THE MERRY REAPERS thistle

Graded Book

24J3c

1-8

1st couple CAST OFF 2 places, meet below 3rd couple, LEAD UP middle, CAST OFF into 2nd place (2nd couple step up 7-8).

9-16

2nd, 1st, 3rd couples dance SIX HANDS ROUND and BACK.

17-20

2nd, 1st, 3rd couples RH TURN (4 bar).

21-24

2nd, 1st, 3rd couples LH TURN (4 bar).

CATCH THE WIND thistlethistle

Book 45

32H3c

1-4

1st couple SET and CAST OFF (2nd couple step up 3-4).

5-8

1st couple HALF-FIGURE EIGHT around 2nd couple.

9-12

1st couple SET TWICE (lady turning to face out 11-12).

13-16

1L—1M following—CAST UP behind 2M and DANCE DOWN MIDDLE to face 3M (1M finish facing 2M).

17-24

Right shoulder REELS OF THREE ACROSS DANCE (1L w/ 3rd couple; 1M w/ 2nd couple). 1st couple finish in center facing down.

25-28

1L CAST UP behind 3M and cross set to finish in 2nd place own side—1M following to 2nd place own side.

29-32

1st couple TURN RH (4 bars).

LADY AUCKLAND'S REEL thistle

Book 18

32S2c

1-4

1L and 2L DANCE BETWEEN partners and CAST back to place.

5-8

1L and 2L TURN each other BOTH HANDS (2 bars), then TURN PARTNER BOTH hands (2 bars).

9-16

1M and 2M repeat 1-8.

17-24

1st couple LEAD DOWN MIDDLE and UP.

25-32

1st and 2nd couples ALLEMANDE.

THE ANDERSON'S RANT thistlethistle

MMM1

32R3c

1-16

1st, 2nd, 3rd couples dance REELS OF THREE OPPOSITE SIDES and REELS OF THREE OWN SIDES (“cross-over reels”).

17-24

1st couple LEAD DOWN MIDDLE and UP to 2nd place (2nd couple step up 3-4).

25-28

1st couple HALF-FIGURE EIGHT round 2nd couple.

29-32

1st couple HALF-FIGURE EIGHT round 3rd couple.

THE PETERHEAD LASSIES thistle

Goldring

32J2c

1-2

1L and 2M ADVANCE toward each other and give RH.

3-4

1L dances under man’s R arm and curves out (clockwise) to place as 2M RETIRES to place.

5-8

1L and 2M TURN RH (4 bars).

9-16

2L and 1M repeat 1-8.

17-20

1st and 2nd couples RH ACROSS and face in diagonally.

21-22

1st and 2nd couples SET.

23-24

1st couple CAST OFF as 2nd couple DANCE UP and face out.

25-32

2nd and 1st couples DOUBLE FIGURE OF EIGHT (2nd couple casting; 1st couple crossing up to begin).

THE BIRKS OF INVERMAY thistlethistle

Book 16

32S3c

1-4

1M and 2L TURN BOTH HANDS and return to places.

5-8

1L and 2M TURN BOTH HANDS and return to place (3 steps). On bar 8, 1st-2nd-3rd couples DANCE IN ready for promenade.

9-16

1st, 2nd, 3rd couples PROMENADE.

17-24

1st couple CROSS RH and CAST one place, LEAD UP CROSSING OVER and CAST OFF to 2nd place own side (2nd couple step up 23-24).

25-32

SIX HANDS ROUND AND BACK.

FLOWERS OF EDINBURGH thistlethistle

Book 1

32R3c

1-6

CHASE: 1L cast off 2 places, crosses over and dances up behind men to partner’s place (while partner follows dancing up middle to partner’s place).

7-8

1st couple SET.

9-14

1st couple repeat CHASE (man leading).

15-16

1st couple SET.

17-24

1st couple LEAD DOWN MIDDLE and UP.

25-32

1st and 2nd couples POUSSETTE.

STEPPING IT OUT thistle

Goldring

32J4c

1-4

1st and 4th couples ADVANCE and RETIRE on the diagonal.

5-8

1st and 4th couples, dancing in toward partner, CAST UP or DOWN (2nd and 3rd couples step up or down 7-8).

9-16

2nd and 3rd couples repeat 1-8.

17-24

1st couple CROSS RH, CAST OFF one place, CROSS LH and CAST OFF 2 places (2nd couple step up 19-20; 3rd and 4th couples step up 23-24).

25-32

All TURN partner RH and LH.

MARGARET PARKER'S STRATHSPEY

Book 31 thistlethistlethistle

32S3c

1-4

1st couple LEAD DOWN CROSSING OVER between 2nd couple, CAST DOWN behind 3rd couple, meet w/ nearer hands and begin to DANCE UP middle.

5-8

1L LH ACROSS w/ 2M and 3M while 1M RH ACROSS w/ 2L and 3L. 1st couple finish in partners place facing out.

9-10

1L and 2M CHANGE LH while 1M and 2L CHANGE RH.

11-12

1st couple TURN 3/4 BOTH HANDS to finish with 1M above 2nd couple facing down and 1L above 3rd couple facing down.

13-16

THREE HANDS ROUND (1M w/ 2nd couple; 1L w/ 3rd couple) and finish opening out to face down in lines of 3.across

17-24

1st couple LEAD LINES DOWN MIDDLE and UP (all turning right about to come back up and man’s line finish facing down to face other line at end).

25-32

All SET, CHANGE RH w/ partner, all SET again, and 1st couple CAST to 2nd place own side WHILE 2M and 3M and 2L and 3L CHANGE RH.

RED HOUSE thistlethistle

Book 7

40R2c

1-8

1st couple SET and CAST off below 2nd couple; SET and CAST back to place.

9-16

1M, followed by his partner, CASTS OFF below 2M, CROSSES OVER above 2L, CASTS OFF behind her, and CROSSES OVER to own side below 2M. 1L finishes below 2L on her own side.

17-24

1L, followed by her partner, CASTS UP behind 2L, CROSSES OVER below 2M, CASTS UP behind him, and CROSSES OVER to original place. 1M finishes in original place.

25-32

1st couple dance REEL OF THREE w/ 2M on men's side. 1M and 2M passing LS to begin and making an extra pass to change places at the end; while 1L crosses over to enter the reel below 2M and dances across set to finish in original place.

33-40

1st couple dance REEL OF THREE w/ 2L on ladies' side. 1L and 2L passing RS to begin and making extra pass to change places at the end; while 1M crosses over to enter the reel from below 2L and dances across set to finish in 2nd place own side.

THE DREAM CATCHER thistlethistlethistle

Book 45

96S4c SQUARE

PART ONE

1-8

All dance EIGHT HANDS ROUND and BACK.

9-16

THE SWIRL

9-10…1st and 3rd couples TURN PARTNER RH once round and finish in allemande hold facing across the set.

11-12…1st and 3rd couples DANCE ROUND each other HALF-WAY (men passing LS) to finish in middle of set. On bar 12, release RH and retain LH.

13-16…1st and 3rd couples LH ACROSS, on bar 16 they DANCE IN and PULL BACK LS dancing on to finish back/back with partner facing the side couples (1L and 3M facing 2nd couple; 3L and 1M facing 4th couple).

17-24

All REELS OF FOUR ACROSS DANCE.

25-26

All SET.

27-32

1M and 3L; 3M and 1L retaining nearer hands DANCE OUT between 4th and 2nd couples, CROSS and CAST to places and GIVING RH to partner CHANGE PLACES.

PART TWO

1-4

All 4 couples, joining nearer hands, SET and then ADVANCE 2 steps to join hands in large circle in middle.

5-8

All drop hands with partner and RETIRE ON DIAGONAL w/ corner and SET.

9-16

1L and 4M; 2M and 3L dance RIGHTS and LEFTS.

17-24

1M and 2L; 4L and 3M dance RIGHTS and LEFTS.

25-28

ALL 4 couples join nearer hands w/ corners SET and ADVANCE to middle to form circle.

29-32

releasing corners’ hand ALL RETIRE w/ partner to original place and SET.

PART THREE

1-8

2nd and 4th couples dance THE SWIRL.

9-16

All REELS OF FOUR UP and DOWN DANCE.

17-18

All SET.

19-24

2M and 4L; 4M and 2L retaining nearer hands DANCE OUT BETWEEN 1st and 3rd couples CROSS and CAST to place, giving RH to partner CHANGE PLACES.

25-32

EIGHT HANDS ROUND and BACK.

THE MACHINE WITHOUT HORSES

Book 12 thistlethistle

32J3c

1-4

1st couple SET and CAST OFF (2nd couple step up 3-4).

5-8

1st and 3rd RH ACROSS.

9-12

1st couple SET and CAST UP (2nd couple step down 7-8).

13-16

1st and 2nd couples LH ACROSS.

17-24

1st couple (followed by 2nd couple) LEAD DOWN between 3rd couple, CAST up round them, LEAD up to top and CAST off into 2nd place (2s dance up to 1st place).

25-32

2nd and 1st couples RIGHTS and LEFTS.

MAIRI'S WEDDING thistlethistlethistle

Cosh

40R3c

1-4

1st couple TURN RH and CAST (2nd couple step up 3-4).

5-8

1st couple TURN LH 1-1/2 to face 1st corners.

9-24

MAIRI’S WEDDING REELS (1st couple finish own side 2nd place).

25-32

REELS OF THREE ACROSS DANCE (1L w/ 2nd couple; 1M w/ 3rd couple).

33-40

SIX HANDS ROUND and BACK.

All dances will be briefed. A few may be walked for the first couple.

thistle = Easily done by all

thistlethistle= Would be helpful to dance with an “experienced” partner

thistlethistlethistle= For “those who know”