Sixteen Hand Reel
Movements
Lead Around (16) Body (64) - 1. Sides (8) 2. Hands Around (8) 3. Sides (8) 4. Hands Around (8) 5. Half Chain (16) 6. Link Arms (16) First Figure - Advance and Retire (1 and 2 - 16, 3 and 4 - 16, 5 and 6 - 16, 7 and 8 - 16) (64) Body (64) Second Figure - Right Hand to Opposite Lady (1 and 2 - 24, 3 and 4 - 24, 5 and 6 - 24, 7 and 8 - 24) (96) Body (64) Third Figure - Arch Arms (1 and 2 - 24, 3 and 4 - 24, 5 and 6 - 24, 7 and 8 - 24) (96) Body (64) The Finish (40)
Couple 7
Leading Second Sides
Couple 5
Leading Second Tops
Couple 3
Leading Sides
Couple 1
Leading Tops
Total Number of Bars
568
Number of Bars in the Body
64
First Figure
Advance and Retire: Leading and opposite tops take inside hand of partner, with promenade step, advance towards each other (2 bars). Retire to place (2 bars). Repeat above movement (4 bars). Partners face each other, take two hands crossed, swing around each other, in an anti-clockwise direction, revolving clockwise back to original position (8 bars). (16 bars) Couples who perform figure in correct order 1 and 2, 3 and 4 (16 bars), 5 and 6 (16 bars), and 7 and 8 (16 bars). 64 bars total.
The Finish
All join hands in a ring, with promenade step advance to centre (2 bars). Retire to place (2 bars). Repeat the movement (4 bars). All sidestep anti-clockwise finishing with two threes (4 bars). Sidestep clockwise (4 bars). Advance and retire as before (8 bars). All sidestep clockwise, finishing with two threes (4 bars), sidestep back to place (4 bars). Release hands, partners take both hands crossed, swing around to the right to finish off (8 bars). 40 bars total.
Third Figure
Arch Arms: Couples 1 and 2 face partner and take two hands crossed. Dance around each other in an anti-clockwise direction, revolving clockwise, to finish at opposite side of set, in centre. (Both couples close to each other) (4 bars) Couple 1 release left hands, raise right hands to form an arch, allow lady 2 pass under arch. Couple 1 make a half turn, allow gent 2 pass under arch to partner. (Both couples now back on own side of set, in centre) (4 bars) Both couples take two hands crossed. Dance around each other, to finish at opposite side of set as before. (Both couples close to each other) (4 bars) This time couple 2 raise right hands to form an arch, allow lady 1 pass under arch. Couple 2 make a half turn, allow gent 1 pass under arch to partner. (Both couples now back on own side of set, in centre) (4 bars) Both couples again take crossed hands. Dance around each other, in an anti-clockwise direction, revolving clockwise, back to original position (8 bars). (24 bars) Couples who perform figure in correct order 1 and 2, 3 and 4 (24 bars), 5 and 6 (24 bars), and 7 and 8 (24 bars). 96 bars total.
4. Hands Around
Couples 1, 2, 3, 4, form a ring with couple on their left, sidestep clockwise finishing with two threes (4 bars). All sidestep anti-clockwise and on the two threes, release hands to return to own place (4 bars). 8 bars total.
2. Hands Around
Couples 1, 2, 3, 4, form a ring with couple on their right, sidestep clockwise finishing with two threes (4 bars). All sidestep anti-clockwise and on the two threes, release hands to return to own place (4 bars). 8 bars total.
6. Link Arms
Gents 1, 2, 3, 4, link right arm, with gent on their right, dance around clockwise (4 bars). Release arms, gent 1, 2, 3, 4, advance take left hand of lady on right, while the other gent takes left hand of lady on left, turn once (2 bars). Release hands, gents advance towards partner passing right shoulder to right, take right hand of partner turn once into own place (2 bars). Partners face each other take both hands crossed, couples 1, 2, 3, 4, swing around with couple on their left, in an anti-clockwise direction, revolving clockwise back to original position (8 bars). 16 bars total.
Couple 8
Opposite Second Sides
Couple 6
Opposite Second Tops
Couple 4
Opposite Sides
Couple 2
Opposite Tops
1. Sides
Partners exchange places with sidestep, gents behind, finishing with two threes (4 bars). All sidestep back to place, gents in front (4 bars). 8 bars total.
3. Sides
Partners exchange places with sidestep, gents behind, finishing with two threes (4 bars). All sidestep back to place, gents in front (4 bars). 8 bars total.
5. Half Chain
Partners face each other, taking right hand in right. With promenade step, gents going in an anti-clockwise direction, ladies clockwise, gents advance taking left hand of lady on right. Continue on taking right and left hand alternately of oncoming ladies, until meeting partner, taking both hands, (right in right, left in left) ladies make half turn with gent on inside (12 bars). All lead around in the direction in which the gent was travelling, back to own place (4 bars). 16 bars total.
Lead Around
Partners take inside hands, with gent's hand underneath lady's. With promenade step all couples dance a complete circle around anti-clockwise back to place. Release hands, turn inward, take other inside hands (8 bars). All couples dance a complete circle back to place. Release hands, turn into original position (8 bars). 16 bars total.
Second Figure
Right Hand to Opposite Lady: With promenade step the top gents advance towards opposite lady, passing right shoulder to right (2 bars). Take right hand in right and turn once (2 bars). Release hands, gents advance towards partner, passing left shoulder to left (2 bars). Take partner's left hand in left and turn once (2 bars). Both gents meet in centre, link right arm in right and make full turn (3 bars). Release link, advance to opposite lady, take left hand in left and turn once (3 bars). The two gents return to partner passing right shoulder to right, take right hand in right and turn into original position (2 bars). Both couples take two hands crossed, dance around each other in an anti-clockwise position, revolving clockwise, back to original position (8 bars). (24 bars) Couples who perform figure in correct order 1 and 2, 3 and 4 (24 bars), 5 and 6 (24 bars), and 7 and 8 (24 bars). 96 bars total.
Intro
This is a sixteen hand dance in reel time, for eight couples. It consists of Lead Around, Body, Three Figures and the Finish.
