Scottish Country Dancing - Christmas Dance

[Chas]

On the last night of the season, our dance club holds a dance and party.

Getting ready for the start - Lined up in setts and waiting for Murry (kilted) to start instruction -






Some pousetting -


Advancing and retreating -


Me, looking suitably festive -


Setting up, ready for the feasting -




Eating -





For those who know and/or understand these things, this was the programme for the night:


MACDONALD OF THE ISLES (S3x32) 3C Set D Haynes Carnforth Coll 2
1- 8 2s dance full diagonal Reels of 4 with 1st corners, passing by the LSh to face 2nd corners
9-16 2s dance full diagonal Reel of 4 with 2nd corners to end in original places
17-24 All dance 3 cpl Snowball Grand Chain to end 3 (2) 1:
`1s cross RH & change places LH on side with 2s
`1s change places RH with 3s while 2s cross over RH
`1s cross LH while 2s & 3s change places LH. 3 (2) 1
25-32 3s+2s dance ½ R&L, 3s dance ½ Fig of 8 round end couples (3M up & 3L down) to end in 2nd places

HOOPER'S JIG (J8x32) 3C (4C set) MMM 2
1- 8 All clap & 1s cross passing RSh, cast to 2nd place & dance RH across with 3s
9-16 All clap & 1s cross passing RSh, cast to 1st place & dance LH across with 2s
17-24 1M+3L change places RH & 1L+3M change places RH (as 1M+3L loop round), 1M+3L change places RH (as 1L+3M loop round) & 1L+3M cross LH 1L ending in 2nd place (as 1M casts to 2nd pl)
25-32 2s+1s dance R&L

A TRIP TO BAVARIA (R4x32) 4C set J MacGregor-Brown Collins Pocket Ref
1- 4 1s & 4s cross RH while 2s+3s dance ½ RH across, 1s+3s & 2s+4s change places LH on sides
5- 8 3s & 2s cross RH while 1s+4s dance ½ RH across
9-16 Repeat bars 1-8 until back in original places
17-24 1s set to 2s & cross over to face 3s, set & cross to face 4s
25-32 1s set to 4s & cross over to 4th place on opposite sides, all Adv+Ret 2 steps 1s changing places 2H to retire to own sides

THE GENTLEMAN (S8x32) 3C (4C set) R S Huxley RSCDS Bk 35
1- 8 1s turn 2H & remain in middle facing each other as 2s step up, 1s+2s set (1s advancing & pass LSh to face opposite partner) & dance ½ reel of 4 across with 2s with 1s ending reel giving LH to face down on own side between 2s
9-16 1s dance down to end between 3s & face each other, 1s+3s set (1s advancing & pass LSh to face opposite partner) & ½ reel of 4 across with 3s 1s end giving LH to face up on own side between 3s
17-24 1s lead up to top, cross over & cast to 2nd place & ½ reels of 3 across (L with 2s & M with 3s)
25-32 2s+1s dance Diamond Poussette

CHRISTMAS AT THE HEATH (J7x32) 7C set H&J Rhodes Snowden Bk 1
1- 8 1M+2M+3M+4M also 4L+5L+6L+7L dance reels of 4 on sides
9-16 1L+2L+3L+4L also 4M+5M+6M+7M dance reels of 4 on sides
17-24 1s & 4s cross RH, cast 1 place & dance ½ Figs of 8 round couples (2s & 5s) above them
25-32 1s & 4s cross RH, cast 2 places & dance ½ Figs of 8 round couples (5s & 7s) above them

SWISS LASSIE (R8x32) 3C (4C set) R Betsche RSCDS Bk 39
1- 8 1s dance in & cast to 3rd place, 2s+1s turn partners RH 1¼ times to form a line up & down middle of set (Men facing down Ladies up)
9-16 2s+1s dance reel of 4 up & down middle of set ending with 2M facing Ladies side & 1L facing Men’s side
17-24 2s+1s chase round clockwise ½ way, 1s+3s+2s Adv+Ret
25-32 3s+2s ½ turn partners RH, dance RH across ½ way, 1s+2s ½ turn partners RH & dance RH across ½ way

THE BYRON STRATHSPEY (S3x32) 3C set J Drewry Deeside Bk 2
1- 8 All petronella turn into the centre & set to partner, turn 2H 1¼ times back to places
9-16 1s+2L & 3s+2M dance RH across, 2s pass RSh & dance LH across with other couple
17-24 2s in prom hold dance reel of 3 with 1s passing 1L RSh, end 2s in centre at top
25-32 2s+1s+3s dance Allemande

THE MONTGOMERIES' RANT (R8x32) 3C (4C set) Castle Menzies RSCDS Bk 10
1- 8 1s cross RH & cast down to 2nd place, cross LH & 1L casts up while 1M casts down
9-16 1s dance reels of 3 across, 1L with 2s & 1M with 3s
17-24 1s with nearer hands joined (Lady on Man's left) set to 2L & turn inwards to set to 3M, set to 3L & turn inward & set to 2M
25-32 2s+1s+3s dance reels of 3 on opposite sides 1s giving RSh to 2nd corner, 1s cross RH to 2nd place own sides

CHRISTMAS AT THE HEATH was by far and away the most fun. Once it starts, everybody is doing something.

The whole album should be visible here:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v2...0Party%202011/

We have a break now till the 11th of January. It will give me some time to practice my footwork, which is atrocious.

Regards

Chas

[Panache]

Chas,

Thanks again for sharing your Scottish Country Dance experiences with us. Lots of familar dances (and good ones!) on your evening's program. Are you warming to the strathspeys yet? Byron's Strathspey is a great one. I love the first couple in promenade hold doing the reels.

While often we argue that the kilt and highland atire is clothing and not a costume it good to know that clothing can be worn for all sorts of things and one can have a bit of humor or festive cheer in one's attire like you showed.

Me, looking suitably festive -

Keep on dancing!

Cheers

Jamie

[Jock Scot]

A bit of humour is good!

[cessna152towser]

Excellent pics Chas, looks like a good enjoyable evening in convivial companionship.
Interestingly enough, of the dances which you have listed, the only one of these which is normally included in our repertoire here in the Scottish Borders is the Trip to Bavaria.
We also do old favourites such as Marie's Wedding; Irish Rover; Broons Reel/Duke of Perth; Postie's Jig; Hogmanay Jig and the Black Mountain Reel.