strathspey@strathspey.org:27901

Stella Fogg

Dance addition

Oct. 16, 2001, 3:37 p.m. (Message 27901)

Recently I posted an invitation to join the Richmond Scottish Dancers at the
annual Celtic Festival and Highland Games. In light of what happened on
September 11, we have decided to include a dance not listed on our program
and which the devisor, Betty Lee Barnes has kindly given permission to be
printed on Strathspey. The dance is "Oh My America!" and we will dance it to
a wonderful set of traditional American patriotic tunes arranged by David
Wiesler with a four bar introduction to "The Stars and Stripes". Bow and
curtsey on the 3rd and 4th bar. With David's dazzling keyboard skills and
our other David's (Knight) exciting and stirring fiddling, this should be a
real highlight of the program.
Since the "aide memoirs"  have already been distributed and I know most
dancers will want to take part in this dance, this is the best way to spread
the information. I will add a page to the dance booklets available on the
day so come early and pick up your booklet.
Stella Fogg
Richmond, VA

Oh My America! 88 bar reel for 4 couples in a square set

1-8 All turn partner 4 bars right hand, turn corner 4 bars left hand

9-16 1st and 3rd couples change places in center of set with
        facing person right hand (2 bars), meld into 4 hands
        once round, change back to place right hand

17-24 2nd and 4th couples repeat

25-32 1st and 3rd couples right hands across, left hands back,
            while 2nd and 4th couples cast to meet)  2nd lady and
            4th man, 4th lady and 2nd man), turn once round right
            hand, dance back to place

33-40 reverse above roles

41-48   corners dance around each other left shoulders (skip
            change; same pattern as back to back but facing each
            other), then partners dance round each other right
            shoulder, finishing ladies facing out, men in, in
            original positions

49-64 Schiehallion reels  (man dances straight into the position
          of  the lady of the couple on his right, lady dances a half
           circle into her partner's position (2 bars), then  man
           dances half circle into adjoining man's position while
           his partner follows his track of the previous 2 bars;
           Repeat these four bars back to original positions

65-68 1st couple turns right hands

69-72 1st couple turns left hands, 2nd couple turns right hands,
           both couples finishing in promenade position facing
           clockwise around set (ladies on their partner's right)

73-76 1st and 2nd couples (2nd couple leading) promenade round
           outside of set while 3rd couple turns right hands

77-80 1st and 2nd couples continue promenade to finish in places,
           3rd couple turn left hands, 4th couple turn right hands

81-88 8 hands round and back