Topic: Step.

Scottish Country Dancing has three main categories – reels, jigs and strathspeys. “A typical Scottish Country Dance consists of a series of formations that are arranged in a different sequence for each dance, hence, having mastered the basic steps and some of the formations, a Scottish Country Dancer should be able to participate happily and easily wherever there is Country Dancing.” (Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, RSCDS).

There are more than 15,000 documented Scottish country dances, recorded in ‘Dance Cribs’ in a standard terminology and more recently in a special notation as well. As an example, below is one of my favourite dances – Miss Johnstone of Ardrossan (I actually was a Miss Johnston – but of Sydney, Australia).

No matter which country you happen to be in, the dance will be done in exactly the same way. So, here near the bottom of the world in New Zealand, twice a week my husband and I may be doing exactly the same dance as a couple on the other side of the world, and at exactly the same time (or at least on the same day).

MISS JOHNSTONE OF ARDROSSAN (R5x32) 5C set Roy Goldring 14 Social Dances.(MINICRIB. Dance crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors)

1- 8 1s set and cast 1 place, 1s followed by 3s dance up and cast – 1s to 3rd place and 3s to 2nd place.

9-16 1s cross down and dance reflection reels of 3 with 4s+5s on opposite sides – 1s end in 3rd place opposite sides


17-24 1s cross up and dance reflection reels of 3 on own sides with 2s+3s – 1s ending in 3rd place own sides


25-32 1s set and cast down 1 place, 1s followed by 5s dance up between 4s and cast – 1s to 5th place and 5s to 4th place.