Vol 1.1                                                                                      Fall 2009

The above photo was taken at the Altamont Highland Games circa the late 1940's. Do you know anyone in the photo? Let's see how many of the dancers we can identify. E-mail Pat Johnson at patriciatj@aol.com with your submissions. They will be published in a later edition of FUSTA Footwork. Click on photo for a larger view.

Old Steps Booklet
The “Old Steps” booklet is now available from the SOBHD.  The cost is £7.  The SOBHD has also put together some DVD’s of vintage dancing made from old reel to reel films.  These are not currently available for purchase, but hopefully they will be in the future.

Highland Fling - 100 years ago
The following Highland Fling was collected by noted folkdance educator and collector Elizabeth Burchenal, in her 1909 book Folk Dances and Singing Games. The steps were edited and analyzed by Valerie Wilcox (FUSTA Eastern region) to make them more readily understood by using modern SOBHD terminology.

Introduction: 4 bars (16 counts). Stand for first 11 counts; leap (count 12) ; land LF 3 pos (count 13); pause (14); leap (+); land (15); pause (16)

Step 1: "Simple Fling:" Same as for SOBHD first step; second position uses equal weight on both feet, which are only slightly apart; hands are down on turns; the raised arm does not go higher than the head

Step 2: Hop RF 2 pos, hop RF 3 Rear Aerial, hop RF 4 Intermediate, hop RF 3 Aerial; spring, turn shedding LF. Repeat contra. Repeat all.

Step 3: "Backfooting" repeat bar 1 of step 2; 4 backsteps; repeat contra; repeat all.
Arms are down for the backsteps.

Step 4: "Side step" shedding RF; spread (count 1), pause (2), hop L traveling L while bringing RF to 3 Aerial low (+3), spring up separating feet (+), assemble L3 (4)

Step 5: Rocking same as SOBHD rocking step

Step 6: "Front footing" Spring RF 2 pos, hop RF 3 Rear Aerial, 2 frontsteps; hop RF 4 Intermediate , RF 3 Aerial, repeat counts 1 & 2; 4 backsteps; spring, turn shedding LF; repeat all contra

Step 7: Spring RF 2 pos, hop RF 3 Rear Aerial, hop RF 3 Aerial, beat RF 3 Aerial again; hop RF 4 Intermediate Aerial, hop RF 3 Aerial, spring LF 3 Rear Aerial, hop LF 3 Aerial; repeat contra; repeat all

Step 8: Toe and Heel as for SOBHD step 3

Step 9: The Finish Shedding RF; hop RF 2 pos, hop RF 3 Rear Aerial, hop RF 4 Intermediate, hop RF 3 Aerial; spring, 2 turn sheddings LF; repeat contra
Note: when the arms change, the hands pass in front of the body, and the thumb touches the second finger

Do you have something from the past that would be fun to share?
Click here to submit your oldie but goodie!