Best ceilidh dance

Published on Wednesday 12 December 2007 00:37

1 THE GAY GORDONS

The name is from famous regiment the Gordon Highlanders. This dance is one of the easiest for beginners.

HOW TO DO IT

With the couple's right hands joined over the lady's shoulder (man's arm behind her back) and left hands joined in front, walk forward for four steps, starting on the right foot. Pivot on the spot and take four steps backwards. Repeat in the opposite direction. Drop left hands, raise right hands above lady's head. Lady pivots on the spot. Join hands in ballroom hold, polka round the room. Begin from the start again.

2 THE DASHING WHITE SERGEANT

This is a fun, circle reel-time progressive dance where three participants face three dancers around the room. Traditionally, there should be a man between two ladies and a lady between two men in each group of six.

HOW TO DO IT

Groups of six circle round to the left for eight steps (four bars) and back to the right. The person in the middle (of each three) turns to the person on their right and sets to them, then turns them once round. The other partner stands still. These steps are repeated with the other partner. The middle dancers turn their first partner, second partner, then first partner, second partner again. The dancers in each group of six go back to original lines of three, advance towards each other (two skip steps) and retire. Both lines dance forwards, one line raising their hands in an arch and the other line dancing underneath, and dance on to meet the next set of three coming in other direction. Dance repeated with new three.

3 THE ST BERNARD'S WALTZ

You don't need to be able to waltz properly as this only has 12 beats of the dance. If you can spin round and not stand on your partner's feet, you're fine.

HOW TO DO IT: Couples around the room stand in ballroom hold, heading anti-clockwise, ladies on the outside, take three steps sideways towards the lady's right and stamp both feet. They then take two steps sideways in the opposite direction before two steps towards the centre of the room (lady heading forwards with right foot then left foot, man backwards with left foot then right). Take two steps back out (same feet). The lady turns about on the spot under the joined hands, before the couple waltz onwards round the room.

4 THE SWEDISH MASQUERADE

One of the funniest ceilidh dances, this is actually a Danish folk dance, combining a haughty slow march, graceful waltz and maverick polka.

HOW TO DO IT: Often more fun to watch than dance, unless you really know what you are doing.

5 ORCADIAN STRIP THE WILLOW

A terrific last hurrah at a Scottish country dance when everyone is relaxed. Couples form a line down the room, men on the right and ladies on the left as viewed from the band. Couples number from nearest the band.

HOW TO DO IT: The first couple spins together, hands clasped, for a count of eight before each one works down the opposite line turning each new partner before turning their original partner. When the first couple reach the bottom, they spin to the end of the phrase, then join the side lines.