Scottish country dance - A wedding gift

[Arlen]

As many of you will know, Diane is an avid Scottish country dancer and is starting to teach a little.
She dances with a group in Boise called The Thistle and Ghillies who are all just lovely, fun, nice people.
They know me because Diane and I have been together for so long, and whenever I am an Boise I go along to the classes and Balls.

For interested parties, here is a picture of the demo team dancing at the Boise highland games this summer.



I got an email from Diane today pointing out the blog of one of the teachers, Monica Pollard.
Low and behold she'd written a dance as a wedding present for us.

It's called, appropriately, Diane and Arlen Tie the Knot and it's a reel.

She's got a note on her blog saying she's happy for people to print out and use her dances as long as they credit her, so if any of you other SCD dancers fancy having a go, here it is.
Personally, I'm thrilled.
It's such a wonderful gift and I can't wait to get back to Boise and dance it.


4x32 Reel for four couples.

Diane & Arlen Tie the Knot

Bars 1-8


1’s cast down and 4’s cast up one place, while 2’s and 3’s step up or down.

1’s cross down and 4’s cross up through the middle of the set, all passing right shoulder, then cast around the 3’s or 2’s at the ends of the set, to cross up or down, 1’s into 3rd place, 4’s into 2nd place, on own sides.

Bars 9-16


1’s and 3’s dance The Knot, while 4’s and 2’s dance a gender-reverse Knot; W4 and W2 give LH to their partners and turn them under into Allemande hold, facing up. 2’s and 4’s then dance The Knot in gender-reversed roles. 1’s and 3’s finish in the middle, ladies behind their partners. 4’s and 2’s finish in the middle, men behind their partners. 1’s and 2’s face up, 4’s and 3’s face down, all ready for a tandem reel of four.

Bars 17-24


Couples 4, 2, 3, and 1 dance a tandem reel of four in the middle of the set. On bar 7, all curve out to the sidelines on their own side, 4’s remain facing out.

Bars 25-32


4’s cast one place while 2’s cross up to top. 4’s and 2’s cross RH with partner.
4’s cast one place while 3’s cross up. 4’s and 3’s cross RH with partner, to finish 2’s, 3’s, 4’s, 1’s.



Repeat.

Written to commemorate their marriage in November 2007.

Devised by Monica Pollard, 12/4/2007.
Recommended music: any lively reel set by Hanneke Cassel

[Moosedog]

What a wonderful gift, Arlen!

Moosedog

[McClef]

That's a pretty unique gift! Hope we can see a video of it sometime!

[McMurdo]

Arlen
That is just an incredible gift, I just read it out and in so doing I can see my class performing it, I shall print it out and present it to my teacher and see if we can add it to our list.

[cessna152towser]

Certainly that is a very novel wedding gift.
Congratulations.
Nice pic btw.

[BEEDEE]

That has to be a most memorable wedding gift. It's not the value but the thought behind it that makes this so precious.

Brian

[Panache]

That is a pretty intricate dance and a fabulous wedding gift Arlen.

Cheers

Jamie

[Sheep In Wolf's Clothing]

That's very cool. As I have two left feet and have no real idea what the above dance steps entail, I would love to see a video of it sometime if anyone here attempts the dance.
Congrats again Arlen,
Sara

[starbkjrus]

That's very cool. As I have two left feet and have no real idea what the above dance steps entail, I would love to see a video of it sometime if anyone here attempts the dance.
Congrats again Arlen,
Sara

What she said.

And yes, congratulations. That is a wonderful wedding gift.

[McMurdo]

That is a pretty intricate dance and a fabulous wedding gift Arlen.

Cheers

Jamie

I would have to agree that does look like quite an intricate dance, it would be wonderful to give it a whirl though.