Stargazers
Scottish Country Dance Instruction
Stargazers 4x32 bar Strathspey for 4 Couples Rod Downey They Stole My Wife From Me last Night CollectionA 32 bar Strathspey for four couples.
1-2 All take hands on the side and set.
3-4 First couple casts off to second place, while fourth couple casts up into third place, second couple gives left hands and crosses up to first place on opposite sides, third gives right hands to cross down to finish in fourth place on opposite sides.
5-8 First couple dances a half figure of eight around the second couple above them and fourth couple dances a half figure of eight around the third couple below. Similarly, fourth couple dances a half figure of eight down around the third couple.
9-16 Second and first, and third and fourth couples dance a modified tourbillon as follows. (Described for the first and second couples)
9-10 Second and first couples turn partner with both hands opening after one bar, by first man and second woman releasing left hand (and partners right) but retaining nearer hands, out to finish with second couple on the women's side (that is, so the second lady is still in original place) and first couple on the men's side (so that the first man is still in original place), perhaps slightly in. Retain nearer hands.
11-12 First and second couples set with nearer hands joined on the sides, facing across the set.
13-14 First and second couples turn partner with both hands as above, and this time first woman and second man release left, to finish on opposite sides (in progressed places) in the middle facing, up and down the set- first couple in first place facing down and second couple in second place facing up, both couples with nearer hands joined.
15-16 First and second couples set once with nearer hands joined with partner.
17-24 The four men, and the four ladies respectively, dance a reel of four on the sides.
25-28 First woman and second woman turn one and half times with the right hand; similarly first and second men, third and fourth women, and third and fourth men.
29-32 First and fourth men, and similarly first and fourth women turn one and a half times left hands.
Finish in order 2,4,1,3.
Repeat from new positions.
(Dance crib compiled by the deviser Rod Downey, Johnsonville SCD Club Tutor)
Dance Instruction Videos
Stargazers - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction VideoDance Information
This strathspey, Stargazers, was devised in May 2007 and given to Aline and John Holmes, long time Johnsonville members and "stargazers" on clear nights.The recommended tune is "The Banks of Spey", a lovely old traditional tune, and could be played ABAB or ABBA.
(Use this unless danced at the same time as the next dance. If danced on the same night use something like "The Brig O' Bervie" or a similar traditional tune.)
A suitable recording is on "Campbell's Birl" by Muriel Johnstone and Keith Smith, from Scotscores music.
(Dance information from They Stole My Wife From Me Last Night Collection Of Scottish Country Dances, reproduced here with the kind permission of the deviser, Rod Downey)
Published in They Stole My Wife From Me Last Night Collection, reproduced here with the kind permission of the deviser, Rod Downey.
Back to the top of this Scottish Country Dancing Instructions 'Stargazers' page