Eightsome Reel (40/48 bar reel for 4 couples in square set)
Part A:
|
1-8 |
All couples circle eight hands around and back. |
|
9-16 |
All women dance four hands across with right hands, while retaining partner's left hand (This is one large 'X', all facing clockwise, with ladies in the center and men on the outside). At the end of bar 12, women release right hands and turn partner clockwise into the center. (This is one large 'X', all facing the counter-clockwise, with men in the center and ladies on the outside,) Men dance four hands across with left hands, while retaining partner's left hand, back to original places. |
|
17-24 |
All couples set to partners twice, turn partner once with two hands, and finish facing partner in original positions. |
|
25-40 |
All couples grand chain. |
Part B:
|
1-8 |
1W dance into center of dance and dance alone, while all others circle seven hands around and back. Note: Person in center may dance any suitable steps. |
|
9-16 |
1W set to partner then turn partner with two hands, then set to 3M then turn 3M with two hands. Person in center set to partner first, then to the man/woman on the opposite side of the dance. |
|
17-24 |
1W, 1M, and 3M, dance a reel of three. 1W begin reel by giving left shoulder to 1M. 1W stay in the middle at the end of the reel. |
|
25-32 |
1W dance into center of dance and dance alone, while all others circle seven hands around and back. Note: Person in center may dance any suitable steps. |
|
33-40 |
1W set to 4M then turn 4M with two hands, then set to 2M then turn 2M with two hands. Note: Person in the center must always set to the man/woman to the right of his/her original position, then the man/woman on the opposite side of the dance. |
|
41-48 |
1W, 4M, and 2M, dance reel of three. 1W begin reel by giving left shoulder to 4M. At the end of the reel, 1W resumes her original place and 2W steps into center. Repeat Part B seven times, 2W, 3W, and 4W, then 1M, 2M, 3M, and 4M each having a turn in the center. Finish the dance by repeating Part A. |