The Wilds Of Wannie
Scottish Country Dance Instruction
THE WILDS OF WANNIE (R8x40) 3C (4C set) Maureen Robson From North to South1- 8 1s turn RH (2 bars), cast 1 place (2s step up); 1s dance down nearer hands joined between 3s and cast up round 3s to finish in 2nd place in the middle facing up
9-16 2s+1s+3s dance reels of 3 on the sides (2s out and down, 1s dance up nearer hands joined, 3s out and up to start). 1s finish facing 1st corners, 2s and 3s loop into place
17-24 1s set to 1st corners, 1s cast, dance out to 3rd corner positions, across the set, round 2nd corners to finish facing 2nd corners while 1st corners dance path of ½ reel of 4 and set
25-32 1s set to 2nd corners, 1s cast, dance out to 4th corner positions, behind lines (1M up, 1L down), round 3rd corners to finish 1M between 3s (in 1st place) facing down and 1L between 2s (in 3rd place) facing up while 2nd corners dance path of ½ reel of 4 and set
33-40 All advance and retire; 1s change places RH and cast round 4th corners to 2nd place while 3s+2s dance ½ R&L changing places on the sides to begin
(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)
Dance Information
The term "The Wilds Of Wanney" is used by people of Tyneside to refer to the rural areas of Northumberland where the River Wansbeck rises.The River Wansbeck runs through the county of Northumberland, England. It rises above Sweethope Lough on the edge of Fourlaws Forest in the area known locally as The Wanneys, runs through the town of Ashington before discharging into the North Sea at Sandy Bay near Newbiggin-by-the-Sea.
In the book Wanny Blossoms, A New Book Of Border Songs And Ballads by James Armstrong, The first song is called Wild Hills O' Wannys - Song published in 1876.
My heart's in the west, on yon wild mossy fells,
Amang muircocks an' plovers an' red heatherbells;
Where the lambs lie in clusters on yon bonnie brae,
On the wild hills o' Wannys sae far, far away.
There's Aid Crag an' Luma, an' Hepple Heugh, too,
Hartside and Darna, I've oft been on you,
Otter-caps, Hareshaw, an' Peaden sae hie,
And the wild hills o' Wannys for ever for me.
Wild Hills O' Wannys Song - Information Video
Great Wanney Crag
(Less Than 1 Mile From Aid Crag)
Dance information licensed under this Creative Commons Licence 3.0.
Text from this original River Wansbeck article on Wikipedia.
Text from this original https://digital.nls.uk/antiquarian-books-of-scotland/archive/114094185 under this Creative Commons Licence 4.0.
Image copyright Andrew Curtis under this Creative Commons Licence 2.0.
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