“BROKEN CHAIN”

a figure used in the dance “On Sylvan Lake”

1-3 Broken Chain (See FIGs 1 & 2 )

1 – 2 1^st and 3^rd couples change places across the set right hand,

3 – 4 1^st and 3^rd couples change places left hand with the person in the ‘new’ corner position;

5 –16 1^st and 3^rd couples repeat bars 1-4 three times to return to original places (FIG 1);

WHILE

1 - 16 2^nd and 4th couples dance a Grand Chain, two bars to each hand (FIG 2).

2-4 Broken Chain (See FIGs 1 & 2 )

1 – 2 2^nd and 4th couples change places across the set right hand,

3 – 4 2^nd and 4th couples change places left hand with the person in the ‘new’ corner position;

5 –16 2^nd and 4th couples repeat bars 1-4 three times to return to original places (FIG 1);

WHILE

1 - 16 1^st and 3^rd couples dance a Grand Chain, two bars to each hand (FIG 2).

FIG 1 shows the track of the men “breaking” the chain.

The women “breaking” the chain travel the same track in the opposite direction.

FIG 2 shows the track of the men dancing the grand chain.

The women travel the same track in the opposite direction.

Moira Turner: May, 2004

“DOUBLE SLIDE POUSSETTE RIGHT ROUND”

a figure devised for the dance “Unnamed” (S)

This figure takes 8 bars to execute, involves 4 couples and uses 8 strathspey setting steps.

3^rd and 4^th couples begin on opposite sides.

Dancers end in square formation with a new partner.

Bar

1-2 1^st couple with 2^nd couple and 3^rd couple with 4^th couple dance the first 2 bars of a poussette right round. Because 3^rd and 4^th couples begin on opposite sides, their poussette is inverted. At the end of bar 2, 1^st & 4^th couples release hands with partner.

3 1^st and 4^th men continue to dance a poussette right round - alone

WHILE

1^st and 4^th women pass one another face to face and pull back right shoulder to replace one another in the other poussette – each one joining hands with the other’s partner at the end of the bar.

3 1^st man turns 4^th woman with two hands into the diagonal line with 2^nd couple

WHILE

4^th man turns 1^st woman with two hands into the diagonal line with 3^rd couple.

5-7 All 4 couples dance bars 5-7 of a poussette right round.

8 2^nd and 3^rd couples retire

WHILE

1^st and 4^th men (with new partners) make an extra half turn with two hands and remain in the center facing down (1^st man and 4^th woman) and up (4^th man and 1^st woman) to form a square set.

Notes: 2^nd and 3^rd couples have also changed partners.

1^st and 4^th couples finish slightly inside and 2^nd and 4^th couples slightly outside the set.

Moira Turner: March, 2005

“DOUBLY COVALENT Right Shoulder REELS OF FOUR”

a figure mentioned (but not specifically defined) in the dance “Covalence” (R)

This figure takes 12 bars to complete, involves 4 couples and uses 12 traveling steps.

The formation begins with all four couples on the sides, facing alternately down and up the set.

Only the movements that are non-traditional to parallel reels of four are mentioned here.

FIG. 1 1M 1W 2M 2W 3M 3W 4M 4W Beginning bar 1	FIG. 2 2M 1M 2W 4M 1W 3M 4W 3W End bar 2	FIG. 3 4M 2M 4W 2W 3M 1M 3W 1W End bar 4	FIG. 4 4 W 4M 2W 3W 2M 3M 1W 1M End bar 6
FIG. 5 3W 4W 1W 2W 3M 4M 1M 2M End bar 8	FIG. 6 1W 3W 2W 1M 4W 3M 2M 4M End bar 10	FIG. 7 1M 1W 2M 2W 3M 3W 4M 4W End bar 12

Bar

1 1^st man and 2^nd woman, also 3^rd man and 4^th woman, half turn left hand to replace one another in the opposite parallel reel. (FIG. 1)

3 2^nd man and 3^rd man, also 2^nd woman and 3^rd woman, half turn left hand to replace one another in the opposite parallel reel. (FIG. 2)

5 4^th man and 2^nd woman, also 3^rd man and 1^st woman, half turn left hand to replace one another in the opposite parallel reel. (FIG. 3)

7 4^th woman and 3^rd man, also 2^nd woman and 1^st man, half turn left hand to replace one another in the opposite parallel reel. (FIG. 4)

9 3^rd woman and 2^nd woman, also 3^rd man and 2^nd man, half turn left hand to replace one another in the opposite parallel reel. (FIG. 5)

11 1^st woman and 3^rd man, also 2^nd woman and 4^th man, half turn left hand to replace one another in the opposite parallel reel. (FIG. 6)

Note: As this formation was not defined in Covalence, the figure above might be an adaptation of the deviser’s original intent.

Timothy Conrow: 1992

“HEART TO HEART”

a figure used in the set of dances

Corriejukit (R), The Silver Thistle Ball (S), Hearts at Tynecastle (J)

This figure takes 8 bars to execute and uses 8 traveling steps.

1^st couple begins from 2^nd place in their own sideline.

1 – 4 First corner “Left Shoulder Pass & Turn” from the sideline. (See below.)

In quick time, 1^st couple finish left shoulder to left shoulder on the 2^nd corner diagonal on bar 4 and pull back right shoulder at the end of the bar to finish back to back facing 2^nd corners.

In strathspey time, 1^st couple dance a quick left hand turn on bar 4 to finish on the 2^nd corner diagonal facing 2^nd corners.

5 - 8 Second corner “Left Shoulder Pass & Turn,” 1st couple passing left shoulder (no hands) to 2nd place on their own sides on bar 8.

Note: The dancing couple describes a floor pattern of two interlocking hearts as they execute this figure.

Moira Turner: February, 2004

“LEFT SHOULDER PASS AND TURN”

a figure used in the formation “Heart to Heart”

This figure takes 4 bars to execute and uses 4 traveling steps.

Bars 1 – 2 1^st couple curve around to the corner position, passing their corner by the LEFT.

Bar 3 1^st couple continue to curve to the LEFT and dance in, again passing their corner by the LEFT.

Bar 4 1^st couple dance as specified in the individual dance.

MEANWHILE

Bar 1 The corners dance towards one another, each passing one of the dancing couple by the LEFT.

Bar 2 The corners turn one another by the LEFT to face their own starting positions.

Bar 3 The corners dance out towards their starting positions, again passing dancing couple by the LEFT.

Bar 4 The corners curve round by the LEFT into place.

A variation on the figure “Pass and Turn” by John Drewry (See RSCDS Book 38 #7)

Moira Turner: February, 2004

“RIGHTS & LEFTS for 4 Couples”

a figure used in the dances “Song of the Saltire” and “Catch that Catch Can”

This formation takes 16 bars to execute and uses 16 traveling steps.

The formation begins with all four couples on the sidelines facing their partners across the set.

1 – 2 All 4 couples, giving right hand to partner, cross over to change sides.

3 – 4 1^st man & 3^rd woman, also 2^nd man & 4^th woman, giving left hand, change places diagonally.

1^st woman & 2^nd woman, also 3^rd man & 4^th man, giving left hand, change places on the sideline.

5 – 6 All 4 couples giving right hand, cross over to change sides.

7 – 8 2^nd woman & 4^th man, also 1^st woman & 3^rd man, giving left hands, change places diagonally.

3^rd woman & 4^th woman, also 1^st man & 2^nd man, giving left hand, change places on the sideline.

9 – 10 All 4 couples giving right hand, cross over to change sides.

11 – 12 4^th woman & 2^nd man, also 3^rd woman & 1^st man, giving left hand, change places diagonally.

4^th man & 3^rd man, also 2^nd woman & 1^st woman, giving left hand, change places on the sideline.

13 – 14 All 4 couples giving right hand, cross over to change sides.

15 – 16 3^rd man & 1^st woman, also 4^th man & 2^nd woman, giving left hand, change places diagonally.

2^nd man & 1^st man, also 4^th woman & 3^rd woman, giving left hand, change places on the sideline.

Moira Turner: November, 2004

ALTERNATIVELY STATED:

1 – 2 All 4 couples, giving right hand to partner, cross over to change sides.

3 – 4 Standard 1^st woman & 3^rd man positions, also standard 2^nd woman & 4^th man positions, giving left hand, change places diagonally.

Standard 1^st man & 2^nd man positions, also standard 3^rd woman & 4^th woman positions, giving left hand, change places on the sideline.

5 – 16 Repeat bars 1 – 4 three times more until back in starting positions.

Moira Turner: November, 2004