Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

The Tushker

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

THE TUSHKER (R8x32) 3C (4C set) John Bowie Dickson

1- 8 1s set, cross down to 2nd place (2s step up bars 3-4), set and cross RH and face out
9-16 1s dance reels of 3 on own sides (RSh to 3rd corners) and end giving RH to turn to face 1st corners
17-24 1s dance reels of 3 across (RSh to 1st corner) and end giving RH to face down
25-32 1s followed by 2s lead down between 3s, cast up, meet and lead up between 2s and cast, 1s to 2nd place, 2s end in 1st place

Second time through bars 31-32 1s cast to 4th place as 4s step up

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

Dance Information

A tushker is a type of spade used for digging peat.

It is similar to the Highland cas-chrom (bent foot) which is the most common variety of foot plough used for cultivation, in the north west of Scotland.

Tushker
Peat Bank At Simli Field, Shetland Islands, Complete With Tushker
Image copyright Jeremy Duncan under this Creative Commons Licence 2.0.

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