STEPS
STEPS include TRAVELING STEPS and SETTING STEPS.
TRAVELING STEPS
in reel or jig time:
Skip change of step
Slip Step
Running Step
in strathspey time:
Strathspey traveling step
SETTING STEPS
in reel or jig time: pas de basque
in strathspey time: strathspey setting step;
and several variations on highland steps (common Schottische, Highland Schottische, Glasgow Highlanders setting step)
FOOT POSITIONS: First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fourth Intermediate (legs turned out from the hips, knees well turned out, feet at 45 degree angle)
First: heels together; weight evenly distributed on both feet.
Second: working foot placed to side with heels in line.
Third: heel of working foot in front touches hollow of instep of supporting foot.
Fourth: working foot is fully extended straight forward from first position.
Fourth intermediate: variation of fourth - working foot from third position in front is fully extended diagonnaly forward between second and fourth positions.
TIPS: try for good muscle control, precision, good posture straight from the waist up without swaying the body. Steps are danced on the ball of the foot, toes pointed downward, without the heels touching the floor. All steps begin from first position and almost all the steps start with right foot first.
Skip Change of Step
- simply a change of step preceded by a hop.
(the traveling step in faster tempo - reel or jig time)
Heels are together, feet turned out, the leg turned out from the hip, with the weight of the body evenly balanced on both feet.
One skip change of step takes one bar of music (count 1, 2, 3)
(1) Hop on the left foot and, at the same time, fully extend the right leg forward and reach straight forward with the right foot
(2) Bring the left foot behind the right foot to form a T with the right heel against the center (or instep) of the left foot
(3) Reach straight forward again with the right foot
At the end of the step the back foot is brought through and the leg extended, ready to repeat the step, this time starting with the left foot -
1) Hop on the right foot and, at the same time, fully extend the left leg forward and reach straight forward with the left foot
(2) Bring the right foot behind the left foot to form a T with the left heel against the center (or instep) of the right foot
(3) Reach straight forward again with the left foot
The step can also be used to travel backwards: hop, back, close, back
Rhythm of the step: hop, step, close, step
The step is light and lively and gives the feeling of flight and easy movement.
The hop does not need to be very high. The extended leg is a firm line from hip to toe, knee turned out, straight but not stiff, toe pointed down and about one or two inches clear of the floor.
When learning the step, begin by: step forward on right foot, bring left foot behind the right (instep of left foot pressed to the heel of the right foot), take another step forward with right foot, then repeat with left foot leading, then try walking all three movements rhythmically, e.g. right, together, right; left, together, left. Once these movements are familiar, begin by lifting the right foot forward, clear of the floor, then add the change of step. The rhythm would then become lift, step, close, step, or lift, 1, 2, 3. All that is now required to complete the step, is to add a little hop on the back foot as the front leg is extended, and continue as previously described.
Reminders: dance on the ball of the foot - heels don’t touch the floor. In the lift, the foot should be raised just an inch or two from the floor, with the ankle well extended, knee straight and well turned out. Close the instep of the rear foot to the heel of the front foot each time (but not under the foot).
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Pas de Basque Setting Step
(Fast time: reel and jig)
The step used for setting, two hand turns and traveling usually over short distances.
One setting step per one bar of music. To set once means to set first on the right foot and then on the left foot (ie two setting steps and 2 bars of music). To set twice is four setting steps (right, left, right, left) and four bars of music.
The step has THREE BEATS!! And is danced on the spot and not from side to side. The rhythm is “step, beat, beat and spring (jete), beat, beat and.” Usually, the step is slightly slower in jig time than in reel time.
As is true with all the Scottish Country dance steps you start with heels together, feet turned out as much as is comfortable (at least 45 degrees if possible) slightly on the balls of the feet.
1. With thc right foot, step to the right taking weight on the right foot. (once a rhythm is established you’re actually each step is beginning with a spring)
2. Bring the left foot in front of the right foot with the left heel as close as possible to the instep of the right foot and take weight on the left foot and bring the right foot off the floor.
3. Change thc weight to the right foot again and bring the left foot off the floor. (once you get the hang of the step as you transfer weight you not only bring the left foot off the floor but extend it (ie straighten leg with toe pointed down about two inches from the floor) with a slight “kick” known as a jete.
Beginning with the left foot repeat the step to the left.
When traveling, the movement is usually on the first movement of the step.
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- Scottish Country Dancing and More
- Pas de bas setting step - animated by Crawford Woodman
- Dance Manual
E-mail:diannashipman@worldnet.att.net
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