Four-person schottische

Formation: Couples stand in a large circle with a simple hand-hold, facing counter-clockwise. Two couples dance together as a group. The first couple places their outer hands on their shoulders, and the couple behind grasps these hands with their own outer hands.

It can be danced with bytomfot steps or schottische steps, and optionally with walking steps or hopping steps.

First Turn – «walk outside»

a) Start with the outer foot and dance two bytomfot steps/reinlender steps forward (1–8). b) The first couple releases the inner hand-hold, but maintains the outer hold with the second couple. The first couple walks or hops four steps outwards and backwards, away from each other, and meets again behind the second couple. At the same time, the second couple walks or hops four small steps forward and now becomes the first couple (1–8). Repeat the first turn once more, so that you return to the starting point (1–8).

Second Turn – «sneaking turn»

a) Repeat point a) in the first turn (1–8). b) The first couple walks or hops four steps backward with the same hand-hold, but with a slightly bent body posture. The second couple walks or hops four steps forward while lifting their inner arms and forming an arch. The first couple backs through the arch. Then the second couple follows around for one round without letting go, so that the couples have switched places (1–8). Repeat the second turn twice (2×(1–8)), so that you return to the starting point. Repeat the dance from the start.

Progression (learning)

The dance is easiest to learn with bytomfot steps and walking steps. In this form, it is often called Lazy Schottische.

For the youngest dancers, walking steps can be used throughout the dance. When they eventually learn reinlender steps, these steps can be used instead.