The Swirling Stream
Scottish Country Dance Instruction
THE SWIRLING STREAM (R4x32) 4C Set Robert and Margaret Senior Oakham Collection2 chords - 2nd chord 3s and 4s cross to opposite sides
1- 4 1s+4s dance in, take nearer hands joined and couples advance and retire. As 1s+4s retire 2s+3s step up/down to form lines of 4 across
5- 8 1s+4s cross down/up centre, 1s nearer hands joined passing between 4s, 4s+1s dance between 2s/3s, turning 2s/3s with nearer hand to finish on sides. 2(4)1(3)
9-12 4L+1M and 4M+1L (middle couples) advance and retire
13-16 4s+1s cross, 4M+1L (middle couple Ladies' side) nearer hands joined dancing between 4L+1M and turn corners into lines across, 4s (between 2s) facing 1s (between 3s)
17-20 1s+4s advance and retire up/down set
21-24 1s+4s turn person opposite 2H to finish on sides. 24(1)(3)
25-32 8H round and back. 24(1)(3)
(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)
The Swirling Stream A 4x32 bar reel for four couples in a longwise set, by Robert and Margaret Senior.
3rd and 4th couples start on opposite sides.
1- 4 1st couple dance in and down while 4th couple dance in and up, to dance advance and retire, nearer hands joined. As they retire, 2nd couple step up and 3rd couple step down to form lines of 4 and 4 across.
5- 8 1st and 4th couples (the dancing couples) cross up/down, 1st couple retaining hands and dancing down between 4th couple as they part and dance up. 1st couple then dance between 3rd couple turning them ¾ with outer hands while 4th couple dance between 2nd couple turning them ¾ with outer hands, to end on the sides. 2(4)1(3).
9-12 4th man with 1st lady also 4th lady with 1st man (the dancing couples) advance and retire across the dance.
13-16 The dancing couples cross the set, the two dancers from the ladies' side (4th man and 1st lady) retaining hands and passing between the other two (4th lady and 1st man). The dancing couples dance between the persons on the sides turning them ¾ with outer hands. They end 1st couple facing up between 3rd couple, and 4th couple facing down between 2nd couple.
17-20 1st and 4th couples advance and retire, up and down the dance.
21-24 1st and 4th couples turn the person opposite, once, with 2 hands, (1st lady with 4th man and 1st man with 4th lady) and fall back to the nearest side. 24(1)(3).
25-32 All dance eight hands round and back to end on the sides. 24(1)(3).
Repeat from new places.
(Dance crib compiled by the devisers, Robert and Margaret Senior, February 2023)
Keith Rose's Crib Diagram
Dance Information
The movement of dancers in the dance is like the motion of water in eddies in a stream.Music: A steady reel, with two chords to begin.
Suggested recording: "Barry and Doreen's Continental Capers", Marian Anderson, The Sunday Class Book 1.
The devisers would like to thank members of Oakham Scottish Country Dance Club, Rutland, for helping to develop and test this dance.
(Dance information by the devisers, Robert and Margaret Senior, February 2023)
Swirling Stream, Linn Of Dee
Published in The Oakham Collection, Robert Margaret Senior, reproduced here with the kind permission of the devisers, Robert and Margaret Senior, 2023.
Image copyright Mick Garratt under this Creative Commons Licence 2.0.
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