April

Tuesday, April 29, 2025, during the first half hour Noel Chávez worked on longer and regular-sized steps in jig, reel and strathspey tempos as a prep for double figures of eight. The group then danced double figures of 8 practicing the timing of the pieces of the figure. The class also worked a bit on the different ‘feel’ to jigs and reels and a little with strathspey. In the regular class we danced a reel from the MSW Saturday Ball with a double figure of 8, a strathspey with a double figure of 8, a dance from the spring dance program, and 3 more dances from the MSW dance programs.

Dances done:

1. 3 Feisty Women 32R3 (Set)

2. Young Moira’s Real (& alive) 32S3

3. It’s Nae Bother 32J2

4. Toast to the Mousies 32R3

5. Callin’ Baton Rouge 32J3 (new Sue dance)

6. Susie from Penilee 32S3

7. Follow Me Home 32J3

Tuesday, April 22, 2025, during the first half hour Sue McKinnell reviewed rights and lefts and covered half rights and lefts then introduced the snowball grand chain (aka pickup chain). In the regular class we danced a strathspey with both figures and a reel with the snowball grand chain, both of which are on the spring dance program. We also danced another dance from the spring dance program, a dance from the MSW Friday dance program, 2 dances from the MSW Saturday Ball program, and ended with a fun reel.

Dances done:

1. Cutty Sark 32J3

2. MacDonald of the Isles 32S3 (Set)

3. Tribute to the Borders 32J3

4. Back to the Fireside 32R3

5. Grimaldi 700 88R4 (Square)

6. Ceud Mìle Taing Tim Wilson 32S3

7. The Reel of the Royal Scots 32R3

Tuesday, April 15, 2025, during the first half hour Noel Chávez worked first on reels of 3 in 6 bars on the sides crossing RH on the last 2 bars in quicktime. Then she added set to and turn corners into 6-bar reels on the sides. In the regular class we danced a strathspey with this figure followed by a reel from the Spring Dance with this figure. Then we danced a strathspey with petronella turns and ladies’ chain, a dance from the MSW Saturday Ball (and our own Spring Dance), a new Sue dance, the actual dance for a favorite tune, and a dance from the MSW Friday program. We were honored to have Caroline from Virginia join the class for the evening.

Dances done:

1. Naishcombe Hill 32S3

2. Mrs MacLeod 32R3

3. The Dundee Whaler 32S4 (Set)

4. Rory O’More 32J2

5. Lost in a Reel 32R3 (new Sue dance)

6. Flights of Fancy 32J3

7. Kelly’s Journey 32R3

Tuesday, April 8, 2025, during the first half hour Mady Newfield reviewed pas-de-basque and introduced Petronella turns then reviewed the QT poussette. In the regular class we danced a dance with strathspey Petronella turns as well as a half reel of 4 up and down the set, then Petronella for the Petronella turns and poussette, plus Mairi’s Wedding to review half diagonal reels of 4. We then danced 2 dances from the Iowa Ball program and a new Sue dance written in honor of George Whitehorne.

Dances done:

1. Wisp of Thistle 32S3

2. Petronella 32R2

3. Mairi’s Wedding 40R3

4. Postie’s Jig 32J4 (Set)

5. Five Score and Five 32R5 (Set) (new Sue dance)

6. Something in the Air 32S2

Tuesday, April 1, 2025, during the first half-hour Mady Newfield reviewed slip-step and skip-change with the transition from one to the other, then did a quick review of QT setting, and strathspey traveling and setting steps. Sue McKinnell reviewed reels of 4 then taught half reels of 4, concentrating on half reels of 4 on the diagonal and explaining the official RSCDS half reel of 4 on the diagonal with 1st corners then 2nd corners (passing left shoulders) then showing half reels of 4 passing RS (cloverleaf reels) as that is how they are danced most of the time. In the regular class we danced 3 dances with half reels of 4 on the diagonal (a jig passing RS, a strathspey passing LS, and Mairi’s Wedding). After that we danced 3 dances from the Twin Cities or Iowa Balls.

Dances done:

1. Somewhere in America 32J3

2. The White Rose of Scotland 32S3

3. Mairi’s Wedding 40R3

4. Bethankit 32J3

5. The Minister on the Loch 32S3 (Set)

6. The Mason’s Apron 32R3