SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCES
- REELS
On these pages I have listed a number of Scottish Country Dances. If you have any more you would like entered, please send them to Meredith and I will add them to this page.
List of Dances
The Blooms of Bon Accord
Clutha
Highland Rambler
The Clansman
The Peat Fire Flame
Reel of the 51st Division
Barr's Wedding Birl
The Kelpie of Loch Coruisk
Nighean Donn
The Lanes of Au
The Reivers
Kumite
Ferla Mor
The Altamont Fair
The Rakish Highlandman
None So Pretty
Shiftin' Bobbins
Bratach
Lady Sophia Lindsey
Linkumdoddie
Sleepy Maggie
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh
Highland Rambler - 40 bar Reel
Bar
1-4 1C cast off one place
5-8 1C & 3C right hands across
9-12 1C & 2C left hands across
13-16 1L followed by 1M dance out the side line, round 2L , 1L picks up the 3C and 1M picks up 2C
17-24 All down the middle and back
25-28 1M followed by 1L round 2L into second place
29-32 Turn by the RH
33-40 All three couples six hands round and back
Clutha (Square Set) - 48 Bar Reel
Bar
1-8 1L and 3M turn RH, dance round partner giving RS, turn RH to
9-16 1C and 3C balance in line, turn end person in, balance in line, turn partner LH to original places
17-24 1C and 3C dance rights and lefts
25-32 1C and 3C dance ladies chain
33-40 All turn corners RH, balance in circle, turn partner LH
41-48 All promenade anti clockwise. Repeat with 2L & 4M, 3L & 1M, 4L & 2M leading
Nighean Donn (5 couples) - 32 Bar Reel
Bar
1-4 2C dance a half figure of eight up round 1C to finish facing 1st corners whilst 4C dance a half figure of eight down round 5C to face 1st corners
5-8 2C & 4C set to 1st corners, pull LS back and set to 2nd corners
9-16 2C, 4C dance diagonal reels of four with 2nd corner, ending on the wrong side
17-20 All advance and retire
The next 8 bars comprise 4 diagonal crossings, always with someone of the same sex.
21-22 The top four people on the men's side cross with the bottom four people on the ladies side RH
23-24 The top four people on the ladies' side cross with the bottom four people on the men's side LH
25-28 Repeat bars 21-24
29-32 The couples in 2nd and 4th places turn 1-1/2 times giving RH, to end on own sides. Repeat from new positions with new partner
The Kelpie of Loch Coruisk (7 Couples) - 32 Bar Reel
Bar
1-8 1C, 3C, 5C cross RH and cast off one place while 2C,
4C, 6C step up. 1M, 3M, 5M cross down and cast up one place
while 1L, 2L, 5L cross up and cast off one place while 2C,
4C, 6C,7C set and cross RH. 1C, 3C, 5C finish RS to RS with
partner facing 2nd corner positions ready for....
9-24 1C, 3C, 5C dance four half diagonal reels of four,
passing partner RS in the middle and finish in the middle
with men above ladies. On reaching the ends of the set, 4C,
6C stand for 4 bars then rejoins the half reels in the
opposite direction.
25-32 1C, 3C, 5C turn 3/4 RH to finish in the middle
facing up. 1C followed by 3C, 5C lead to the top and cast
off - 1C to 6th place, 3C to 4th place and 5C to 2nd
place-finish 7C,5C,6C,3C,4C,1C,2C
The Lanes of Au (3 couples) - 32 Bar Reel
Bar
2C are dancing couple to begin
1-4 2C turn with RH, 2L with 1C, 2M with 3C LH across
1/2 way
5-8 2C dance round to face 1st corner position, while 1C
& 3C dance R&L (begin by crossing on sidelines)
9-16 2C LH to corner, corner pass RH in middle, while 2C
set, then give LH to opposite corner position, while
corners set
17-24 Repeat with 2nd corners, finish RH joined facing
1C at top
25-28 1C & 2C RH across 1/2 way 1C & 3C LH
across 1/2 way
29-32 2C RH turn 1 1/2 times while 1C LH turn 1 1/2
times, 3C stand still in 2nd place, start again.
The Reivers - 32 Bar Reel - Book 23, No. 7
Bar
1-8 First man, followed by 2nd man, dances a figure of
eight around the two women, beginning by giving right
shoulder to 2nd woman. They finish in each others' places.
9-12 The two women set twice across the dance, inner
hands joined.
13-16 Four hands once round.
17-20 All advance and retire two steps diagonally toward
the center.
21-24 Second couple advance and retire again WHILE 1st
couple advance and turn with right hands to face 2nd couple
ready for diagonal reel of four.
25-32 Reel of four beginning by giving LEFT shoulders.
The two women change places by the left at the end of the
reel.
The Duke of Atholl's Reel - 32 Bar Jig - Book 16, No. 3
Bar
1-4 First and 2nd couples set on the sides and dance
right hands across half-way.
5-8 They set again and return with left hands.
9-12 First man set to 2nd woman and turn her with right
hands in two skip changes.
13-16 First woman and 2nd man do the same.
17-20 First couple cross with right hands and cast off
around 2nd couple who step up.
21-24 First couple half figure of eight around 2nd
couple.
25-32 Second and 1st couples rights and lefts.
Kumite - 32 Bar Reel
Bar
1-8 "Rights and Lefts with a twist": 1st and 2nd couples
dance half rights and lefts in four bars. On bars 5-6, they
turn partners once all the way round with right hands, and
then on bars 7-8, they change places with left hands on the
sides to finish on opposite sides.
9-16 First couple dance a half figure eight around 2nd
couple, beginning by crossing down. They dance through
their original positions to join in reverse promenade hold.
Giving collective left shoulder to 2nd man (who is in his
partner's place), they dance a half reel of three across
the dance with 2nd couple. Second couple finish in original
places and 1st couple finish at the top ready to
17-24 Dance down the middle and up.
25-32 First and 2nd couples poussette.
Ferla Mor - 32 Bar Reel - Drewry
Bar
1-8 First couple set, turn half-way with right hands
into second place on partner's side, set, and turn with
right hands to finish with first woman facing her first
corner, her partner behind her.
9-16 First man follows his partner as she dances a right
shoulder reel of three diagonally with first corners,
finishing facing her second corner.
17-24 Repeat with second corners, but on the last two
steps of the reel first woman pulls her left shoulder back
to face first man and turn with left hands to face first
corners.
25-28 First couple turn first corners with right hands,
then pass by the right to face 2nd corners. (Corners dance
four steps.)
29-32 First couple turn 2nd corners with right hands,
then pass by the right to own sides.
The Altamont Fair - 32 Bar Reel - Peter Price
Bar
1-8 First couple set and cast (2nd couple step up) then
set and woman casts up, man casts down.
9-16 Reels of three across the dance, 1st woman giving
right shoulder to 2nd man, while 1st man gives right
shoulder to 3rd woman. Finish facing corners.
17-24 First couple set to 1st corners and partner (as in
hello-goodbye setting) then turn with right hands to face
2nd corners. Repeat with 2nd corners to finish in 2nd
place.
25-32 First couple pass right shoulders and dance around
1st corner positions, while 1st corners turn with right
hands. Repeat with 2nd corners, finishing with 1st couple
passing right shoulders to 2nd place.
Reel of the 51st Division - 32 Bar Reel - Book 13, No. 10
Bar
1-8 First couple set and cast off two places. Second
couple move up. First couple lead up to corners.
9-10 First couple set to first corners.
11-12 First couple turn corner with right hands with
skip change of step and give left hand to partner.
13-14 All four set in diagonal line.
15-16 First couple turn with left hands to face second
corners.
17-22 Repeat bars 9-14 with second corners.
23-24 First couple cross with left hands to second
place.
25-32 Circle six hands round and back.
None So Pretty - Reel 8x40 RSCDS XIX
Bar
1- 8 1C turn RH, cast one place, turn LH to finish with
1L between 2C; 1M between 3C
9-16 2C,1L set twice to 1M,3C in lines across -1L
pulling RS back to finish between 2M,3M while 1M pulls
RS back to finish between 2L,3L. 2C,1C,3C set twice on the
sides
17-24 1C pass their 2nd corners RS to begin reels of
3 on the sides
25-40 1L,2L pass LS to dance a reel of 4 across.1C,2C
dance an allemande to change places
Lady Sophia Lindsay - Reel 4x32 Attwood
Bar
Two chords - on the second chord 3C,4C cross to wrong
sides
1- 8 2C,3C dance a RH wheel - finish with 2C facing the
ladies' side and 3C facing the men's side. Ladies closely
followed by their partners - 2C dance up round 1L
while3C dance down round 4L into ...
9-16 2C,1M and 3C,4M dance RH wheels. 2C,1L and 3C,4L
dance LH wheels - finish with 2C on men's side facing out
and down, 3C on ladies' side facing out and up
17-24 2C,3C dance reels of 3 on the sides with 2C,3C
still dancing as one - ladies closely followed by their
partners.Finish the reels with 2C at the top on own sides;
3C at the bottomon wrong sides; 1C,4C facing on the sides
25-32 1C,4C set and change places RH on the sides.
4C,1C set and cross RH
Linkumdoddie - Reel 5x48 Drewry
Bar
1- 8 1C,3C set and cast off one place. 1C,3C turn
partners LH to finish on own sides in 2nd and 4th places
9-16 1L passes 2M LS to dance a reel of 3 with 2C
while 1M,3L pass LS to dance a reel of 4 with 4C
while3M passes 5L LS to dance a reel of 3 with 5C
17-24 All dance RH wheels (1L,3L up, 1M,3M down). 1C,3C
pass partners RS to dance LH wheels finish with 1C,3C
passing partners LS to face 1st corners
25-32 1C,3C turn corner, partner, corner and pass
partners LS to finish back-to-back ready for...
33-40 All dance double double triangles - 1C,3C finish
by dancing round partners (passing RS) to own sides
41-48 1M,3M cast up one place and dance down while
1L,3L cast off one place and dance up (1L,3M passing LS).
1C,3C turn partners RH and cast off one place to finish in
the order 2,4,1,5,3
The Saltire Society Reel - Reel 8x32 RSCDS
Bar
1- 8 1C dance down diagonally while 2C step up. 1L,3M
turn LH while 1M,3L turn RH. 1C dance up. 1L,2M turn LH
while 1M,2L turn RH - 1C finish in 2nd place on
the wrong sides facing down
9-16 2C,1C,3C dance reels of 3 on the sides. To start
- 2C dance out and down, 1C dance diagonally down back to
own sides, 3C dance out and up. 1C finish the reel
side-by-side in the middle with LH joined, facing 1st
corners (but in a diagonal
line between 2nd corners)
17-24 1C set to 1st corners, turn inwards to join RH
with partner and set to partners' 1st corners. 1st corners
advance to form a RH wheel on bar 20. 1C,1st corners dance
a RH
wheel - 1C finish facing 2nd corners
25-32 Repeat bars 17-24 with 2nd corners - set to
corners, turn in to join LH and set to partners' corners,
LH wheel - 1C finish in 2nd place
Sleepy Maggie - Reel 8x32 SCDS XI
Bar
1- 8 1C,2C circle 4 hands round to the left. 1C set and
cast one place
9-16 1C,3C dance a RH wheel. 1C,3C dance a LH wheel
17-24 1C set to and turn 1st corner BH then set to and
turn 2nd corners BH
25-32 1C dance reels of 3 on the wrong sidelines,
passing their 1st corners LS to start
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh - Reel 8x40 Anderson/Leslie
Bar
1- 8 1C,2C,3C advance and retire, turn partners BH with
skip change of step
9-16 1C cast off to begin figures of 8 on the sides
around 2C,3C. 1C finish by casting off one place while
2C step up
17-24 2C,1L and 1M,3C dance RH wheels. 1C pass RS to
change wheels. 2C,1M and 1L,3C dance LH wheels. 1C pass LS
to finish facing 1st corners
25-32 1C turn corner, partner, corner and cross
partner LH to finish in 2nd place
33-40 2C,1C,3C circle 6 hands round and back
Shiftin' Bobbins - Reel 8x32 Ormskirk VI
Bar
1- 4 1C cross down RH to double triangle positions,
2C,1C,3C set
5- 8 1C dance out and up on the wrong sides and dance
down one place with nearer hands joined
9-12 2M,1L,3M dance a RH wheel while 2L,1M,3L dance a
LH wheel
13-20 1C followed by 2C,3C dance down the set. 3C
followed by 2C,1C dance back up the set
21-24 3C cast off to own place while 2C dance up to
1st place. 2M,1L,3M dance a LH wheel while 2L,1M,3L dance a
RH wheel
25-32 1C dance up to the top, cast on the wrong sides
and dance half a figure of 8 up round 2C to 2nd place
The Winding Road - Strathspey Reel 4x32 Cosh
Bar
1- 8 1M,2L,3M,4L dance a diagonal reel of 4
8-16 1L,2M,3L,4M dance a diagonal reel of 4
17-20 1C turn RH and cast one place while 4C turn RH
and cast up one place
21-24 1C,4C circle 4 hands round to the left
25-28 1C,4C,3C dance half reels of 3 on the sidelines
(1C,4C pass RS to start the reels)
29-32 2C,3C and 4C,1C circle 4 hands round to the
left
Bratach - Reel 8x32 Drewry
Bar
1- 8 1C turn once RH, cast one place and dance round 1st
corners passing them by LS
9-16 2C,1C,3C dance half a reel of 3 on the sidelines,
1M,3C and 1L,2C dance half a LS reel of 3 across the set to
finish - 3C on wrong sides, 1C on right sides, 2C on wrong
sides
17-24 1C turn 3/4 LH to face 1st corner person, turn
corner RH, pass partner RS and turn 2nd corner RH into
promenade hold with 1C on the left of their corners
25-28 1L,3M dance down and across below 3M's place
and turn 1/2 RH to finish with 1L in 2M's place, 3M in his
own while 1M,2L dance up and across above 2L's place and
turn 1/2 RH to finish with 2L in 1L's place, 1M in 2L's
place (2L and 3M pass RS in the promenade)
29-32 3L,1M and 1L,2M dance half diagonal rights and
lefts
The Clansman - Reel 8x32 RSCDS XXXII
Bar
1- 8 1C cross RH and cast one place, dance half a RH
wheel with 2C. 1C,2C set
9-16 1C,2C dance rights and lefts, finishing by turning
the last person 1-1/4 LH to finish in line across with 1M
on his own side facing down, 2L in the middle facing up, 1L
beside 2L facing down and 2M on the ladies' side facing up
ready for ....
17-24 The Targe - 1L,2L turn 3/4 RH while
1M,2M dance ACW a quarter of the way round. 1L,2M and 2L,1M
turn LH. 1L,2L turn a further 3/4 RH while 1M,2M dance
on ACW a further quarter of the way round. 1L,2M and 2L,1M
turn RH to finish with 1C in 2nd place on the wrong side
25-32 2C set to 1C on the sidelines. 2C,1C set to
partner. 1C lead up, cross RH and cast off round 2C
The Peat Fire Flame - Reel 8x40 Drewry
Bar
1- 8 1C cast one place and dance half a figure of 8 up
round 2C. 1C turn 3/4 LH to face 1st corners
9-16 1C turn 1st corners RH, pass RS to turn 2nd corners
LH and pass LS to face 1st corners
17-24 1C dance half a diagonal reel of 4 with their 1st
corners and half a diagonal reel of 4 with their 2nd
corners, finishing facing their 1st corner persons
25-32 1C set to their 1st corner persons and pulling
RS back dance round to face their 2nd corner persons. 1C
set to their 2nd corner persons and dance round to finish
in 2nd place on the wrong sides facing out
33-40 1C dance out, round to the right and in the
ends to meet while 3C,2C dance half rights and lefts.
2C,1C,3C turn RH to finish on own sides
Blooms of Bon Accord - Reel 4x32 Drewry
Bar
Two chords - 3C and 4C cross to the wrong sides on the
second chord
1- 8 1C,2C and 3C,4C join nearer hands and set, dance a
RH wheel and then 1C cast one place as 2C lead up to 1st
place while 3C lead down to 4th place as 4C cast up
9-12 1C cross RH and cast to the top and join in
promenade hold, facing down, while 4C cross RH and cast to
the bottom and join in promenade hold facing up
13-16 1C,4C dance round each other (ladies passing
RS) - 1C end on the men's side facing up while 4C end on
the ladies' side facing down
17-24 2M,1C,3M and 2L,4C,3L dance reels of 3 on the
sides - 4C finish above 1C, facing them in the middle
25-28 4C,1C dance a RH wheel - 4C finish above 1C in
the middle, 4C facing up and 1C facing down
29-32 4C lead to the top, cross and cast to 2nd
placewhile 1C lead down, cross and cast up to 3rd place
For other dance formations, check out these links:
- Scottish
Country Dances - Jigs
- Scottish
Country Dances - Reels
- Scottish
Country Dances - Medleys
- Scottish
Country Dances - Strathspeys