Rondel For 3 Couples
This modified Figure, Rondel for 3 couples, extends the Progression of the standard Rondel so that 1st Couple Finish in 3rd Place; the first five bars are exactly the same, bar 6 is the same for the 1st and 2nd Couples with 3rd Couple joining in and bars 7-8 are slightly modified:Bar 6
1st Man and 1st Lady Dance Up, In and Down While 2nd Man and 2nd Lady Dance Down, In and Up While 3rd Man and 3rd Lady Dance In, using the left foot Travelling step, all three Couples meeeting their Partners and Taking Nearer hands on the line joining their Original Places, 1st Couple Facing Down, 2nd and 3rd Couples Facing Up;
Bars 7-8 (see diagram)
1st Couple Lead down to 3rd Place under Arches made by 2nd Couple Dancing up to 1st Place and 3rd Couple Dancing up to 2nd Place.
Rondel For 3 Couples - Bars 7-8
This Scottish Country Dancing Figure occurs in its own right in the 3 Couple repeat in 3 couple set Strathspey, The Mercat Cross (Dickson), to make the Progression from the order 123 to the order 231 ready for the next Repeat though the deviser requires the 3rd Couple to Set advancing on bars 5-6 rather than as here.
Rondel for 3 couples should always be used in place of the two Couple Rondel at the end of the 2nd, 4th and 6th Repeats of any 3 couple repeat in 4 couple set dance, such as The Silver Tassie, in which the 3rd Couple of the Active set (who are in 4th Place of the Full set) have to Start as 3rd Couple of the new Active set in 3rd Place of the Full set on bar 1 of the next Repeat. Even when the 3rd Couple will not have to be ready to Start on bar 1 of the next Repeat, this substitution provides an elegant way for the 1st Couple to Drop to 4th Place of the Full set.
Here are examples of those Scottish Country Dances for which we have instructions on this site and in which the term, Rondel, 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; included here are some Scottish Country Dances in which the final Figure, Rondel, can advantageously be replaced by Rondel for 3 couples in the 2nd, 4th and 6th Repeats:
Andrew Carnegie
Another Edinburgh Fancy
Banks of Clyde
Brochan Lom
Dunshelt Strathspey
Kinnaird Head Strathspey
Mercat Cross (Dickson)
Quaich (Drewry)
Silver Tassie
Three Sisters
Links To Pages Related To 'Rondel'
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