Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

The Wapenshaw

Scottish Country Dance Instruction

THE WAPENSHAW (J4x32) 4C set John Drewry Brodie Book
3s and 4s start on opposite sides

1- 8 1M+4L also 1L+4M dance figs of 8 on sides round 2s+3s (dancing between 2s/3s to start)
9-16 1s and 4s turn partners RH 1½ times, cast in 1 place and dance ½ RH across to end in prom hold with other partner facing 2M/3M
17-24 1M+4L also 1L+4M dance RSh reels of 3 on sides and end in centre facing out sides
25-32 1s+4s ½ turn corners with nearer hand, cross down/up 1 place while corners cast to ends and turn 'new' corners once round. 24(1)(3)

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


Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams


Dance Instruction Videos

The Wapenshaw - Scottish Country Dancing Instruction Video

Dance Information

A wapenshaw (from the Old English for "weapon show") was originally a gathering and review of troops formerly held in every district in Scotland.

The object was to satisfy the military chiefs that the arms of their retainers were in good condition and that the men were properly trained in their use. The term is still occasionally used in the United Kingdom for rifle or other gun shows, particularly those involving historic weapons.

Wapenshaw is also widely used in the Woodcraft Folk to describe a daily ceremony when camping, which involves each camper removing all belongings from their tent and laying them out on a groundsheet in a fixed order. This serves two purposes: to air out the tent, and to ensure that no items have been lost.



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Text from this original Wapenshaw article on Wikipedia.

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