FIGURE OF EIGHT

Figure of Eight in Reel, Jig and Strathspey Time
(a figure danced by one couple with eight travelling steps
in 8 bars of music)
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Figure of Eight Across the Dance (see diagram and animation below)

1-2 1st couple, woman passing in front of her partner, cross diagonally to opposite sides below 2nd cpl and face out

3-4 1st cpl dance up behind the 2nd cpl into partner’s place

5-6 1st cpl, woman again passing in front of her partner, cross diagonally to own sides below 2nd cpl and face out

7-8 1st cpl dance up behind the 2nd cpl into original places

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Figure of Eight on the Side Line

1-8 1st couple face down
1st woman dances behind 2nd woman and in front of 3rd woman
curving by the left to face out just below 3rd woman.
She then dances up behind 3rd woman and in front of 2nd woman
pulling back the left shoulder to finish in her original place.
AT THE SAME TIME:
1st man dances in front of 2nd man and behind of 3rd man
curving by the left to face in just below 3rd man.
He then dances up in front of 3rd man and behind of 2nd man
Into his original place.
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Figure of Eight for Two Couples (Double Figure of Eight)

In this formation both couples follow the pattern as described in Figure of Eight Across the Dance. On bars 1-2, 2nd cl dance up to top place to begin. (Variations: if 1st and 3rd cpl dance the figure then 2s stand still - in some dances 1s cross to start and 3s cast up to begin; in other dances 1s cast to begin and 3s cross to begin)

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Half Figure of Eight Across the Dance and Half Double Figure of Eight

These are half of the previously described formations, danced with 4 steps to 4 bars of music.