Vital Spark (Duncan)

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

1- 4 All set to partners, ¾ turn RH
5-16 All dance double reels of 4 (giving LH in centre) and end in original places
17-24 All set (facing in), 1s and 3s slip step 1 place to right while 2s and 4s slip step left (1s and 4s pass outside) and repeat but continue in same direction
25-32 Repeat bars 17-24 back to places
33-40 All set to corners and turn RH, Men dance on to next Lady (opposite Lady), turn and Men dance to next Lady (Ladies remain in original place)
41-48 Men turn Ladies and dance to next Lady (partner), all set and ½ turn partner RH into new places (1 place to right of original)

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

Dance Information

"The Vital Spark" is a fictional boat known as a Clyde puffer, and it was created by the Scottish writer Neil Munro.

The Clyde puffer is a type of steamboat that was commonly used for cargo transport in the west of Scotland during the early to mid-20th century. Munro's portrayal of "The Vital Spark" is featured in a series of stories and novels, depicting the adventures and misadventures of its fictional crew.

Even before Munro wrote his stories in the Glasgow Evening News in 1905, people already liked puffers. It's because these small steamboats were important for delivering goods along the west coast of Scotland and the Hebrides. Munro's stories were more fun and tricky than the real shipping business, but they became really famous.

They were in the newspaper for over 20 years, turned into a book in 1931, inspired a 1953 film called The Maggie, and became three popular TV series from 1959 to 1995.

Vital Spark At Crinan, Argyll And Bute, Scotland, 2006

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