Irish in the Rain

Original Tune: ‘Irish in the Rain’ (John Turner © 2005)

Suggested Recordings: Cairngorms – 2, “The Saltire Society Reel;” Live – 4, ”Pinewoods Reel”

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

1 – 2 1^st couple cross down to 2^nd place (no hands) as 2^nd couple step up.

3 – 8 1^st couple cast off round 3^rd couple, dance up to 2^nd place opposite side and set, turning on bar 8 to face 1^st corner.

9 – 10 1st couple turn 1^st corner right hand to finish on the 1^st corner diagonal.

11 – 14 Half spoke (bars 1-4).

15 – 16 1^st couple turn partner’s 1^st corner right hand to finish 1^st man between 2^nd couple facing down, 1^st woman between 3^rd couple facing up.

17 – 20 1^st couple turn left hand ¾ to finish between own corners and set to partner.

21 – 24 1^st couple turn right hand ¾ to finish again between 2^nd and 3^rd couples and set to partner, turning on bar 8 to face 2^nd corner.

25 – 26 1st couple turn 2^nd corner right hand to finish on the 2^nd corner diagonal.

27 – 30 Half spoke starting from the 2^nd corner diagonal (bars 3-6).

31 – 32 1^st couple turn partner’s 2^nd corner right hand to finish in 2^nd place own side.

Repeat the dance having passed a couple. After the second repetition, dancing couple cross down to 4^th place as the new top couple cross down to 2^nd place. 2^nd couple and 4^th couple step up simultaneously.

April, 2005

“The Spoke”

This figure takes 8 bars to execute and uses 8 setting steps.

To begin, the 1^st couple is in the middle of the set, left hand joined with partner and right hand joined with 1^st corner forming a diagonal line. The 1^st couple retains the left hand hold throughout the formation.

All 3 couples dance 8 setting steps, corners facing in on the diagonal when not actively involved with 1^st couple.

Bar 1 1st couple and 1^st corners balance in line, right hands joined with own corner.

Bar 2 1C advance setting to 2^nd corner diagonal.

Bar 3 1st couple and 2^nd corners balance in line, right hands joined with own corner.

Bar 4 1C advance setting to 1^st corner diagonal.

Bar 5 1st couple and 1^st corners balance in line, right hands joined with partner’s corner.

Bar 6 1C advance setting to 2^nd corner diagonal.

Bar 7 1st couple and 2^nd corners balance in line, right hands joined with partner’s corner.

Bar 8 1C advance setting to 1^st corner diagonal.

Abridged from the RSCDS Manual of SCD (1997) p. 6.54

This dance was written one very wet evening during a trip to Charlottesville for an Irish Set Dance class. The title began as a temporary identifier – but stuck.