Virginia reel (dance)
The Virginia reel is a folk dance that dates from the 17th century. Though the reel may have its origins in Scottish country dance and the Highland reel, and perhaps have an even earlier origin from an Irish dance called the Rinnce Fada, it is generally considered to be an English country dance. The dance was most popular in America from 1830 to 1890.
The Virginia reel was a popular dance, with slight regional variations. This has given rise to a large number of dances called the Virginia reel, all of which share certain similarities, such as the reel figure, in which the dancers at the head of the line alternately swing each other and the other dancers in the line.
History
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the Virginia reel stems from the Rinnce Fadha, a pre-Christian Irish dance. It evolved into the English dance called the Sir Roger de Coverley. English colonists brought the dance to Virginia and the Sir Roger de Coverley in time became the Virginia reel.Description
Described below is one version of the Virginia reel.The dancers usually line up in two lines of 5-8 couples, partners facing each other. Traditionally men would line up on one side, and women on the other, but that is not necessary. The lines have a head and a foot, with the head couple being the nearest the band or music source and the foot couple at the other end of the line. This formation is the same for any version of the Virginia reel.
The following calls are given by the leader for beginners, or where there are several sets, so that the different sets do the figures at the same time.
;Head lady and foot gentleman forward and back.
;Forward again with both hands round.
;Do-si-do
;Head couple gallops four times through the aisle and back.
;Right arm to partner and reel.
;The march
Variations
When the head couple reach the foot of the set, they stop, join both hands to form an arch while the couples behind them join hands and go under the arch and up the center toward the head position. This leaves the original head couple at the foot and the second couple now becomes the head couple.Another variation involves all couples participating in the advance and retire, the two-hand turn and the do-si-so with their own partners.