Scottish Dancing Group

The Group meets on Monday mornings at Woodbury Community Hall, EX13 5TL, just west of the Lyme Road, between Raymond’s Hill and Axminster. We dance between 10am and 12am with a short break midway through the morning.

Scottish Country Dancing is a subset of European folk dancing with much in common with English folk dancing; some dances are identical. In the Scottish canon, there are jigs, reels and strathspeys. Most dances are in longwise sets of 3, 4 or 5 couples but sets of other shapes are fairly common.

There is no need to come with a partner; sets are made up of all comers and we adjust the dance to the numbers present. Excellent recorded music is available mainly on CD but also in other formats. Many of our dancers started as complete beginners with Lyme U3A.

Everyone is welcome, but newcomers should expect to take several weeks to get the basics, and we never stop learning. Come with light shoes and be prepared to start in a cool hall but be warm within a few dances.

Please contact David 01460 65981 for details or e-mail below
                                                                                                                                              Dances for 2021

​ BALLATER REEL  (R8x32)  2C (4C Set) John S Trew  Let's All Dance
 1- 8  1s lead down & back to top
 9-16 1s+2s dance Allemande
17-24 2s+1s dance R&L
25-32 1s dance Fig of 8 round 2s
 
CORN RIGS  (R8x32)  2C (4C set) RSCDS Bk 4
 1- 8  1s cast down own sides, turn inwards dance back to top
 9-16 1s dance full Fig of 8 round 2s
17-24 1s lead down the middle & back
25-32 1s+2s dance Poussette
 
DUKE OF ATHOLL'S REEL (THE)  (J8x32)  2C (4C set)          Skillern  RSCDS Bk 16
 1- 8  1s+2s set, dance 1/2 RH across, set & dance 1/2 LH across back to places
 9-16 1M+2L set advancing & turn RH back to places, 1L+2M set advancing & turn RH back to places
17-24 1s cross RH, cast to 2nd place & dance 1/2 Fig of 8 round 2s to 2nd place on own sides
25-32 2s+1s dance R&L
 
EASY PEASY  (R8x32)  2C (4C set)  E Alsop+H Blair  2nd Bk Graded SCDs
 1- 8  1s+2s circle 4H round & back
 9-16 1s dance down middle & back
17-24 1s+2s Promenade round
25-32 1s+2s dance R&L for 6 bars & set
 
THE GUIDMAN OF BALANGIGH  (J8x32)  2C (4C set)           Playford  RSCDS Bk 30
 1- 8  1s dance down between 2s & cast back to places, 1M+2M nearer hands joined dance across between 1L & 2L, divide & dance back to places
 9-16 1L+2L nearer hands joined dance across between 1M & 2M, divide & dance back to places, 2s dance up & cast back to places
17-24 1M+2L set advancing, twirl & dance back to places, 1L+2M repeat this Fig
25-32 1s+2s dance 4H (skip change) round 1/2 way, set & cross RH
 
HA! HA! THE WOOIN' O' IT  (R8x32)  2C (4C set)  MMM 1
 1- 8  1L+2L advance towards partners & set, retire & set
 9-16 1M+2M repeat bars 1- 8
17-24 1s lead down & back
25-32 1s+2s dance Poussette
 
HOLLIN BUSS (THE)  (J8x32)  2C (4C set)  RSCDS Bk 24
 1- 8  1s+2s Adv+Ret, cross RH & dance RH across 1/2 way
 9-16 2s+1s Adv+Ret, cross LH & dance LH across 1/2 way
17-24 1s dance slip step down for 4 & back to top
25-32 1s set, cast 1 place & 2s+1s turn RH
 
KNIT THE POCKY  (R8x32)  2C (4C set) RSCDS Bk 11
 1- 8  1L+2M Adv+Ret, turn 2H (Skip Change of step)
 9-16 1M+2L Adv+Ret, turn 2H
17-24 1s followed by 2s (who first dance up) lead down middle & 2s lead back to 1st place followed by 1s who end in 2nd place
25-32 2s+1s dance R&L
 
LINTON PLOUGHMAN  (J8x32)  2C (4C set) RSCDS Bk 5
 1- 8  1s+2s circle 4H round & back
 9-16 1s+2s dance RH across & LH across
17-24 1s lead down the middle & back to top
25-32 1s+2s dance Poussette.  2 1
 
PLUTO'S HEAD  (R8x32)  2C (4C set) Susan McKinnell  RSCDS Bk 51
 1- 8  1M+2L turn RH (4 bars).  1s+2s circle 4H round to Left
 9-16 1L+2M turn LH (4 bars).  1s+2s circle 4H round to Right
17-24 1s lead down (3 bars), lead up (3 bars) & cast to 2nd place (2s step up 23-24)
25-32 2s+1s dance R&L
 
RED HOUSE (Where Would Bonnie Annie Lie)  (R8x40)  2C (4C set) Playford  RSCDS Bk 7
 1- 8  1s set & cast 1 place, set & cast back to original places
 9-16 1M (followed by partner) casts 1 place, dances up between 2s & casts down behind 2L, crosses over & both end in 2nd place own side
17-24 1L (followed by partner) casts up to top, dances down between 2s & casts up behind 2M & crosses over & both end in original places
25-32 1s reel with 2M on Men’s side (1M & 2M pass LSh & 1L dances to 2nd pl on Men’s side to pass ptnr RSh (1L ends in own pl & 1M in 2nd pl)
33-40 1s reel with 2L on Ladies side (1L & 2L pass RSh & 1M dances to 2nd pl on Ladies side to pass ptnr LSh (1s end in 2nd place own side)