Dances

DancersDancing is a fun and important part of Scottish culture.

The Scottish Country dances featured at the St Andrew’s Day Ball and our ceilidh program are listed below.

Also, at the end of list there are details of the important etiquette associated with those dances.

  • St Andrew Society Reel
  • The Dashing White Sergeant
  • Hamilton House
  • The Triumph
  • The Highland Welcome
  • The Canadian Barn Dance
  • The Virginia Reel
  • Mrs Stewart’s Jig

 

From ‘The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society’ Dance Etiquette

Good manners should be the accompaniment of any dance and should be evident before the dance begins.

  •  Couples should wait until a dance is announced before making up sets
  •  When they join others already on the floor, they should do so at the end of the line, without
    intruding on sets already made up.
  •  After the dance is finished, it is good manners to clear the floor.

In the dance itself, helpful, courteous use of hands, thoughtful stepping up or down and anticipation and awareness of other dancers is essential.

The giving of hands is a fundamental characteristic of Scottish dancing.

  •  The general rule is that hands are given at shoulder height, with elbows down.
  •   It is generally accepted that a man gives his hand to a woman with the palm upwards.
  • Where hands are joined in threes on the sidelines, before dancing advance and retire or
    six hands round and back, then the dancer in the middle of each line extends his or her
    hands, with palms upwards, to the dancers on either side.
  •   In formations such as turning corner and partners, in grand chain, in rights and lefts, the
    ‘shake hands hold’ is used.

The natural ‘honouring’ of one’s partner (bow and curtsey) should be simple and unaffected, be done rhythmically and lead on to the dance.

  •  When the opening chord is played, the ‘bow and curtsey’ can be more easily fitted to the
    music.
  • The man draws himself up slightly, he bows from the waist, keeping his back straight
    and still looking at his partner, he returns to the starting position. Throughout, his arms
    are held naturally at his sides.
  • Similarly, the woman draws herself up slightly, she places the toe of one foot close up to
    the heel of the other foot and bends both knees equally, keeping the body erect and
    looking at her partner; finally, she too returns the starting position.
  •  While curtseying, and throughout the dance when she is moving with her hands free,
    the woman may hold her full length dress in order to lift it clear of her feet.

 

 

 

From ‘The Royal Scottish Country Dance Society’ Dance Etiquette

Good manners should be the accompaniment of any dance and should be evident before the dance begins.

·         Couples should wait until a dance is announced before making up sets.

·         When they join others already on the floor, they should do so at the end of the line, without intruding on sets already made up.

·         After the dance is finished, it is good manners to clear the floor.

In the dance itself, helpful, courteous use of hands, thoughtful stepping up or down and anticipation and awareness of other dancers is essential.

The giving of hands is a fundamental characteristic of Scottish dancing.

·         The general rule is that hands are given at shoulder height, with elbows down.

·         It is generally accepted that a man gives his hand to a woman with the palm upwards.

·         Where hands are joined in threes on the sidelines, before dancing advance and retire or six hands round and back, then the dancer in the middle of each line extends his or her hands, with palms upwards, to the dancers on either side.

·         In formations such as turning corner and partners, in grand chain, in rights and lefts, the ‘shake hands hold’ is used.

The natural ‘honouring’ of one’s partner (bow and curtsey) should be simple and unaffected, be done rhythmically and lead on to the dance.

·         When the opening chord is played, the ‘bow and curtsey’ can be more easily fitted to the music.

·         The man draws himself up slightly, he bows from the waist, keeping his back straight and still looking at his partner, he returns to the starting position. Throughout, his arms are held naturally at his sides.

·         Similarly, the woman draws herself up slightly, she places the toe of one foot close up to the heel of the other foot and bends both knees equally, keeping the body erect and looking at her partner; finally, she too returns the starting position.

·         While curtseying, and throughout the dance when she is moving with her hands free, the woman may hold her full length dress in order to lift it clear of her feet.