Another combined class this week. The dance Angus MacLeod is a bit complicated more than your average dance. Don't worry, we will cover it at a pace to make everyone feel comfortable.
The Birks of Invermay
Book 16 – No. 2
32-bar strathspey for three couples in a four-couple longwise set
1 – 4 1st man and 2nd woman, giving both hands, turn once round.
5 – 8 1st woman and 2nd man, giving both hands, turn once round to places. On bar 8, 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance into the middle of the set to join both hands and face up.
9 – 16 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples dance a promenade.
17 – 24 1st couple, giving right hands, cross over and cast off one place, lead up between 2nd couple, cross over to own sides and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 23-24.
25 – 32 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance six hands round and back.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
Video: Angus MacLeod
In the above video the demonstration team takes a little creative license with the dance.
ANGUS MacLEOD
(Reel)
1 – 2 2nd and 3rd couples dance into the centre of the set with two skip-change and face diagonally in.
3 – 4 They set, turning right about on the second step to face the corners of the set, men facing men, women facing women. 2nd and 3rd couples are hereafter referred to as “centres,” 1st and 4th couples as “corners.”
5 – 6 Passing right shoulder with two skip-change, centres change places with their corners, who face diagonally in.
7 – 8 All set, corners turning right about.
9 – 10 Passing right shoulder again, corners dance out and centres dance in to face diagonally in.
11 – 12 All set, centres turning right about, and
13 – 16 Centres turn their corners by the right hand once round and
17 – 20 Dance left hands across once round, finishing facing their corners again.
21 – 32 Double diagonal reels of four: to begin, centres pass their corners right shoulder. As the dancers pass in the middle they give left hands across for two steps, half round. Corners finish in their original places, but
33 – 34 Centres, giving left hand to partner, change places (2nd woman and 3rd man doing a “polite” turn) to finish back to back in the middle of the set, facing their partner’s original corner.
35 – 36 All set.
37 – 40 Each turns the person he is facing by one hand so that centre couples begin by going between corner couples (left hand for 2nd woman and 1st man, 3rd man and 4th woman: right hand for 2nd man and 1st woman, 3rd woman and 4th man).
41 – 48 Centres, facing diagonally in, set, with two pas de basque and four points, twice.
49 – 52 Centres dance between corner couples and cast into the middle again, facing diagonally in, and
53 – 56 Set, with two pas de basque and four points, once.
57 – 64 With 3rd couple making an arch and 2nd dancing under it, 2nd dance down and, together, cast up round 4th woman and dance up the middle to the top of the set, while 3rd couple dance up and, together, cast off round 1st man and dance down the middle to the bottom of the set, After casting, 2nd man and 3rd woman pass left shoulder. On 63-64 1st couple move down and 4th move up.
Repeat once more with new centres and new corners.
Dance devised by Alex. T. Queen, of the R. S. C. D. S., Southport Branch, Pipe Major Clan MacLeod Band.
The Rock and the wee pickle Tow
RSCDS Book 3 32 J 2C (Craig)
1 – 4 1C, giving RH, cross over and cast off one place.
5 – 8 1C, giving LH, turn ½ way round and lead up to finish in middle at the top, facing down.
9 – 16 1C & 2C dance 4-H round and back.
17 – 24 1C lead down the middle and up to finish facing partner with BH joined. 2nd couple step in.
25 – 32 1C & 2C dance a poussette.
Espie McNabb
Miss Milligan’s Miscellany of Scottish Country Dances
32-bar jig for three couples in a four-couple longwise set
1 – 4 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples set to partners and, giving right hands, cross over.
5 – 8 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples repeat bars 1-4.
9 – 16 1st couple lead down the middle and up to finish in original places.
17 – 20 1st couple set to each other and cast off one place. 2nd couple step up on bars 19-20.
21 – 24 1st couple, giving right hands , turn once round to finish in second place on own sides.
25 – 32 2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance six hands round and back.
Repeat, having passed a couple.
