A longways dance to slinky schottisches
The caller will say Longways and, when enough people have formed up, most likely a Hands Four from the Top, then after a little delay as people work out where they are, First Couples Improper. Improper means that despite the men initially lining up on one side and the ladies on the other, there'll be a change and the first couple should swap places with each other. Yes, it's jargon... If you've danced the Holmfirth Reel, you'll have met this
The music will be a schottische and have that distinct rhythm; if you've done any French schottisches or the Ideal you'll recognise it. Your feet will be able to do a one-and-a-two-hop, one-and-a-two-hop followed by a hop, hop, hop, hop. This is a longways and not a couple dance though.
The music has an A part and a B part and there are three moves in the dance.
Second couples (the twos)⬀ move up between the first couples (the ones)⬀, making a line of four facing the band.
It's a bit unusual for the lady as she doesn't normally have to twirl a man, and also a bit unusual for the man as he has to twirl with the left hand (and it's always worth remembering that people can be dancing different roles)
You are changing places and facing back the way you came, this is a California Twirl⬀ except that the ones are lifting their arms, so the first lady lifts her arm for the second man to turn underneath (because the dance is improper) and the first man lifts his arm for the second lady.
You are now all in a line facing away from the band and...
End up facing across the set, with the ones making sure that the twos are below them⬀ in the set and facing the right way, Again, there's the four laid back schottische hops for the twirl ready to head off into...
This means that the first couple leave a gap between them. They watch but don't move. It's the twos (who have just been twirled) who head up between them, crossing over diagonally with the man allowing the lady to get through the gap first. Might be called as Twos, Figure of Eight up between the Ones⬀
That is:
The music will give the twos something to hop to halfway through, make the most of it for a spin.
End up looking across the set, at your partner...
Four Changes of a circular hey⬀ is when you dance along the sides of a square, starting by giving your right hand to your partner Heys⬀ are normally danced without giving hands, you pass each other right shoulder, left shoulder etc. However Four Changes⬀ are often danced giving hands as it helps to show who to dance with. As the Sloe Schottische is improper⬀ you'll find that the men are dancing clockwise round the square and the ladies anticlockwise.
... And there's the whole B music for this so it can be done at half speed. What this means is:
You've done one side of a square and there are four sides to be done... The first side was across the set the next is 'up and down'. You are still dancing in the same group of 4 people so if you are ones you have to remember that the twos are above you (closer to the band) and you turn up to look for them. The twos should be turning to face you and both of you should have your left hands ready...
You've done the second side of a square and you are facing your partner again.
The last move is up and down the set again, with the ones turning away from the band and the twos facing it...
At the end of this the second couple continues moving towards the band into the next line. The ones are facing down conveniently able to see the twos coming and grab their hands ready for the Dance Up...
If you've got to the end of the set and are ready to join a new line of four - and nobody is there?
Don't panic, it's one of those things that happen in longways dances.
There will be one time through the dance where you'll be watching and then someone will head towards you... and you continue, but with a bit of magic; if you had been a first couple dancing down the set, you will start dancing as a second couple and as the dance is improper you have to change sides with your partner.
Vice versa, the couple who had reached the top of the set, having danced as a second couple all the way up, change sides, watch and start dancing as a 'first couple' and dance down the set.
The dance is based on the Pin Drop Schottische posted by Gareth Kiddier to the eCeilidh Mailing list in November 2012. This was written for the 48-bar Will Atkinson's Schottische.
The Sloe Schottische is a trimmed down and rearranged version for 32-bar tunes,,,
It can be danced to The Sloe but find someone who plays it with swing. (You are most likely to find people playing it as a four-square Polka which is a lot less fun)
Works best with a slinky, slow schottische, something like the Ran Tan Band's The Big Cheese or Chalktown's Groove Tune, or if you wish for something at stately, Jane Austin, speeds Never see the one / Respectful Hornpipe