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Dance Kandahar Reel (RSCDS) 14241

Reel · 32 bars · 4 couples · Longwise - 5   (Progression: 2134)

Devised by
Cpt. Andy Colquhoun / Lt. Rob Colquhoun (2009)
Intensity
84000 88320 84840 88880 = 69% (1 turn), 56% (whole dance)
Formations
Steps
  • Pas-de-Basque, Skip-Change
Published in
Recommended Music
Extra Info
This dance was recently invented by Capt. Andy Colquhoun and Lt. Rob Colquhoun while in Afghanistan (hence the name). It …

This dance was recently invented by Capt. Andy Colquhoun and Lt. Rob Colquhoun while in Afghanistan (hence the name). It follows in the tradition of dances like The Reel of the 51st Division which were created by soldiers with time on their hands. At least this time no POW camp was involved.

The dance is superficially simple but requires great presence of mind, good technique, and perfect teamwork if it is supposed to look good. Legend claims that the one-and-a-half-times-round hands across stand for both the big rotors of a Chinook helicopter and the fact that soldiers are constantly exhorted to give 150% of what is expected from them. The end involves a little cheating but, given the situation, this probably ought to be forgiven.

Unusually for a dance involving four couples, the Kandahar Reel was originally choreographed for a five-couple set, but that, too, follows the “Reel of the 51st”. One could say with some justification that the dancing couple have earned their little 32-bar break after their turn.

Kandahar Reel (RSCDS) 4/5L · R32
1–
1c set | turn BH ½ and face 2c ; 1c set to 2c and turn BH on the side (1x,2,3,4,5)
9–
Snowball G-Chain, start 1c RH to 2c, on [4] 1c (in 4plx) + 2c (in 2plx) take “L-Tulloch”hold (Lsh to Lsh, L arms linked, holding P’s R hand behind his back) make 2 turns, finish facing up (order 3c,2x in middle,4, 1x in middle,5)
17–
3c+2c & 4c+1c RHA 1½ ; 3c+1c LHA 1½
25–
2c+1c & 3c+4c RHA 1½ (1,2x,4,3x,5) ; all set ; 1c+4c cast off as 2c+3c cross up (2,1,3,4,5)

For next time through, 2c starts anew from 1pl and 1c dance to 5pl (3c+4c+5c up on [3–4]
(This version is closer to RSCDS style. Alternatives are 1½ turn on [3–4], going to sidelines on [16], making 1½ turn moving up on [31–32]

Kandahar Reel (RSCDS) 4/5L · R32
1-8

1s set & 1/2 turn 2H, 1s set & turn 2s RH, 1s finishing in partner’s place (1) 2 3 4 5

9-16

1s dance a modified Snowball Grand Chain for 4 couples:

9 1s change places with 2s RH on sides

10 1s change places with 3s LH as 2s cross LH

11 1s change places with 4s RH as 2s+3s change places RH on sides 3 (2) 4 (1 )5

12 2s & 1s dance in to take Tulloch turn holds (LSh to LSh & RH behind backs)

13-16 2s & 1s dance anticlockwise Tulloch turns finishing facing up on opposite sides 3 (2) 4 (1) 5

17-24

3s+2s also 4s+1s dance RH across 1.1/2 times, 3s+1s dance LH across 1.1/2 times 2 (1) 3 (4) 5

25-32

2s+1s also 3s+4s dance RH across 1.1/2 times, 1s+2s+4s+3s set then 2s & 3s cross up RH as 1s & 4s cast 1 place. 2 1 3 4 5

1s dance down to bottom as new 1st couple start (5s step up)

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Added on: 2020-06-27 (RSCDS Edinburgh)
Quality: Demonstration quality

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Added on: 2012-02-13 (Martina Mueller-Franz)
Quality: Good

NameDateOwnerLast changed
Budapest Local Club 02.03.2014 2014-03-02 Zoltán Gräff Feb. 5, 2014, 8:53 a.m.
Набережная 2019-06-04+ Denis Lisov June 4, 2019, 3:27 p.m.
Turnham Green - 20 January 2019 2019-01-20 Jacmel Dent Feb. 25, 2019, 9:17 p.m.
SWS 2018 2018-01-01 Margaret Chambers July 19, 2018, 12:09 p.m.
The Sunday Class Dance on RadioGH - 2021-09-12 2021-09-12 Amanda Peart Sept. 15, 2021, 12:42 p.m.

SCDDB User Ratings

1.7 stars average (3 votes)
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This dance ranks 1267th out of 1388 rated dances in the database. (More info.)

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