Steps, Formations and Progressions
Our tutor Rod Downey provides a list of steps, formations and progressions covered in Johnsonville Beginners’ Classes
Click the short video links below to have a look if you’d like a reminder.
Steps
- Skip change of step
- Slip step (in this case in a circle)
- Strathspey Travelling Step (and Strathspey setting)
- Pas de basque step (you can also look at other videos here)
Terms / Formations
- Up (towards the music)
- Down (away from the music)
- Cast off / cast up (turning away from your partner, pulling back your shoulder)
- Hands round (circle)
- Hands across (wheel)
- Lead down the middle and up (right hand in your partner’s right hand)
- Dance up/down the middle (‘dance’ rather than ‘lead’ means partners join nearer hands, not right hand in right)
- Turn right hand and left hand
- Stepping up/down
- Rights and lefts (danced in a square giving right then left hands)
- Advance and retire
- Back to back
- Slipping down the middle and up
- Half figures of eight across (The video shows the first couple crossing, casting off, and then doing a half figure of eight across.)
- Allemande (in Strathspey time)
- 3 couple promenade
- Full figures of eight (both across, and on the sides)
- Pass right progression (which is one of Rod’s so you won’t find it online). The key being that 1C and 2C only pass partners for 1 bar before turning right.
- ‘Teapots’ (not an official name!) which is two lots of 3 hands across and back, with the dancing couple changing ends
- Poussette (a square formation – you’re either moving or turning, never doing both)
- Corners (first and second)
Progressions
- Once to the bottom (a 4 couple progression) Here is a dance with this progression.
- 2 couple progression in a 4 couple set. Here is a dance with this progression.
- 3 couple progression in a 4 couple set. Here is a dance with this progression, and the numbers on the dancers.
Click here to listen to the music or practise some steps
Rod Downey
March 2021