Scottish Country Dance of the Day

This busy 48 bar reel for 6 couples leaves little enough time for a kiss but does require some concentration!

This dance, devised by Ralph Stoddard, takes its name from one of Robert Burns's most poignant and enduring songs.

Burns enclosed the song in the final letter he wrote to Agnes "Nancy" McLehose in 1797, as she prepared to sail for Jamaica in hopes of reconciling with her estranged husband, James McLehose. Written in Dumfries and now preserved in the National Library of Scotland, the letter tells Nancy that he is sending her several newly composed songs, among them the deeply moving Ae Fond Kiss.

Burns and Nancy had first met in Edinburgh four years earlier, when Burns was still unmarried. Although their relationship remained largely one of letters rather than physical meetings, their correspondence became one of the great romantic exchanges of Scottish literature. Writing under the affectionate pseudonyms Sylvander and Clarinda, they shared passionate, witty, and deeply personal letters that revealed both their affection and the impossibility of a future together.

Ae Fond Kiss expresses Burns's profound sorrow at their parting. With its unforgettable opening, "Ae fond kiss, and then we sever," the song captures the bittersweet pain of saying farewell to a cherished love.

Fortunately, while Burns's words may tug at the heartstrings, this spirited reel is sure to lift the spirits and set feet flying! 🕺 💃 💙 🤍 💙 ✍️ 💋 💌 💌 💌

Farewell to the old year with hopes for health and courage to face the new! This strathspey was published by Thomas Wilson in 1816 and interpreted by the RSCDS Book 27 in 1975. With an inverse allemande and a poussette, there is ample opportunity to greet all members of the set. Thomas Wilson, a prominent dance master and author from the early 19th century, was based in London and is best known for his extensive writings on dance, including several manuals that described the dances, etiquette, and techniques of the time.