Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

Promenade Hold

In Promenade hold, the Couple Face in the same direction, side-by-side, and Take Both hands, left in left, right in right, with the right hands held at chest height Above the left hands. As an aide-mémoire, remember that the Figure, Allemande, often follows a Figure using Promenade Hold in Scottish Country Dancing, as, for example, in bars 24-25 of The Byron Strathspey; it is only possible to make the transition without letting either hand go when the right hands are Above the left.

This Hold is prescribed for the Figure, Promenade round (see under Travelling in Figures). It is occasionally used in some other Figures, such as Chase, Reel of three or Reel of four, in which a single Dancer is replaced by a Couple.


Here are examples of those Scottish Country Dances for which we have instructions on this site and in which the term, Promenade hold, 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:

Autumn In Appin
Earl Of Mansfield
EH3 7AF
Fife Ness
Hay's Australian Ladies
Hunter's Moon
Luckenbooth Brooch
Newby Circle
Prince Of Wales
Rest And Be Thankful
Togetherness
Whigmaleeries


Dance Video Clip Which Demonstrates Promenade Hold

Promenade Hold Video Clip

Links To Pages Related To 'Holds'

Hand Positions

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