DE'IL AMANG THE GAYLORS

32-bar Reel for 4 couples in a 6- or 8-couple set

1-8	1C & 2C, and 3C & 4C: Set, RH across halfway, set, LH across halfway
9-12	1C & 4C diagonal rights and lefts halfway
17-24	All: Cross RH with opposite, set to opposite, change places LH with partner, set to partner.
17-32	Eight hands round and back

During the second repetition, 1C and 2C dance with 5C and 6C, while 3C and 4C stand out at the top.

In a six-couple set: during the third repetition 3C and 4C dance with 5C and 6C while 1C and 2C stand out at the bottom, then the pattern repeats three more times.

In an eight couple set, the progression of couples resembles the progression of individuals in a normal 8-person set.

Suitable music: De'il Amang the Tailors

Devised by Mike Briggs (briggslaw [at] yahoo.com), 2007, for Ian and the rest of the Gaylor clan of Madison, Wisconsin

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EXAMINATION FEVER

32-bar Jig for 3 couples set in a 4-couple longwise set

1-8	1st and 3rd couples dance a double figure of eight around standing 2nd couple, 1st couple crossing down and 3rd couple dance up to begin. 1st couple ends up with nearer hand joined in the middle of the set (facing down), while 2nd couple steps in on bar 8, nearer hands joined facing up.
9-16	1st and 2nd couples dance a “Half Rondel”: 9-10: 1st couple dance under an arch made by 2nd couple, to change places 11-12: 2nd and 1st couples change sides, women passing in front of the men 13-14: 2nd and 1st couples set on the sidelines 15-16: 2nd and 1st couples cross back to own sides, giving left hands.
17-20	All three couples dance six hands to the right for six slip steps and then, on bar 20, cross left foot over the right (releasing hands) and pivot round to face out pulling right shoulder back.
21-24	2nd, 1st and 3rd couples chase round clockwise back to own sides.On bar 24 3rd lady and 2nd man end up facing out, ready to start the Reel (in the opposite direction)
25-32	2nd, 1st and 3rd couples dance a “Reel of Three” on own sides. 1st man starts dancing in and up, while 1st lady dances in and down.
	Repeat, having passed a couple

Devised by Martina Mueller-Franz (mcmuellerfranz [at] aol.com), 02. August 2007. This dance is dedicated to a number of friends (in alphabetic order): Eva-Maria Beckmann, Antje Böttcher, Birgit Frie, Gabrielle Funhoff, Chris Houston-Dewilde, Dirk Kölbl, Daniéle Landrieau, Luitgard Merkens, Anika McGregor, Birgit Röhricht, Antoine Rousseau, Thomas Stork, Sjoerd van Leersum, Iryna Zhurakovska and Claudia Zyla, who attended different Units of the RSCDS Teaching Certificate in Summer and Autumn 2007.

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DANCING ON WATER

32-bar Strathspey for a 4 couple longwise set

2 chords – couples 3 and 4 start from opposite sides

1-4	1st couple cross right hand and cast off one place while 4th couple cross right hand and cast up one place. 2nd and 3rd couples step up/down on bars 3-4.
5-8	2nd + 3rd couples set + cross over right hands to opposite sides (and face in) while 1st and 4th couples (in the middle places) set + link to change places (keep facing the direction they are coming). All 4 couples may give hands on the sidelines while setting.
9-12	4th and 1st couples (= middle couples) dance a full right hands across. At the end 4th couple face up to 2nd couple (which is in top place), and 1st couple faces down to 3rd couple (in bottom place).
13-16	All turn left hands once round (2nd man + 4th lady; 2nd lady + 4th man; 1st man + 3rd lady; 1st lady + 3rd man).
17-24	4th and 1st couple (still middle couples) dance a full “Men’s Chain”.
25-28	2nd couple dance a ½ figure of eight down around 4th couple, while 3rd couple dance a ½ figure of eight up around 1st couple. (Start by crossing up or down.)
29-32	All four couples turn partner both hands one round. New order is now: 2 4 1 3
	Repeat 3 more times from new places

Devised by Martina Mueller-Franz (mcmuellerfranz [at] aol.com), 31. May 2007. This dance was first tried out during a small occasion in Beelen (near Muenster, Germany) in June 2007. We used a small room adjacent to the organiser's house. I subsequently learned that the wooden floor covers their former small indoor swimming pool. This inspired me to call this dance: “Dancing on Water”.

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THE IRISH BRIDE

8x32 Strathspey for three couples in a 4-couple longwise set

1-2	1st couple turn by the right
3-4	Cast behind own lines into second place (2’s step up)
5-6	1’s, 2’s, and 3’s take hands along sides and set.
7-8	All turn partner by the right finishing in Allemande hold 1’s and 3’s facing up the set, 2’s facing down the set in a line ready to reel. (2's need only turn half way to face down the set.)
9-16	Left shoulder reel of three (in 6 bars) on bars 7 and 8 each couple retires from Allemande hold and back to proper side.
17-24	1st woman dances down the set while 2nd couple casts from first place behind own lines and meet 1st woman at the bottom of the set (4 bars), (1st man step up on bars 3 and 4) ; the 1st woman and 2nd couple “triumph” back to the top of the set. 2’s present 1st woman to 1st man (4 bars)
25-32	1st couple turns both hands twice around in four bars. (2nd couple retires to place). Then, 1st and 2nd couples take waltz hold and dance a strathspey pousette (4 bars)
	1st couple repeats having progressed a place.

Devised 2007 by James Mungall (jeb_mungall [at] yahoo.com) for his fiancee Emily Murphy (despite the fact she doesn't Scottish Country Dance.)

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SHOPLIFTING SEAGULLS

16 bar strathspey, 16 bar reel medley for three couples

STRATHSPEY

1-8	(Casing the store) : First couple set and cast into second place, 2C step up on bars 3 & 4. 1L dance half figure of eight up around 2M to finish in second place on opposite side while 1M dance half figure of eight around 3L to finish in second place on opposite side.
9-16	(Sneaking up on the chips): Second, first and third couples set, advance, retire and set (hands joined on the side)

REEL

17-24	(Snatching the chips and running away): 1C turn 3/4 with right hands in two bars (the snatch), then dance six bar reels of three across the set (the getaway), 1M with 2C (begins with 1M passing 2L right shoulder) and 1L with 3C (begins with 1L passing 3M right shoulder). 1C finish in second place on own sides.
25-32	(Seagulls rip open the bag and all devour the chips): Second, first and third couples dance the "Grand Slam" as in Kelso Races (2C, 1C, 3C, with hands joined on the side, advance, with 2C and 3C advancing on the diagonal so the couples collapse into a circle, then retire to place, then all three couples turn partner once round with the right hand)

Inspired by Sam, the Shoplifting Seagull of Aberdeen, seen in this (and other) videos:

Visualize the bag of Doritos in second place in the center of the set.

Devised by Lee Fuell (flyingghillies [at] rscdscincinnati.org), Flying Ghillies Scottish Country Dancers, Dayton, OH, USA.

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