There are more than 15,000 documented

Scottish country dance Scottish country dance (SCD) is the distinctively Scottish form of country dance, itself a form of social dance involving groups of couples of dancers tracing progressive patterns. A dance consists of a sequence of figures. These dances are ...

s; only the most frequently danced or otherwise notable ones are listed here. Dances are marked with the music and dance styles used: R8×32 3C/4 means a Reel of 32 bars repeated 8 times for 3 couples in a set of 4 couples in a longwise set. The letters for the music styles are: R

reel A reel is an object around which a length of another material (usually long and flexible) is wound for storage (usually hose are wound around a reel). Generally a reel has a cylindrical core (known as a '' spool'') with flanges around the en ...

; J

jig The jig ( ga, port, gd, port-cruinn) is a form of lively folk dance in compound metre, as well as the accompanying dance tune. It is most associated with Irish music and dance. It first gained popularity in 16th-century Ireland and parts o ...

; P

polka Polka is a dance and genre of dance music originating in nineteenth-century Bohemia, now part of the Czech Republic. Though associated with Czech culture, polka is popular throughout Europe and the Americas. History Etymology The term ...

; S

strathspey Strathspey may refer to one of the following: * Strathspey, Scotland, an area in the Highlands of Scotland * Strathspey Camanachd Strathspey Camanachd is a shinty club based in Grantown-on-Spey, Strathspey, Scotland, currently competing in the ...

; W

waltz The waltz ( ), meaning "to roll or revolve") is a ballroom and folk dance, normally in triple ( time), performed primarily in closed position. History There are many references to a sliding or gliding dance that would evolve into the wa ...

. * Anniversary Reel – R4×32 4C set – Sheila Muir 1987 * Awa', Whigs, Awa' (R8x32) 3C (4C set) Hugh Foss Dances to Song Tunes * The Bees of Maggieknockater – J4×32 4C set – John Drewry 1975 * The Belle of Bon Accord – S4×32 4C set – John Drewry 1981 * Blooms of Bon Accord – R4×32 4C set – John Drewry 1971 * Bratach Bana – J8x32 3C/4 – John Drewry 1964 * Clutha – R4×48 Square set – unknown 1890 *Canadian Barn Dance - *

Dashing White Sergeant The Dashing White Sergeant is a Scottish country dance, performed to a similarly titled piece of music. The dance is in 2/4 time, thus it is in the form of a reel. The dance is performed by groups of six dancers and is progressive. History The tit ...

– 32 bar reel 3 facing 3 round the room – unknown * The De'il Amang the Tailors – R8×32 3C/4 – unknown * The Dream Catcher – S96 Square set – Eileen Orr * The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh – R8×40 3C/4 – Allie Anderson & Florence Lesslie * The Duke of Atholl's Reel – J8×32 3C/4 – Skillern 1776 * The Duke of Perth – R8x32 3C/4 – unknown 1827 *The Earl of Mansfield – R4x48 4C – John Drewry 1980 * The Eightsome reel – R40+8x48+40 Square set – unknown 1870 * Fergus McIver (a.k.a. Waverley) – J8x48 3C/4 – Button and Whittaker 1812 * Flowers of Edinburgh – R8x32 3C/4 Hornpipe – unknown *The Frisky – J8x32 3C/4 – Robert Bremner * Gay Gordons – 16 bar round the room march – unknown *Hamilton House – J8x32 3C/4 – William Campbell 1789 * Hooper's Jig – J8x32 3C/4 – unknown *

Ian Powrie Ian Powrie (26 May 1923 - 5 October 2011) was a Scottish country dance musician and fiddle player best known for his performances on the BBC show the ''White Heather Club''. Early life Ian Powrie was born at Bridge of Cally ( near Blairgowrie) ...

Farewell to Auchterarder Farewell or fare well is a parting phrase Parting phrases, which are valedictions used to acknowledge the parting of individuals or groups of people from each other, are elements of parting traditions. Parting phrases are specific to culture and ...

– J128 Square set – Bill Hamilton *

Joie de Vivre ( , ; "joy of living") is a French phrase often used in English to express a cheerful enjoyment of life, an exultation of spirit. It "can be a joy of conversation, joy of eating, joy of anything one might do… And ''joie de vivre'' may be ...

– J8x32 3C/4 – Irene van Maarseveen * The Haymakers (a.k.a. Sir Roger de Coverley) – 48 bar 9/8 jig – unknown *Inverneill House – R8x32 3C/4 – John Drewry 1986 *

The Irish Rover "The Irish Rover" is an Irish folk song about a magnificent though improbable sailing ship that reaches an unfortunate end. It has been recorded by numerous artists, some of whom have made changes to the lyrics over time. The song describes a ...

– R8×32 3C/4 – James B Cosh * J.B. Milne – R8x32 3C/4 –

Hugh Foss Hugh Rose Foss (13 May 1902 – 23 December 1971) was a British cryptanalyst. At Bletchley Park during World War II he made significant contributions both to the breaking of the German Enigma code and headed the section tasked with breaking Japan ...

1954 * Jennifer's Jig – J8×32 3C/4 – John Drewry 1968 * MacDonald of the Isles – S3×32 3C – Derek Haynes * The Machine without horses – J8x32 3C/4 – Rutherford 1772 *

Mairi's Wedding "Mairi's Wedding" (also known as Marie's Wedding, the Lewis Bridal Song, or gd, Màiri Bhàn "Blond Mary") is a Scottish folk song originally written in Gaelic by John Roderick Bannerman (1865–1938) for Mary C. MacNiven (1905–1997) on the o ...

– R8x40 3C/4 – James B. Cosh 1959 (See also

Wedding music Music is often played at wedding celebrations, including during the ceremony and at festivities before or after the event. The music can be performed live by instrumentalists or vocalists or may use pre-recorded songs, depending on the format o ...

) * Major Ian Stewart – J8x32 3C/4 – John Drewry 1986 * Maxwell's Rant – R8x32 3C/4 – Rutherford 1752 * Miss Johnstone of Ardrossan – R5x32 5C – Roy Goldring 2000 * Mrs Stewart's Jig – J8x32 3C/4 – Frans Ligtmans 1986 *The Minister on the Loch – S3×32 3C – Roy Goldring * The Montgomeries’ Rant – R8x32 3C/4 – Castle Menzies 1749 *

Monymusk Monymusk ( gd, Monadh Musga) is a planned village in the Marr area of Aberdeenshire, Scotland. History Malcolm Canmore first established Celtic foundation on the site in 1078 The Culdees of Munimusc are recorded as inhabiting the site in 1170 ...

– S8x32 3C/4 – Preston 1786 * Napier's Index – J8x40 3C/4 – Brian Charlton 2001 *Neidpath Castle – S3×32 3C – Derek Haynes *Pelorus Jack – J8×32 3C/4 – Barry Skelton 1993 *Petronella – R8x32 2C/4 – unknown 1808 * Postie’s Jig – J4x32 4C – Roy Clowes * Quarries' Jig – J8x32 3C/4 – Kent W Smith * The Reel of the Royal Scots – R8×32 3C/4 – Roy Goldring 1983 * The Reel of the 51st Division – R8x32 3C/4 – James Edward McCartney Atkinson 1940 * Rest and Be Thankful – R8x32 3C/4 – unknown * The Robertson Rant – S80 Square – Mrs Douglas Winchester 1949 * The Sailor – R8x32 3C/4 – unknown * Scottish Reform – J8x32 2C/4 – unknown * Shiftin’ Bobbins – R8x32 3C/4 – Roy Clowes *

Speed the Plough ''Speed the Plough'' is a five-act comedy by Thomas Morton, first performed in 1798 at the Theatre Royal, Covent Garden to great acclaim. It is mostly remembered today for the sake of the unseen character, Mrs Grundy. The play may have been in ...

(Inverness Country Dance) – R8x32 3C/4 – unknown *

Strip the Willow Strip the willow is a country or barn dance. It has variations depending upon whether it is being performed as a movement in a larger dance or a complete dance in itself. The form described here is that commonly used as part of a Scottish country ...

– 40 or 56 bar jig in either 6/8 or 9/8 time (in 9/8 it is also known as "Drops of Brandy") – unknown * Sugar Candie – S8×32 3C/4 – unknown * Swiss Lassie – R8×32 3C/4 – Rosi Betschi * A Trip to Bavaria – R4x32 4C – James MacGregor-Brown * Up in the Air – S8x32 3C/4 – Boag 1797 * Virginia Reel -R4x40 4C – unknown * The Wee Cooper o' Fife – J8x40 2C/4 (10 bar phrases) – Hugh Foss * West's Hornpipe – R4×32 4C – unknown 1797 * The White Heather Jig – J4x40 4C – James B Cosh *The Wild Geese – J8x32 3C/4 – unknown * Wind on Loch Fyne – S3x32 Triangle – John Bowie Dickson 1986 *The Wind That Shakes the Barley – R8x32 3C/4 – John M Duthie 1961

References

External links

Scottish Country Dancing Dictionary
includes printabl

alphabetically ordered.

database of Scottish country dances: more than 12,000 entries and information on music and recordings.
Minicrib
is a database of nearly 4000 dances which enables cribsheets to be printed out.
A selection of core dances
RSCDS April 2008 {{DEFAULTSORT:Scottish country dances Scotland-related lists British entertainment-related lists