THE CEILIDH DANCE

by Karl Rubin and Alice Silverberg


A Scottish Country Dance

Devised in Columbus, Ohio, Summer 2001, in memory of the cat Ceilidh (born November 1983, died July 2001)


32 bar Reel for 3 couples

1-8         Meanwhile figure:
            2's and 3's set, half rights and lefts, and set. Meanwhile, 1's dance 
            down for 4, up for 2, and set facing each other, below 3's and 2's, 
            taking hands for all 8 bars.  

9-16 Meanwhile figure: 1's cross by the right and dance up behind the opposite side, passing left shoulders at the top and dancing down behind their own lines into third place, then cross by the right. Meanwhile, 3's and 2's dance right hands across once around, then drop hands and continue dancing clockwise half way around, moving up the set, ending with 2's in first place and 3's in second place, on their own sides.
17-24 First couple does a criss-crossing figure up to top place: First and third women cross by the left. Then first woman and second man cross by the right while first and third men cross by the right. Then first man and second woman cross by the left. Then all 3 couples cross by the right to their own sides.
25-26 1's set while 3's advance diagonally toward them.
27-28 3's retire while 1's advance diagonally toward them and 2's step up.
29-32 1's split the 3's for eggbeaters (first and third women turn by the left, first and third men turn by the right). End 2, 1, 3.

The second time through, continue the final turn so that the active couple ends in 4th place.
Suggested Tune: Wind that Shakes the Barley