strathspey@strathspey.org:44124

Eddy West

Re: Celtic Reels

Feb. 4, 2006, 3:23 a.m. (Message 44124, in reply to message 44121)

No the "Celtic Reel differs from the rotating reels of 4 in Belhaven - also 
described in "Roll Back The Carpet". The simplest way to explain this is to 
say that in a rotating reel of 4, as in a non rotating reel you pass one of 
the other dancers to go into the centre, another in the centre and then pass 
the third other person to go out to the other end (or s ide if the reel 
rotates) while in the "Celtic Reel" you pass the same person going out as 
you passed going in. This is because in a rotating Reel of 4 you only go 
round the person in the centre 1/4 turn while in the "Celtic Reel" you go 
3/4. A revolving reel of takes 8 bars to complete while the Celtic Reel 
takes 16.
Barry Skelton has written two dances with revolving reels of 4 both as 
Ceilidh items, one "The Caber" is published in "The Kiwi Book", the other 
involving a double revolving reel was interesting but not something to dance 
often.

Eddy West