Bear Collection
A 4 x 32 Strathspey in a longwise set.

1-4 1C dances down the middle below 4C, beginning to cast at the end of bar 4, but separating on bar 3 to finish on sidelines at the end of bar 4, below 4th couple. Meanwhile, 2C (the ghosts) cast down the sidelines to finish below 1C.
5-8 1C cast up from below the 4C, followed by 2C. 1C dance through first place to finish in 2nd place facing down, 2C behind them.
9-16 Dancing in tandem with 2C (no overtaking), 1C (and 2C) dance mirror reels on the sides 1 and 2 W with 3W and 4W, and similarly the men, dancing between 3C to begin. Finish the reels with 2C behind 1C in the middle, more or less 1C in 3rd place and 2C in 2nd place, with 3C on the sidelines in 1st place.
17-20 1C and 2C dance interlocking set and link. To wit:
 17-18 1C, 2C set facing down.
 19-20 All link, but 2L dances in front of 1M as they link. But otherwise as per a normal set and link.
21-24 Repeat 17-20 but this time it is 2M who is in front. Finish on sidelines, facing partner.
25-32 1C with 4C, 3C with 2C dance the Espagnole.
Finishing order, 2,3,4,1.

Repeat with a new top couple.

(Dance crib compiled by the deviser Rod Downey, Johnsonville SCD Club Tutor)


Dance Information

This strathspey, Spanish Ghost, was devised on 8/11/2020.

Inspired by the late Sean Connery as "Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez" in the very silly movie Highlander. The only Spaniard I have run across in movies with a Scottish accent.

Also vaguely inspired by Ghost Dance by Anja Girards.

Recommended music is "Partans in his Creel" by Allie Windwick, and either the Alistair Hunter or Nicol Maclauren recordings are eminently suitable.

(Dance information from The Golden Bear Collection Of Scottish Country Dances, reproduced here with the kind permission of the deviser, Rod Downey)



Published in The Golden Bear Collection, reproduced here with the kind permission of the deviser, Rod Downey.

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