WELCOME TO An Entertainment Site for Scottish Country Dancers - Enjoy the curated selection of theme-related dances for celebrations and holidays, or find a dance associated with a special calendar day, or EVEN your own birthday!
Built in Port Glasgow, in 1874, the Dunedin in 1876, wearing the colours of Shaw, Savill & Albion Line of London (retained in 1882) -Painting by Frederick Tudgay (1841–1921)
World Maritime Days
Sep 26
Other Scottish Country Dances for this Day
Today's Musings, History & Folklore
"On a new-rigged ship we danced with glee,
A hornpipe’s call, the salt-stung sea,
The deck below, a jig's bold flight,
Beneath the stars, in silver light.
The ocean's hum our tune to keep,
We spun and swayed where the wave crests leap."
Ahoy landlubbers and salty sea dogs alike! If you're eager to celebrate World Maritime Days in style, why not start with some sailor stripes and this rousing 48 bar seafaring jig! World Maritime Day, generally celebrated the last week of September, recognizes the maritime industry, seafarers, and related activities! Celebrate all things shipshape with the circles and reels in this dance, and be sure to keep your sea legs under you when setting! For a variation with 4 couples active rather than 3, try the similar "The New Rigged Hip"! 🤪 🚢 ⚓
The New Rigged Ship
World Maritime Day recognizes the importance of sea travel and transport. A nation's shipping fleet (merchant navy, merchant marine, merchant fleet) consists of the ships operated by civilian crews to transport passengers or cargo from one place to another. For parts known and unknown, sailors have explored our oceans and seas from the beginning.
Stone tools discovered on the island of Crete have discovered stone tools indicating ocean exploration capabilities of early humans dating to at least 130,000 years ago.
Ocean exploration itself coincided with the developments in shipbuilding, diving, navigation, depth, measurement, exploration, and cartography and was undertaken by the Greeks, Egyptians, the Polynesians, the Phoenicians, and others. The sextant was one of the navigation tools invented in the 18th century by British mathematical instrument makers that permitted mariners to find their position much better than ever before. The sextant became the most essential instrument for celestial navigation.
See below for a video of the dance performed by the
Chiswick Scottish Country Dance Club, 2013.
And for more about the sextant and other tools used for historical navigation, click the Scottish Ship flying the Scottish Red Ensign flag, unknown artist, 1650-1674.
Click the dance cribs or description below to link to a printable version of the dance!
