Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

Ten Ladies Dancing

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

TEN LADIES DANCING (S5x32) 5C Set Susan Johnston

1- 8 1s+3s cross and cast (2s and 4s step up); all 5 couples set, 1s and 3s ¾ turn partner into line up/down centre (Ladies above Men)
9-12 2s+1L, 1M+4s+3L and 3M+5s dance RH across
13-16 2s+1M, 1L+4s+3M and 3L+5s dance LH across. 21435
17-24 1s and 3s dance ½ Figs 8 round 1st corners; 1s and 3s dance ½ Fig of 8 round 3rd corners
25-32 All 5 couples advance and retire; 1s and 3s turn partner RH and cast (4s and 5s step up). 24153

(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors) Ten Ladies Dancing
Susan Johnston
Strathspey 5 x 32 bars 5 Couple Repeat 5 Couple Set Longwise Set

  1-4   1s 3s cross and cast;

  5-6   2s1s4s3s5s take hands on the sides and set facing partners;

  7-8   1s 3s turn ¾ by the left, finishing on the centre line, Ls above Mn;

  9-12 2s1L 1M4s3L 3M5s right hands across;

13-16 2s1M 1L4s3M 3L5s left hands across, finishing on own sides, facing in and to the right;

17-20 1s 3s dance half figures of eight across, around first corners;

21-24 1s 3s dance half figures of eight across, around partners' first corners;

25-28 2s1s4s3s5s advance and retire;

29-32 1s 3s turn by the right and cast, finishing 2s4s1s5s3s.

(MAXICRIB. Scottish country dancing instructions compiled by Reuben Freemantle)

Dance Notes

17-18 1M3L give right shoulders.

17-24 The successive half figures of eight across are known in the deviser's group as the "paperclip".

21-22 1L3M give right shoulders.

Dance Information

The title of this dance, Ten Ladies Dancing, is a recognition that, for many Scottish Country Dancing groups, a 5-couple set may contain only female dancers.

In the most commonly accepted version of the traditional song, The Twelve Days of Christmas (Raud 68), it should strictly be "Ten Lords A-Leaping" and "Nine Ladies Dancing" though there are many alternative versions; Harry Belafonte chose "Ten Ladies Dancing" and "Nine Lords A-Leaping" for his performance.

Ten Ladies Dancing - Information Video

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