Promenade Round
The Figure, Promenade round occurs only in a Longwise set; however, the term is often used in Scottish Country Dancing, especially in a Circular set, to indicate that some other Figure, such as Chase or a Reel, should be performed using Promenade hold.For the Figure, two or more pairs of Dancers, usually Couples, Take Both hands in Promenade hold and Starting Facing Up in a Longwise set, Dance anticlockwise following the path of the first pair, all Finishing in their Starting Positions.
The whole Figure requires 8 bars. The movements should have the same rectilinear precision as in the Allemande and, indeed, the first four bars should be identical apart from the Hold. This works quite well for the rare form with 2 Couples but is difficult, especially in a Quick tempo dance, with the more common 3 Couple form where the path often degenerates into a rather sloppy oval.
The Couples start on the Centre line Facing Up in Promenade hold, ideally having just completed a Figure, such as Turn by the right, which readily Finishes there. Where Promenade round for 3 Couples is preceded by Hands round and back, as in College Hornpipe, the 2nd Couple find it almost impossible to reach the Centre line in Time.
For the Top couple in the 3-Couple Figure:
Bar 1
Promenade Diagonally forwards and to the right so that the Lady reaches a point half a Place Above her Original Place in the Ladies' Side line and rotate anticlockwise to Face Across The set towards the Men's Side;
Bar 2
Promenade Across The set so that the Man reaches the Men's Side line and rotate anticlockwise to Face Down, Finishing with the Man half a Place Above his Original Place;
Bar 3
Promenade Down to 2nd Place with the Man Travelling on the Men's Side line;
Bar 4
Promenade Down to 3rd Place with the Man Travelling on the Men's Side line;
Bar 5
Promenade Down half a Place with the Man Travelling on the Men's Side line and, retaining Promenade hold, rotate anticlockwise to Face Across The set towards the Ladies' Side;
Bar 6
Promenade part of the way Across The set and rotate anticlockwise to Face Up The set on the Centre line;
Bar 7
Promenade Up one Place, Travelling on the Centre line;
Bar 8
Promenade Up the Centre line, separate and Dance Up the Side lines, Finishing Facing each other in Original Places.
For the 2nd Couple:
Bar 1
Promenade Diagonally forwards and to the right so that the Lady reaches a point half a Place Above her Original Place in the Ladies' Side line;
Bar 2
Promenade Up to Finish half a Place Above 1st Place with the Lady Travelling on the Ladies' Side line and rotate anticlockwise to Face Across The set towards the Men's Side line;
Bar 3
as Bar 2 for the Top couple;
Bar 4
as Bar 3 for the Top couple;
Bar 5
as Bar 4 for the Top couple;
Bar 6
as Bar 5 for the Top couple;
Bar 7
as Bar 6 for the Top couple;
Bar 8
as Bar 8 for the Top couple.
For the 3rd Couple:
Bar 1
as Bar 1 for the 2nd Couple;
Bar 2
Promenade Up to 2nd Place with the Lady Travelling on the Ladies' Side line;
Bar 3
Promenade Up to Finish half a Place Above 1st Place with the Lady Travelling on the Ladies' Side line and rotate anticlockwise to Face Across The set towards the Men's Side line;
Bar 4
as Bar 2 for the Top couple;
Bar 5
as Bar 3 for the Top couple;
Bar 6
as Bar 4 for the Top couple;
Bar 7
as Bar 5 for the Top couple;
Bar 8
Promenade part of the way Across The set and rotate anticlockwise to Face Up The set on the Centre line, separate and Dance out to the Side lines, Finishing Facing each other in Original Places.
There is a somewhat infelicitous derivative performed in 6 bars, as in EH3 7AF; this requires all to move more quickly so that the Top couple are Facing In at the end of bar 4 rather than bar 5. This further prejudices the signature movement of bar 1 which, even in the 8-bar form, is often omitted.
Here are examples of those Scottish Country Dances for which we have instructions on this site and in which the term, Promenade round, 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:
Alyth Burn
Ayr Promenade
Birks Of Invermay
Cupar Jig
Easy Peasy
Lady Glasgow
Miss Allie Anderson
Dance Video Clip Which Demonstrates Promenade Round
Promenade Round Video ClipLinks To Pages Related To 'Promenade'
Complex FiguresBack to the top of this Scottish Country Dancing 'Promenade Round' page