Tuis In The Garden

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 8 1s and 3s dance down 1 place cast up round 2s/4s to original place; cross, cast into centre to face 1st corners (2s and 4s step up 7-8)
9-16 1s and 3s set to 1st corners, turn corner RH; turn partner 1¼ LH to face 2nd corners
17-24 1s and 3s repeat 9-16 with 2nd corners; turn partner LH to 2nd/4th place opposite side. 2(1)4(3)5
25-32 1s and 3s advance and retire diagonally; cross down (no hands) to 3rd/5th place while 4s+5s step up and all set. 24153

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

1- 8 1+3Cs taking nearer hands dance in and down to cast around 2+4Cs and back to place. 1+3Cs cross RH and cast off, (with a little more flight than normal), so that you can dance in to finish back-to-back and facing your 1st corners. (2+4Cs need to step in and up bars 7+8).
9-16 1+3Cs set to corners, (2bars) then turn them with the RH (using Skip Change) (2bars), 1+3Cs turn partners LH 1¼ times in the centre to finish facing their 2nd corners.
17-24 Repeat bars 9-12 with 2nd corners, then 1+3Cs turn partners LH to finish in 2nd + 4th places on opposite sides.
25-32 1+3Cs advance and retire, then cross down one place NO Hands (finishing in 3rd+5th places), WHILE (4+5Cs step up), then all 5Cs take hands on the side and set.

Repeat with a new first couple.

(Dance crib compiled by the deviser, Gaye Collin 2024)

Dance Instruction Videos

Dance Information

They have many different songs too depending on the area they live in, and we love having them in our garden. As they are tree dwellers, our cat, Rua, has never, to our knowledge, caught one. They also like eating apple if you put some out on the bird table.

Many years ago, I ended up devising a dance for Damon as he was trying to find a dance with a Poussette in it for our new dancers that didn't have a foot change. I looked and looked for him and after not being able to find one I devised The Flowering Heather.

The Tuis were in the garden that day as I was devising. I watched them drinking the nectar from the Kowhai flowers and I thought they were getting rather tiddly on it.

We had just returned from a trip to the UK where had walked in the stunning Lammermuir Hills. The heather was beautiful, so the dance I devised for Damon was either going to be called "The Flowering Heather" or "Tuis in the Garden".

So, at last, the Tuis have a dance named after them, as they were again in the garden when this dance started to form in my dancing brain.

Recommended Tune: CD: The Sunday Class Vol 1, track 7: Five Penny Ness by Jim Lindsay and his Band.

(Dance information by the deviser, Gaye Collin)

Belonging to the honeyeater family, it is closely related to the New Zealand bellbird. The tūī inhabits a range of environments across the country, from coastal regions to native forests and suburban areas.

Its diet primarily consists of nectar, fruits, and insects, playing a vital role in pollination.

The tūī is known for its complex vocalisations and can mimic human speech, other bird calls, and even mechanical sounds. Its song is a mix of melodious notes, clicks, and rasps, some of which are beyond the range of human hearing. These vocal abilities help tūī establish territory and communicate with mates. They are highly territorial birds and will aggressively defend feeding areas from other birds, including much larger species. Their ability to adapt to both native forests and urban gardens has helped them remain widespread across New Zealand.

Tuis - Information Video

One Of Gaye Collin's Tuis - In Her Garden

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