The Culver City Collection

Where the Grass is Greener

A 32-bar Strathspey for 3 couples

Devised by Oberdan Otto
for Margaret Smith

wishing Margaret and Eric well as they uproot from sunny Southern California
and settle in the lush green of Oregon
1-8:
First couple dance figures of eight on own sides around second and third couples, beginning by dancing in and down and giving hands where possible.
9-16:
First and second couples dance the Knot, 1st couple end facing first corners.
17-24:
Set to corners and dance about:

First couple set facing first corners, dance around each other to the right to face second corners, set facing second corners, dance around each other to the right to end in second place on own sides.

Meanwhile: all corners set facing the center of the dance, then each dance a small circle around to the left, returning to the starting position in two steps; corners then repeat.
25-32:
Spiraling circle and back:

Second, first and third couples circle to the left one step; retaining hands, advance to the center one step; releasing hands pull back on the right shoulder and dance out one step, joining hands again to circle to the left one more step; circle to the right one step; retaining hands, advance to the center one step; releasing hands pull back on the left shoulder and dance out one step, advancing around the circle (no hands) counter-clockwise on the last step to end in the side lines.
Repeat, having passed a couple.

The first figure depicts driving around the rolling hills of their former home in Rancho Palos Verdes, while the second figure depicts being tied up in knots, so to speak, on the southern California freeways. In the third figure the Smiths meet their new neighbors, while in the fourth figure, they occasionally make it back to the Southland to visit their old acquaintances.

© Copyright, 1986, by Oberdan Otto
184 Estaban Drive, Camarillo, CA 93010-1611, U.S.A.

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