Monday 'Beginners, Basics & Improvers' Class - details 2023
What we did :-
Class 1 - 30th Jan 2023
Steps - Slip Step; Skip Change of Step (Used for Jigs & Reels)
Dances - Dunnet Head; Borrowdale Exchange; A Highland Welcome; Cumberland Square (adapted)
Formations used - Hands Round and back (aka Circle); Advance & Retire; Chase; Dancing down; DoSiDo (aka Back to Back); Right Hands Across; Left Hands Across; Turning partner; Rights & Lefts, Stepping up.
Class 1 - 30th Jan 2023
Steps - Slip Step; Skip Change of Step (Used for Jigs & Reels)
Dances - Dunnet Head; Borrowdale Exchange; A Highland Welcome; Cumberland Square (adapted)
Formations used - Hands Round and back (aka Circle); Advance & Retire; Chase; Dancing down; DoSiDo (aka Back to Back); Right Hands Across; Left Hands Across; Turning partner; Rights & Lefts, Stepping up.
Class 2 - 6th Feb 2023
Steps - Strathspey Travelling Step (Used for Strathspeys)
Dances - Dunnet Head (as a warm up dance); Crooket Horned Ewie; the Alyth Promenade (adapted from a Jig - danced to Marion Anderson's music for Broadway); The Birks of Invermay
Formations used - Leading down; Dancing down; Casting; Two Hand Turns; Crossing giving Right Hands ; Turning partner; Promenade for 3 couples, Stepping up. Hands Round and Back (aka Circle).
Steps - Strathspey Travelling Step (Used for Strathspeys)
Dances - Dunnet Head (as a warm up dance); Crooket Horned Ewie; the Alyth Promenade (adapted from a Jig - danced to Marion Anderson's music for Broadway); The Birks of Invermay
Formations used - Leading down; Dancing down; Casting; Two Hand Turns; Crossing giving Right Hands ; Turning partner; Promenade for 3 couples, Stepping up. Hands Round and Back (aka Circle).
Class 3 - 13th Feb 2023
Steps - Pas-de-basque (Used in Jigs & Reels for setting & travelling small distances), Strathspey Setting Step (Used for Strathspeys). Slip step, Skip change of step, Strathspey travelling step.
Dances - Waratah Weaver (Jig)(as a warm up dance); Hamilton House (Jig); The Wind on Loch Fyne (Strathspey); The Reel of the 51st Division(Reel)
Formations used - Figures of 8; Turning partner with R or L or 2 hands. Slipping down dance, Hands round and back, Hands across (AKA 'Teapots'), Setting in lines, Balancing in lines, Setting to & turning corners. Stepping up. Interlocking reels of 4;
Steps - Pas-de-basque (Used in Jigs & Reels for setting & travelling small distances), Strathspey Setting Step (Used for Strathspeys). Slip step, Skip change of step, Strathspey travelling step.
Dances - Waratah Weaver (Jig)(as a warm up dance); Hamilton House (Jig); The Wind on Loch Fyne (Strathspey); The Reel of the 51st Division(Reel)
Formations used - Figures of 8; Turning partner with R or L or 2 hands. Slipping down dance, Hands round and back, Hands across (AKA 'Teapots'), Setting in lines, Balancing in lines, Setting to & turning corners. Stepping up. Interlocking reels of 4;
Class 4 - 20th Feb 2023
Steps - Pas-de-basque (Used in Jigs & Reels for setting & travelling small distances), Strathspey Setting Step (Used for Strathspeys). Slip step, Skip change of step, Strathspey travelling step.
Dances - Waratah Weaver (Jig)(as a warm up dance); The Dashing White Sergeant (Reel); Domino 5 (Jig), The Fisherman's Reel (Reel), The Wind on Loch Fyne (Strathspey).
Formations used - Figures of 8; Turning partner with R or L or 2 hands. Slipping down dance, Casting, Hands round and back, Hands across (AKA 'Teapots'), Reels of 3, Advance and Retire (Adv & Ret), Stepping up. Interlocking reels of 4.
Steps - Pas-de-basque (Used in Jigs & Reels for setting & travelling small distances), Strathspey Setting Step (Used for Strathspeys). Slip step, Skip change of step, Strathspey travelling step.
Dances - Waratah Weaver (Jig)(as a warm up dance); The Dashing White Sergeant (Reel); Domino 5 (Jig), The Fisherman's Reel (Reel), The Wind on Loch Fyne (Strathspey).
Formations used - Figures of 8; Turning partner with R or L or 2 hands. Slipping down dance, Casting, Hands round and back, Hands across (AKA 'Teapots'), Reels of 3, Advance and Retire (Adv & Ret), Stepping up. Interlocking reels of 4.
Class 5 - 6th March 2023 (28th Feb 2023 cancelled)
Steps - Strathspey Setting Step, Strathspey travelling step.
Dances - Good Hearted Glasgow(Reel)(as a warm up dance); The Dream Catcher (strathspey)
Formations used - Turning partner with R hands, L hands 1 1/2 + Right hands into allemande hold, Casting, leading down the middle & back, Hands round and back, Hands across (AKA 'Teapots'), Reels of 4, 'the swirl', rights & lefts
Steps - Strathspey Setting Step, Strathspey travelling step.
Dances - Good Hearted Glasgow(Reel)(as a warm up dance); The Dream Catcher (strathspey)
Formations used - Turning partner with R hands, L hands 1 1/2 + Right hands into allemande hold, Casting, leading down the middle & back, Hands round and back, Hands across (AKA 'Teapots'), Reels of 4, 'the swirl', rights & lefts
Class 6 - 13th March 2023
Steps - 'Country dancing' waltz steps, Pas-de-basque (Used in Jigs & Reels for setting & travelling small distances), Strathspey Setting and Travelling Step (Used for Strathspeys). Slip step, Skip change of step
Dances - Waltz Country Dance; The Dream Catcher; Postie's Jig; The Ring of Brodgar; De'il Amang the Tailors.
Formations used - As previous classes + 2 couple allemande
Steps - 'Country dancing' waltz steps, Pas-de-basque (Used in Jigs & Reels for setting & travelling small distances), Strathspey Setting and Travelling Step (Used for Strathspeys). Slip step, Skip change of step
Dances - Waltz Country Dance; The Dream Catcher; Postie's Jig; The Ring of Brodgar; De'il Amang the Tailors.
Formations used - As previous classes + 2 couple allemande
Class - 8th May 2023
Steps - for Jigs & Reels:- Slip Step, Skip Change of Step. for Strathspey:- Travelling and Setting steps.
Dances - Dunnet Head; The Ring of Brodgar; The Luckenbooth Brooch (walk through only)
Hand holds - Promenade hold.
Formations taught- casting, stepping up, hands round (i.e. a circle), hands across (aka 'teapots'), 2 hand turn, reels of 3, rights & lefts.
Steps - for Jigs & Reels:- Slip Step, Skip Change of Step. for Strathspey:- Travelling and Setting steps.
Dances - Dunnet Head; The Ring of Brodgar; The Luckenbooth Brooch (walk through only)
Hand holds - Promenade hold.
Formations taught- casting, stepping up, hands round (i.e. a circle), hands across (aka 'teapots'), 2 hand turn, reels of 3, rights & lefts.
Class - 15th May 2023
Steps - for Strathspey:- Travelling and Setting steps. for Jigs & Reels:- Slip Step, Skip Change of Step.
Dances - Lady Lucy Ramsay; A Highland Welcome; Good Hearted Glasgow
Hand holds - Leading when 'leading down & up', Hands across
Formations taught- Turn & cast, stepping up, hands round (i.e. a circle), hands across (aka 'teapots'), 2 hand turn, entering 'leading down & up', rights & lefts & 1/2 rights & lefts, 2 hand turn 11/2 times.
Steps - for Strathspey:- Travelling and Setting steps. for Jigs & Reels:- Slip Step, Skip Change of Step.
Dances - Lady Lucy Ramsay; A Highland Welcome; Good Hearted Glasgow
Hand holds - Leading when 'leading down & up', Hands across
Formations taught- Turn & cast, stepping up, hands round (i.e. a circle), hands across (aka 'teapots'), 2 hand turn, entering 'leading down & up', rights & lefts & 1/2 rights & lefts, 2 hand turn 11/2 times.
Class - 22nd May 2023
Steps - for Jigs & Reels:- Slip Step, Skip Change of Step.
Dances - Good Hearted Glasgow; Domino 5
Hand holds - Hands across (AKA Teapots)
Formations taught- Turn & cast, stepping up, hands round (i.e. a circle), hands across (aka 'teapots'), Reels of 3
Steps - for Jigs & Reels:- Slip Step, Skip Change of Step.
Dances - Good Hearted Glasgow; Domino 5
Hand holds - Hands across (AKA Teapots)
Formations taught- Turn & cast, stepping up, hands round (i.e. a circle), hands across (aka 'teapots'), Reels of 3
Class - 29th May 2023
Steps - for Strathspey - setting & travelling steps; for Jigs & Reels:- Slip Step, Skip Change of Step.
Dances - Byron Strathspey; Roaring Jelly
Hand holds - 2 hand turn; Promenade hold; Allemande hold; Hands across (AKA Teapots)
Formations taught- Petronella turn & set; cross & cast, stepping up, hands round (i.e. a circle), hands across (aka 'teapots'), Reels of 3, Allemande for 3 couples;
Steps - for Strathspey - setting & travelling steps; for Jigs & Reels:- Slip Step, Skip Change of Step.
Dances - Byron Strathspey; Roaring Jelly
Hand holds - 2 hand turn; Promenade hold; Allemande hold; Hands across (AKA Teapots)
Formations taught- Petronella turn & set; cross & cast, stepping up, hands round (i.e. a circle), hands across (aka 'teapots'), Reels of 3, Allemande for 3 couples;
Class - 5th June 2023
Steps - for Strathspey - setting & travelling steps; for Jigs:- Slip Step, Skip Change of Step, Pas de Basque
Dances - Johnnie Walker; Butterscotch & Honey
Hand holds - 2 hand turn; Promenade hold; Hands across (AKA Teapots)
Formations taught- Petronella turn & set; cross & cast, hands round (i.e. a circle), hands across (aka 'teapots'), Reels of 3, 1/2 Reels of 3, Grand Chain.
Steps - for Strathspey - setting & travelling steps; for Jigs:- Slip Step, Skip Change of Step, Pas de Basque
Dances - Johnnie Walker; Butterscotch & Honey
Hand holds - 2 hand turn; Promenade hold; Hands across (AKA Teapots)
Formations taught- Petronella turn & set; cross & cast, hands round (i.e. a circle), hands across (aka 'teapots'), Reels of 3, 1/2 Reels of 3, Grand Chain.
Class - 12th June 2023
Steps - we just went for it!
Dances - Byron Strathspey; Luckenbooth Brooch; Mairie's Wedding; Butterscotch & Honey
Hand holds - 2 hand turn; Promenade hold; Hands across (AKA Teapots), Allemande hold
Formations danced- Petronella turn & set; 3 couple allemande; cross & cast, hands round (i.e. a circle), hands across (aka 'teapots'), Reels of 3, 1/2 Reels of 3, Grand Chain. 1/2 diagonal reels of 4 (Mairi's wedding reels)
Steps - we just went for it!
Dances - Byron Strathspey; Luckenbooth Brooch; Mairie's Wedding; Butterscotch & Honey
Hand holds - 2 hand turn; Promenade hold; Hands across (AKA Teapots), Allemande hold
Formations danced- Petronella turn & set; 3 couple allemande; cross & cast, hands round (i.e. a circle), hands across (aka 'teapots'), Reels of 3, 1/2 Reels of 3, Grand Chain. 1/2 diagonal reels of 4 (Mairi's wedding reels)
Class - 19th June 2023
Steps - we just went for it!
Dances - Shiftin' Bobbins; J B Milne; Margaret Parker's Strathspey; Lady Lucy Ramsay
Hand holds - 2 hand turn; Hands across (AKA Teapots), R hand turn
Formations danced- Double triangle positions; hands across on the sides, leading down & up, petronella turn & set.
Steps - we just went for it!
Dances - Shiftin' Bobbins; J B Milne; Margaret Parker's Strathspey; Lady Lucy Ramsay
Hand holds - 2 hand turn; Hands across (AKA Teapots), R hand turn
Formations danced- Double triangle positions; hands across on the sides, leading down & up, petronella turn & set.
Class - 26th June 2023
Steps - Recap of steps used for Petronella Turn, otherwise we just went for it again.
Dances - Mairi's Wedding, Byron Strathspey, Duke of Perth
Hand holds - 2 hand turn; Hands across (AKA Teapots), R hand turn, L hand turn, Allemande hold.
Formations danced- 'Mairi's wedding' Reels, AKA 1/2 diagonal reels of 4; reels of 3 across and on the side; petronella turn & set, 3 couple allemande; 'teapots', AKA R hands across then L hands across; 6 hands round & back; corner, partner, corner, partner.
EXTRAS - as it was the last class of the season we also ate cake!
Steps - Recap of steps used for Petronella Turn, otherwise we just went for it again.
Dances - Mairi's Wedding, Byron Strathspey, Duke of Perth
Hand holds - 2 hand turn; Hands across (AKA Teapots), R hand turn, L hand turn, Allemande hold.
Formations danced- 'Mairi's wedding' Reels, AKA 1/2 diagonal reels of 4; reels of 3 across and on the side; petronella turn & set, 3 couple allemande; 'teapots', AKA R hands across then L hands across; 6 hands round & back; corner, partner, corner, partner.
EXTRAS - as it was the last class of the season we also ate cake!
Focus is on learning all the dances for the St Andrew Group ball in November at a nice easy pace.