Dances for May 1, 2025

Tea dance prep this week – exceptionally on a Thursday – at the Greene centre!

Beginner dances

THE BLACK CAT’S JIG

Jig · 32 bars · 3 couples · Longwise – 4 (Progression: 213) Devised by Carol Porter

1–8 1c lead down the middle & up

9–16 1c cross RH | cast off (2c up) ; ½ Fig8 up round 2c (2,1,3)

17–24 All A&R ; chase ½ way clw to opp sides (3x,1x,2x)

25–32 All A&R ; chase ½ way clw to own sides (2,1,3)

SOCIETY PIPER (R8x32) 3C (4C set) Roy Goldring 10 Social Dances

1- 8 1s dance ½ Fig of 8 round 2s, 1s ½ turn 2s with nearer hand (1M LH, 1L RH) and ½ turn 3s with other hand. 1s end in 3rd place opposite sides
9-16 1s dance ½ Fig of 8 round 3s, 1s ½ turn 3s with nearer hand (1M LH, 1L RH) and ½ turn 2s with other hand. 123
17-24 1s dance down to 2nd place in centre (2s step up), 1s set to 3s, set to partner and set to 2s
25-32 1L dances RH across with 2L+3L on Ladies’ side and 1M dances LH across on Men’s side, 1s dance up and cast to 2nd place own sides. 213

DANCING DOLPHINS (J8x32) 3C (4C set) Barry Skelton Dolphin Book

1- 8 1s cross RH, cast 1 place (2s step up). 1s turn LH 1¼ times to end facing Ladies’ side, 1L on 1M’s right
9-16 1s dance Alternating Tandem reel of 3 on Ladies’ side (1L leads starting RSh to 3L)
17-24 1s dance Alternating Tandem reel on Men’s side (1L leads starting LSh to 3M) and end in prom hold facing Ladies’ side
25-32 1s dance out between 2L+3L, cast round 3L and dance up to top of set, drop hands and cast to 2nd place own side

THE WILD GEESE (J8x32) 3C (4C set) RSCDS Book 24

1- 8 1s+3s set advancing and Balance-in-Line (Man above Lady), turn partners RH and 1s cast to 3rd place while 3s lead up to 1st place
9-16 3s+1s set advancing and Balance-in-Line (Man above Lady), turn partners RH and 3s cast to 3rd place while 1s lead up to 1st place
17-24 1s lead down and back to 2nd place
25-32 2s+1s dance R&L. 213

THE CAPTAIN’S HOUSE (R8x32) 3C (4C set) Holly Boyd RSCDS Graded 3

1- 8 1s turn RH (4 bars); cast (2s step up), cross LH to face out in 2nd place opposite sides
9-16 2s+1s+3s dance reels of 3 on sides, 1s pass 2nd corner LSh to start. 1s finish facing 1st corners
17-24 1s dance ½ diagonal reel of 4 with 1st corners, pass RSh, dance ½ diagonal reel of 4 with 2nd corners finishing in 2nd place opposite sides. (3)(1)(2)
25-32 3s+1s+2s turn partners RH and dance clockwise ½ way round set to own sides. 213

SPARK O’ WATER (S8x32) 2C (4C set) Duncan and Maggie Keppie Haliburton Book 3 and Nova Scotia Collection 2017

1- 8 1s+2s circle 4H round to left; 1s+2s turn partner 2H 1¼ to end in centre, Men facing down, Ladies facing up
9-16 1s+2s dance reel of 4
17-24 1s+2s Petronella turn to own sides and set; 1s+2s turn partner RH into allemande hold facing up
25-32 1s+2s dance allemande

MRS STEWART’S JIG (J8x32) 3C (4C set) Frans Ligtmans RSCDS Book 35

1- 8 1s set, 1L followed by partner casts 2 places, 1L crosses (below 3s) and casts up on Men’s side to 2nd place facing down while 1M dances round 3L and up the middle to 2nd place Ladies’ side facing down
9-16 2s+1s+3s dance Grand Chain, end with 2M and 1M facing out
17-24 2s+1s dance Ladies’ Chain
25-32 2s+1s+3s advance and retire; 1s turn 1½ RH to own sides. 213

Advanced dances

TOAST TO THE MOUSIES (R8X32) 3C (4C set) Sara Gratiot RSCDS book 53

1- 8 1s dance in and cast 1 place (2s step up), dance down between 3s and cast up to 2nd place
9-16 2s+1L also 1M+3s dance RH across and 1s pass RSh to dance LH across with other couple, 1s end back to back in the middle (1M facing up, 1L down) facing 2s/3s (2s facing down, 3s up nearer hands joined)
17-20 All set, 2s and 3s make arches, dance down/up to meet as 1s dance under arches. Finish 1M in 1st place, 1L in 3rd place (facing down/up) and 2s and 3s back to back in middle nearer hands joined (2s facing up, 3s down).
21-24 All set, 2s and 3s making arches dance to ends and cast into reel while 1s dance under arch passing LSh and finish between end couple facing 1st corner
25-32 2s+1L also 1M+3s dance LSh reels across (2s+3s make loops into the reel) to end 213. All set

Note: after 2nd time through 1s may repeat bars 1-4 to get to 4th place

THE BURNTISLAND JIG (J5x32) 5C set Bob Beattie Three Hands Across

1- 8 1s and 3s cross RH and cast 1 place, 1s and 3s dance down between couples below and cast up to end BtoB with partners facing out
9-16 1s and 3s dance Double Triangles with 2s+4s+5s and BtoB with partners facing opposite sides
17-24 1s and 3s turn 1st corners RH and pass partner RSh to face 2nd corners, 1s and 3s turn 2nd corners RH to end on opposite sides between corners and all set
25-32 2s+1s+4s+3s+5s advance and retire, 1s and 3s cross RH and cast 1 place