The Standard

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 4 First and second couples dance half rights and lefts, first man and second lady finishing facing out; third and fourth couples do the same.
5- 8 First and second couples dance a half a reel of four across the set; to start first lady and second man pass by the right as their partners cast round to the left to follow; third and fourth couples do the same. All finish in original places, with the same four dancers still facing out.
9-16 Reels of four on the sides; to commence second and third couples pass by the right shoulder in the middle. First man and fourth lady finish facing out.
17-24 Second and third couples dance right hands across in a wheel and back with the left hand. Meanwhile first and fourth couples dance round in an anticlockwise circle to finish all in original places.
25-32 First couple set, cast off behind second couple, cross down between third couple, cast off below fourth couple and cross back to own sides giving left hand in passing. Second, third and fourth couples step up on bars 27 & 28.
33-40 Eight hands round to the left in a circle and back to the right.

Repeat with a new top couple. Recommended tune: The Standard On The Braes Of Mar

(Dance crib reproduced from The Whetherly Book Of Scottish Country Dances, revised and republished by Alison Mitchell)

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