Catch that Catch Can

for Bern Runk, a Silver Thistle Dancer, who asked for a dance in which everyone changes partner each repetition, after dancing Drewry’s ‘MacLeod’s Fancy’ in class one evening!

Suggested Tune: Something approp. from Playford’s “Catch that Catch Can.” … ?

4 x 32J for 4 couples in a 4C set devised by Moira Turner

1 – 16 All dance Rights & Lefts for four couples. (See below.)

17 – 20 3^rd & 4^th couples half reel of four in the centre of the dance, beginning by turning partner right hand (very briefly) before 3^rd woman and 4^th man pass left shoulder and finish, all facing up, in the order 4^th woman, 4^th man, 3^rd woman, 3^rd man.

WHILE

1^st & 2^nd couples turn partner right hand, then 2^nd couple, followed by 1^st couple, cast off down own sideline to finish 2^nd man opposite 3^rd man; 1^st man opposite 4^th man; 2^nd woman opposite 3^rd woman; 1^st woman opposite 4^th woman, all facing down.

21 – 24 Women dance right hands across once round

WHILE

Men dance meshing left hands across once round.

25 – 30 4^th man, followed closely by 3^rd woman, dances up (2), out to 1^st place own side (1), down to 4^th place (3);

WHILE

3^rd man & 2^nd woman continue to wheel (1), dance up (2), out to 1^st place own side (1), down to 3^rd place (2);

WHILE

2^nd man & 1^st woman continue to wheel (2), dance up (2), out to 1^st place own side (1), down to 2^nd place (1);

WHILE

1^st man & 4^th woman continue to wheel (3), dance up (2) and cast out to 1^st place own side (1).

31 – 32 All set in the sideline.

Repeat with men in original places and women having rotated one place, bottom to top, so that everyone has a new partner.

November, 2004

“Rights & Lefts for Four Couples”

This formation takes 16 bars to execute and uses 16 traveling steps.

The formation begins with all four couples on the sidelines facing their partners across the set.

1 – 2 All 4 couples, giving right hand to partner, cross over to change sides.

3 – 4 1^st man & 3^rd woman, also 2^nd man & 4^th woman, giving left hand, change places diagonally.

1^st woman & 2^nd woman, also 3^rd man & 4^th man, giving left hand, change places on the sideline.

5 – 6 All 4 couples giving right hand, cross over to change sides.

7 – 8 2^nd woman & 4^th man, also 1^st woman & 3^rd man, giving left hands, change places diagonally.

3^rd woman & 4^th woman, also 1^st man & 2^nd man, giving left hand, change places on the sideline.

9 – 10 All 4 couples giving right hand, cross over to change sides.

11 – 12 4^th woman & 2^nd man, also 3^rd woman & 1^st man, giving left hand, change places diagonally.

4^th man & 3^rd man, also 2^nd woman & 1^st woman, giving left hand, change places on the sideline.

13 – 14 All 4 couples giving right hand, cross over to change sides.

15 – 16 3^rd man & 1^st woman, also 4^th man & 2^nd woman, giving left hand, change places diagonally.

2^nd man & 1^st man, also 4^th woman & 3^rd woman, giving left hand, change places on the sideline.