Strathspey For Stan
Scottish Country Dance Instruction
STRATHSPEY FOR STAN (S8x32) 3C (4C set) John Wilkinson1- 8 1s set, cast (2s step up bars 3-4); 1s turn RH to face out in 2nd place own side
9-16 1s dance ½ reel of 3 on the sides giving RSh to person on their right to start. On bar 4, 1s turn LH to dance ½ reels of 3 on opposite sides (1L LSh to 2M, 1M LSh to 3L) to finish back to back facing 1st corners
17-24 1s turn 1st corners RH. On bar 20 1s pass RSh to face 3rd corner (corners dance for 4 bars). 1s turn 3rd corner LH to face 2nd corners
25-32 1s turn 2nd corners LH. On bar 28 1s pass LSh to face 4th corners. 1s turn 4th corners RH to finish in 2nd place own sides
(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)
Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams
Dance Information
This 2017 dance, Strathspey For Stan, was dedicated to the musician Stan Hamilton "whose wonderful music has been enjoyed by dancers and listeners from all over the world".James Stanley (Stan) Hamilton was an Ayrshire musician (1928-2007) who played piano from an early age, and in 1957 emigrated to Canada, with his wife and fellow musician (accordion) Bobby Frew, where he played Scottish music with two Bobbies- Frew and Brown.
His band was originally named Stan Hamilton And The Clansmen and quickly gained a recording contract with RCA. Stan renamed his band Stan Hamilton And The Flying Scotsmen (apparently because of RCA's recognition of associations between the word "clan" and the less desirable sort of group with white hoods).
The new name was inspired by his own musical arrangement of The Flying Scotman and of course everyone involved would have been well aware that they now shared their name with the other famous Flying Scotsmen, the express passenger train service which had been operating between Edinburgh and London, since 1862.
You can hear Stan playing with Bobby Frew and Bobby Brown here:
Stan Hamilton And The Flying Scotsmen - Information Video

The Other Famous 'Flying Scotsman' In Full Steam
Image selection by SCDD automotive consultant, A.C. Pearson.
Image copyright jimd2007 licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.
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