Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

Tomalena

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

TOMALENA (R5x32) 5C set Sara Gratiot and Paul Douglas San Francisco Collection 2

1- 8 1s and 3s lead down and up to 2nd/4th places BtoB facing own sides
9-16 All dance Double Triangles with 1s and 3s ending in middle facing up
17-24 1s and 3s dance up between 2s/4s and cast down 1 place, dance down between lower couple and cast up to 2nd/4th places
25-32 1s+4s also 3s+5s dance Poussette. 24153

(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)


Tomalena
Sara Gratiot and Paul Douglas San Francisco Collection 2
Reel 5 x 32 bars 5 Couple Repeat 5 Couple Set Longwise Set

  1-4   3s followed by 1s lead down;

  5-8   1s followed by 3s lead up to finish back-to-back with partners, facing own sides, 1s in 2nd place, 3s in 4th;

  9-16 2s1s4s3s5s dance double triangles, 1s 3s finishing facing up on own sides of the centre line, nearer hands joined;

17-24 1s 3s dance mirror figures of 8 on the sides, finishing in the centre, facing partners, both hands joined;

25-32 1s4s 3s5s poussette, finishing 2s4s1s3s5s.

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

Dance Notes

  1-8   Nearer hands joined gives a better fit to the succeeding figure.

  3-4   2s 4s step up.

16-16 1L 3L turn clockwise on the spot (quickly) to face up.

24-24 4s 5s step in (left foot) ready for poussette.

25-32 2s stand at the top WHILE 1s4s 3s5s poussette.


Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams


Dance Instruction Videos

Tomalena - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction Video

Dance Information

Tomalena was devised in Monterey, California, for the retirement of Thomas and Helena Garvie (Tom and Lena). The retirement was a double one - thus the double figures and two active couples - retirement from the jobs that brought them from Scotland in the 1950s and retirement from running the Monterey Scottish Country Dancing class, which they had helped found in the fall of 1967. The Garvies were instrumental in keeping SCD alive on the Monterey Peninsula and in providing locals with both joy and authenticity in Scottish culture.

The tune, written specifically for the dance, is Fen, copyright by Gary Thomas in 1996. It was affectionately named in honor of Gary's family dog, Fen, a Golden Retriever who can waggle her tail to any reel. The CD produced to accompany the original publication uses: Fen - Gary Thomas 1996, Mrs Hay of Yester - trad, Father Francis Cameron - John Campbell 1986 and Hon Mrs Dundas of Arniston - trad.

(Dance information by the joint deviser, Sara Gratiot)


Additional search terms: Tomalina, Tomallena, Tomandlena.

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