- Paperback: 128 pages
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd; New edition edition (25 Oct 1990)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0140119957
- ISBN-13: 978-0140119954
- Product Dimensions: 17.5 x 10.9 x 1.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
1,191,702 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #31 in Books > Music, Stage & Screen > Performing Arts > Dance > Scottish
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Product Description
Product Description
This edition of a guide to the basic steps of 17 Scottish reels and country dances has been updated to include the latest variations. The book explains each dance simply and clearly with diagrams, and gives additional background information on dress, history and basic technique such as setting, turns and pas de basque. The dances listed include The Duke of Perth, Hamilton House, The Reel of the 51st, Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Inverness Country Dance, Foursome, Eightsome and Sixteensome Reels and The Dashing White Sergeant. Roddy Martine is the ex-editor of the "Scottish Field" and author of the "New Shell Guide to the Lowlands and Borders of Scotland".
About the Author
Roddy Martine has written a large number of books on Scottish life, encompassing Scotch whisky, clans and tartans, interiors and biographies. In addition he contributes to a wide range of newspapers, and is associate editor of Caledonia Magazine. Andrew Campbell was born and brought up in Muir of Ord, Ross-shire. He is director of Ashridge Stategic Management Centre, visiting professor at City University Business Sxhool and author of 10 books on business stategy.
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
To be honest, there's a limit to what a book about dancing can actually teach you: if you're a complete Scottish country dancing beginner, not even step-by-step diagrams are going to convey the intricacies of the moves and spins, even if, like this manual, tries its best with arrows and diagrams. You really need to see dancers in action, and hear the music, to get how the individual sections all fit together.
However, having said that, of all the guides I've read in a vain attempt to learn in a hurry, The Swinging Sporran is the most useful. It breaks down all the classic dances you would need to know for a formal Scottish reeling night into basic steps - Hamilton House, the Eightsome Reel, Reel of the 51st Division, Dashing White Sergeant, etc - and offers some tongue-in-cheek advice straight from 1973 about what to wear, and what to expect. Not much has changed; after all, a kilt is a kilt is a kilt. This is definitely an introductory guide to the traditional world of Scottish Country Dancing, however; you'll need a different book if you're heading for a more informal folk dance ceilidh, where Strip the Willow, the Gay Gordons, etc, are more usual.
But with a CD of appropriate tunes to put to the steps, this is a handy little book to keep in your sporran for reference, and a good starting place for anyone with an interest in Scottish country dance.
However, having said that, of all the guides I've read in a vain attempt to learn in a hurry, The Swinging Sporran is the most useful. It breaks down all the classic dances you would need to know for a formal Scottish reeling night into basic steps - Hamilton House, the Eightsome Reel, Reel of the 51st Division, Dashing White Sergeant, etc - and offers some tongue-in-cheek advice straight from 1973 about what to wear, and what to expect. Not much has changed; after all, a kilt is a kilt is a kilt. This is definitely an introductory guide to the traditional world of Scottish Country Dancing, however; you'll need a different book if you're heading for a more informal folk dance ceilidh, where Strip the Willow, the Gay Gordons, etc, are more usual.
But with a CD of appropriate tunes to put to the steps, this is a handy little book to keep in your sporran for reference, and a good starting place for anyone with an interest in Scottish country dance.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Highland Balls can be a bit daunting - unless you have boned up beforehand with this slim little confidence booster. Most scottish country dance manuals contain incomprehensible diagrams and arcane instructions which only the most knowledgable and experienced dancers can decipher. Enter "The Swinging Sporran". Light hearted and amusing it may be, but it has most of the dances commonly used at Highland Balls in a form that will refresh your memory with grace and ease. Just what is required in fact by people like me with dodgy memories who don't wish to spoil the fun by getting in a muddle at the crucial moment. You might even learn some new dances but its more likely that you will have tried most of these before unless you are a complete novice, in which case you should probably seek some basic instruction. Not for the keen expert, but you will know yourself if you belong in that hallowed group.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Brushed up my dancing skills before a ball with this! At least I had an idea which direction to go in during the dances!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
An Educational spoof
Having taken up Celeidh & Scottish Country Dance classes as I approached my 60's I was given this book by a friend. Read more
Published 10 months ago by ed.inEdinburgh
A must-have for any reels enthusiast!
The 'Swinging Sporran' is an absolute must-have for anyone needing the odd refresher before a reels party. Read more
Published on 6 April 2010 by C. A. Wood
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