The social dance of Scotland
Scottish Country Dancing, on the other hand, is a social form, more about participation than display. Derived from the formal ballroom dancing of 18th-century Scotland, it's now done all over the world by people from all walks of life.
Contents at a Glance
History
In 1923 the Scottish Country Dance Society was founded to preserve and promote the dance form, which was in danger of dying out completely. The Society gained title "Royal" in 1951, and Queen Elizabeth II became the patron in 1952. The Society (aka RSCDS), initially collected existing dances from watching them done and from manuscripts.
Today Scottish Country Dancing is done all over the world, largely due to the efforts of the RSCDS. In addition to publishing dances and the music for them, they have worked to standardize the form, to educate and certify teachers and to encourage participation. Groups can be found in most major cities, and the standardization means that you can join these groups in the knowledge that the dances will be done the same way everywhere.
General Description
The most common format of the dance is in "sets" of four couples, arranged in facing lines with the men on one side of the set and the women on the other (some dances vary the number of couples in a set, some are done in square sets, and there are even a few done in triangular sets of three couples).
An aside on gender: As there are usually more women dancing than men, it's far from rare for two women to dance together, but one of them will be dancing "as a man". Some groups try to avoid gender-specific terms, but that frequently produces more confusion than it saves, since almost all published dance instructions are written in assumed genders.
Each dance is composed of a series of "formations" that are (mostly) predefined patterns of movement involving both the "first couple" and the others in the set, though many dances also have sections that are not preset formations. full description of formations is beyond the scope of this lens, but a couple of simple are "turn by the right" and "circle six hands round".
Dances are not called as they are done (except sometimes in a class setting), but party programs are usually announced ahead of time and often include directions for the dances. The dance will be "briefed" before it's done (that is, the directions will be spoken), and sometimes there will be one slow walk-through.
Scottish Country Dancing Books on Amazon
The Music
Quick Time
Many people refer to Jigs and Reels collectively as "quick time". Some teachers argue that there's no such thing--a jig is a jig, a reel is a reel and they're not the same--and while they have a valid argument there are enough points of similarity from a dancing perspective to make it a useful shorthand for an overview such as this.
Jigs
A jig is a tune in 6/8 time. There are two strong beats to each bar, each of which is subdivided into three. The "feel" of a jig is "beau-ti-ful but-ter-fly". They are usually played slightly more slowly than reels.
Reels
Reels are tunes in 4/4, of Common, time (though they're often notated in 2/4, or sometimes in Cut time). They have a much "squarer" feel than the lilt of a jig, and are usually played more quickly.
Strathspeys
The Strathspey is a tune form that is unique to Scotland (and the Scottish diaspora). At its heart it's a variant of a reel, so it's in 4/4 time (and always notated that way, at least for SCD). The defining characteristic of a strathspey is the liberal use of the "Scotch snap". For the musicians reading this, that's a sixteenth note followed by a dotted eighth. That's the reverse of "normal" swing, which it quite often follows. For non-musicians, the feel of that four-note fragment would be "taa-ti ti-taa". Pipers and
Cape Breton fiddlers play strathspeys almost as quickly as reels, but for SCD they're always played more slowly.
Scottish Country Dancing Music on Amazon
The Steps
Skip Change of Step
Often called simply "skip change", this is the primary traveling step in quick time. It's usually the first step taught to beginners. It takes one bar of music to complete a full evolution of the step. The ultra-brief description is "hop-step close step", and the emphasis is up and forward, for a sense of flight.
Pas de Basque
This step is used in quick time for "setting", or acknowledging another dancer, and sometimes for short-distance travel. It also takes one bar of music for one complete step. The pattern for it is a step on one foot, a closing step on the other to change weight, a step back on the first foot and then a jete (which is a ballet term meaning "throw"), in which the non-weight-bearing foot is kicked forward slightly.
Slip Step
Used for circles (and sometimes other traveling) in quick time, slip step is the simplest SCD step. It only takes half a bar of music. Step out to the side with the foot that's toward the direction of travel, then close with the other foot--done!
Strathspey Traveling Step
The name of this step implies its function. It takes--surprise!--one bar. Push one foot forward while sinking down on the supporting leg, step forward onto that foot, close with the other then step forward with the first foot again. Finish the step byt either closing (if coming to a stop), or pulling the trailing foot through while giving a small hop to help the toe clear the floor.
Strathspey Setting Step
Also known as common schottische, this is almost the same as the strathspey traveling step. The differences are that the step is done to the side instead of forward, and that the finish is to lift the trailing foot behind the supporting leg instead of pulling it through.
Other Steps
There are some other steps, mostly borrowed from Highland dancing, that are used in a few specific dances. You can dance for years without encountering them, so they're beyond the scope of this lens.
Farewell to Chandi McCracken Video
Farewell to Chandi McCracken Scottish Country Dance
A Scottish Country Dance written as a farewell gift to Chandi McCracken shortly before she moved to Minnesota. Danced by the Portland branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society at the 100th Portland Rose Festival, June 2, 2007. Music played by Hamilton Rant, a local father-son band.
Runtime: 439
8379 views
1 Comments:
curated content from YouTube
Progression
This pattern results in each couple in the set doing the dance as first couple twice (in a three-couple dance) or three times (in a two-couple dance--but note that on the third time through a new top couple is starting at the same time). This is why the music for a dance is almost always played eight time through. Four-couple dances are less common, but far from rare--in these, one evolution puts the original first couple at the bottom, and the music goes through four times instead of eight.
Ettiquette

Though it can be done informally, there is a strain of formality running all through modern SCD. The degree to which etiquette is observed varies from group to group and also depends on context (it's looser in a class than at a party, and very closely observed at a formal ball).
Dancers of either gender may ask their complements to dance. It is expected that if you arrived with a partner you will dance the first dance with them, and one other on the program (either the last dance or one favorite), and dance with others for the rest of the evening.
When forming sets on the dance floor, join the set at the bottom--don't try to crowd in "wherever".
Each dance will begin and end with the musicians playing a chord (this is one of the reasons that if you are using recordings it's important to seek out SCD-specific ones), which is used to acknowledge one's partner: gentlemen give a shallow bow, ladies a shallow curtsy.
When the dance finishes, thank your partner and your set. The dancer that did the asking then escorts their partner off the floor.
Blog Posts about Scottish Country Dancing from Google
- Scottish Country Dancing for Homeschool Families « Prairie Spirit ...
- Scottish Country Dancing is the social dancing of Scotland. It has world-wide acceptance and is a forerunner of North American square dancing. We dance to lively and stimulating music in sets of three to six couples. ...
- Scottish Country Dancing Holiday flyers | Inspiration Holidays
- Scottish Country Dancing Holiday teachers Moira and Keith Stacey have been to the SCDS AGM in Perth.
- Kilts and Ghillies Scottish Dance Project: Golden Age of Scottish ...
- Hugh Foss said this in his pamphlet »Notes on Evolution in Scottish Country Dancing« (published in 1973). " Quote: Some people grumble that the Society has over-emphasised technique (the steps, that is) and made the dances so precious ...
Learning to Dance

It is strongly recommended that you learn SCD from a live teacher in a class setting. The structure of the dances calls for other dancers, and the technical aspects of learning the steps and formations are much easier to grasp in person.
Most classes are segregated by level. The steps and formations are introduced progressively, with each new topic building on what's gone before. Plan to spend about a year as a beginner. When attending classes, wear comfortable clothing and comfortable, preferably soft, flat shoes (there are "special" shoes that you can acquire later on, but they're not needed to start).
To find a class, have a look at the branch directory page of the RSCDS website.
If you absolutely can't find a class, or want some supplemental instruction, you can try this CD-ROM program. I haven't seen it, so I'm not actually recommending it. Anyone who has feedback on this please let me know, either through the Guestbook or my Lensmaster contact page.
Oh--the lens title comes from the most-common words that teachers use to cue dancers and musicians to start a partial dance evolution while teaching.
Scottish Country Dancing video on Amazon
Scottish Country Dancing Links
- The RSCDS main page
- This is the main site of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society.
- The RSCDS Portland Branch
- This is my home dance group.
- The Strahspey Server
- This is the archive of the Strathspey mailing list, dedicated to discussion about SCD and the music for it.
- Teacher's Association (Canada)
- Website of the Teacher's Association (Canada), which functions as the main coordinator for teachers in all of North America. Links to TACBooks and TACSound, the premier sources of books and music in NA.
- Vancouver USA Scottish Country Dancers
- The main page for the Vancouver (WA) USA SCD group.
- Seattle Branch RSCDS
- This is the main page for the Seattle, WA branch. Has class schedules, links and other resources.
- Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, San Francisco Branch
- This is the main page for the San Francisco, CA branch. Has class schedules, links and other resources.
- Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, Vancouver (BC) Branch
- This is the main page for the Vancouver, BC branch. Has class schedules, links and other resources.
- Skagit Scottish Country Dancers
- This is the main page for the Skagit Scottish Country Dancers (Anacortes, Burlington, Mt. Vernon, Oak Harbor, WA). Has class schedules, links and other resources.
- Bellingham Scottish Country Dancers
- This is the main page for the Bellingham (WA) Scottish Country Dancers. Has class schedules, links and other resources.
- RSCDS Sacramento Branch
- This is the main page for the Sacramento, CA branch. Has class schedules, links and other resources.
Favorite Dances
Here's a list of some favorite dances. Initially, the list is mine, but any visiting dancers are welcome to add to the list.
I have not limited myself to only Society-published dances.
Scottish Country Dancing Stuff on CafePress
Ghillies Embroidered Men's Polo
This design features a pair of ghillies, the traditional shoe for Scottish dancing (both Highland and Scottish Country Dancing).
Strathspey Bumper Sticker
The strathspey is a music and dance form that is unique to Scotland (and the Scottish diaspora). It's common in piping, and is one of the three main forms in Highland and Scottish Country Dancing.
Ghillies Organic Cotton Tee
This design features a pair of ghillies, the traditional shoe for Scottish dancing (both Highland and Scottish Country Dancing).
Music Will Tell You 3.5" Button
"The music will tell you what to do" is part of the lexicon of Scottish Country Dance teachers. It's even almost true....
Reader Feedback
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- susannaduffy susannaduffy Jul 10, 2009 @ 8:23 am
- I do so love this lens of yours! Blessed by an Angel today (/my-angel-blessings)
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- Plaukikaz Plaukikaz Jun 24, 2009 @ 4:38 pm
- Fantastic info! I like these dances. 5*
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- Plaukikaz Plaukikaz Jun 24, 2009 @ 4:38 pm
- Fantastic info! I like these dances. 5*
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- FrederickWebPromotions FrederickWebPromotions Jun 23, 2009 @ 10:10 pm
- this was interesting... it seems my family were lowlanders.
I'm a Bruce
Note to self... go buy a tartan, if only I could find out what our family colors were
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- PatinKC PatinKC May 24, 2009 @ 4:00 am
- I'm lensrolling this lens to my Celtic Lensography and National Tartan Week lenses. 5 *'s
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