Four-hand reel

Résumé

1. Lead around & lead back
2. Body :
     (a) The Square with side-steps
     (b) Four Sevens
     (c) Right hand star & back
     (d) Down the Centre
     (e) Chain
3. First Figure : Eight & Rings of Three + Body
4. Second Figure : Ladies‘ Chain / House + Body
5. Finish : Lead around & lead back

Description officielle

Position of Dancers :
B. A. (leading couple)
C. D. (opposite couple)
A, gentleman, and B, lady, facing C, gentleman, and D, lady, each gentleman lightly
holding partner’s left hand in his right.
1. Lead Around - 16 bars
Dancers half-right turn and lead around a complete circle ; release hands, about turn inwards, gentleman takes partner’s right hand in his left and both lead back to place.
2. The Body - 40 bars
The Body consists of five movements :
     (a) The Square - 16 bars
Gentlemen sidestep a square in anti-clockwise direction, while ladies sidestep a square in clockwise direction, all finishing with two short-threes after each side-step. This is performed by ‘A’ sidestepping to place which was occupied by ‘B’, ending with two short threes, proceeding to place which was occupied by ‘C’, then on to ‘D’s’ place and finally to his original position. Meanwhile ‘B’ has been sidestepping to ‘A’s’ position, and so on.
Similarly with ‘C’ and ‘D’. Thus, each gentleman passes each lady twice in the course of the square – the lady passing in front on each occasion.
     (b) Four Sevens - 8 bars
The dancers being now back in their original positions, the gentleman sidesteps to the
right behind partner, the lady sidestepping to the left in front ; gentleman sidestep back to place in front of partner, lady sidestepping back to place behind ; the movement is repeated. Note that the two short threes are not performed at the end of each sidestep in this movement.
     (c) Hands Across - 8 bars
All four dancers give right hands across in the centre, shoulder high, dance around clockwise ; release hands, reverse, give left hands across and dance back to place. Thus, ‘A’ and ‘C’ take hands, as do ‘B’ and ‘D’.
     (d) Down the Centre - 8 bars
Leading couple - couple nearest the music – turn to face each other, take right hands
and sidestep through the centre to the place occupied by opposite couple, while the latter sidestep separately up the outside to place occupied by leading couple. Leading couple half-turn in place, release hands, while opposite couple take right hands and half-turn. Opposite couple sidestep back to place through the centre while leading couple sidestep separately up the outside ; each couple take hands and half-turn to original position.
     (e) Right and Left Chain - 8 bars
Gentleman gives right hand to opposite lady, both move forward in semi-circle, gentlemen clockwise, ladies anti-clockwise, continue to meet partner with left hand, opposite lady again with right hand and on to own partner with left hand to finish in position, thus completing the circular chain. This finishes the Body.
3. First Figure : Figure of Eight and Rings of Three - 32 bars + 32 bars
Leading couple take inside hands and advance to opposite couple and release hands (2 bars). Leading gentleman retires to place and stands idle while his partner performs ‘The Figure Eight’ by passing between opposite couple and going first round the lady and then round opposite gentleman. The two ladies now advance to leading gentleman and take hands in a ‘Ring of Three’ (6 bars). Leading couple and the opposite lady, in the ‘Ring of Three’ dance the sidestep to right (anti-clockwise) (2 bars) ending with two threes (2 bars) and then sidestep to the left (2 bars) ; (the opposite gentleman at the same time has been side-stepping to right and left to the above bars of music). Leading couple arch arms and allow the opposite lady to pass under to leading lady´s original position and then advance and form a ‘Ring of Three’ with opposite gentleman (2 bars). Leading couple and opposite gentleman dance the side-step in ring to left and right; meanwhile, opposite lady has been side-stepping left and right (6 bars). Leading couple arch arms and allow opposite gentleman to pass under to his partner (2 bars). Both couples then swing half round, anticlockwise, to original places (8 bars). The opposite couple now perform the Figure. When both couples have danced the First Figure the Body of the dance is again performed.
4. Second Figure : Ladies‘ Chain - 16 bars
Ladies advance, give right hands in centre, continue to opposite gentleman giving left hand, both turn in place, and ladies return to own partner, both making full turn in place. Both couples dance complete circle around each other. On completion of the figure the Body is repeated.
5. Finish : Lead Around - 16 bars
Both couples lead around as at the commencement.