Help Formations not currently in the RSCDS Manual
| Non RSCDS Formations |
 |
|
FREQUENTLY ENCOUNTERED FORMATIONS WITH COMMONLY ACCEPTED NAMES This is a small selection, described in standard terminology, of some formations not currently in the RSCDS Manual. It is hoped to publish descriptions of several more of these formations in the future.
1. Inveran Reels Description: Non-progressive reel of three on the side, with 1st couple crossing down and back. Steps 8 travelling steps No of bars 8 (Note: there are dances where the formation takes 6 bars) 1st couple face diagonally down. 2nd and 3rd couples face up. Bars 1 1st woman, passing in front of her partner, crosses diagonally to second place on opposite side, passing 3rd man by the left to begin the reel. 2-4 1st woman continues the reel to finish in 3rd man’s place. 5 Again passing in front of her partner, 1st woman crosses diagonally to second place on own side. 6-8 1st woman continues the reel to finish in original place. At the same time 1 1st man crosses diagonally to second place on opposite side, passing 3rd woman by the right to begin the reel. 2-4 1st man continues the reel to finish in 3rd woman’s place. 5 1st man crosses diagonally to second place on own side. 6-8 1st man continues the reel to finish in original place. At the same time 2nd and 3rd couples dance a reel of three on the side. 2nd couple curve outward and up to begin the reel. 3rd couple curve inward and up to start the reel. Note: 1st couple actually dance loops or ovals, passing through second place on opposite side, third place on opposite side, second place on own side, and back to original place. Formation believed to have been devised by John Drewry, in the dance Mrs Macpherson of Inveran. 2.Double Reel of Four Description: While two couples dance a reel of four in one direction, two other couples also dance a reel of four in a direction which intersects the first reel in the middle. Dancers give left hands across halfway instead of passing left in the middle. Steps 8 strathspey travelling steps / 8 skip change of step No of bars 8 strathspey / 8 reel or jig In a square set, the men begin back to back in the middle, facing their partners. Bars 1 All pass partners by the right. 2 Women dance left hands across halfway, while the men dance round to the right and face in. 3 All pass partners by the right. 4 Men dance left hands across halfway, while the women dance round to the right and face in – all are facing partners on the opposite side of the set. 5-8 Repeat bars 1-4, to finish in original places. Note: The formation can be danced with the women starting back to back in the middle, or even alongside their partners. When danced in a square set, the reels of four are at right angles to each other. When danced in a longwise set, one reel is from 1st man’s place to 4th woman’s place, with the other from 1st woman’s place to 4th man’s place. It is difficult to assign a deviser to this formation, or an earliest dance – one version appears in The Bonnie Lass of Bon Accord by John Drewry, and another in Angus Macleod by Alex Queen. In the dance Angus Macleod there is a 12 bar version of this formation. One possible origin is from dancers performing the foursome reel for display. NB: In A Trip to Lorient published in “Four Dances for 2008” this is described as “Interlocking Reels of Four”. 3. Interlocking Reels of Four Description: Three or more couples face as if ready to dance a grand chain. All couples dance the path of a reel of four (from the end position). Steps 8 travelling steps No of bars 8 Bars 1 All pass facing person by the right. 2 Pass the next person by the left. 3 Pass the next person by the right , and 4 pulling back by the right, all turn to face last person passed. 5-8 Repeat bars 1-4, usually, but not always, to finish in original places. An early example of the formation appears in 1314 devised by John Drewry 4. Schiehallion Reels Steps 16 travelling steps No of bars 16 Couples in a square set, with the women facing out Bars 1-2 All four men dance into the next woman’s place to the right and face out, passing each other by the left, (i.e. 1st man dances into 4th woman’s place, etc.), while all four women dance into their partner’s place. 3-4 All the men dance into the men’s place (i.e. 1st man dances into 4th man’s place), while the women dance into the woman’s place on the right and face out, passing each other by the left, (i.e. 1st woman dances to 4th woman’s place, etc.). 5-8 Repeat bars 1-4 9-16 Repeat bars 1-8 Formation devised by Hugh Thurston in his dance Schiehallion (where he described it as a “reel of eight). It is possible to dance the formation in the other direction, i.e. starting with the men facing out, they cast into their partner’s place while the women dance to the men’s place on the left. – e.g. Floosie in the Jacuzzi, devised by Gillian Jennings. 5. Espagnole Description: A two couple progression Steps 8 travelling steps No of bars 8 Bars 1-2 1st and 2nd women, taking right hands and passing between the men, dance across towards the men’s side of the set, 2nd woman crossing in front of 1st woman, to finish facing away from each other with 2nd woman above 1st woman at the same time 1st and 2nd men dance across the set towards their partner’s place and turn towards each other. 3-4 2nd and 1st women dance back to their own side of the set and turn towards each other at the same time 1st and 2nd men, taking right hands and passing between the women, dance across towards their own side of the set, 2nd man crossing in front of 1st man, to finish facing away from each other with 2nd man above 1st man. 5-8 2nd couple turn once round with the right hand while 1st couple turn once round with the left hand. It is believed that the formation was first devised by John Drewry in his dance Glayva. 6.Dance to Corners & Set Steps 8 travelling and 4 setting No of bars 12 1st couple start back to back in the middle, facing first corners. Bars 1-2 1st couple dance out to 1st corner position and faces in, passing first corners by the right, while first corners dance into the middle, and, dancing round each other by the right, face 1st couple’s 2nd corners (3rd woman faces 2nd woman, 2nd man faces 3rd man), while second corners set. 3-4 1st couple, in first corner position, set, while original first corners dance out to second corner position and face in, passing second corners by the right, while second corners dance in to the middle, and, dancing round each other by the right, face 1st couple (2nd woman faces 1st woman, 3rd man faces 1st man. 5-6 1st couple dance in to the middle, passing original second corners by the right , and, dancing round each other by the right, face second corner position, while original second corners dance out to first corner position and face in (3rd man in 3rd woman’s place, 2nd woman in 1st man’s place), while original first corners set. 7-12 Repeat bars 1-6, to finish 1st couple back to back in the middle facing partner’s first corner position, with first and second corners in the diagonally opposite place (i.e. 3rd couple in first place, 2nd couple in third place, all on the opposite side). It is believed that the earliest example of this formation appears in Gothenburg’s Welcome devised by Bobby Munro, although it is not named in that dance. The formation appears under this name in the dance Burnieboozle, devised by David Queen. 7.Double Hello-Goodbye Setting Description: In a four couple set, two couples simultaneously dance the “Set to corners and partner” movement. Steps 8 setting steps No of bars 8 It is usually 2nd and 3rd couples who start back to back in the middle of the set, 2nd man facing 1st man, 3rd man facing 4th man, 2nd woman facing 1st woman, 3rd woman facing 4th woman. Bars 1-2 Corners set while 2nd and 3rd couples set in place on the right foot and move setting on the left foot so that 3rd woman faces 2nd man across the set, and 2nd woman faces 3rd man up and down the set. 3-4 2nd and 3rd couples set in place on the right foot and move setting on the left foot to finish back to back in the centre of the set, 3rd woman facing 1st woman, 2nd woman facing 1st man, 2nd man facing 4th man, 3rd man facing 4th woman. 5-6 Corners set while 2nd and 3rd couples set in place on the right foot and move setting on the left foot so that 2nd man faces 3rd woman up and down the set, and 3rd man faces 2nd woman across the set. 7-8 2nd and 3rd couples set on the right foot and move setting on the left foot to finish, usually, back to back in the centre of the set, 3rd man facing 1st woman, 3rd woman facing 1st man, 2nd woman facing 4th man, 2nd man facing 4th woman. At the end of the eight bars, 2nd and 3rd couples usually finish diagonally opposite where they started. One of the earliest descriptions of this formation appears in the dance Wicked Willy devised by Harry Ways. 8.Diagonal Rights & Lefts / Half Rights & Lefts on the Diagonal 1st couple start in 2nd place, 3rd couple in 1st place on the opposite side and 2nd couple in 3rd place, also on the opposite side. Steps 8 travelling steps No of bars 8 Bars 1-2 1st and 2nd men, giving right hands, change places while 1st and 3rd women, giving right hands, change places. 3-4 1st man and 3rd woman, giving left hands, change places while 1st woman and 2nd man, giving left hands, change places (3rd woman and 2nd man finish with a polite turn). 5-6 1st man and 2nd woman, giving right hands, change places while 1st woman and 3rd man, giving right hands, change places. 7-8 1st and 3rd men, giving left hands, change places while 1st and 2nd women, giving left hands, change place (1st man and 1st woman finish with a polite turn). The formation probably first appeared in the dance The Irish Rover devised by James Cosh, but although it acquired the name amongst dancers, it was not named in the dance. The formation also appears in the dance The Whistling Wind, but again is not named. 9. Half Turn & Twirl (Cast) Steps 4 travelling steps No of bars 4 Bars 1-2 Couples, giving right hand, turn partner half way and, retaining right hand, faceeach other in the middle of the dance. 3-4 Dancers pull back by the right and dance (cast) into partner’s place . The first widely known occurrence of this movement was in The Argyll Strathspey, devised by Roy Goldring, but it was not named as such. John Drewry appears to have first given the movement a name in his dance Get Weaving, published in Bankhead 5. While the formation is usually danced across the set, it can be danced by any number of couples, and in any direction. 10. Circulating Allemande Description: Three couples dance the path of a three couple allemande, but with the middle couple beginning by facing in the opposite direction from the others. Steps 8 travelling steps No of bars 8 The couples start in the middle of the set, 1st and 3rd couples facing up, 2nd couple facing down; the formation is danced in allemande hold. Bars 1 1st couple take a step towards the women’s side, turning to finish facing the men’s side; 2 dance towards the men’s side, turning to face down 3 dance down the men’s side 4 continue down the men’s side to third place 5 pivot to face the women’s side 6 dance into the middle of the set, turning the woman under their right arms to face each other 7-8 retire to sidelines 2nd couple; 1 take a step towards the men’s side 2 dance down the men’s side, turning to finish facing the ladies’ side 3 dance across to the women’s side, turning to face up 4 dance up the women’s side to second place 5 pivot to face the women’s side 6 dance into the middle of the set, turning the woman under their right arms to face each other 7-8 retire to sidelines 3rd couple 1 take a step towards the women’s side, 2 dance up the women’s side, 3 dance up the women’s side, turning to face the men’s side 4 dance across to the men’s side, turning to face down 5 pivot to face the women’s side 6 dance into the middle of the set, turning the woman under their right arms to face each other 7-8 retire to sidelines Note: The formation can also be danced with the couples in first and third place starting by facing down, with the couple in second place facing up This formation was devised by Terry Glasspool and now appears in a Society Dance “The Flower of Glasgow” book 46 : 9 11. Promenade Reel of Three (One Couple) Description: One couple, in promenade hold, dances a reel of three with another two dancers. Steps 8 travelling steps No of bars 8 (Note: there are dances where the formation takes 6 bars) There are many variations as the formation can be danced on the side, across or diagonally between corners. Half a reel of three in this format is also very common. 12. Promenade Reel of Three (Three Couples) Description: All three couples, in promenade hold, dance a reel of three. Steps 8 travelling steps No of bars 8 13. Three Couple Set & Rotate Description: Three couples set, cast , change places with partner and chase. Steps 8 travelling steps No of bars 8 Bars 1-2 1st, 2nd and 3rd couples, taking hands on the side, set to partner. 3-4 All cast by the right and chase clockwise to finish in lines of three across the dance, men facing down, women facing up. 5-6 All, giving right hands, change places with partner. 7-8 All chase clockwise to own sides, to finish in order 3, 1, 2. 14. Chain Progression Description: A two couple progression. Steps 8 travelling steps No of bars 8 Bars 1-2 1st and 2nd couples, giving right hands, turn partners three quarters round 3-6 1st man and 2nd woman, giving left hands, turn each other 1 1/2 times while their partners dance clockwise round them to finish in the middle of the set, 2nd man just above first place and 1st woman just below third place. 7-8 2nd and 1st couples, giving right hands, turn partners three quarters to finish on the sidelines, 2nd couple in first place and 1st couple in second place. First described in the dance Glen Mor, devised by Eric Forbes, and published in the Birmingham Book Formations named in Manual, but often known by other Names 15. Dolphin Reels (see the description for Tandem Reels in the Manual) 16. Falcon Reels (see the description for Tandem Reels in the Manual) Formation named in publication, but often known by other name 17. Snowball Chain - a version of this is called a Pick-up Chain in the danceBack to the Fireside. (It is also known as a Horseshoe Chain) Description: A progressive grand chain for three couples Steps 8 travelling steps No of bars 8 Bars 1-2 1st couple, giving right hands, cross over. 3-4 1st and 2nd couples, giving left hands, change places on sides. 5-6 1s and 3rd couples, giving right hands, change places, while 2nd couple, giving right hands, cross over. 7-8 2nd and 3rd couples, giving left hands, change places, while 1st couple, giving left hands, cross over. A commonly known example appears in the dance Macdonald of the Isles, devised by Derek Haynes. The formation was not originally named when the dance was published in the SCD Archives in 1966, but was named when the dance was published in Carnforth 2 in 1991.
|