strathspey@strathspey.org:40429

Jinkdiddle

Strathglass House (was: Lead - Right hands or Nearer Hands)

Jan. 27, 2005, 3:39 p.m. (Message 40429, in reply to message 40416)

In a message dated 1/26/2005 1:51:53 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx writes:
Any ideas why the RSCDS editors substituted "advance and retire" for 
"lead out sides" at bars 25-28 and called for the circle to keep going 

One possibility is that it evolved from a similar chain of reasoning to that 
developed by Thurston in Scotland's Dances, originally stemming from the 
description of a figure named lead out sides and in given in Dukes [1752] - "the 
first two men turn inwards about, lead out, turn, and lead in."  Thurston traces 
the possible development of this figure by 1880 to out side and back again - 
"lead out to sides, three and three in line, the lady between the two 
gentlemen, and the gentleman between the two ladies" - from Mozart Allan's Reference 
guide to the ballroom.  Thurston actually concludes, however, that these 
figures evolved independently - perhaps the Society's editors decided otherwise?

Moira Turner
Chesterfield VA