The Wordsmiths
Scottish Country Dance Instruction
THE WORDSMITHS (S4x32) 4C set Rod Downey Cane Toad Collection3s and 4s start on opposite sides
1- 8 1s dance down middle as 4s dance up and set to partners, 1s dance up and cast to 2nd places as 4s dance down and cast up
9-16 2s+1s also 4s+3s dance Diamond Poussette
17-24 1s and 4s dance ½ Fig of 8 round 2s-3s, 1L+4M also 1M+4L turn RH 1½ times
25-32 2s+4s+1s+3s advance and retire, all turn partners RH
(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)
The Wordsmiths 4x32 bar Strathspey for 4 Couples Rod Downey The Cane Toad Collection
A four couple, 32 bar strathspey.
Third and fourth couples begin on opposite sides.
1-2 First couple dance down the middle with nearer hands joined
while
fourth couple dance up the middle with nearer hands joined.
First and fourth couples finish facing partner - first man and fourth woman and first woman and fourth man with nearer hands joined.
3-4 First and fourth couples set.
5-8 First couple dance up the middle with nearer hands joined and cast down round second couple on own sides
while
fourth couple dance down the middle with nearer hands joined and cast up round third couple on own sides.
Second couple move up and third couple move down on bars 7-8.
9-16 Second and first couples and fourth and third couples dance an all round poussette.
17-20 First couple dance a half figure of eight up round second couple
while
fourth couple dance a half figure of eight down round third couple.
21-24 First woman and fourth man and first man and fourth woman turn with both hands one and a half times.
25-28 Second, fourth, first and third couples, with nearer hands joined on the sides, advance with two travelling steps and retire with two travelling steps.
29-32 Second, fourth, first and third couples turn partner with both hands once round.
Repeat from new positions.
(Dance crib compiled by the deviser Rod Downey, Johnsonville SCD Club Tutor)
Dance Notes
The 'all round poussette' should be danced as a 'diamond poussette' - as described in the original edition of RSCDS Book 19 - see "TAC Notes on RSCDS Dances ", third edition, 1986, page 3.(Dance notes by the deviser, Rod Downey)
Keith Rose's Crib Diagrams
Dance Information
This strathspey, The Wordsmiths, was devised during May 1999 for David Naulls and Christine Williams and named after their business.Suitable music - "The Bob O' Dowally".
(Dance information from The Cane Toad Collection Of Scottish Country Dances, reproduced here with the kind permission of the deviser, Rod Downey)
A wordsmith, in its most fundamental sense, is an individual skilled in the art of wordsmithing. The term "wordsmith" combines two elements: "word" and "smith." In the context of language and literature, a wordsmith is akin to a skilled craftsman, using words with precision and artistry to convey ideas, evoke emotions, and create compelling narratives.
A wordsmith is not merely someone who uses words but someone who wields them with expertise and finesse. This mastery may manifest in various forms, including writing, editing, or eloquent spoken expression. Wordsmiths are often celebrated for their ability to craft language in a way that captivates, persuades, or inspires.
In a broader sense, the term is an ode to the craftsmanship involved in manipulating language, highlighting the importance of linguistic artistry in effective communication and storytelling. Whether a poet, author, journalist, or any individual adept at the nuanced use of language, a wordsmith is someone who understands and appreciates the power and beauty inherent in the written and spoken word.
Published in The Cane Toad Collection, reproduced here with the kind permission of the deviser, Rod Downey.
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