The St Columba's Church Strathspey
Scottish Country Dance Instruction
The St Columba's Church Strathspey A 48 bar Strathspey in a 3 couple set, Rod Downey (2026), Published in The Rata And The Wheki.1- 4 1C dance in to shoulder to shoulder facing up and cast into second place, 2C stepping up on 3-4. (The long cast.)
5- 8 1C turn 1½ with left hand moving up into between the 2C in top place so that they are in a line of 4 across the set. 1C face their partners and hence own sides.
9-16 1C and 2C dance set and pass (twice). To wit: 9-10 All set. 11-12 1C dance to first place on own sides passing partner and 1M passing 2M, 2C dancing in to replace 1C, 2M replacing 1M, 2W replacing 1W, 1W passing 2W by the right shoulder, and all pull back right shoulder to finish 2C facing own sides and 1C facing across the set. Note all are passing collective right shoulder.
13-14 All set.
15-16 Repeat 11-12 with the roles of 1C and 2C reversed. To wit: 2C dance to first place on own sides passing partner and 1M passing 2M, 1W passing 2W by the right shoulder, 1C replacing 2C. but with 1C finishing with nearer hands joined and facing down, but finishing with 2C facing out.
17-24 Giving nearer hands 1C dance down the middle between 3C, cast up to second place, then dance up through first place and cast off around first position (still on opposite sides) and dance down to between 3rd couple, and finish facing each other across the set. 2C cast up and in behind 1C (17-18) and then follow 1C but finish in 9-16.
33-40 1C and 3C repeat 17-24, upward between 2C, 3C finishing by casting up into 3rd place, and 1C cross (without giving hands) to own sides and second place facing out on 39-40.
41-44 1M and 2M, 1W and 2W turn once around with 1C dancing out to begin.
45-48 1C with 3C turn 1½ on the sides, first couple dancing out to begin. Finishing order 2,3,1.
Repeat with a new top couple.
Dance Instruction Videos
The St Columba's Church Strathspey - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction VideoDance Information
This dance was devised on 11 April 2026 to mark the 60th anniversary of Johnsonville Club becoming affiliated with the RSCDS, as well as my 30th year of teaching at the club. The dance takes its name from St Columba's Church Sunday School Hall, where dancing in Johnsonville originally took place as part of the Church Friendship Club, which later evolved into the Johnsonville RSCDS group.Recommended tune is "Caerlaverock Castle" by Ian Holmes, and a suitable recording is found as "One for the Millennium" on "Dancers' Choice Vol. 2" by Robert Whitehead and the Danelaw Band.
Suitable alternative music includes "Partans in his Creel" by Allie Windwick, and a suitable recording is in "Strictly Scottish Volume 1", also by Robert Whitehead and the Danelaw Band.
(Dance information by the deviser, Rod Downey, Johnsonville SCD Club Tutor)
Published in The Rata And The Wheki, reproduced here with the kind permission of the deviser, Rod Downey.