Table of Contents

A

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
À la Mode de France ~ Barraclough		John Playford 1651 Michael Barraclogh ~1995		4 Couple Longways
The American Husband		Pat Shaw 1977	Colin Hume	Triple Minor
Another Reel of Six ~ Wilson#2		Thomas Wilson 1820 George Williams 2025		3 Couple Longways
As I Roved Out One Morning		Pat Shaw 1974		3 Couple Circle

B

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Bare Necessities Bare Necessities Pat Shaw 1974 3 Couple Circle Bare Necessities ~ Page Pat Shaw (mod) 1974 3 Couple Circle
The Bath Waltz		Thomas Wilson 1816 Colin Hume 2023	Colin Hume	3 Couple Longways permutation: 312
Beck and Call		Colin Hume 1992	Brett Larsen	6 Couple Longways permutation: 642135
Beginners' Nightmare		Bob Lilley 1987		4 Couple Longways
Belstead House		Colin Hume 1992	A Playford Ball Bare Necessities	Custom3
Birthday Branle		Gary Roodman 2008	Doug Creighton, Erica Morse, Gene Murrow and Peter Barnes	3 Couple Longways permutation: 312
Bishops Hey		Jill Lawrence 1979	Colin Hume	5 Couple Longways permutation: 23451

C

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Centenary Circle		Gary Coull ~2024		R32
Chelmsford Assembly		Johnson ~1752 Bernard Bentley 1968		3 Couple Longways permutation: 231
Circle of Tradition Circle of Tradition Fried de Metz Herman 1992 Circle as many as will Circle of Tradition ~ Ottawa Fried de Metz Herman 1992 Ottawa ECD Circle as many as will
City of Stirling Reel		Roy Goldring 2005		Triple Minor
Clusterphobia		Fried de Metz Herman 1994		Duple Minor

D

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
The Dean Bridge of Edinburgh		Alec Hay 1967		Triple Minor
Le Débauché		Johnson ~1752 Charles Bolton 1989		3 Couple Longways permutation: 231
A Diamond for Belfast		Marilyn Watson 2006		3 Couple Longways permutation: 231

E

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Eightsome Reel Eightsome Reel W. Smyth 1830 Square The Eightsome Reel Earl of Dunmore ~1870 RSCDS 1925 Square
El Camino Real		Robb Quint ~2016		3 Couple Longways permutation: 231

F

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Felicity		Colin Hume ~2002	Bare Necessities	4 Couple Longways permutation: 2413
The Fifth Dimension		Colin Hume 1990	The Rampions	5 Couple Longways permutation: 54132
First Love		Joan Baker 1993		Triple Minor
The French Ambassador - Maggot Pie		Marjorie Heffer & William Porter 1932		3 Couple Longways

G

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
The Gloucester - Chivers		G.M.S. Chivers 1821 George Williams 2021		Four Face Four
Going at Sixty		Colin Hume 2007	Colin Hume	Custom
The Goose and Gridiron		Thompson 1768 Tom Cook 1975 Playford Assembly	Dave Bartley, Ruthie Dornfeld and Terry Wergeland	3 Couple Longways permutation: 231

H

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Hart's Tempẽte Dance Hart's Tempẽte Dance Joseph Binns Hart ~1819 George Williams 2024 Colin Hume Four Face Four
Hedwig's Reel		Stella Phillips 2010		Triple Minor
Heidenröslein		Pat Shaw 1967		Square
Helena		Colin Hume 1988	Bare Necessities	4 Couple Longways permutation: 3142
Her Man		Pat Shaw 1977	Colin Hume	Triple Minor
Hey is for Humpbacks — Jacqui's version		George Williams 2019 Jacqui Grennan		Four Face Four

I

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
The Indian Princess		Colin Hume 1985	Dampier's Round	Circle as many as will

L

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Lady Lucy Ramsay		Nathaniel Gow ~1805 RSCDS ~1977		Triple Minor
Lady Mary Douglas Lady Mary Douglas Thomas Wilson 1816 George Williams 2024 Triple Minor Miss Mary Douglas ~ RSCDS Thomas Wilson 1816 RSCDS 1935 Triple Minor
The Lancers-Quadrilles		John Duval 1817 William B. De Garmo 1868		Square
Les Lanciers		John Duval 1817 William B. De Garmo 1868		Square
Looking for a Partner ~ Haynes		Derek Haynes ~2008		Duple Minor
Lord Anson for ever		Johnson ~1750 Bernard Bentley 1968		3 Couple Longways permutation: 231

M

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
MacDonald of the Isles		Derek Haynes 1991		3 Couple Longways permutation: 231
The Man Hunt		Derek Haynes ~2008		Duple Minor
A Man's a Man for a' That ~ RSCDS		Thomas Wilson 1816 RSCDS 1981		Triple Minor
Margery Cree		John Young 1721 George Williams 2025	Colin Hume	3 Couple Longways
May Daydream		Renée Camus 2026	Choreograffiti Audrey Jaber, Shira Kammen, and Chip Prince	Circle as many as will
The Merifest Central Square		Kimberley Smith 1985	Masquerade	Custom
Merry Boyce and Girls		Gary Roodman 1999		4 Couple Longways permutation: 2413
Miss Claire Moir		Colin Hume 2007	Colin Hume	5 Couple Longways permutation: 25134
Miss Mary Douglas Miss Mary Douglas ~ RSCDS Thomas Wilson 1816 RSCDS 1935 Triple Minor
The Mock Match - Playford		Henry Playford 1698 Charles Bolton 1988		3 Couple Longways permutation: 312
Mrs. Hamilton of Wishaw - Drewry		John Drewry 1967		Triple Minor
Mrs. Hill's Delight Mrs. Hill's Delight Nathaniel Kynaston 1710 RSCDS 1977 Triple Minor
Mrs. Stewart's Jig		Frans Ligtmans 1986		Triple Minor

N

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Neidpath Castle		Derek Haynes 1963		3 Couple Longways permutation: 231
The New Man		Colin Hume 1987	The Rampions	3 Couple Longways
Non-Stop Non-Stop ~ Circle Colin Hume 1992 Colin Hume 3 Couple Circle Non-Stop ~ USA Colin Hume 1992 Colin Hume 3 Couple Circle
Nonesuch ~ Barraclough		John Playford 1651 Michael Barraclogh ~1995		4 Couple Longways
Nottingham Lace		Jenny Bradley 2011		Square

O

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
One More Dance and Then ...		Johnson 1752 Charles Bolton 1986		3 Couple Longways permutation: 312

P

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Paisley Weavers		Derek Haynes 2008		3 Couple Longways permutation: 231
Peggy and Arnold's Strathspey		Andrew Gillies ~2000		S3×32 3C permutation: 231
Pretty Polly ~ RSCDS		John Young 1710 RSCDS 1977		Triple Minor
The Pride of Newcastle		Pat Shaw 1963	Bare Necessities	3 Couple Circle
Prince Edward's Jig		Thompson 1757 Charles Bolton 1989		3 Couple Longways permutation: 231
Promenheyde		George Williams 2019 Jacqui Grennan		Four Face Four
The Prussian Waltz		Thomas Wilson 1816 Colin Hume 2023	Colin Hume	3 Couple Longways permutation: 312

R

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Randolph Farewell		Fried de Metz Herman 1999	Bare Necessities	3 Couple Circle
Reel of Eight		W. Smyth 1830		Square
The Ridicule — A Cotillion The Ridicule — A Cotillion ~ Daye Skillern & Challoner ~1808 Anne Daye ~2017 Colin Hume Square The Ridicule — A Cotillion ~ Winston Skillern & Challoner ~1808 Alan Winston ~2017 Colin Hume Square
The Robertson Rant		Mrs. Douglas Winchester 1949		Square
La Ronde de l'Amour		Pat Shaw 1956		Square
Rossmore Rossmore John & William Neal 1726 Rich Jackson & George Fogg 1990 Triple Minor Rossmore ~ 3 Couple John & William Neal 1726 Rich Jackson & George Fogg 1990 3 Couple Longways permutation: 231
The Royal Road		Robb Quint ~2016		3 Couple Longways permutation: 231

S

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Schiehallion		Hugh A Thurston 1971		Square
Sicilian		G.M.S. Chivers 1821 George Williams 2021		Triple Minor

T

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
The Tea Pottery		Duncan Brown ~2020		Square
Ted's Tempest Ted's Tempest Ted Sannella ~1983 Tempest Hart's Tempẽte Dance Joseph Binns Hart ~1819 George Williams 2024 Colin Hume Four Face Four Ted's Tempest Ted Sannella ~1983 Tempest Tempete Dance ~ Chivers Joseph Binns Hart ~1819 G.M.S. Chivers ~1825 Four Face Four Tempête ~ Liller Johann Nicolaus Liller 1842 George Williams 2024 Four Face Four Tempete Dance ~ Chivers Joseph Binns Hart ~1819 G.M.S. Chivers ~1825 Four Face Four
Todlen Hame Todlen Hame ~ RSCDS Thomas Wilson 1816 RSCDS 1951 Triple Minor Todlen Hame ~ Williams Thomas Wilson 1816 George Williams 2024 Triple Minor
Top of the Deck		Gary Roodman 1992	Kate Barnes, and Mary Lea	4 Couple Longways permutation: 2341
The Twist of Fate		Colin Hume 1980	Kafoozalum	Square

U

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Upon the Morning Breeze		Gary Roodman 1992		4 Couple Longways permutation: 3142

V

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
The Virgin's Frolick ~ Bentley		John Young 1718 Bernard Bentley 1977		3 Couple Longways permutation: 231

W

Dance Title	Type	Deviser (or Editor/Publisher), Date, Interpreter	Music Performers	Formation
Waiting on the Corner		Gary Roodman 1992		4 Couple Longways Becket permutation: 4123
Watkins Ale		Scott Higgs 1995		4 Couple Longways
The Webmaster		Melissa Running 2018		Triple Minor
Whirlpool		Cara King 2024		5 Couple Circle
Whitecross Hall		Bob Lilley 2000		3 Couple Longways permutation: 312
Wizard's Walk		Ruth Unger 1993		Duple Minor
Would You		Victor Skowronski 2010		3 Couple Longways

Number of dances	Number of versions	Number with music
82	92	26

Warning: The figures for each dance is generated programmatically by regular expression matching and may be in error. Also, for old dances, they reflect the figures used by the interpreter which may not match those of the deviser.

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Grand Chain

Also known as: Grand Right and Left, Right and Left 6, 1st. 2d. & 3d. Cu: Right and Left, Chain Figure of six.

An online definition may be found here.

Bars: 8.

A "grand" chain is a chain that involves everybody in the set (A chain here means right and left). It is most often applied to square sets, and minor set with 3 couples in them.

In a square set you face your partner, pull-by with the right hand, face the next person, pull-by with the left hand, and so on until you get back to your original position. At 2 bars per change, this takes 16 bars to return home (8 bars to end diametrically opposed but still with partner for a half chain)

In a three couple set, the top (or bottom) couple face their partners, and everyone else their neighbors then pull-by right with the person you face, and left with the next, and so on until you get home. This is normally allotted 8 bars, but it takes 6 changes. In Scottish Country Dance the first two changes take 1 bar each and the third takes 2, then the 4th and 5th changes take 1 bar each, and the last takes 2.

History

John & William Neal call for a grand chain in their dance Rossmore published in 1726 when they say: 1st. 2d. & 3d. cu: right and left. They make it clear that the right and left applies to all three couples.

In 1752, John Johnson uses Right and Left 6 in Lord Anson for Ever.

The first use of the term "grand chain" I can find is in Cent Contredanses en Rond by d'Aubat de St. Flour, published ~1757: La grande Chaine contient 16. mes. & la grand demi-chaine 8. mes. This is a book of cotillions, so this figure is for a square set.

Thomas Wilson in his Complete System of English Country Dancing, 1815 gives a diagram and description of a three couple grand chain, though he calls it a "chain figure of 6". He reserves the term "grand chain" for quadrilles, see his other book The Quadrille and Cotillion Panoramma, 1822.

See Also

• Right and Left
• Three Couple Rights and Lefts

This website is copyright © 2021-2026 by George W. Williams V
My work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Most of the dances have more restrictive licensing, see my notes on copyright, the individual dance pages should mention when some rights are waived.