Information on the Monday classes 2025 - Spring Season
Monday 9th June 2025
Steps taught/practiced :-
Pas-de-basque (setting step for jigs & reels), setting advancing
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Petronella turns; Rt shoulder reels of 3; figure of 8 across the dance; Back-to-back (AKA do-see-do); Hands Across (AKA 'teapots'); Forming square sets.
Dances :-
Trinity Tensome; Fisherman's Reel; Rannoch Moor
Steps taught/practiced :-
Pas-de-basque (setting step for jigs & reels), setting advancing
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Petronella turns; Rt shoulder reels of 3; figure of 8 across the dance; Back-to-back (AKA do-see-do); Hands Across (AKA 'teapots'); Forming square sets.
Dances :-
Trinity Tensome; Fisherman's Reel; Rannoch Moor
Monday 2nd June 2025
Steps taught/practiced :-
None - we just went for it
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Reel of 4; 1/2 Reel of 4; Setting sequence from Da Rain Dancin'; 3 couple rights and lefts, set & turn corners (2 hands)
Dances :-
The Orchards of Co. Armagh; Da Rain Dancin'; The Rose of the North
Steps taught/practiced :-
None - we just went for it
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Reel of 4; 1/2 Reel of 4; Setting sequence from Da Rain Dancin'; 3 couple rights and lefts, set & turn corners (2 hands)
Dances :-
The Orchards of Co. Armagh; Da Rain Dancin'; The Rose of the North
Monday 26th May 2025
Steps taught/practiced :-
Strathspey setting step used to travel vs travelling step
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
All round 'Diamond' Poussette; 1/2 'Diamond' Poussette; Reel of 4 across (starting from side-lines), the tournée
Dances :-
Alltshellach
Steps taught/practiced :-
Strathspey setting step used to travel vs travelling step
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
All round 'Diamond' Poussette; 1/2 'Diamond' Poussette; Reel of 4 across (starting from side-lines), the tournée
Dances :-
Alltshellach
Monday 19th May 2025
Steps taught/practiced :-
Strathspey travelling and setting
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Interlocking reels of 4; men's chain; set & link for 3 couples
Dances :-
For The Young Ones
Gang The Same Gate
Moffat Weavers
Steps taught/practiced :-
Strathspey travelling and setting
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Interlocking reels of 4; men's chain; set & link for 3 couples
Dances :-
For The Young Ones
Gang The Same Gate
Moffat Weavers
Monday 12th May 2025
Class cancelled due to ill-health
Class cancelled due to ill-health
Monday 5th May 2025
Steps taught/practiced :-
Strathspey travelling
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Interlocking reels of 4; Grand chain; setting; petronella turns; hands across; diagonal reels of 4 with corners; snowball grand chain; rights & lefts; reels of 3
Dances :-
Warm up weaving
The Breakdown
MacDonald of the Isles
Trinity Tensome
Rannoch Moor
Steps taught/practiced :-
Strathspey travelling
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Interlocking reels of 4; Grand chain; setting; petronella turns; hands across; diagonal reels of 4 with corners; snowball grand chain; rights & lefts; reels of 3
Dances :-
Warm up weaving
The Breakdown
MacDonald of the Isles
Trinity Tensome
Rannoch Moor
Monday 28th April 2025
Steps taught/practiced :-
Pas de Basque; Strathspey travelling + setting
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Reels of 3; 'Dolphin' Reels; 'Sugar Candie' Reels
Dances :-
Waratah Weaver
The Weaver's Reel
Pelorus Jack
Sugar Candie
Steps taught/practiced :-
Pas de Basque; Strathspey travelling + setting
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Reels of 3; 'Dolphin' Reels; 'Sugar Candie' Reels
Dances :-
Waratah Weaver
The Weaver's Reel
Pelorus Jack
Sugar Candie
Monday 21st April 2025
Steps taught/practiced :-
None, we just went for it
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Gypsy turns, Corners
Dances :-
The Ring of Celebration
Rannoch Moor
Shiftin' Bobbins
Scallywag
Steps taught/practiced :-
None, we just went for it
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Gypsy turns, Corners
Dances :-
The Ring of Celebration
Rannoch Moor
Shiftin' Bobbins
Scallywag
Monday 14th April 2025
Steps taught/practiced :-
Skip change of step, Strathspey travelling step
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Hands across, Hands round, promenade hold, right shoulder reels of 3, left shoulder reels of 3, 'square progression' i.e. as done in Domino 5
Dances :-
Welcome to the Dance
Domino 5
Rannoch Moor
The Fisherman's Reel
Ring of Brodgar
Steps taught/practiced :-
Skip change of step, Strathspey travelling step
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Hands across, Hands round, promenade hold, right shoulder reels of 3, left shoulder reels of 3, 'square progression' i.e. as done in Domino 5
Dances :-
Welcome to the Dance
Domino 5
Rannoch Moor
The Fisherman's Reel
Ring of Brodgar
Monday 7th April 2025
Steps taught/practiced :-
Skip change of step, transition from skip change to Pas-de-basque
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Hands across, Hands round, rt shoulder reels of 3, 1/2 diagonal tandem reels of 3, grand chain in 4 cple set
Dances :-
Welcome to the Dance
Weaver's Reel
Pelorus Jack
The Marquis of Lorne
Steps taught/practiced :-
Skip change of step, transition from skip change to Pas-de-basque
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Hands across, Hands round, rt shoulder reels of 3, 1/2 diagonal tandem reels of 3, grand chain in 4 cple set
Dances :-
Welcome to the Dance
Weaver's Reel
Pelorus Jack
The Marquis of Lorne
Monday 31st March 2025
Steps taught/practiced :-
Skip change of step, Advancing & Retiring; Strathspey travelling step, Advancing & Retiring
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Advance & Retire; Turn Rt hands then Turn Lt hands 11/2, Right hands across & Left hands across. Stepping up after waiting 2 bars; figures of 8 along the dance, 1/2 figure of 8 across the dance.
Dances :-
The Fairy Ring
Three's the Charm
96 bars for Pitlochry
Weaver's Reel
Steps taught/practiced :-
Skip change of step, Advancing & Retiring; Strathspey travelling step, Advancing & Retiring
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Advance & Retire; Turn Rt hands then Turn Lt hands 11/2, Right hands across & Left hands across. Stepping up after waiting 2 bars; figures of 8 along the dance, 1/2 figure of 8 across the dance.
Dances :-
The Fairy Ring
Three's the Charm
96 bars for Pitlochry
Weaver's Reel
Monday 24th March 2025
Steps taught/practiced :-
None, we just went for it
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Reels of 3, reels of 3, reels of 3
Dances :-
The Fairy Ring
The Breakdown
The Byron Strathspey
The Ring of Brodgar
Steps taught/practiced :-
None, we just went for it
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Reels of 3, reels of 3, reels of 3
Dances :-
The Fairy Ring
The Breakdown
The Byron Strathspey
The Ring of Brodgar
Monday 17th March 2025
Steps taught/practiced :-
Skip Change; Slip Step; Strathspey travelling,
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Interlocking reels of 4; Men's Chain; Lady's Chain; Grand Chain for 3 couples; Rights & Lefts; Hands round.
Dances :-
And for the Young Ones
The Moffat Weavers
Paisley Weavers
Steps taught/practiced :-
Skip Change; Slip Step; Strathspey travelling,
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Interlocking reels of 4; Men's Chain; Lady's Chain; Grand Chain for 3 couples; Rights & Lefts; Hands round.
Dances :-
And for the Young Ones
The Moffat Weavers
Paisley Weavers
Monday 10th March 2025
Steps taught/practiced :-
Strathspey travelling, setting, 'set advancing' and transitions from setting to travelling
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Interlocking reels of 4; 1/2 diagonal reels of 4; Corners; 3 couple set & link
Dances :-
And for the Young Ones
Gang the same gate
The Moffat Weavers
And for the Young Ones - repeat
Steps taught/practiced :-
Strathspey travelling, setting, 'set advancing' and transitions from setting to travelling
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Interlocking reels of 4; 1/2 diagonal reels of 4; Corners; 3 couple set & link
Dances :-
And for the Young Ones
Gang the same gate
The Moffat Weavers
And for the Young Ones - repeat
Monday 3rd March 2025
Steps taught :-
'set advancing' using strathspey setting step
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Long Cast, Progressions in 5 couple sets. 'Cross over giving Rt hands, cast one place, dance 1/2 figure of eight around the couple above'; 1/2 diagonal reels of 4; Corners; 3 couple set & link
Dances :-
The Highland Rambler
Polharrow Burn
Gang the same gate
Steps taught :-
'set advancing' using strathspey setting step
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Long Cast, Progressions in 5 couple sets. 'Cross over giving Rt hands, cast one place, dance 1/2 figure of eight around the couple above'; 1/2 diagonal reels of 4; Corners; 3 couple set & link
Dances :-
The Highland Rambler
Polharrow Burn
Gang the same gate
Monday 24th February 2025
Steps taught :-
None we just went for it...
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Progressions in 5 couple sets. 'Cross over giving Rt hands, cast one place, dance 1/2 figure of eight around the couple above'; 1/2 diagonal reels of 4; Corners; Balance in line.
Dances :-
Polharrow Burn
Butterscotch & Honey
Reel of the 51st Division
Steps taught :-
None we just went for it...
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Progressions in 5 couple sets. 'Cross over giving Rt hands, cast one place, dance 1/2 figure of eight around the couple above'; 1/2 diagonal reels of 4; Corners; Balance in line.
Dances :-
Polharrow Burn
Butterscotch & Honey
Reel of the 51st Division
Monday 10th February 2025
Steps taught :-
Strathspey setting & travelling
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Longwise sets; Progression; stepping up; Figures of 8; 2 hands hold; casting; Right Hands Across (RHA); Left Hands Across (LHA)- AKA 'teapots'; Lead down the middle, Promenade hold; Hands Round; Balance in line; corners; Right hand turn; Left hand turn.
Dances :-
Waratah Weaver
Good Hearted Glasgow
Butterscotch & Honey
Reel of the 51st Division
Steps taught :-
Strathspey setting & travelling
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Longwise sets; Progression; stepping up; Figures of 8; 2 hands hold; casting; Right Hands Across (RHA); Left Hands Across (LHA)- AKA 'teapots'; Lead down the middle, Promenade hold; Hands Round; Balance in line; corners; Right hand turn; Left hand turn.
Dances :-
Waratah Weaver
Good Hearted Glasgow
Butterscotch & Honey
Reel of the 51st Division
Monday 3rd February 2025
Steps taught :-
none - we just went for it!
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
4 hands round (AKA circle for 4 people); Reels of 4; Ladies Chain; Set & Link; Rights & Lefts
Dances :-
Burn's Bicentenary Strathspey
Waratah Weaver
Lamb Skinnet
Circassian Circle
Steps taught :-
none - we just went for it!
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
4 hands round (AKA circle for 4 people); Reels of 4; Ladies Chain; Set & Link; Rights & Lefts
Dances :-
Burn's Bicentenary Strathspey
Waratah Weaver
Lamb Skinnet
Circassian Circle
Monday 27th January 2025
Steps taught :-
none - we just went for it!
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
5 couple longwise sets; Right hands across; Left hands across; The significance of 2 chords prior to starting a dance; 4 hands round (AKA circle for 4 people); Reels of 4; Ladies Chain; Set & Link
Dances :-
Staircase in Styria
Burn's Bicentenary Strathspey
Steps taught :-
none - we just went for it!
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
5 couple longwise sets; Right hands across; Left hands across; The significance of 2 chords prior to starting a dance; 4 hands round (AKA circle for 4 people); Reels of 4; Ladies Chain; Set & Link
Dances :-
Staircase in Styria
Burn's Bicentenary Strathspey
Monday 20th January 2025
Steps taught :-
Slip Step, Skip-change-of-step, Pas-de-Basque (AKA setting step) (used for jigs & reels), Strathspey step - setting + travelling (briefly covered)
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Rights & Lefts; Ladies Chain; Right hands across; Left hands across (AKA 'teapots'); Square Set vs Longwise Sets; Hands round; Petronella turns; 2 Hand turns; Promenade hold; Allemande for 3 couples.
Dances :-
Craigleith (Goldring) (Reel)
Good Hearted Glasgow (Jig)
Byron Strathspey (Strathspey)
Steps taught :-
Slip Step, Skip-change-of-step, Pas-de-Basque (AKA setting step) (used for jigs & reels), Strathspey step - setting + travelling (briefly covered)
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Rights & Lefts; Ladies Chain; Right hands across; Left hands across (AKA 'teapots'); Square Set vs Longwise Sets; Hands round; Petronella turns; 2 Hand turns; Promenade hold; Allemande for 3 couples.
Dances :-
Craigleith (Goldring) (Reel)
Good Hearted Glasgow (Jig)
Byron Strathspey (Strathspey)
Monday 13th January 2025
Steps taught :-
Skip-change-of-step (used for jigs & reels), Strathspey step - setting + travelling
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Turning with the Right Hand (RH) and Turning with the Left Hand (LH), Hands across - with Right Hand and with Left Hand (AKA teapots), 2 Hand turn, 6 Hand Round (AKA Circles); Leading down, Stepping up, Casting, Rights & Lefts
Dances :-
The Black Dance (Reel)
Good Hearted Glasgow (Jig)
Braes of Breadalbane (Strathspey)
Letham Ladies (Strathspey)
Steps taught :-
Skip-change-of-step (used for jigs & reels), Strathspey step - setting + travelling
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Turning with the Right Hand (RH) and Turning with the Left Hand (LH), Hands across - with Right Hand and with Left Hand (AKA teapots), 2 Hand turn, 6 Hand Round (AKA Circles); Leading down, Stepping up, Casting, Rights & Lefts
Dances :-
The Black Dance (Reel)
Good Hearted Glasgow (Jig)
Braes of Breadalbane (Strathspey)
Letham Ladies (Strathspey)
Monday 6th January 2025
Steps taught :-
Slip step; Skip-change-of-step (used for jigs & reels)
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Forming a set; Progression within a set; 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); Stepping up (moving neatly out of the way so someone can come into your place); Turning with the Right Hand (RH) and Turning with the Left Hand (LH), Hands across - with Right Hand and with Left Hand (AKA teapots). 6 Hand Round (AKA Circles); Chase, Advance & Retire
Dances :-
The Black Dance (Reel)
Good Hearted Glasgow (Jig)
Dunnet Head - Reel
Steps taught :-
Slip step; Skip-change-of-step (used for jigs & reels)
Movements/Formations taught or explained:-
Forming a set; Progression within a set; 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); Stepping up (moving neatly out of the way so someone can come into your place); Turning with the Right Hand (RH) and Turning with the Left Hand (LH), Hands across - with Right Hand and with Left Hand (AKA teapots). 6 Hand Round (AKA Circles); Chase, Advance & Retire
Dances :-
The Black Dance (Reel)
Good Hearted Glasgow (Jig)
Dunnet Head - Reel