Schiehallion Reels

The full form of the Schiehallion reel occurs in bars 49-64 of the Reel tempo part of the Square set, Medley, Schiehallion; it requires 16 bars, involves all the Scottish Country Dancers, moving them anticlockwise around The set and returns them to their Original Places.

The basic 4-bar Figure, which by analogy with Petronella is here called Quarter schiehallion reel, is a Progression anticlockwise one Place in the Square set. Thus the full Figure involves four repetitions of the Quarter schiehallion reel; Half schiehallion reel involves two repetitions.

In Scottish Country Dancing Half schiehallion reel also exists as a Ladies' schiehallion reel. This differentiation is chosen, by analogy with Ladies' chain and Men's chain, to recognize that the Ladies rather than the Men take the principal part; they are followed by their Partners rather than following their Partners as in the standard Schiehallion reel. The term Reverse Schiehallion reel, which implies Travelling in the reverse Direction, is an acceptable synonym.

Diagrams for the first 4 bars of the full form of the Schiehallion reel are reproduced here but, for the full description, see the Quarter schiehallion reel page.

Schiehallion Reel: Bars 1-2.
Bars 1-2 of Schiehallion reel in a square set; 1st couple's paths shown emboldened, the ladies' broken; arrow heads show the positions of the equally spaced dancers at the end of bar 2.

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Schiehallion Reel: Bars 3-4.
Bars 3-4 of Schiehallion reel in a square set; 1st couple's paths shown emboldened, the ladies' broken; arrow heads show the positions of the equally spaced dancers at the end of bar 4.

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For example, here are some Scottish Country Dances in which the term, Schiehallion reel, is used in either the MiniCrib or the MaxiCrib Dance instructions or both -
1314
Chrysanthemum
Dancing Master
Elephant's Stampede
Floozie In The Jacuzzi
Lammonbie Mill
Mason's 80
Ocean Frolic
Orkney Reel
Schiehallion

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Dance Video Clip Which Demonstrates Schiehallion Reel

Schiehallion Reel Video Clip

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Links To Pages Related To 'Schiehallion Reels'

Complex Figures

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Additional search terms: shehallion.

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