Figures Of Eight Across Halfway
In Figures of eight across halfway, two Dancers, usually a Couple, each perform a Figure of eight Across, starting with either the Crossing or the Casting movement; each Dancer Finishes opposite the Place in which s/he started.In a common form, the Dancing lady (or Man) Crosses up between the Couple Above and then Casts down While the other Crosses down between the Couple Below and then Casts up, each Finishing opposite the Place where s/he started. The upper diagram shows an example of this form as it occurs in bars 28-32 of MacDonald of the Isles.
Figures of Eight Across Halfway - Lady Down, Man Up
In a common alternative form, the Dancing couple, Starting from Opposite Sides, both Cross up (or Down) between the Couple Above (or Below) them and then Cast down (or Up) so that they return to their Own sides. Where their paths Cross, Precedence applies. The lower diagram shows an example of this form as it occurs in bars 7-10 of The Wee Cooper O' Fife.
Figures of Eight Across Halfway - Lady and Man Down
Here are examples of those Scottish Country Dances for which we have instructions on this site and in which the term, Figures of eight across halfway, either appears explicitly or is implied; note that for a common term these will be a small selection; for a rare term, these may be all that exist:
Bow Fiddle Rock
Breathalyser
City Of Stirling Reel
Faraway Isle
Freshwater Bay (Burns)
Kinmont Willie
Muse Cottage (Goldring)
New Abbey
Uncle Isaac
Will Ye No' Come Back Again
Links To Pages Related To 'Figures Of Eight'
FiguresAdditional search terms: Half figures of eight, ½ Figs of 8.
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