Dance The Clootie Well 1238
Also known as “The Cloutie Well” (spelling).
Reel · 32 bars · 3 couples · Longwise - 4 (Progression: 213)
- Devised by
- John Drewry (1977)
- Formations
-
- Dance to Corners and Set (C-D&S)
- Hands across - 4 - half (HX;4P;HALF;)
- Reel of three - across (REEL;ACROSS;R3;)
- Note: This list may be incomplete and/or incorrect.
- Steps
-
- Pas-de-Basque, Skip-Change
- Published in
- Recommended Music
- Extra Info
- John Drewry noted in the original description:
The Clootie Well is near Culloden (although others occur in other parts of …
John Drewry noted in the original description:
The Clootie Well is near Culloden (although others occur in other parts of the country). By tradition, it is visited on the first Sunday in May; the visitor throws a coin in the well and ties a cloot to one of the trees to symbolise the leaving of all cares behind.
May 1st 1977 was a Sunday. I visited the well with Simon Fraser about a week later and the lower branches of the trees surrounding the well were festooned with hundreds of bits of rag.
It would appear that this is the survival of a pre-Christian Celtic custom.
In later editions of the book, John Drewry added:
This version issued in September 1977, has an improved figure for Bars 1–8 and this should replace the earlier version (May 1977).
and
The spelling “Clootie” (rather than “Cloutie”) is probably preferable in that it gives a better indication of the pronunciation. Both spellings are given in Chambers Scots Dictionary.
The Clootie Well 3/4L · R32
- 1-8
- 1s+2s set, 2s cast up & 1s cross down, turn 2nd corner LH & pass LSh to face 1st corners (2nd corners keep dancing)
- 9-20
- Dance to Corners & Set: (12 bars) -Couple in middle change places with corners passing RSh, corners pass RSh in middle with a 1/4 turn to right to face next corner while supporting corners set (2 bars). Repeat 5 more times to end with corners in diagonally opposite place and 1s end in middle facing partner
- 21-24
- 1s pass RSh & dance out through 2nd place (own side) then round 3rd corner into centre facing partner’s side while 2s & 3s set advancing diagonally & dance 1/2 RH across to end in own places facing out
- 25-32
- 1s dance LSh reels of 3 across (Man with 2s) & 1M+2M also 1L+3L turn RH to end 2 1 3
| Name | Date | Owner | Last changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 180118A | 2018-01-18 | Michael Däther | Jan. 14, 2018, 9:31 p.m. |
| Workshops Summer Course Kuckucksnest 2015 | Truus de Ceuster | June 9, 2017, 5:45 p.m. | |
| Oldenburg 2018-10-01 | 2018-10-01 | David Quarrie | Oct. 2, 2018, 12:21 p.m. |
| Oldenburg 2017-11-13 (Erikaweg) | 2017-11-13 | David Quarrie | Nov. 14, 2017, 12:28 p.m. |
| 180215A | 2018-02-15 | Michael Däther | Feb. 11, 2018, 4:50 p.m. |
| 180201A | 2018-02-01 | Michael Däther | Jan. 28, 2018, 5:20 p.m. |
