Turn Corner, Partner, Corner, Partner

In Scottish Country Dancing, Turn corner, partner, corner, partner is an abbreviation of: Turn First corner By the right, Turn Partner By the left, Turn Second corner By the right, Turn Partner By the left. It is frequently abbreviated further to Corner, partner, corner, partner.

It Starts with the Dancing couple in the centre of a Longwise set Facing their First corners. Successively, they both Turn their First corners By the right, Turn each other By the left 1¼ times to Face their Second corners, both Turn their Second corners By the right and finally Turn each other By the left; the extent of the final Turn is determined by the subsequent Figure.

Phrasing requires care since the Turns are mostly very quick (the first left Turn with Partner especially so). The Quick turn grip (or, more casually, the Elbow grip) should be used for the first three Turns (6 bars). For most Finishing Positions, the final Turn by the left is much slower and so an Open hold is very much better for this; indeed, Elbow grip can encourage the inexperienced to Finish in incorrect Positions.

Structure of 3 Couple Longwise Set

Dancers, Positions and Directions in a Longwise, Active, 3-couple set: after the most common Progression. The shaded area is defined as the Inside of The set. The arrows are indicators of Direction, only, not paths followed.

Structure Of 3 Couple Longwise Set - Full Size

A variant of Turn corner, partner, corner, partner, as in Kangaroo Paw, Starts with the Dancing couple Facing their Second corners; this helpfully reduces the speed of the first left Turn (here only ¾) with Partner which is required for them to Finish Facing their First corners.

Turn corner, partner, corner, partner, in reverse is a rare, derivative form in which the Dancers follow the reverse path, i.e., the sequence is: Turn Second corner By the left, Turn Partner By the right, Turn First corner By the left, Turn Partner By the right. It occurs in bars 9-16 of Bill Forbes' Rant. As also with Turn corner, partner, corner, partner, the extent of the final Turn is determined by the subsequent Figure; in this dance, it becomes Turn by the right halfway so that the Dancing couple Finish in 2nd Place on Own sides.

Here are examples of those Scottish Country Dances for which we have instructions on this site and in which the term, Turn corner, partner, corner, partner, 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:

Ayrshire Lasses
Black Mountain Reel
Dalkeith's Strathspey
Duke And Duchess Of Edinburgh
Duke Of Perth
Gavin's Reel
John McAlpin
Strathglass House
Sugar Candie
White Heather Jig

Dance Video Clip Which Demonstrates Turn Corner, Partner, Corner, Partner

Turn Corner, Partner, Corner, Partner Video Clip

Links To Pages Related To 'Turning'

Figures

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