Black Black Fen  

a 7 x 32 bar reel for 7 couples devised at the St Neots Scottish Country Dance Club, Cambridgeshire. We often found ourselves with 7 couples which is an awkward number for 2, 3, 4 or 5 couple dances. This is an adaptation of Black Black Oil for 5 couples that has been stretched by adding another 2 couples in the middle. Any brisk 7 x 32 bar music will do, we use the tune for The Kelpie of Loch Coruisk, but if you have a better idea we will be happy to hear of it. You are welcome to copy and use this, but please retain this attribution.

bars
1-4     1st couple half-turn by the right hand, moving down to face one another across the centre of the dance in second place, then they set to one another. 3rd and 5th couples, similarly, half-turn down to 4th and 6th places respectively and set. (2nd, 4th and 6th couples move up one place each on Bars 1-2)

5-8     1st couple, giving left hands in passing, cross to own sides, then 1st lady casts up round 2nd lady, and dances into the centre of the dance to face 2nd man, while 1st man casts off behind 4th man, and dances into the centre to face 4th lady. 3rd couple dance similarly, 3rd lady finishes facing 4th man, and 3rd man finishes facing 5th lady. 5th couple dance similarly, 5th lady finishes facing 6th man, and 5th man finishes facing 6th lady. (1st man and 3rd lady pass one another by the left between 4th couple; 3rd man and 5th lady pass one another by the left between 6th couple).

9-16     1st lady dances a reel of three across the dance with 2nd couple, passing 2nd man by the right. 1st man and 3rd lady dance a reel of four across the dance with 4th couple. 3rd man and 5th lady dance a reel of four across the dance with 6th couple. 5th man dances a reel of three across the dance with 6th couple, passing 6th lady by the right. 1st, 3rd and 5th couples finish the reels in the centre of the dance between their first corners.  (1st man and 3rd lady pass by the right; 3rd man and 5th lady pass by the right)

17-18     1st, 3rd and 5th couples give left hands to partners and right hands to their first comers and they balance in line.

19-20     1st, 3rd and 5th couples turn their first corners by the right hand into the centre of the dance, where the corners join left hands.

21-22     They balance in line again.

23-24     1st, 3rd and 5th couples turn their first corners by the right hand out to the sides, and finish facing second corners.

25-28     Second corners "pass and turn". At the end, 1st, 3rd and 5th couples turn partners by the right hand half-way around (i.e. to own sides), and retain hold of right hands.

29-32    1st, 3rd and 5th couples continue turning partners by the right hand once around, then cast off one place each on own sides.

Couples should now be in the order 2, 4, 1, 6, 3, 7, 5