Ten Ladies Dancing
Scottish Country Dance Instruction
Ten Ladies DancingSusan 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, 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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