Diagonal Covering

The following are examples of Figures where Diagonal covering may need care.

• Reels of three Across (as in bars 25-32 of Mairi's Wedding).
• Reels of three on the sides (as in bars 25-30 of The Montgomeries' Rant where the 6-bar Phrasing of the Reel adds to the difficulty).
• Circulating knot for 2 couples (as in bars 9-16 of A Couple of Keepers).
• Circulating allemande for 2 couples (as in bars 17-24 of The Magic Roundabout (Freemantle)).

Diagonal covering in Scottish Country Dancing is particularly difficult. Although, as in Mirror covering, the Dancers can see each other reasonably well, their relative Positions are not intuitive and are difficult to maintain. The line joining the Covering Dancers' Positions must always pass through the Centre of the Active set and the Dancers must be equidistant from the Centre; although this is a fixed Position, there is no marker for it and so the Dancers can only guess.

Note that where Diagonal covering applies in Reels of three, this rule applies to the Corners as well as the Dancing couple; the Corners should never attempt to Cover as though these were Mirror reels.

Links To Pages Related To 'Covering'