Working Shift
Scottish Country Dance Instruction
WORKING SHIFT (R8x32) 3C (4C set) Neville Pope Sturt's Desert Pea1- 4 1s+2s set. 1s cast while 2s cross up LH to 1st place and face out. (2)13
5- 8 2s+1s dance ½ double Fig of 8 (1s cross up to start) to finish 2s facing out, 1s facing in. 2(1)3
9-16 1s dance RSh reels of 3 on the sides (1s give RSh to 2nd corners). Corners loop at the end
17-20 1s dance ½ LSh reel across the dance (1L with 3s, 1M with 2s). (2)1(3)
21-24 1s Petronella turn into lines across (1L between 2s, 1M between 3s), 1s set
25-32 All set and link for 3, all turn RH. 213
(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)
Working Shift 8x32 Reel, 3 couples in a 4 couple set, Neville Pope
1- 8 1st and 2nd couples set on the side. 1st couple cast while 2nd couple cross up LH to first place, facing out. 1st and 2nd couples dance double half-figure of eight. 2nd couple finish facing out, 1st couple on opposite sides facing in.
9-16 1st couple, giving RS to 2nd corner, dance reels of 3 on the side. Corners loop at the end of the reel, ready for -
17-24 1st couple give LS to partner's 1st corner to dance a half reel across the dance. Finish in order 2,1,3 with 2nd and 3rd couples on opposite sides.
1st couple petronella to finish 1st lady between 2nd couple and 1st man between 3rd couple. 1st couple set. (2nd and 3rd couples do not set on 23-24.)
25-32 Set and link for 3 across the dance. All turn partner RH once round.
(Note: In a 3-couple set, 1st couple turn in 2 bars and cast, while 3rd couple dances a sliding turn to 2nd place or 1st couple only turn, sliding to 3rd place while 3rd couple step up on bars 31-32.)
Repeat having passed a couple
(Dance crib compiled by the deviser, Neville Pope, July 2006)
Dance Information
The dance is named "Working Shift" because I found when I had trouble sleeping during a stint of shift work that running through figures in my head was a good way of relaxing my brain to help me sleep.Recommended music: Any good reel, but not too fast.
Recommended Recording: CD 2 track 13 (Selection of Reels) from Celtic Fire in the Music by Bobby Brown: Dunderave - Miss Baird of Saughtonhall - What's A' the Steer, Kimmer - Mrs Moray of Abercairney.
(Dance information copyright, reproduced here with the kind permission of the deviser, Neville Pope, 2010)
Published in Sturt Desert Pea Book 2024, copyright, reproduced here with the kind permission of the deviser, Neville Pope, 2024.
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