The Sparkling Stalwart
Scottish Country Dance Instruction
The Sparkling Stalwart (R4x40) 4C (4C set) 40 bar Reel for 4 Couples in a 4 Couple Set, devised by Murrough Landon, 2025.1- 4 1st and 4th couples each cross over giving right hands.
They then cast inwards as 2nd and 3rd couples step half a place towards the ends.
5- 8 1st man and 4th woman each dance half a figure of eight to their right, through 2nd or 3rd couple respectively, to end on the centre line, 1st man facing up, 4th woman facing down.
Meanwhile 1st woman and 4th man each cross over and cast around to the ends of the centre line, 1st woman at the top, 4th man at the bottom.
9-12 1st and 2nd couples, also 3rd and 4th couples, each dance left hands across once round.
13-16 1st and 2nd couples, also 3rd and 4th couples, each join nearer hands to form a diamond shape and all set.
Then all petronella turn (with skip change if preferred) one place to their right so that 2nd and 3rd couples are on the centre line and 1st and 4th couples are on the opposite side.
1st man and 4th woman (who danced the half figure of eight in bars 5-8) stay facing out.
17-20 2nd and 3rd couples each set, then petronella turn to end on the opposite side in 1st and 4th places respectively.
Meanwhile 1st man and 4th woman cast to 3rd and 2nd places respectively, then cross over to their own side. 1st woman and 4th man follow their partner through the setting couples, then cast to face them.
The order is now 2,4,1,3 with 2nd and 3rd couples on the opposite side.
21-24 4th and 1st couples each turn one and a quarter times with the right hand (or birl) to end on the centre line with the men facing down and the women facing up.
25-32 4th and 1st couples dance a complete reel of four on the centre line.
33-36 4th and 1st couples each turn one and a quarter times with the right hand (or birl) to end on the opposite side.
37-40 All chase half way round clockwise ending on their own side in the order 3,1,4,2.
(Dance crib compiled by the deviser, Murrough Landon, CC BY-SA October 2025)
Keith Rose's Crib Diagram
Dance Instruction Videos
The Sparkling Stalwart - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction VideoDance Information
This dance was created in honour of Jean Guano, who has been a dedicated member of numerous Scottish Country Dance groups across London.Her involvement began in Wembley and later extended to Chiswick, Richmond and the Wimbledon Reels. In addition to these, she was a regular participant at the St Columba's Monday gatherings and attended many other dance events throughout the city.
Jean is known for her fondness for diamonds, which inspired the sparkling element of the dance's title and is reflected in the figure performed during bars 13 to 16. Renowned for her elegance, she has often been described as a "swish lassie". Her enthusiasm for birling is also captured in the choreography, which draws a parallel with the well-known dance Swiss Lassie.
Published in The Sparkling Stalwart, reproduced here with the kind permission of the deviser, Murrough Landon, CC BY-SA.
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