Date: Mon, 2 Mar 2009 21:21:53 +0100
Subject: another dance
From: Martin Sheffield
To: strathspey@strathspey.org
I wrote a new dance not long ago, a 8x32 reel, and it was danced and
liked locally.
The next time we met, the group teacher said she thought it would make
a good strathspey. Since there were different dancers, including some
with less experience, and they found the dance difficult in fast time,
we gave it a try as a spey, and found it worked quite well, the
dancers having more time to get the formations into shape (straight
lines, round circles etc), so it looked good from the outside.
I thought it would perhaps be nice as a 4(32+32) medley.
Anyway, here it is; try it at whatever speed you like!
A Game on the Links, 3-cpl dance in a 4-cpl set, 8x32.
| 1-4 |
1st cpl dance petronella into the centre and set moving down
(so that they will have the same distance to travel in 5-8), as 2nd cpl
moves up. |
| 5-8 |
1st cpl pass each other giving RH and dance clockwise round
their 2nd crns (1st lady casts up behind 3rd man, as 1st man casts off
behind 2nd lady) into 2nd place to face in diagonally beside 1st crns. |
| 9-16 |
1st cpl & 1st crns set & link.
1st cpl & 1st crns dance 4 hands round,
into lines across, 1st lady between 2nd cpl facing down, 1st man
between 3rd cpl facing up. |
| 17-20 |
All set & link for three to side lines (no hands). |
| 21-24 |
1st cpl dance clockwise round 2nd crns, who turn once round RH. |
| 25-28 |
1st lady dance up, 1st man down, & cast behind 1st crns, who
turn once round LH. |
| 29-32 |
All set & cross over RH. |
Repeat having passed a couple.
In strathspey time, I would suggest giving 2nd cpl something to do :
| 1-4 |
1st cpl dance petronella into the centre and set moving down.
2nd cpl do not move up. |
| 5-6 |
1st & 2nd cps dance LH across halfway. |
| 7-8 |
1st cpl cast clockwise round 2nd crn, as 2nd cpl continue
turning LH into top place, own sides. |