Steeple Rock

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

STEEPLE ROCK (M-8x(S24+R24)) 3C (4C set) Iain Boyd Cairdin O't

Strathspey
1- 8 1s dance reels of 3 across (1L with 2s and 1M with 3s) end facing in centre
9-16 1s set (Marquis of Huntley step) for 4 bars, 1¼ turn 2H to 2nd place own side
17-24 2s+1s+3s set Highland Schottische and turn partners 2H

Reel
1- 8 1s pas-de-basque-Coupe and ½ turn 2H, turn to right to end BtoB facing opposite sides
9-16 1s dance ½ reel of 4 with 1st corners, pass RSh and dance reel of 4 with 2nd corners ending BtoB with 1M facing up
17-24 1s circle 3H round (1M with top couple 3s and 1L with 2s) opening out with 1M leading 3s down Ladies' side while 1L leads 2s up Men's side and circle 6H round to left to end 213 and set

(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)

Dance Information

Steeple Rock/Te Aroaro-o-Kupe is a large rock off Seatoun at the west of the entrance to Wellington Harbour (on the southern tip of New Zealand's North Island) rising 7 metres (23 ft) above sea level. The rock plays a role in warning ships off the coast.

Its Māori name is Te Aroaro-o-Kupe (The front of Kupe or The presence of Kupe). The name was officially changed in 2009 from the English "Steeple Rock" to the current dual name of Steeple Rock/Te Aroaro-o-Kupe as part of the 2009 Treaty of Waitangi settlement between Taranaki Whānui ki te Upoko o te Ika and the New Zealand government. The previous Māori name of the rock was Te Ure o Kupe. Kupe, the legendary discoverer of Aotearoa, is said to have injured himself on the rock while swimming.

In the past, Steeple Rock was alternatively referred to as Pinnacle Rock. It's important to note that this should not be mistaken for The Pinnacles, a collection of rocks situated south of Steeple Rock and extending from the tip of Point Dorset, also in Wellington, New Zealand.

Established in 1934, the Steeple Rock Light stands in the waters east of Steeple Rock. The structure comprises a two-part concrete shell transported to the site by the floating crane Hikitia and subsequently filled with concrete. Initially powered by gas, it underwent conversion to solar power in 1993.

Steeple Rock, Wellington Harbour

Dance information licensed under this Creative Commons Licence 3.0.
Text from this original Steeple Rock article on Wikipedia.
Image copyright russellstreet, Creative Commons Licence 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

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