The Auld Red Cat

by Sue McKinnell

8X32 Strathspey for 3C

Bars

1-8

1C set and cast one place, 2C stepping up. 1W give RH to 1^st corner to form a diagonal line nearer hands joined while 1M give RH to 1^st corner to form a diagonal line nearer hands joined. (1C and corners step into the center of the set a bit. Imagine a line from 2W to 3M with 1C and 1^st corners joined hands on that line, 1W and 2M facing 1M and 3W.) 1C & 1^st corners set (2^nd corners setting behind them as well), then 1C and 1^st corners set advancing, 1C passing LS, to meet 2^nd corners to form a circle.

9-12

1C and corners circle once round and a bit, opening out to form facing lines, 1W and corners on the men's side, 1M and corners on the women's side; 1C in the center with 1^st corner RH and 2^nd corner LH. (When the circles break, 3M leads the circle followed by 1W and 2M up the men's side while 2W leads the circle followed by 1M and 3W down the women's side.)

13-16

All set in lines, then set advancing to pass the person opposite LS and dance out to the sides of the set. End in the order 3, 1, 2 with 3C & 2C on opposite sides and 1C facing out.

17-24

Six-bar right shoulder reels of three on the sides. 1C giving RS to 1^st corners in diagonally opposite positions (1C turn to their right) to start. On the last two bars, 1C dance in the ends of the set (1W from top, 1M from bottom) and turn LH to face 1^st corner positions.

25-32

1C dance a half diagonal reel of four with 1^st corners, passing RS to face 2^nd corner positions. 1C dance a half diagonal reel of four with 2^nd corners, passing RS to 2^nd place on own sides.

Repeat.

Suggested music is Anna Holden’s Strathspey from Dancing Fingers 3.

This dance honors my old red cat, Cinnamon, who will be 18 years old in August of this year and who has weathered a host of potentially lethal diseases and still survives. (Cinny lived to be 19 years and 3 months before succumbing to old age.)

06/05