Children of Erin & Alba

Suggested Tune: Glasgow Reel (Tam Lin) by Davey Arthur

8 x 32R for 3 couples in a 4C set devised by Moira Turner

1 – 2 1^st couple cross down to 3^rd place (no hands) and slip into place

WHILE

2^nd couple & 3^rd couple (without taking hands) retire (diagonally up) for one and advance (diagonally up) for one to move up one place. (FIG 1)

3 – 4 2^nd couple, 3^rd couple & 1^st couple set to partner (without taking hands in the sidelines).

5 – 8 1^st couple retire (diagonally up) for one and advance (diagonally up) for one to move up to 2^nd place and turn left hand to finish back to back (but not closely) facing 1^st corners

WHILE

3^rd couple advance (diagonally down) for one and retire (diagonally down) for one to move down to original places (FIG 2), then 2^nd and 3^rd couples set to partner.

9 – 12 1^st couple change places with 1st corners right hand (FIG 3) & set to 1st corners, all 4 dancers turning to face clockwise round the set (on the 1^st corner diagonal) on bar 12. (FIG 4)

13 - 14     <1st couple change places with partner’s 2^nd corner right hand

WHILE

1^st corners turn right hand ¾ in the centre of the dance. (FIG 5)

15 - 16     <1st couple change places with partner’s 1^st corner (in centre of dance) left hand & pass partner right shoulder to face 2^nd corners (in partner’s 1^st corner position). (FIG 6)

17 – 20 1^st couple change places with 2^nd corners right hand (FIG 7) & set to 2^nd corners, all 4 dancers turning to face clockwise round the set (on the 2^nd corner diagonal) on bar 20. (FIG 8)

21 – 22 1st couple change places with own 1^st corners (in 2^nd corner positions) right hand

WHILE

2^nd corners turn right hand ¾ in the centre to face the 2^nd corner position diagonally opposite their own. (FIG 9)

23 – 24 1st couple change places with partner’s 2^nd corner (in centre of dance) left hand & pass partner left shoulder to finish in 2^nd place own side. (All 4 corners are in the corner position diagonally opposite their own.) (FIG 10)

25 – 28 1st couple dance diagonal half rights and lefts with 3rd woman and 2nd man. (FIG 11)

29 – 32 1st couple dance diagonal half rights and lefts with 3rd man and 2nd woman. (FIG 12)

Repeat the dance having passed a couple. At the end of the 2^nd repetition, on bars 31 and 32, 1^st and 3^rd men stand still, while 1^st woman gives left hand briefly to 2^nd woman in passing and dances down to 4^th place as 3^rd woman dances up the sideline following 2^nd woman into 3^rd place.

Note: The movements in this dance are supposed to be reminiscent of those in Irish step dancing. During the retiring and advancing on the diagonal (also advancing and retiring) in the first 8 bars, the shoulders should be square to the direction of travel, turns sharp, and hands by sides. Throughout the dance, the pas de basque turns should also be sharp.

October, 2004

FIG. 1: Bars 1 – 2 FIG. 2: Bars 5 – 6

3M 2M 1M 1W 3M 2M

TOP TOP

3W 2W 1W 1M 3W 2W

FIG. 3: Bars 9 – 10 FIG. 4: Bar 12

3M 2M 3M 1W

1W TOP 2M TOP

1M 3W

3W 2W 1M 2W

FIG. 5: Bars 13 – 14 FIG. 6: Bars 15 - 16

3M 1W 1M 2W

2M TOP 2M TOP

3W 3W

1M 2W 3M 1W

FIG. 7: Bars 17 – 18 FIG. 8: Bar 20

2M 2W 2M 1M

1M TOP 2W TOP

1W 3M

3M 3W 1W 3W

FIG. 9: Bars 21 – 22 FIG. 10: Bars 23 - 24

2M 1M 1W 3W

2W TOP 2W TOP

3M 3M

1W 3W 2M 1M

FIG. 11: Bars 25 – 26 FIG. 12: Bars 29 - 30

2W 1M 3W 2W 1W 2M

TOP TOP

2M 1W 3M 3W 1M 3M