"Heart and Seoul"

A Three Couple Medley 8x (16 bars reel / 16 bars strathspey)

by Dianna L. Shipman (copyright August 2004)

This dance and music are dedicated to and written in honor of
LISA SMITH
on the occasion of her birthday August 6, 2004,
and her departure for Seoul, South Korea August 18, 2004 and presented at the party in her honor August 7, 2004.

Music: "Heart and Seoul" written and arranged by Susan Kelm (copyright August 2004)
Note: the music includes passages played on the "koto," a traditional Japanese instrument.
TO HEAR MUSIC, CLICK HERE (it takes a while to download)

REEL:

1-8
First couple dance the petronella figure

(petronella turn, set, petronella turn, set)

to finish in each other’s place on wrong sides of the dance

9-16
First, second and third couples dance a crossover reel

(First lady crosses into second place on her own side

and reels with second and third ladies

while first man crosses into second place on his own side

and reels with second and third men)

STRATHSPEY:

17-24
First, second and third couples join hands on the side and set,

then "gypsy" once round partner with four strathspey traveling steps

then all join hands on side and set

(Note: "gypsy" is like a right hand turn with no hands and lots of eye contact)

25-32
First and second couples dance the Knot.

Repeat, having passed a couple.

Explanation: Dancing reel first and then strathspey reverses the usual order since the East is so very different from the West in many ways; likewise on starting the crossover reel from opposite sides. Bars 1-8 with the "turns" represent Lisa "turning over a new leaf" - a new year and a new residence; 9-16 represent her "crossing over" the sea to Korea; 17-24 borrows the gypsy figure from Contra Dance, which Lisa also enjoys and 25-32 the knot represents her close ties with friends here in Houston. "Heart" represents Lisa’s birthday and "Seoul" not only for Seoul, South Korea, where she is moving, but also since Lisa certainly dances with her "soul" and her "soles"!

RETURN TO SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCING AND MORE

This page maintained by Dianna Shipman.

Page updated August 11, 2004.