Setting Steps
In Scottish Country Dancing Setting steps are used primarily for Dancing On the spot (or with a small movement to the side and back) most commonly when Facing another Scottish Country Dancer performing the same step.They can be used for Travelling but with limited movement and in a restricted direction. With Pas-de-basque, the movement can only be on the first beat of the bar and, if sideways or diagonally, should preferably not be to the left on the step starting with the right foot or vice versa.
The Strathspey setting step is equally unsuitable for movement toward one side using the step starting with the other foot; however, it is so similar to the Strathspey travelling step that, when used for this awkward movement, it loses the characteristic sideways style and so becomes, apart from a few centimetres difference in the Position of the closing foot on the last beat of the bar, virtually indistinguishable from the Strathspey travelling step.
Blessedly, the few old Scottish Country Dances which do require these uncomfortable movements have largely fallen into desuetude.
Here are examples of those Scottish Country Dances for which we have instructions on this site and in which the term, Setting steps, 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:
Dance Video Clip Which Demonstrates Pas-de-basque
Pas-de-basque Video ClipDance Video Clip Which Demonstrates Strathspey Setting Step
Strathspey Setting Step Video ClipDance Video Clip Which Demonstrates Highland Schottische Setting Step
Highland Schottische Setting Step Video ClipLinks To Pages Related To 'Usage Of Steps'
FootworkBack to the top of this Scottish Country Dance Steps 'Setting Steps' page