Monday Class details 2024 - Spring Season
Monday 15th January 2024
Steps taught :-
Slip step; Skip-change-of-step (used for jigs & reels)
Strathspey travelling step; Strathspey setting step (used for strathspeys!)
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Forming a set; Hands round and back (aka a circle); Casting (i.e dancing outside the set)
Dancing down vs leading down (dancing down the middle of the set either with inside hands joined or right hands joined with your partner); Advance & Retire; Stepping up (moving neatly out of the way so someone can come into your place); Rights & Lefts (dancing around each corner of a square taking 2 steps per side, giving right hand to your partner to start); Hands across (aka 'teapots', wheel or star); 2 hand turn
Dances :-
Dunnet Head - Reel
The Letham Ladies - Strathspey
Steps taught :-
Slip step; Skip-change-of-step (used for jigs & reels)
Strathspey travelling step; Strathspey setting step (used for strathspeys!)
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Forming a set; Hands round and back (aka a circle); Casting (i.e dancing outside the set)
Dancing down vs leading down (dancing down the middle of the set either with inside hands joined or right hands joined with your partner); Advance & Retire; Stepping up (moving neatly out of the way so someone can come into your place); Rights & Lefts (dancing around each corner of a square taking 2 steps per side, giving right hand to your partner to start); Hands across (aka 'teapots', wheel or star); 2 hand turn
Dances :-
Dunnet Head - Reel
The Letham Ladies - Strathspey
Monday 22nd January 2024
Steps :-
As previous class. Also brief explanation of Pas de Basque
Movements/Formations taught or explained: -
Reels of 3, 1st & 2nd Corners, 'Corner, Partner, Corner, Partner', Promenade hold, Giving hands in Grand Chain
Dances :-
Catch the Wind - Reel
Ring of Brodgar - Strathspey
Duke of Perth - Reel (walk through only)
Steps :-
As previous class. Also brief explanation of Pas de Basque
Movements/Formations taught or explained: -
Reels of 3, 1st & 2nd Corners, 'Corner, Partner, Corner, Partner', Promenade hold, Giving hands in Grand Chain
Dances :-
Catch the Wind - Reel
Ring of Brodgar - Strathspey
Duke of Perth - Reel (walk through only)
Monday 29th January 2024
Steps taught :-
Strathspey travelling step; Strathspey setting step
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Casting; Reels of 3; Corner positions; 'Corner, Partner, Corner, Partner' (AKA - CPCP)
Dances:-
Sugar Candie- Strathspey
Steps taught :-
Strathspey travelling step; Strathspey setting step
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Casting; Reels of 3; Corner positions; 'Corner, Partner, Corner, Partner' (AKA - CPCP)
Dances:-
Sugar Candie- Strathspey
Monday 5th February 2024
Steps taught:-
Strathspey travelling step; Skip change of step for Jigs & Reels
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Reels of 4; Rights & Lefts; 2 couple Allemande
Dances:-
The Blue Loch
Steps taught:-
Strathspey travelling step; Skip change of step for Jigs & Reels
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Reels of 4; Rights & Lefts; 2 couple Allemande
Dances:-
The Blue Loch
Three weeks break
Monday 4th March 2024
Steps taught:-
Strathspey travelling step;
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
'Dolphin' reels; corners; covering; Hands Across; Hands Round (when doing strathspey)
Dances:-
Pelorus Jack; Jimmy's Fancy
Steps taught:-
Strathspey travelling step;
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
'Dolphin' reels; corners; covering; Hands Across; Hands Round (when doing strathspey)
Dances:-
Pelorus Jack; Jimmy's Fancy
Monday 11th March 2024
Steps taught:-
Strathspey travelling step; Strathspey setting; Skip change of step
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Reels of four; 1/2 reels of four; Corner, partner, corner partner; the 'swirl
Dances:-
The Orchards of Co. Armagh; White Heather Jig; Dream Catcher
Steps taught:-
Strathspey travelling step; Strathspey setting; Skip change of step
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Reels of four; 1/2 reels of four; Corner, partner, corner partner; the 'swirl
Dances:-
The Orchards of Co. Armagh; White Heather Jig; Dream Catcher
Monday 18th March 2024
Steps taught:-
Pas De Basque; Skip change of step
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Balance in Line; Covering; Promenade for 3 couples- finishing with 1st cple casting to 1st corners; 2 Hand turn; Espagnole
Dances:-
The Reel of the 51st Division; Up in the Air; The City of Belfast
Steps taught:-
Pas De Basque; Skip change of step
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Balance in Line; Covering; Promenade for 3 couples- finishing with 1st cple casting to 1st corners; 2 Hand turn; Espagnole
Dances:-
The Reel of the 51st Division; Up in the Air; The City of Belfast
Monday 25th March 2024
Steps taught:-
Skip change of step; Slip step; Strathspey travelling & setting step
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Stepping up (and down) Hands Round (AKA circle); Hands Across (AKA teapots); Casting; Right hand turn; Covering; Promenade for 3 couples- finishing with 1st cple casting to 1st corners; 2 Hand turn
Dances:-
The Highland Rambler; Up in the Air;
Steps taught:-
Skip change of step; Slip step; Strathspey travelling & setting step
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Stepping up (and down) Hands Round (AKA circle); Hands Across (AKA teapots); Casting; Right hand turn; Covering; Promenade for 3 couples- finishing with 1st cple casting to 1st corners; 2 Hand turn
Dances:-
The Highland Rambler; Up in the Air;
Monday 1st April 2024
Steps taught:-
Strathspey travelling & setting step
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Petronella turn & set; Right Hands Across & Left Hands Across (AKA 'teapots'), Reels of 3; Allemande for 3 couples; 2 Hands Turn; Reels of 4
Dances:-
Byron Strathspey; Dunnet Head
Steps taught:-
Strathspey travelling & setting step
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Petronella turn & set; Right Hands Across & Left Hands Across (AKA 'teapots'), Reels of 3; Allemande for 3 couples; 2 Hands Turn; Reels of 4
Dances:-
Byron Strathspey; Dunnet Head
Monday 8th April 2024
Steps taught:-
Pas-de-Basque (AKA setting step for jigs & reels)
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
2 hand turns; Reels of 3; Rights and Lefts, Leading down, casting up & down
Dances:-
Postie's Jig; The Ring of Brodgar; Letham Ladies
Steps taught:-
Pas-de-Basque (AKA setting step for jigs & reels)
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
2 hand turns; Reels of 3; Rights and Lefts, Leading down, casting up & down
Dances:-
Postie's Jig; The Ring of Brodgar; Letham Ladies
Monday 15th April 2024
Steps taught:-
Pas-de-Basque (AKA setting step for jigs & reels), Skip change of step, Strathspey setting & travelling step
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Stepping up & down; 'Set, Cast, 1/2 figure of eight'; turning 3/4 right & left hands; 2 hand turns; Rights and Lefts, Leading down,
Dances:-
Postie's Jig; Letham Ladies
Steps taught:-
Pas-de-Basque (AKA setting step for jigs & reels), Skip change of step, Strathspey setting & travelling step
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Stepping up & down; 'Set, Cast, 1/2 figure of eight'; turning 3/4 right & left hands; 2 hand turns; Rights and Lefts, Leading down,
Dances:-
Postie's Jig; Letham Ladies
Monday 22nd April 2024
Steps taught:-
Strathspey setting & travelling step
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Casting, Rights and Lefts, Leading down, 'A Setting sequence' - i.e. Set, cast off one place/lead up, set, 1/2 Right Hands Across, Crossing over giving right or left hand, Turning giving right or left hand, 2 hand turn, figures of 8 on the side.
Dances:-
Letham Ladies, Waratah Weaver
Steps taught:-
Strathspey setting & travelling step
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Casting, Rights and Lefts, Leading down, 'A Setting sequence' - i.e. Set, cast off one place/lead up, set, 1/2 Right Hands Across, Crossing over giving right or left hand, Turning giving right or left hand, 2 hand turn, figures of 8 on the side.
Dances:-
Letham Ladies, Waratah Weaver
Monday 29th April 2024
Steps taught:-
None!
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Leading down/up; Dancing down/up; Promenade finishing with 1s casting to 2nd place; Do-Si-So (AKA back to back) + RH turn; Reels of 3
Dances:-
Bonny Blue Bride; Ring of Brodgar
Steps taught:-
None!
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Leading down/up; Dancing down/up; Promenade finishing with 1s casting to 2nd place; Do-Si-So (AKA back to back) + RH turn; Reels of 3
Dances:-
Bonny Blue Bride; Ring of Brodgar
Monday 6th May 2024
Steps taught:-
Strathspey setting & travelling step
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Casting off & Casting up; Promenade finishing with 1s casting to face first corners; Advance & Retire; Do-Si-So (AKA back to back) + RH turn; LH turn; 2H turn, Slipping down middle
Dances:-
Up in the Air; Waratah Weaver; Virginia Reel; Butterscotch & Honey
Steps taught:-
Strathspey setting & travelling step
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Casting off & Casting up; Promenade finishing with 1s casting to face first corners; Advance & Retire; Do-Si-So (AKA back to back) + RH turn; LH turn; 2H turn, Slipping down middle
Dances:-
Up in the Air; Waratah Weaver; Virginia Reel; Butterscotch & Honey
Monday 13th May 2024
Steps taught:-
Strathspey setting & travelling step
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Reels of 3; 1/2 reels of 3; Petronella turns
Dances:-
Butterscotch & Honey; Trinity Tensome; Dunnet Head
Steps taught:-
Strathspey setting & travelling step
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Reels of 3; 1/2 reels of 3; Petronella turns
Dances:-
Butterscotch & Honey; Trinity Tensome; Dunnet Head
Monday 20th May 2024
Steps taught:-
Skip change of step
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Teapots, Interlocking reels of 4, triangular sets, leading to the sides from a circle
Dances:-
Good Hearted Glasgow; The Wind on Loch Fyne; Cumberland Reel; And for the Young One's
Steps taught:-
Skip change of step
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Teapots, Interlocking reels of 4, triangular sets, leading to the sides from a circle
Dances:-
Good Hearted Glasgow; The Wind on Loch Fyne; Cumberland Reel; And for the Young One's
Monday 27th May 2024
Steps taught:-
Strathspey travelling & setting
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Sequence... Circle 4 bars, Set 2 bars, Travel 2 bars: Reels of 4
Dances:-
Culla Bay; S-Locomotion; The Cumberland Square
Steps taught:-
Strathspey travelling & setting
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Sequence... Circle 4 bars, Set 2 bars, Travel 2 bars: Reels of 4
Dances:-
Culla Bay; S-Locomotion; The Cumberland Square
Monday 3rd June 2024
Steps taught:-
None - we just went for it.
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Reels of 3 across the dance, 1/2 reels of 4, lady's chain, 1/2 rights & lefts, the snake
Dances:-
The Breakdown; The Orchards of Co. Armagh; Paisley Weavers; The Devil's Elbow
Steps taught:-
None - we just went for it.
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Reels of 3 across the dance, 1/2 reels of 4, lady's chain, 1/2 rights & lefts, the snake
Dances:-
The Breakdown; The Orchards of Co. Armagh; Paisley Weavers; The Devil's Elbow
Monday 10th June 2024
Steps taught:-
Skip change of step; strathspey travelling + setting
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Reels of 4; 1/2 reels of 4, Set + Petronella turn,
Dances:-
The Greenbelt Jig; The Orchards of Co. Armagh; The Cumberland Square
Steps taught:-
Skip change of step; strathspey travelling + setting
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Reels of 4; 1/2 reels of 4, Set + Petronella turn,
Dances:-
The Greenbelt Jig; The Orchards of Co. Armagh; The Cumberland Square
Monday 17th June 2024
Steps taught:-
None - we just went for it.
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Petronella turn & set; long cast; Grand Chain; Reels of 3
Dances:-
Johnnie Walker; Highland Rambler; Ring of Brodgar
Steps taught:-
None - we just went for it.
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Petronella turn & set; long cast; Grand Chain; Reels of 3
Dances:-
Johnnie Walker; Highland Rambler; Ring of Brodgar
Monday 23rd June 2024 - Final class before Summer Break
Steps taught:-
Demo of 'Scottish Waltz' step
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Ballroom hold,
Dances:-
Bridge of Athlone; The Circle Waltz; The Gypsy Thread; St Bernard's Waltz; Sheena's Saunter; Waratah Weaver; Butterscotch & Honey
Steps taught:-
Demo of 'Scottish Waltz' step
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Ballroom hold,
Dances:-
Bridge of Athlone; The Circle Waltz; The Gypsy Thread; St Bernard's Waltz; Sheena's Saunter; Waratah Weaver; Butterscotch & Honey