THE HAMILTONS' FAREWELL TO HOUSTON

THE HAMILTONS' FAREWELL
TO HOUSTON
Medley, 32S + 32R, in a 3 couple set
(copyright Vicki Hamilton, May 2001)

STRATHSPEY

1 - 4 Taking hands on sides, all 3 couples SET,
drop hands and CROSS without giving hands.
5 - 8 REPEAT back to place.

9 - 12 With right hands joined, 1C LEADS DOWN for 4.
On bar 12, the lady DANCES UNDER the man's arm
(man dances below lady) and both turn to face up

13 - 16 Taking right hands, LEAD UP for 4.
On bar 16, the man CROSSES THE LADY OVER to place to lead into . . .

17 - 24 1C and 3C dance DOUBLE FIGURE EIGHTS,
1C casting off and 3C crossing up to begin.

25 - 32 Taking hands on the sides, all three couples dance
the GLASGOW HIGHLANDERS SETTING STEP*.

REEL:

1 - 4 All three couples TURN BY THE RIGHT.

5 - 8 All three couples TURN BY THE LEFT.

9 - 16 1C LEADS DOWN FOR 2, turns to face each other (retaining hands), SETS, LEADS DOWN the set for 2, out the end, and CASTS IN TO FACE FIRST CORNERS, 2C having stepped up on 11-12.

17 - 24 Dance HELLO-GOODBYE SETTING with corners
and finish in second place on own sides.

25 - 32 1C, taking hands, DANCES UP and out the top of the set,
CASTS through second place, out the bottom of the set (3C steps
up) and CURVES IN TO THIRD PLACE. (Airplanes, anyone?)

[Note: see photo at bottom of page for example of "airplanes")

Repeat with new top couple.

The strathspey portion of this dances represents all the good times we have had in Houston and all the good friends we have met dancing. We did get around.

The reel portion of this dance represents our move away with all the false starts and running around in circles before we finally managed to get out of town.

GLASGOW HIGHLANDERS SETTING STEP:

The step itself takes two bars of music (danced “right, left, right, left”)

8 beats for each step:

1. Step forward onto the right foot as the left foot is lifted behind, knee turned out and toe pointing down.

2. Placing the left foot at the back of the right leg above the heel, hop on the right foot.

3. Step back onto the left foot as the right foot is raised in front, toe pointing down.

4. With the right foot raised in front of the left leg above the ankle, hop on the left foot.

5. Carry the right foot round behind the left leg and place it down behind the left foot, transferring weight to the right foot.

6. Step to the left with the left foot, transferring weight to the left foot.

7. Bring the right foot to the front of the left foot, transferring weight to the right foot.

8. Hop on the right foot as the left foot is lifted to the right leg, as in beat 1.

Repeat to the other side with the left foot leading.

Rhythm: Forward hop, backward hop, behind, side, in front, hop.

To contain both forward and sideways movement the steps should be small and neat. The hops should not be bouncy.

The body movement should be restrained, resisting any temptation to lean forwards or backwards.

HAPPY DANCING!

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