Cornwall RSCDS Core Dances 2026/27 Cribs & Diagrams
Each year the Cornwall Branch Committee with teacher input agrees a set of dances, to be taught in class between September and June of that year.
The Scottish Dance groups in Cornwall are encouraged to include at least 3 of these dances on any social dance programme they devise. The core dances include old favourites, a range of different formations and usually one or two dances from one of the latest RSCDS books.
Having Core dances hopefully encourages the less experienced dancers to come to a dance and enjoy the evening knowing that they can attempt several of the dances on the programme.
Please note that clicking on any diagram will take you to a YouTube video of that dance.
KATHY’S FASCINATOR (J3x32) 3C set Lydia Hedge, 2020
1- 8 1s+2s dance Set & Rotate. 1M & 2L face out
9-16 2s+1s dance RH across; 1s+3s dance LH across. 1s face up
17-24 2s+1s+3s dance RSh reels of 3 on sides (1s pass 2s RSh to start)
25-32 1s+3s dance the Knot. End 2 3 1
MISS LUCY CLARK (R8x32) 3C (4C set) Valerie Farr
1- 8 1s+2s set, dance RH across & 1s cast as 2s dance up to top
9-16 2s+1s+3s dance mirror reels on sides, 1s in/down to start; Bars 13-14: 1s cross up
from 2nd place opp sides to end 2 (1) 3
17-24 2s+1s+3s set, 1s Petronella turn to 1M between 2s, 1L between 3s while 2s+3s set
again; lines of 3 across set & 1s Petronella turn to 2nd place own side
25-32 2s+1s+3s circle 6H round & back between 3s)
21-24 All three couples Set+Link, ending 2 1 3
25-32 1s+3s dance the Espagnole, ending 2 3 1
CANADIAN LANDSCAPE (S3X32) Karen & Scott MacCrone RSCDS Book 54
1-8 1st and 2nd couples dance the Tourbillion, ending 2 1 3
9-12 2s+1s+3s Set+Link, all end in lines across (1M between 3s at top facing down,
1L between 2s facing up)
13-16 1s cross RH & cast right to 2nd place own side, while (bars 15-16) 3L & 2M change
places diagonally RH
17-20 1s cross RH and cast right into middle while (bars 19-20) 3M & 2L change places
diagonally RH (1L between 2s at top facing down, 1M between 3s)
21-24 All three couples Set+Link, ending 2 1 3
25-32 1s+3s dance the Espagnole, ending 2 3 1
WIDDERSHINS (J8x32) 3C (4C set) Ken Martlew Berkhamsted Golden Jubilee
1- 8 1s turn LH, cast 1 place & turn RH to face 2nd corners
9-16 1s turn 2nd corners LH, turn partner RH, turn 1st corners LH & partner RH to end
facing 2nd corners
17-24 1s dance reels of 3 on opposite sides giving RSh to 2nd corners & end crossing LH
to own sides
25-32 2s+1s+3s circle 6H to right & back
CORRIEVRECKAN (M-(S64+R64)) Sq.Set Arthur C Boswell Carnforth Coll 3
Strathspey
1- 8 All set to partners, Men dance anticlockwise in front of partner & next Lady,
behind opposite Lady to face the next Lady & turn 2H
9-16 All set to ‘new’ partners & Ladies dance clockwise in front of ‘new’ partner & next
Man, behind opposite Man to face the next Man & turn 2H
17-32 Repeat bars 1-16 to end in opposite places with original partner
33-40 All dance a double Men’s Chain
41-48 1s+3s dance 1/2 R&L, 2s+4s dance 1/2 R&L
49-56 All dance Ladies’ Chain
57-64 All dance Grand Chain starting with giving RH to corners
Reel
1-64 Repeat bars 1-56 & circle 8H round & back
THE SWELKIE (S3x32) 3C Triangular set Jean Attwood Alexander Leaflet 21
1- 8 1s promenade anticlockwise round outside of set
9-16 1L dances reel of 3 with 3s (passing 3L LSh) while 1M dances reel with 2s
(passing 2M RSh) & all end in original places
17-24 All Ladies dance RH across, pass in front of partner & behind next Man to end at
side of remaining Man
25-32 All Men dance LH across, pass in front of new partner & behind next Lady to end
beside remaining Lady
Repeat from new positions with new partners
