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the dances to know for the Ball…
Other dances you may enjoy…
Dance | Instructions | Video | Animation |
Inverness Country Dance | |||
Machine Without Horses | | ||
Mairi's Wedding | |||
Canadian Barn Dance | | ||
Strip The Willow | | ||
Virginia Reel |
To view other dances on London Reels, click here.
To view other animations on DancieMaetion, click here.
For the best book on Scottish Reels, please consult The Swinging Sporran by Roddy Martine and Andrew Campbell. Used copies available on Amazon.
GLOSSARY
Ceilidh: The Gaelic word for an informal dance at which there is Scottish dancing or storytelling.
To Set: Facing each other, each dancer takes 3 steps to the Right, then 3 steps to the Left. Then claps. Lady puts hands out straight at her waist level ("Barbie hands"), Gentleman crosses his right hand over left and grabs her hands securely, then turns her. This is a standard Set. Any variations will be specifically mentioned.
Up and Down: When a direction calls for you to go up or down, it is in relation to the placement of the band. Up is towards the band, and Down is away from the band.
Corners: Your corners are the 4 people you will be dancing with for a particular section of the Reel. The Lady will usually dance with the 2 Gentleman Corners, starting on her right (or Up), and her partner will dance with the two Lady Corners, starting on his right (or Down.) Ladies always go up (Skirts up), Gentlemen always go down (Trousers down.)
Figure of 8: Trace a figure of 8 on the floor, weaving around each oncoming dancer. This is almost always a move for 3 people. It will be initiated by one member of the active couple, plus the 2 Corners He/She just danced with. The person initiating (Active) always starts Left shoulder to Left shoulder, alternating as they go.
Bollards: Similar to a Figure of 8 but only the Active couple weaves in between the other dancers, who stand still. (The inactive dancers are the Bollards.)
Please note that while we designate Man as Lead and Lady as Follow in our directions, we are an inclusive community and have room for non-traditional gender roles.
