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The Donald Collection

The Donald Collection of the Scottish Dance Archives website was run by Bob and Mamie Donald for many years. Having decided to retire, they kindly asked if RSCDS London would provide a place for the it within our website, which we are pleased to do and we have housed the index since 2020.

The Donald Collection is in three sections:

1. The books, papers and manuscripts of the Donald Collection are held at the Central Library in Edinburgh and comprise:

  • about 150 dance books

  • about 1800 dances (about 250 of those have dance instructions online here, see 3. below)

  • plus various dance items

  • anyone is welcome to view the collection, however, items cannot be borrowed.

3. Dance instructions on line, for the interest of dancers and teachers. The Scottish Dance Archives collated dance instructions for about 250 dances and presented them in PDF files online for easy access for dancers and teachers. 

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You can read Bob Donald's article in The Reel, issue 308 about the development of the Scottish Dance Archives.

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Dance instructions online for dancers and teachers, scroll through the dances below or use the filters to focus on your areas of interest.

Edinburgh Central Library, home of the Donald Collection of books, papers and manuscripts

2. Index of the Scottish Dance Archives, to assist readers and researchers Bob Donald has provided an index of the hard copy material, presented here online. Click through to the index page for information on how to navigate the index.

Scottish Dance Archives have permission from the devisors to place these dance instructions and sheet music online for personal use only. Read Bob Donald's article in The Reel, issue 308.

Remember to set the filters you are not using back to All.

Reel steps

Strathspey steps

Exercises in technique, jig time

Allemande

Promenade

Reel of three (Part 1)

Reel of three (Part 2)

2d Jig

After the Ball

With music

Airie Bennan

Alister McAlister

Ann Nisbet

Arran Sword Dance

Auchencairn

Auld Robin Gray

Australian Ladies

Awa' tae the fair

Awa', whigs, awa'

Balmaclellan

Banks of Spey

Bannockburn Reel (The)

Bateau Bay

Be seeing you

Belfast Almanac (The)

Belle of the Ball

With music

Beyond the Black Stump

Birkie lads

Black Mountain Reel (The)

Black Walnut

Blervie Castle

Blithe and Cheery

Bonnie Stronshiray

Bonnie Mally Lee

Bonspiel

Border Reiver's Reel

Brian Boru

Brier (The)

Bruce Trail (The)

Cairncross

Caledonian Reel

Cairnsmore of Carsphairn

Caledon Hills

Caller Herrin'

Campbell of Duntroon

Campbelltown Loch

Campsie Glen

Capstan

With music

Captain Henderson’s Hornpipe

With music

Captain's Round

With music

Castles in the Air

Catch me if you can

Christina McLellan

Contrary Kate

Corriearrack

Craigellachie Brig

Creel (The)

Crossmichael

Cutty Sark

David Findlay Jig (The)

Davy Glen's Strathspey

Davy Nick Nack

Dear Gladys

Donna's Diamonds

Dr Donald's Delight

Drambuie

Draw the Sword Scotland

Dunbar Road

Duncan’s Dance

With music

Dundee Whaler

Dundrennan

Earlston Loch

Ebba Reel

Expert Dancer

Fankle, The

Farewell my Fancy

Fiacaill Ridge (The)

Findhorn Medley

Fine Fettle

Fiona's Fancy

Flitting

For Lack of Gold

Fortnight at St Andrews

Fountain (The)

Fun at the Fair

Gallant Weaver

Gavin's Reel

General Ritchie's Reel

Geneva Park

Gladstone

Glasgow Assemby

Glenfiddich

Glenfinnan Gathering

Glengrant

Glenlochar

Glenmore Rant

Golden Ring

Green Lochan

Green Well of Scotland (The)

Grey Mare's Tail

Guid To Ken Ye

With music

Gushet Neuk

Half and Half

With music

Half way there

Hamish McThistle

With music

Hand in Hand

Hanselling the Hoose (or Formby Frolic)

Harvest Time

He Danced Awa'

Heights of Alma (The)

Heir of Errol

Hey Johnny Cope (Roy Clowes)

Hey, Johnnie Cope (Hugh Foss)

Hi Kiwi

Hidden Loch (The)

High Bridge of Ken

Hunter Valley Strathspey

With music

Hunter’s Run

Ian Powrie's Farewell to Auchterarder

Illabo Rant

Illabo Reel

In the Garb of Old Gaul

Inver Inn

Ironbung Creek

Isle of Arran Strathspey

Jamie's Hornpipe

Jig for Charlie (A)

With music

Jimmy's Jig

Jindalee Jig

Jitney (The)

John Anderson's Reel

John Grumlie

John of Baldenyon

Johnnie's Jig

Kenny Paul of West Linton

Killiecrankie Reel (The)

Kilrymont

Kinfauns Castle

Kingdom of Strathclyde

Kirrie Kebbuck (The)

Kishmul's Castle

Laird o' Thrums (The)

Lake McQuarrie Reel

With music

Landscape Gardener (The) or Mrs Clowe's Complaint or The Gardener's Strathspey)

Lanimer Reel

Lassies and Laddies

Leslie's Strathspey

Let Us Dance At Medowie

With music

Let's Have a Ceilidh

Lieutenant Shortland’s Reel

With music

Lightning Ridge

Lily of the Vale

Links o' Forth

Lions International

Little Larrikin

Lobster in the Pot

Loch Doon Castle

Lochskerrow

London Reel

Long Paddock

Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton Reel (The)

Lord of the Dance

Lovat Scouts (The)

Luck to Loyne

Luckenbooth Brooch (The)

MacDonald of the Isles

Macdonald's Galley

MacFarlane's Strathspey

Mackay of Strathnaver

MacLauchlane

Marquis of Huntley's Farewell (The)

Maskelia

Mattara Strathspey

With music

McEwan's Reel

Millquarter

Mill Wheel (The)

Miss Anne Donaldson

Miss Betsy Robertson

Miss Catherine Stewart

Miss Fleming's Jig

Miss Grant of Elchies

Miss Johnstone of Dumfries

Miss Stewart's Jig

Miss Taylor's Reel

Miss Watt’s Jig

Montreal Rendezvous

Moon Dance

Mr Alexander Laing

Mrs Ian Powrie of West Kirkton

Mrs Rigby's Rant

My Ain Hoose

My Heather Hills

My Mither's aye Glow'rin' Owre Me

My Tocher's the Jewel

Nancy Dawson

New Scotland Reel

Newcastle

Northern Meeting

On the Wings of the Morning

Polharrow Burn

Postie's Jig

Riggs of Corn

Road to Dundee

Roaring Jelly

Rogues' Rant

Rose Tree (The)

Rounds of the Kitchen

With music

Roy's Reel

Scottish Barn Dance

Scottish Man of War

Sea-Horse Frolic

With music

Shake Yourself

Sheena's Fancy

She's Fair and Fause

Shetland Fiddler

Shiftin' Bobbins

Singing Kettle

Sir James Baird's Strathspey

Somebody

Spey in Spate (The)

Speyside Reel (The)

Spinning wheel

Spruce Hill

St Andrew's Flag

St Columban Reel

Stealing the Stone

Stirling Brig

Stobhall

Stroangassel

Swing of the Kilt (The)

Tae the Lassies

Tamworth Chase

With music

Tapsalteerie

Tartan

Thorntonian Jig

With music

Threesome Jig

Thrums Cairn (The)

Tinker's Reel

Traveller's Jig

Trip to the Vineyards

With music

Turtle in the Marsh

Two Black Cats

With music

Underneath the Arches

Uppies and Doonies

With music

Waiting for Joyce

Waiting for the Bairns

Waterfall (The)

Wattle Valley Reel

Wee Cooper o' Fife

Wee Touch o' Class (A)

Welcome All

With music

Welcome to Scotland

We're a Noddin

Wha'll be King but Charlie

Willie-Waught

With music

Witches' Brew

Young Sandy Tulloch

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