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HUNTING THE PINECONES
(R8x40)
Iain Boyd The World Around the Corner
1- 4
1s turn RH & cast off one place
5- 8
1s turn LH slightly more than once
9-12
1L, followed by 1M, dance RH across with 2L
13-16
1L, followed by 1M, dance LH across with 3M, 1s finishing in centre,
in tandem, facing up
17-20
1s dance up, cast on own sides to 2
nd
place
21-24
1s turn RH slightly more than once
25-28
1M, followed by 1L, dance LH across with 2M
29-32
1M, followed by 1L, dance RH across with 3L, 1s finishing in centre,
in tandem, facing up whilst (on sides) 2s face down and 3s face up
33-40
2s+1s+3s dance reflection reels of 3 – 1s dance up in tandem to cast
on own sides at the top, 2s dance out & down, 3s dance out & up to
begin
Devised in October 1987 and presented during the afternoon class on Wednesday 12
th
July, 1989 to the first
Mendocino Scottish Country Dance Camp held at Mendocino Woodlands Camp, northern California, USA.
Iain says:
“The title is derived from the elimination 'dance' done during the Monday games evening when 'pinecones'
were passed from dancer to dancer to eliminate participants.
No symbolism was originally intended, except, that as the original inspiration for the dance was "Cross
Hills Gardens" (devised by Ian Simmonds, Wellington, New Zealand) in which four wheels, one after the
other, represent the rhododendron bushes in the gardens, I wanted a title allusive to trees.
However, the following symbolism can be applied to the dance:
The first 8 bars, the dancers making their way to the camp, the wheels represent the redwoods
surrounding the camp and first couple are the dancers making their way from place to place round the
camp site, with the last 8 bars representing the dancers returning home - perhaps along the scenic but
winding coastal road.”
Iain recommends "Big Dougal" composed by Ian Powrie which is suitably recorded as "Lochiel’s Farewell to Tony
Szeto" by Peter Elmes & his Scottish Dance Band.
Iain also says: “You will notice that my dance is similar to Ron Arrowsmith's dance "The Royal Deeside Railway"
(RSCDS Book 40). I originally thought that Ron may have based his dance on mine - Mendocino being in northern
California and not that far from Vancouver. However, I have found that Ron had also devised his dance in 1987 -
obviously, quite independently of myself.”
