Virginia reel

Virginia reel

Traditional Irish folk dance performed in lines of couples.

  • 14+ years
  • Group size: 4+
  • Duration: 20 min
  • Dance
  • Mountains, forests and fields
  • Gym / Sports hall
  • Indoor
  • Open space
  • Music

Participants stand in two lines facing each other, with about 2 meters between the lines.

The steps used are walking steps.

First turn – greeting

  • Take three steps towards each other and greet on the fourth by bowing slightly (or bowing/curtseying if it's boys/girls) (1–4). Take four steps backward to the starting position (5–8).
  • Repeat the turn (1–8).

Second turn – arm hook

  • Take two steps forward (1–2), hook right arms with your partner and turn around for the next four steps (3–6). Let go and return to your place (7–8).
  • Repeat the turn with left arm hook (1–8).

Third turn

Both hands – shoulder to shoulder with crossed arms

  • Take two steps forward (1–2), take each other's hands and turn around for the next four steps (3–6). Let go and return to your place (7–8).
  • Take two steps forward (1–2), go around shoulder to shoulder for the next four steps (3–6), with right shoulders towards each other and arms crossed and raised. Return to your place (7–8).

Variant: You can use a “skipping step” shoulder to shoulder instead of regular walking steps.

Fourth turn – sideways hop

  • The first couple takes each other's hands and performs eight sideways hops upwards between the rows (1–8), and does the same back again (1–8). The others stand still, clap and “cheer”.

Fifth turn

Go on the outside – arch where the others pass through

  • The first couple turns out to each side and walks down to the end of the row. The others follow on their respective sides.
  • The first couple forms an arch, and couple number two – with the remaining couples behind them – passes through the arch and all the way to the front, then lines up again in two rows. The second couple is now the first couple, and the dance starts anew.

Progression (learning)

  • Here, you can start directly without preliminary exercises.
  • The first two turns are very simple. Once these are mastered, you build on with the third, practice all three together, etc.
  • For the youngest, you can choose just a few turns and repeat them throughout the dance.