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Dumbarton Drums

Author: Traditional

Formation: Mescolanza – Lines of 4 facing lines of 4, in columns, with the line nearest the caller (head of hall) having their backs to the caller.

Music: Lloyd Shaw 172 or any nicely phrased 64 count music.  Could use music suitable for the event or season.

A1     With the music Forward and Back;

         Right couple in front Sashay over;

(Right hand couple in each line steps forward & sashays [side-steps] to the left while the left hand couple sashays to the right.)

A2     With the music Forward and Back;

         Right couple in front Sashay back;

B1     With the opposites Right hand Star;

         Same four a Left hand Star;

B2     Back to lines then Forward and Back;

         Arch to the Head, Dive to the Foot;

(Those facing up make an arch with their joined hands, moving over those facing down who Dive under those arches to face a new line of four.)   Note:  This is a good dance to use with first-timers.

 

 

 

Virginia Reel - Traditional (one of several versions)
Formation: Two rows of dancers - one of ladies, the other of gents - each facing their partner. Rows are from the head of the hall - close to caller/music - and extends towards the foot of the hall. Ladies are on the caller's left side. Dance works best with no more than six couples in each set.
Music: Mac Gregor 7345 "Haste to the Wedding"
1-8 EVERYBODY DOSADO PARTNER
9-16 EVERYBODY TURN PARTNER BY THE RIGHT ARM
17-24 EVERYBODY TURN PARTNER BY THE LEFT ARM
25-32 EVERYBODY TURN PARTNER WITH BOTH HANDS
33-40 FIRST COUPLE SASHAY DOWN
(couple closest to the caller joins both hands and slips sideways down between the two lines)
41-48 FIRST COUPLE SASHAY BACK (same couple comes back in the same way to top)
49-64 FIRST COUPLE REEL THE SET (same couple turn partner by the right arm once and a half to extend left arm to next person down the line of the opposite gender, turning that person by the left, then coming back to turn partner by the right, going back to turn the next person by the left - gradually working their way down the lines towards the foot) Note: this may take more than the indicated amount of music.
65-72 FIRST COUPLE SASHAY BACK TO TOP
73-80 FIRST COUPLE CAST TO THE FOOT
(they roll out and head down behind their respective lines leading all the others in their lines towards the foot)
81-88 MAKE AN ARCH, COME UP TO TOP (first couple makes a two-handed arch at the foot, as they others come around they take their partner's hand and duck under the arch and move all the way up to the top leaving the original first couple at the foot)
Dance begins again with a new first couple.

 

 

Virginia No Reel
By Calvin Campbell (from Dancing For Busy People)
Formation: For proper contra lines of seven or less couples, no gender difference
Music:  TNT 106 “Fiddler’s Fancy”, LS 318 “January 7th Jig”
A1     Everybody Forward and Back
         Turn your partner Right-Hand Round
A2     Turn your partner Left-Hand Round
          Turn your partner Both-Hands Round
B1     Top couple Slide to the Foot
          Same two Slide back to the Top
B2     Cast Off single file to the foot
          Leading couple make a both-hands-joined arch
          and the others duck thru