The Light Fantastic Toe

Your Humble Narrator, as are many Caledonians, is very fond of dancing. In particular, he is devoted to the practice of the Country Dance, of the kind so ably described by the descendants, both literal and figurative, of Mr. John Playford, and so delightfully depicted in the novels of Miss Austen.

Having, as is sometimes his custom, celebrated the New Year's holiday with a party of kindred souls, on the Puget Sound (the justly celebrated Bash on Vashon) he had occasion to perfect a dance he has had in contemplation for some little time, and which he here presents for the approval of Caledon, as it was danced at the New Year's Eve Ball of august event above named.

As the dance was in large measure inspired by a desire to move to the strains of the tune "The Lass of Loch Royal," it will be perfectly apparent, what association of ideas led him to name his dance in honour of one of Caledon's most avid acolytes of Terpsichore. 

For those given much to dancing in Caledon, it is left as an exercise, to discern how the pattern of the dance is or is not typical of the course of an evening's entertainment.

The Rose of Loch Avie
Duple minor longways, improper
Tune: Lass of Loch Royal 3/4

A1    8      Open ladies' chain up & down the set 
A2    8      Double figure of 8, beginning with the first couple crossing down
A3    3      Half poussette, widdershins
        1      Cloverleaf turn single 
        4      Lead & cast to progressed place
      
 
In the composition of this dance, YHN is most grateful for the aid of some number of the friends and fellows of his trusty Physical Avatar, Boswell; to wit, for the patient and melodious iterations of the tune, to Miss A.A., Mr. A.G., and Mr. J.G.; for advice of the most sage and recondite kind, to The Czarina L.M.S., and the learned Dr. M.R.; and for miscellaneous ideas and graceful exemplary performance of the dance's evolutions, to Mesdames S.N., B.O., B.S., & T.L., The Czar M.P., and Messers J.G., F.M-G., & F.O'F.