Origins of, and Stories about, the Titles of Dances in the RSCDS Books

RSCDS Book1 No. 3 Circassian Circle Date of Publication: Published in "The Ballroom, 1827," with a difference. Origins/Composer: Collected Locally Ref. RSCDS Stories: "Among Circassians, you must dance if you are to be one of the people, dance if you are to feel life in your veins. Dance. Dance. Dance. 'Circassian' is the collective name given to several peoples of the North Caucasus, and includes the many Adyghe tribes and often the Kabardian tribes as well. To them, like the Chechens and various peoples of Daghestan, dancing is something one learns as part of one's upbringing. Each individual is expected to know either the music or dances of their people, and preferably both. It's a social function, a part of life, even if only in landmark events such as weddings. There is no real need for an excuse to dance; anywhere is fine so long as the musicians are there and there is enough space. But this combination rarely comes together, so ...

RSCDS Book1 No. 2 Triumph Date of Publication: Described in "The Ballroom, 1827" Origins/Composer: "Introduced by Nathaniel Gow, 1808".  Collected locally Ref. RSCDS Stories: Picture: Instructions: THE TRIUMPH  (R4x24) 4C set Nathaniel Gow RSCDS Book 1 1- 8 1s lead down the middle and back to top, 1M presenting 1L to 2M 9-16 1L+2M with nearer hands joined dance down the middle followed by 1M, 1L+2M turn inwards (holding hands) and with crossed arms gives LH to partner, 1M+2M join free hands in arch over Ladies head and all 3 dance up in "Triumph", 2M returns to place 17-24 1s dance special Poussette (¼ turn, travel, ¼ turn, ¼ turn, travel, ¼ turn, ½ turn) down the middle to 4th place as 2s+3s+4s step up (MINICRIB, Dance Crib compiled by Charles Upton, Deeside Caledonian Society, and his successors) Video: https://www.scottish-country-dancing-dictionary.com/video/triumph.html

RSCDS Book1 No. 1 Petronella Origins of the name: From Maxi Crib: "Written variously as 'Petronelle' 'Paternally' 'Paternella', the name's origin is unknown." Date of Publication: Described in "The Ballroom, 1827." Origins/Composer: Introduced by Nathaniel Gow at his Annual Ball in Edinburgh, 1820. Stories: Petronella was the younger sister of Eleanor of Aquitaine, (who gets a lot of bad press in books and plays written by English-speaking persons. Well, a woman who managed to marry a King of France, a King of England, and have two English kings for sons probably created a lot of envy among the few nobles paying the historians.) Back to Petronella. The two sisters grew up with a grandfather who was called the troubador poet even though he was a noble who owned more of France than the King of France. Why wouldn't a tune have been named after one of the girls? They lived at the time of the crusades and h...