Vierer-Schottisch/en

Vierer Schottisch (Schottischer foursome)

also called: Die Kutsche (The Coach)

Form

pairs in circle facing ballroom direction, inner hands joined; two pairs build a coach by girls joining their right hands and boys joining their left hands (arms relatively stretched).

Steps

Schottisch steps (step-close-step hop: lrll or rlrr) and hop-steps

Dance

A, Bar 1-2: two Schottisch-steps forward, beginning with outside feet

Bar 3- 4: four hop steps; front couple dropping inner hands cast away behind second pair and join hands again, while second couple dance forward.

Bar 5-8: As 1- 4 with new front couple

A Repetition: Repetition of 1-8

B Bar 9-10: two Schottisch steps forward Bar 11-12: back pair step-hops forward four steps building an arch with inner hands while front pair is tunnelling under between second pair, doing the steps nearly in position. During the last two steps the new front pair has to turn inwards a whole revolution without releasing hands.

Bar 13-14: two Schottisch steps forward

Bar 15-16: as 11 – 12 with new front couple

B Repetition: Repetition of 9-16

Steps Rheinländer foursome

Bar 1, 5, 9, 13:	one step-close-step to the left forward            
Bar 2, 6, 10, 14:	one step-close-step to the right forward          
rest:	        	As above, but using hop-steps

Note

This dance is also known in Sweden under the name “Fyramanna Schottisch”. The name “Kutsche” was used in North Germany. It eventually came to Austria, where it developed to a form of the Rheinländer using step-close-steps (beginning with same feet) instead of the Schottisch steps and only walking steps instead of the hop steps. When the Coach is danced as the end of a Rheinländer potpourri the repetitions are omitted.

Source

• Herbert Lager, Alte Tänze für junge Leute
• Translated by Sissy Banner, Amstetten/NÖ, Austria