Question on Scottish Dances

[David in Maryland]

Hamish may can answer this because he said in an early post he used to dance this particular dance, but the question is open to anyone who may know. I have searched the internet for "Scottische" (spelled something like that) dance, but could not find any information on it. Hamish mentioned that he has danced a few of them. What I want to know is if I am watching dancers, how can I tell they are dancing that? What are the basic traits of the dance and music?

Thanks,
David

[Macman]

I'm not replying out of any knowledge of dancing, but I do remember as a youngster going to a big party, and the Country and Western-style band playing a Schottische (sp?), pronounced "Shawteesh" by the front man. I think it was danced like a square dance. I believe it comes from an old German/Austrian version of a Scottish dance.

[GMan]

My knowledge also is lacking, but I do remember hearing something from my Grandmother who said that her Mother danced it in the 1850's or 1860's. I did see it performed once at a folk dance exhibition, but that was many years ago.

[Hamish]

Hamish may can answer this because he said in an early post he used to dance this particular dance, but the question is open to anyone who may know. I have searched the internet for "Scottische" (spelled something like that) dance, but could not find any information on it. Hamish mentioned that he has danced a few of them. What I want to know is if I am watching dancers, how can I tell they are dancing that? What are the basic traits of the dance and music?

Thanks,
David

My! David, the questions people ask! Have you not tried a Google search? 828 results came up when I typed in the word! Here is the link to the first one:
http://www.frenchdanceleeds.co.uk/da...cottische.html

As you will see, it does not really give a conclusive answer to your question, but it's on the right lines.

The name, "Schottische" (pronounced "Shoteesh" in Scotland!) is probably derived from the German for Scottish, which is Schottisch, and was the name given to a particular dance, popular in ballrooms and salons in the Eighteenth and early Nineteenth centuries. It therefore means simply, The Scottish Dance.

Nowadays, at least in Scottish Country Dance circles, it refers really to just one dance, The Highland Schottische, in which there is a particular step-formation known as the Highland Schottische step!! Here is a descrition of that dance:

"Highland Schottische"
Formation: couples in a circle around the room, ladies on the outside, men on the inside, joined in ballroom hold with partners.

Music: Schottische.

Bars: Description

1-2 Men with left foot, ladies with right, point toe in 2nd, bring foot up in front of shin (3rd aerial), point in 2nd and bring foot up behind calf (3rd rear aerial). Bounce on supporting foot on each of these four beats.

3-4 Step onto that foot, close other foot behind, step onto the original working foot again, and close original supporting foot behind calf.

5-8 Repeat 1-4 with other leg.

9-10 Repeat 3-4 (ie step, close, step, hop).

11-12 Repeat 7-8 (ie 9-10 in other direction).

13-16 Polka as in Canadian barn dance - step, hop, step, hop - rotating clockwise and following line of dance anticlockwise around the room.

Repeat ad lib.

In Scottish Country Dancing there are groups of dance 'types': Reels, Jigs, Strathspeys, etc. governed by the rythm or beat of the music. Within each of those groups there are literally hundreds of different dances. The Schottische is not a group of dances. The Highland Scottische is a single dance as described above, and is more of a social dance than one likely to be performed in a display or demonstration of Scottish Dance.

It is very late and I am not doing this question justice - perhaps Martin S in France (who teaches Scottish Country Dance) could come up with a better answer.

[Jack+]

My goodness Hamish, you certainly brought back a lot of memories
Reading your posting took me back a bit to my dancing days and more agile
times. You had to be "on your toe" in more ways than one. Alas and alak, those days are gone, but the memories remain. Blairgowrie (where I live) is a popular overnight stop for English (and foreign) coach parties and the local hotel which accomodates them put on a "Scottish Night" for their entertainment :-P and community dancing is a popular part of it.
Jack+

[Kiltman]

Glad to see there are more Royal Scottish Country Dance Society members here. I'm about to head for Fort Worden for a country dance workshop. Anyone on this list going to be there? If so, let's meet.
BTW, Fort Worden is in the Seattle area.