Dance Circassian (Big) Circle 14679

Also known as “Circassian Circle” (unofficial).

Reel · 32 bars · 1 couple · Circle (Progression: ChangePtnr)

Devised by

Unknown

Intensity

8/4/8/8 = 87% (whole dance)

Formations

Steps

Pas-de-Basque, Skip-Change, Slip-Step, Tulloch turn

Extra Info: This dance (Single Circle) has no relationship to the dance “Circassian Circle” in RSCDS Book 1 #3. (Couple facing Couple …

This dance (Single Circle) has no relationship to the dance “Circassian Circle” in RSCDS Book 1 #3. (Couple facing Couple ). Many variants of this dance exist, but the original source is unknown, and might not exist.

This dance has been entered using the video of the Edinburgh team’s display in Newcastle 2012 as source. The Edinburgh Branch seem to have worked from online sources, and say that they used a “variation” of this dance.

A broad overview of dances called “Circassian Circle” can be found on Andrew Timmins’ website at https://www.libraryofdance.org/dances/circassian-circle/

Supplement: The website https://www.dancilla.com/wiki/index.php/Circassian_Circle tells us that the Community Dances Manual 1, 1949, (still available from the English Folk Dance And Song Society; Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regent’s Park Rd, London NW1 7AY.) has the following entry where both dances are combined:

The Circassian And The Big Circle (Collected by Maud Karpeles in Northumberland)

PART 1: The Cercassian Circle (jig tune) Form: Progressive Sicilian Circle (couple facing couple). A.1. Right and left through or woman cross over (left) and men cross over (right), and repeat to places. A.2. Partners balance right and left. Partners swing. B.1. “Ladies Chain” B.2. Swing and change OR Promenade on to next couple.

PART 2: The Big Cercle (reel tune) All join hands in one ring: Each man with his partner on his right facing centre. A.1.Forward and back twice. A.2. Woman to centre and back again. Men go in and back to contrary partner, i.e. the woman on his left. B.1. Swing her round. B.2. Promenade around and repeat as from A.1."

Could this double variant be the reason why these unsimilar dances have such similar names?

“Name” column: normal = designated recording, greyed-out = designated but not official lead tune, italic = possible match found in DB (watch number of repeats!)

	Name	Artist	Album	Media	Trk	Type	Time	Pace	Clip
	Circassian Circle	George Stirrat and his Scottish Dance Band	–	–	-	R32 8	4:39	34.9

Circassian (Big) Circle 1C · R32

All form a big circle facing in, M with P on their R
Progressive variation

1-: All A&R ; repeat
9-: All W Advance, clap, Retire ; all M Advance, clap, pivot and advance to next W on original P’s Left
17-: All set twice ; birl new P into promhold
25-: All promenade cclw and reform circle

E-cribs (Roland Telle)

Circassian (Big) Circle 1C · R32

Single Circle RR, all face in, W on M’s right

1-: All C advance to centre and retire ; repeat
9-: All W advance to centre, clap and retire ; All M advance to centre, turn and advance to partners
17-: All swing partners into promhold facing cclw
25-: All C promenade cclw to reform original circle

Note. Variant with progression:

13-: All M advance to centre, turn and advance to cnr (W on M’s left in original circle)
17-: All swing new partners into promhold facing cclw

SCDDB Contributed Cribs & Diagrams

Circassian (Big) Circle 1C · R32

All form circle around the room with partner on Man’s right

1-8: All dance in 4 steps & out, repeat
9-16: Ladies dance in 4 steps, clap & out again, Men do the same but turn to face partner as they dance out
17-24: All swing partners & end facing anticlockwise round the room
25-32: All Promenade anticlockwise 8 steps

Note: There are many variations to be found on the internet. The dance source is unknown

MiniCribs

Keith Rose's Diagrams

Combined View

Watch on YouTube