Playing the Field

3 x 32 bars - Jig for four couples in a square set

First figure
1 - 8 All circle round and back.
9 - 16 All dance a half grand chain (2 steps to each hand).
17 - 20 1st and 3rd couples dance half rights and lefts.
21 - 24 1st couple with 2nd couple (in 4th position) dance a half ladies' chain as 3rd couple with 4th couple (in 2nd position) dance a half ladies' chain.
25 - 28 Couples in 2nd and 4th positions dance half rights and lefts.
29 - 32 1st couple with 2nd couple dance a half ladies' chain as 3rd couple with 4th couple dance a half ladies' chain. On bars 31 to 32, as the men give left hands to their original partners they dance into the middle of the set to join right hands as the ladies pull back their left shoulders to join nearer hands with their partners so that they are all facing clockwise in a big wheel.

Second figure
1 - 2 All dance right hands across in a big wheel quarter-way round the set.
3 - 4 All the ladies cast back one place as the men continue to dance right hands across half-way round the set and give left hands to a new partner.
5 - 6 All dance right hands across in a big wheel quarter-way round the set.
7 - 8 All the ladies cast back one place as the men continue to dance right hands across half-way round the set and finish back-to-back in the centre facing another new partner. All the men are now half-way round the set and the ladies are in their original positions.
9 - 16 The men dance Hello/Good Bye setting to finish back-to-back in the centre of the set facing their original partners.
17 - 20 All change right hands with partners so that the ladies finish back-to-back in the centre and all set to their partners.
21 - 32 All dance double reels of four and finish in original places.

Third figure
1 - 8 All dance a half grand chain (2 steps to each hand).
9 - 12 2nd and 4th couples dance half rights and lefts.
13 - 16 2nd couple with 3rd couple (in 1st position) dance a half ladies' chain as 4th couple with 1st couple (in 3rd position) dance a half ladies' chain.
17 - 20 Couples in 1st and 3rd positions dance half rights and lefts.
21 - 24 2nd couple with 3rd couple dance a half ladies' chain as 4th couple with 1st couple dance a half ladies' chain, all finishing with their original partners in original places.
25 - 32 All circle round and back.

NB: In the 2nd figure, bars 1 - 4, the ladies have a little difficulty in casting back from the big wheel into place ready for bar 5. The same problem arises bars 5 - 6. We have overcome the problem by the ladies "borrowing" a bit on bars 2 and 6. If they dance on ONE step in the big wheel, hands held with partners, and then on bars 2 and 6 release hands and start to cast, they can continue the cast on bars 3 - 4, and 7 - 8.

Devised by Sue Tyler in 2008 at the request of Bridport Scottish Dancers in memory of Bill Allan, who enjoyed the company of the lady dancers, but always returned home to his wife, Kathleen.

Music: MacPherson's Jig, as played by Ian Cruickshanks & his Band on the CD "Lassie Come & Dance Wi' Me" (KCN001CD).