While
Actually While is not a Figure in its own right but is an important indication that some dancers are performing one Figure While others are performing a complementary Figure. The simplest example is: 1st Couple Cast While 2nd Couple Step up.When teaching or reprising a dance which has quite complicated Figures, it is wise to rephrase the instruction with While at the beginning so that the dancers are encouraged to await the whole instruction before moving and so are more likely to walk the Figures in synchronism; for example, bars 17-20 of J.B. Milne is better expressed as: "While 1st Couple Set and Turn by the right ¾ to Finish on Opposite Sides, 2nd and 3rd Couples Cross By the right on the Sides and Set".
Here are examples of those Scottish Country Dances for which we have instructions on this site and in which the term, While, 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:
1314
Across Kildonan Hall
Carlton And Alex
Entente Florale
Glasgow Highlanders
J.B. Milne
Linkumdoddie
Nottingham Lace
Peter Hastings' Chocolate Mousse
Togetherness
Links To Pages Related To 'While'
FiguresArches
Casting
Chains
Chasing
Cross And Cast
Cross, Cast And Half Figures Of Eight
Crossing
Dance
Drop
Exchange Places
Exchange Positions
Figure Of Eight
Figures Of Eight
Hands Across
Hands Round
On The Spot
Petronella Movements
Polite Turn
Poussette Movements
Pull Left Shoulder Back
Pull Right Shoulder Back
Reel
Reel(s) Of Three
Reel(s) Of Four
Reel(s) Of Five
Reel(s) Of Six
Set And Cast
Set And Cross
Setting
Standing
Step Down
Step Up
Tandem
Travelling
Turn And Cast
Turning
While
Casting
Chains
Chasing
Cross And Cast
Cross, Cast And Half Figures Of Eight
Crossing
Dance
Drop
Exchange Places
Exchange Positions
Figure Of Eight
Figures Of Eight
Hands Across
Hands Round
On The Spot
Petronella Movements
Polite Turn
Poussette Movements
Pull Left Shoulder Back
Pull Right Shoulder Back
Reel
Reel(s) Of Three
Reel(s) Of Four
Reel(s) Of Five
Reel(s) Of Six
Set And Cast
Set And Cross
Setting
Standing
Step Down
Step Up
Tandem
Travelling
Turn And Cast
Turning
While