Lead Down
To Lead down the dancers Take hands and Travel Down the Centre line of The set.The distance to be Travelled is either explicitly stated (for example, Lead down Below 3rd Couple) or determined by the following Figure (for example, Lead down and Cast up round 3rd Couple) or determined by the number of bars allocated coupled with the dancers' enthusiasm and the space available.
Three dancers Take Nearer hands. A Man and a Lady normally Take Right hands unless the following Figure is better suited by Nearer hands or Left hands. For example:
- if the next Figure is Cast up on the same Sides, Take Nearer hands;
- if the dancers are on Opposite Sides and the next Figures are Cross and Cast up, Take Left hands;
- if the next Figure is a movement involving Both hands (but not crossed as in Promenade), Take Nearer hands.
The Time allocated is commensurate with the distance to be Travelled.
Here are examples of those Scottish Country Dances for which we have instructions on this site and in which the term, Lead down, 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:
12 Coates Crescent
Dark Mile
Duncan MacCalman
Fair Jennie's Jig
Lothian Lads
More Bees A-Dancing
Salute To Miss Milligan
Silver Glen
St Margaret's Jig
Worcester Permain
Links To Pages Related To 'Travelling'
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