The Thistle And Vine
Scottish Country Dance Instruction
The Thistle And Vine A 32 bar jig for four couples, danced in a longwise set. Jean Lumsden et al 19891 1st couple set to each other across the dance; 2nd couple set advancing into the centre of the set and face diagonally up the dance. (1st man faces 2nd man and 1st lady faces 2nd lady.)
2 1st man sets to 2nd man, and 1st lady sets to 2nd lady (see Fig. 1).
3- 4 1st and 2nd man, also 1st and 2nd ladies, change places giving right hands in passing.
5- 6 2nd man once again sets to 1st man, as does 2nd lady to 1st lady.
7- 8 2nd and 1st men, also 2nd and 1st ladies, change places giving right hands (1st couple finish in original positions; 2nd couple finish in 2nd position facing down).
Meanwhile, whilst the top two couples are dancing the formation outlined above (Bars 1-8), 3rd and 4th couples dance four hands around in a circle to the left and back again.
9-14 All four couples dance six bar "borrowing" reels of three.
1st and 4th couples begin by facing across the dance, 2nd couple faces down and 3rd couple faces up; all four couples begin the reel by passing left shoulder, then 1st couple pass 3rd couple by the right shoulder while 4th couple pass 2nd couple by the right shoulder.
15-16 1st couple turn by the left hand to finish between the 2nd couple, with 1st man facing 2nd lady and 1st lady facing 2nd man.
17-28 1st couple dances a spurtle progression successively with the 2nd couple (Bars 17-20), 3rd couple (Bars 21-24) and 4th couple (Bars 25-28).
In each instance, the dancing and helping couples dance a half reel of four across the dance for two bars, following which the helping couple dances up one place on the opposite sides of the dance for two bars, whilst the dancing couple turn by the right hand for two bars, moving down the set as they do so.
29-32 1st couple turn once by the right hand, whilst the 2nd, 3rd and 4th couples all set and cross back to their own sides (giving right hands in passing).
Repeat with a new top couple.
(Dance crib compiled by the deviser, Jean Lumsden, 1989)
The Thistle Formation
Dance Information
When the slogan "Let the Thistle and Vine Entwine in '89" was chosen for the 1989 Adelaide Winter School, it was felt that a new dance embodying the "Thistle and Vine" theme should be devised.A strikingly original suggestion by Jean Lumsden was subsequently modified after discussion with her fellow members of the '89 Winter School Committee, and the definitive version of the resultant dance "The Thistle and Vine" (as published above) was given its first public performance by members of the same Winter School Committee at the Ceilidh night at the 1988 Winter School in Richmond, New South Wales.
Recommended Music: "Georgie's Jig", as played by David Cunningham's band on the St. Andrew's Jubilee tape.
(Dance information by the deviser, Jean Lumsden, 1989)
The Thistle And Vine booklet was produced by the RSCDS Adelaide Branch following a competition they held in February 1989 for newly-devised dances.
The aim was to select one dance to submit to the Publications Committee of the parent organisation for possible inclusion in Book 36 of the Society's official publications. The winning entry was Strathalbyn Jig by Lily Davison, which appears later in the booklet.
Several people who attended the competition felt that many of the dances submitted were of a high enough standard to justify publication. A number of additional local dances were included, and the result is this slim volume.
The reference to "The Thistle" in the title is presumably to the Scottish thistle, while "The Vine" reflects South Australia's well-known wine regions, including the Barossa Valley, Clare Valley, McLaren Vale, Riverland, and Coonawarra.
The Thistle And Vine Front Cover
Published in The Thistle And Vine, Copyright 2025, reproduced here with the kind permission of the president of RSCDS Adelaide And Districts Branch, Australia, 2025. All rights reserved.
Published in The Thistle And Vine Original, Copyright 1989, reproduced here with the kind permission of the president of RSCDS Adelaide And Districts Branch, Australia, 2025. All rights reserved.
Image copyright RSCDS Adelaide And Districts Branch, Australia, all rights reserved 1989, reproduced here with kind permission, 2025.
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