Monday, November 29, 2010

Dances for November 29, 2010

This is the last class before Christmas. We are hoping to review as many dances for the Christmas social as possible. It should all be review.

Keep in mind that the class location is at the Churchill Recreation Center

Here are the dances for tonight:

Sister Blanche of St. Andrews
32 bar Jig for 3 couples

1-8 1st couple dance a figure of eight on the sides around 2nd &3rd couples. 1st couple begins by dancing in and down.


9-16 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance back to back and turn once around with the right hand

17-24 1st couple lead down the middle and up. 1st couple stay together and 2nd couple step in ready for a poussette.

25-32 1st & 2nd couple dance the poussette.
Repeat having passed a couple

The poussette:
Bar 1: out to the side,
Bar 2: quarter turn,
Bar 3: progress up or down
Bar 4: quarter turn,
Bar 5: move into the middle
Bar 6: half turn
bars 7 & 8: retire to the side lines



The Reel of the Royal Scots
RSCDS Leaflets (Reel)

    MUSIC                                  DESCRIPTION
Bars
1 - 2    1st and 2nd women turn with the left hand, while 1st and 2nd men turn with the right hand, 1st couple finishing back to back in the centre of the set in second place.

3 - 4    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples set as in double triangles.
  
5 - 6    1st and 3rd women turn with the right hand, while 1st and 3rd men turn with the left hand to change places.

7 - 8    2nd, 3rd and 1st couples set as in double triangles.

9 - 16    1st couple followed by 3rd couple, dance up between the 2nd couple and cast off, then dance down to third place and cast up to second place, 3rd couple finishing in original places. (1st and 3rd couples join nearer hands with partner on every occasion when dancing up or down in the centre). (Fig.).

17 – 24    1st couple turn first corners with right hands. 1st couple pass each other by the right shoulder.
1st couple turn second corners with right hands. 1st couple passing right shoulders cross to second place on own sides.

25 – 32    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples six hands round and back.

Repeat, having passed a couple.


Devised by Roy Goldring to celebrate the 350th  Anniversary of The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) in 1983.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
17-24    Corners dance for 4 bars.
25-32    On bar 32, cpls dance straight into places.



Seann Truibhas Willichan
32 bar Strathspey for 2 couples
RSCDS book 27

  Bars            Description
1 – 8        First couple cast off behind their own lines, then cast up to original places.

9 – 12        First woman and second man set and change places giving right hands, while first man and second woman change places giving right hands and set.

13 – 16    Repeat bars 9–12 back to original places.

17 – 24    First couple lead down the middle (2 steps), turn with right hands lead up to the top and cast off to second place. Second couple step up on bars 23–24.

25 – 28    Second and first couples set on the sides, then turn partner with both hands once round, opening up to form a circle.

29 – 32    Second and first couples 4 hands round to the left.
Repeat having passed a couple

Thomas Wilson’s Companion to the Ballroom.
Tune:  My Dearie
James Johnstone, 1771




THE PIPER AND THE PENGUIN
The Scotia Suite of Scottish Country Dances devised by Roy Goldring
(Reel for Four Couples in a Square Set)

Bars        Description

1 – 4        The women dance round their corners, passing in front of them to begin.

5 – 8        The women dance right hands across and remain in the centre.

9 – 12        The women dance round their partners, passing in front of them to begin.

13 – 16    The women dance left hands across and finish in original places.

17 – 32    The men repeat bars 1–16, but dance in front of partners before dancing right hands across, and in front of their corners before dancing left hands across.

33 – 36    1st and 3rd couples, giving right hands, turn partners one and a quarter times.

37 – 40    1st man, followed by his partner, dances between 4th couple and cast back to place. Similarly, 3rd couple dance between 2nd couple and cast back to place.

41 – 48    1st and 3rd couple dance rights and lefts.

49 – 64    2nd and 4th couples repeat bars 33–48, 2nd couple dancing between 1st couple and 4th couple dancing between 3rd couple.  

65 – 72    The women dance in and pull back right shoulders (2 bars), dance out (2 bars), and cast clockwise half way round the set to opposite woman’s place.

73 – 80    The men repeat bars 65–72, but pull back left shoulders at the end of bar 74, and cast anticlockwise.

81 – 84    All turn partners with the right hand, just over once round, to finish in promenade hold facing anticlockwise.

85 – 88    All promenade halfway round the set. On bar 87, all release right hands and the men lead their partners to original places ready for the bow and curtsey.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Dances for November 22

Relief is in sight. Last week we covered the last of the new material before the Christmas break. There are only two classes left before we stop but both classes will be just review of the dances for the Ardbrae Christmas Dinner and Dance. 

The crib notes for the dances are available here Crib Notes

We have three dances listed for review tonight we may not get to them all. We may only cover the Rondel from the dance The Silver Tassie.

ALLT AN DUIN (THE BURN BY THE HILLOCK)
24 GRADED and SOCIAL DANCES, Devised by Roy Goldring, Leeds Branch R.S.C.D.S.
32 bar reel for 3 couples

Bars
1 – 8        First couple cross over giving right hands and cast off below second couple (who stand still); cross over giving left hands and cast up to place.

9 – 16        Reels of three on own sides. To begin, first couple dance in and down, second couple dance out and up, third couple dance in and up.

17 – 24    First couple dance down the middle (4 steps), set to each other and dance up. They finish in the centre of the dance in second place, facing up. Second couple step up on bars 19 – 20.

25 – 28    First woman dances right hands across with second and third women while first man dances left hands across with second and third men.

29 – 32    First couple dance up to the top and cast off to second place on own side.

Repeat having passed a couple.
Recommended tune:- Jessie Walker (M.A.J.)


Hooper’s Jig
Miss Milligan’s Miscellany of Scottish Country Dances
32-bar jig for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

   Bars                        Description

1 – 4        All clap and 1st couple, passing right shoulders, cross over and cast off one place on opposite sides.  2nd couple step up on bars 3-4.

5 – 8        1st and 3rd couples dance right hands across once round.

9 – 12        All clap and 1st couple, passing by the right, cross over and cast up to original places.  2nd couple step down on bars 11-12.

13 – 16    1st and 2nd couples dance left hands across once round.

17 – 18    1st man and 3rd woman, giving right hands, change places.

19 – 20    1st woman and 3rd man, giving right hands, change places, while 1st man and 3rd woman dance round ready to cross back.

21 – 22    1st man and 3rd woman, giving right hands, change places and 1st man faces out.  At the same time, 1st woman and 3rd man dance round ready to cross back.

23 – 24    1st woman and 3rd man, giving left hands, cross over with 3rd man guiding 1st woman into second place while 1st man casts off to second place.  2nd couple step up. 

25 – 32    2nd and 1st couples dance rights and lefts.

        Repeat, having passed a couple.

Rutherford, D:  Compleat collection of 200 of the most celebrated country dances, both old and new, c. 1756, London
Customary tune:  Peter’s Peerie Boat  (Tom Anderson)


The Silver Tassie
Leaflet – No. 1
Devised by John Drewry
(Strathspey)
MUSIC                          DESCRIPTION
Bars
1 – 4        1st, 2nd and 3rd couples, giving right hands to partners, cross over and joining hands on the sides, set.

5 – 8        Repeat bars 1 – 4.

9 – 16        1st couple dance a figure of eight round 2nd couple, who stand still. 1st couple dance down between 2nd couple, crossing over, to begin the figure. 3rd couple also dance a figure of eight round 2nd couple, beginning by casting up to top place, then dancing down crossing over.

17 – 24    1st couple, followed by 2nd and 3rd couples, dance down the middle for four steps. 1st couple dance up the middle, while 2nd and 3rd couples divide to allow 1st couple through. 2nd couple meet and dance up between 3rd couple, who then meet and dance up.

25 – 32    1st and 2nd couple Rondel, i.e.
   
      25          1st couple dance down under the arch made by 2nd couple, who dance up.
      26-27    2nd and 1st women cross in front of partners, then all cast to meet the other woman or man on the opposite sides and join nearer hands.
       28    2nd and 1st women and at the same time 2nd and 1st men cross to own sides, the women         passing under the arch made by the men.
       29-30    1st man and 1st woman cross in front of 2nd man and 2nd woman, then all cast to meet             partners in original places as in bar 25.
       31-32    1st couple dance under the arch made by 2nd couple and all dance out to own sides,             having changed places.

        Repeat, having passed a couple.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
Bars 17 – 24    1st, 2nd and 3rd couples give nearer hands throughout, i.e. they dance down and dance up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
17-24    Note use of word “dance”, i.e. all 3 cpls use nearer hands, down and up.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Dance Instructions - Sister Blanche of St. Andrews

As promised the instructions for the first dance we taught last evening.

Sister Blanche of St. Andrews
32 bar Jig for 3 couples

1-8 1st couple dance a figure of eight on the sides around 2nd &3rd couples. 1st couple begins by dancing in and down.


9-16 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance back to back and turn once around with the right hand

17-24 1st couple lead down the middle and up. 1st couple stay together and 2nd couple step in ready for a poussette.

25-32 1st & 2nd couple dance the poussette.
Repeat having passed a couple

The poussette:
Bar 1: out to the side,
Bar 2: quarter turn,
Bar 3: progress up or down
Bar 4: quarter turn,
Bar 5: move into the middle
Bar 6: half turn
bars 7 & 8: retire to the side lines

Hope this helps.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Dances for November 15, 2010

Tonight we will be introducing a new formation to the class: poussette. This is a figure for two couples and takes eight bars or Pas de Basque. At the end of the figure you the two couples will have changes places. We will put the formation in the dance Sister Blanche of St. Andrews. At the time of writing I don't have the full instructions with me. I post the instructions in the near future.

The other dance we plan to cover will depend on how many attend tonight. On the list is The Piper and The Penguin. This dance is in a square set and requires exactly four couples. So, if the number attending work out we will do this one. If the numbers don't work out we will do The De'il Amang the Tailors. A very popular dance and one worth doing and remembering.

All the mentioned dances will be on the Ardbrae Christmas dance, December 4. Mark you calendar.

Hope to see all of you tonight.

The Deil amang the Tailors
Book 14 – No. 7
32-bar reel for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

Bars                        Description

1 – 4        1st and 2nd couples set to partners and dance right hands across halfway round.

5 – 8        2nd and 1st couples set to partners and dance left hands across halfway round to original places.

9 – 16        1st couple lead down the middle and up to finish in the middle of the set facing up. 2nd couple step in.

17 – 24    1st and 2nd couples dance an allemande.

25 – 32    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance six hands round and back.

        Repeat, having passed a couple.

Dale’s Collection of Reels and Dances c. 1799.
Original tune: The Deil amang the Tailors (Gow)







THE PIPER AND THE PENGUIN
The Scotia Suite of Scottish Country Dances devised by Roy Goldring
(Reel for Four Couples in a Square Set)

Bars        Description

1 – 4        The women dance round their corners, passing in front of them to begin.

5 – 8        The women dance right hands across and remain in the centre.

9 – 12        The women dance round their partners, passing in front of them to begin.

13 – 16    The women dance left hands across and finish in original places.

17 – 32    The men repeat bars 1–16, but dance in front of partners before dancing right hands across, and in front of their corners before dancing left hands across.

33 – 36    1st and 3rd couples, giving right hands, turn partners one and a quarter times.

37 – 40    1st man, followed by his partner, dances between 4th couple and cast back to place. Similarly, 3rd couple dance between 2nd couple and cast back to place.

41 – 48    1st and 3rd couple dance rights and lefts.

49 – 64    2nd and 4th couples repeat bars 33–48, 2nd couple dancing between 1st couple and 4th couple dancing between 3rd couple.   

65 – 72    The women dance in and pull back right shoulders (2 bars), dance out (2 bars), and cast clockwise half way round the set to opposite woman’s place.

73 – 80    The men repeat bars 65–72, but pull back left shoulders at the end of bar 74, and cast anticlockwise.

81 – 84    All turn partners with the right hand, just over once round, to finish in promenade hold facing anticlockwise.

85 – 88    All promenade halfway round the set. On bar 87, all release right hands and the men lead their partners to original places ready for the bow and curtsey.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Dances for November 8, 2010

We are starting to repeat dances that will be on the Ardbrae Christmas Social. The Silver Tassie was covered a couple of weeks ago. Check the blog history. Teaching the Rondel to dancers in the first six months is not commonly done. It is an interesting challenge for us and I maintain that it is no more difficult than the Allemande.

We will also cover one of The Reel of the Royal Scots or The Piper and The Penguin. Both are on the Christmas social but the latter requires exactly 4 couples. If we don't have the right number of dancers we will do The Reel of the Royal Scots, another very popular dance.

Here are the dance instructions.

The Silver Tassie
Leaflet – No. 1
Devised by John Drewry
(Strathspey)
MUSIC                          DESCRIPTION
Bars
1 – 4        1st, 2nd and 3rd couples, giving right hands to partners, cross over and joining hands on the sides, set.

5 – 8        Repeat bars 1 – 4.

9 – 16        1st couple dance a figure of eight round 2nd couple, who stand still. 1st couple dance down between 2nd couple, crossing over, to begin the figure. 3rd couple also dance a figure of eight round 2nd couple, beginning by casting up to top place, then dancing down crossing over.

17 – 24    1st couple, followed by 2nd and 3rd couples, dance down the middle for four steps. 1st couple dance up the middle, while 2nd and 3rd couples divide to allow 1st couple through. 2nd couple meet and dance up between 3rd couple, who then meet and dance up.

25 – 32    1st and 2nd couple Rondel, i.e.
      25        1st couple dance down under the arch made by 2nd couple, who dance up.
      26-27   2nd and 1st women cross in front of partners, then all cast to meet the other woman or man on the opposite sides and join nearer hands.
      28        2nd and 1st women and at the same time 2nd and 1st men cross to own sides, the women passing under the arch made by the men.
      29-30   1st man and 1st woman cross in front of 2nd man and 2nd woman, then all cast to meet partners in original places as in bar 25.
      31-32   1st couple dance under the arch made by 2nd couple and all dance out to own sides, having changed places.


        Repeat, having passed a couple.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Manual of Scottish Country Dancing:
Bars 17 – 24    1st, 2nd and 3rd couples give nearer hands throughout, i.e. they dance down and dance up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
17-24    Note use of word “dance”, i.e. all 3 cpls use nearer hands, down and up.





The Reel of the Royal Scots
RSCDS Leaflets (Reel)

    MUSIC                                  DESCRIPTION
Bars
1 - 2    1st and 2nd women turn with the left hand, while 1st and 2nd men turn with the right hand, 1st couple finishing back to back in the centre of the set in second place.

3 - 4    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples set as in double triangles.
   
5 - 6    1st and 3rd women turn with the right hand, while 1st and 3rd men turn with the left hand to change places.

7 - 8    2nd, 3rd and 1st couples set as in double triangles.

9 - 16    1st couple followed by 3rd couple, dance up between the 2nd couple and cast off, then dance down to third place and cast up to second place, 3rd couple finishing in original places. (1st and 3rd couples join nearer hands with partner on every occasion when dancing up or down in the centre). (Fig.).

17 – 24    1st couple turn first corners with right hands. 1st couple pass each other by the right shoulder.
1st couple turn second corners with right hands. 1st couple passing right shoulders cross to second place on own sides.

25 – 32    2nd, 1st and 3rd couples six hands round and back.

Repeat, having passed a couple.


Devised by Roy Goldring to celebrate the 350th  Anniversary of The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) in 1983.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TACNotes:’
17-24    Corners dance for 4 bars.
25-32    On bar 32, cpls dance straight into places.





THE PIPER AND THE PENGUIN
The Scotia Suite of Scottish Country Dances devised by Roy Goldring
(Reel for Four Couples in a Square Set)

Bars        Description

1 – 4        The women dance round their corners, passing in front of them to begin.
5 – 8        The women dance right hands across and remain in the centre.

9 – 12        The women dance round their partners, passing in front of them to begin.
13 – 16    The women dance left hands across and finish in original places.

17 – 32    The men repeat bars 1–16, but dance in front of partners before dancing right hands across, and in front of their corners before dancing left hands across.

33 – 36    1st and 3rd couples, giving right hands, turn partners one and a quarter times.

37 – 40    1st man, followed by his partner, dances between 4th couple and cast back to place. Similarly, 3rd couple dance between 2nd couple and cast back to place.

41 – 48    1st and 3rd couple dance rights and lefts.

49 – 64    2nd and 4th couples repeat bars 33–48, 2nd couple dancing between 1st couple and 4th couple dancing between 3rd couple.   

65 – 72    The women dance in and pull back right shoulders (2 bars), dance out (2 bars), and cast clockwise half way round the set to opposite woman’s place.

73 – 80    The men repeat bars 65–72, but pull back left shoulders at the end of bar 74, and cast anticlockwise.

81 – 84    All turn partners with the right hand, just over once round, to finish in promenade hold facing anticlockwise.

85 – 88    All promenade halfway round the set. On bar 87, all release right hands and the men lead their partners to original places ready for the bow and curtsey.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Dances for November 1, 2010

The class tonight should again prove to be fun and interesting. We have to popular dances ready to teach tonight. Both will be on the Christmas Social.We will be starting with Hooper's Jig which provides a real challenge on bars 17-24 for new dancers. We follow that with Seann Truibhas Willichan. A very popular strathspey. This will give the dancers some thing easy to learn and practice the strathspey steps

Hooper’s Jig
Miss Milligan’s Miscellany of Scottish Country Dances
32-bar jig for three couples in a four-couple longwise set

   Bars                        Description

1 – 4        All clap and 1st couple, passing right shoulders, cross over and cast off one place on opposite sides.  2nd couple step up on bars 3-4.

5 – 8        1st and 3rd couples dance right hands across once round.

9 – 12        All clap and 1st couple, passing by the right, cross over and cast up to original places.  2nd couple step down on bars 11-12.

13 – 16    1st and 2nd couples dance left hands across once round.

17 – 18    1st man and 3rd woman, giving right hands, change places.

19 – 20    1st woman and 3rd man, giving right hands, change places, while 1st man and 3rd woman dance round ready to cross back.

21 – 22    1st man and 3rd woman, giving right hands, change places and 1st man faces out.  At the same time, 1st woman and 3rd man dance round ready to cross back.

23 – 24    1st woman and 3rd man, giving left hands, cross over with 3rd man guiding 1st woman into second place while 1st man casts off to second place.  2nd couple step up. 

25 – 32    2nd and 1st couples dance rights and lefts.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Rutherford, D:  Compleat collection of 200 of the most celebrated country dances, both old and new, c. 1756, London
Customary tune:  Peter’s Peerie Boat  (Tom Anderson)



Seann Truibhas Willichan
32 bar Strathspey for 2 couples
RSCDS book 27

  Bars            Description
1 – 8        First couple cast off behind their own lines, then cast up to original places.

9 – 12        First woman and second man set and change places giving right hands, while first man and second woman change places giving right hands and set.

13 – 16    Repeat bars 9–12 back to original places.

17 – 24    First couple lead down the middle (2 steps), turn with right hands lead up to the top and cast off to second place. Second couple step up on bars 23–24.

25 – 28    Second and first couples set on the sides, then turn partner with both hands once round, opening up to form a circle.

29 – 32    Second and first couples 4 hands round to the left.
Repeat having passed a couple

Thomas Wilson’s Companion to the Ballroom.
Tune:  My Dearie
James Johnstone, 1771