Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary

Strathspey Travelling Step

The Strathspey travelling step is a forward (and occasionally backward) Travelling Step used for most Figures, including Hands round (Dancing round in a circle). The Dancer Faces the Direction of Travel. The first step is with the right foot unless specified otherwise, in which case Start at the beginning of bar 2 but from Standing in first Position (both feet on the ground, only the heels raised).

The complete step takes two bars, one for each foot, as is shown in the diagrams; it is repeated for the number of bars designated. At the end of the movement, the right foot should be closed to the normal Standing Position.

For clarity, each separate movement in the step is shown on a separate line, starting from the bottom of each diagram. Since the left foot step would naturally follow the right foot step, the diagram for bar 2 is placed above that for bar 1.

Diagram, Strathspey Travelling Step Bar 2

Strathspey Travelling Step - Bar 2

Strathspey travelling step, continuing on the left foot: each beat shown on a separate line for clarity.



Diagram, Strathspey Travelling Step Bar 1

Strathspey Travelling Step - Bar 1

Strathspey travelling step, Starting on the left foot: each beat shown on a separate line for clarity.


When Dancing backwards, the heel of the closing foot (beat 2) must just touch the instep of the other foot (i.e., bringing the closing foot into third Position front).


See Fitting The Steps To The Music for those details covering this and the other six basic steps of Scottish Country Dancing.
Very few Scottish Country Dance Figures require this step to be performed in a straight line; the Direction of each step must be adjusted to suit the Direction required by the Figure though, as when walking, this eventually becomes automatic.

The length of the steps must also be adjusted to suit the Figure in which they are being performed though the well-devised dance will not require abnormally long or short steps. When two Dancers are Travelling together on a sharp curve, as for example in Allemande, one Dancer may have to take very large steps While the other almost Dances On the spot.

With a few exceptions, such as in bars 2-3 of Dos-à-dos, in bar 1 of Allemande and Promenade round and when Dancing backwards, the dancer Faces in the direction of Travel.


Dance Video Clip Which Demonstrates Strathspey Travelling Step

Strathspey Travelling Step Video Clip

Links To Pages Related To 'Steps for Strathspeys'

Footwork

Back to the top of this Scottish Country Dancing 'Strathspey Travelling Step' page