Strip The Willow - learn the steps with Robbie Shepherd

[@PoubelleKansas]

My uncle, an American B-17 pilot, wrote in his diary that he danced "Strip the Willow" at a country dance near Stornoway in September of 1943. His partner was Muriel MacCloud.

[@chelsieclaire1473]

This is so elegant that it doesn't capture my childhood memories of getting nearly kicked in the shins and shouting at everyone to get out of your way before you accidentally hurt them.

[@Keeping_It_Kyle]

I remember having about 30 people in the line and some throwing up lol

[@slayert0ny744]

@@Keeping_It_Kyle and someone halfway down the line made up their own version and the next round became it

[@anniebananie553]

LOL! "Here, unlike in Ceilidhs, the turn is controlled." YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT! I was baffled when I saw the people in this video were primly holding hands; in the Strip the Willow I know and love you better hook your elbow around the other person's TIGHT if you don't want to be tossed into oblivion. Best dance ever!!!

[@chloesharkey]

I cannot disagree with you, my last ceilidh I ended up on the floor I was spun that fast 🙈

[@anniebananie553]

Dangerously fun! :D

[@StormEyes1991]

Well it depends on the speed of the dance. If it's fast hang on for dear life!

[@samconduct1356]

Yes! Truth!

[@hamishwrobb8749]

No other way to do this dance 🤣🤣

[@samconduct1356]

In a real full blooded Ceilidh the gloves are off. Forget elegance and finesse it's every man and woman for themselves.

[@Keeping_It_Kyle]

It’s war out there

[@drrd4127]

I am from Scotland, I come from a small village, I had to dance like this in school, it was wonderful when you got to dance with a handsome boy but torture when you got a boy you hate.

[@amiramalak9772]

yeah but they probably felt the same about the lassies hahahaha

[@laurabohlander5985]

It's not the strip the willow unless your ankles are in genuine danger tbh 🤣

[@5Kato]

Hahahah true true this is far too tame

[@johnmudd6453]

Ceilidh dancing is Scotland's answer to unarmed combat

[@nadiamurchie1949]

were aw tryin this every new year n get it wrong we just fling each other aboot

[@Varshamohanta]

Wow, this looks like so much fun! 😍 I want to learn and try this sometime in my life. 🤩

[@rightgirlwrongplanet]

We were introduced to Scottish country dancing in my suburban, middle-class primary school. It was mid-1980s. I was the the only Sikh Punjabi in the class. When the teacher invited the boys to choose a partner, I was picked last by the most unpopular boy. The rejection by my all-white peers was keenly felt and was one of the reasons my self-esteem was so low during school. I dreaded Scottish dancing for this very reason. Watching this video might look twee through the prism of adulthood now. But back then, it was the source of humiliation.

[@LadyAriella1960]

In the SCA, it was sometime called "Spin and Puke" and they'd play it very fast indeed

[@benkoskinen3871]

Ohhhh I should have watched this before we did in school, I just moved to Scotland I had no idea what to do

[@decietfuldolphin986]

hope you’re adapting well!

[@BlossomFlowerGirl]

I remember dancing this on a Saturday afternoon at the Star ballroom. Being a starry eyed teenager it was the favourite only beaten by the Mexican Hat Dance!

[@monicahay1286]

It might only be my family but for this dance we used the rule, scream if you want to go faster!

[@ahuman8133]

That sounds about right for a ceilidh

[@flyinspirals]

Very helpful, thank you from the US!

[@bethc5944]

when ye would dance this at school and actual feeling so dizzy afterwards lol

[@rightgirlwrongplanet]

We were introduced to Scottish country dancing in my suburban, middle-class primary school. It was mid-1980s. I was the the only Sikh Punjabi in the class. When the teacher invited the boys to choose a partner, I was picked last by the most unpopular boy. The rejection by my all-white peers was keenly felt and was one of the reasons my self-esteem was so low during school. I dreaded Scottish dancing for this very reason. Watching this video might look twee through the prism of adulthood now. But back then, it was a source of humiliation. I remember some of the boys wouldn't physically touch my hands. I don't know if that was a widespread phenomenon. I daren't ask other girls for risk of being further humiliated.

[@theprettyaverage9899]

Childhood memories 😊

[@hannahtownsley3940]

That is fantastic ❤ love it not kidding

[@marimbamuma]

thank you - such beautiful dance instructional videos - such good dancers too.

[@williamnethercott4364]

I remember this as being fast, exhausting and fun.

[@yellowfite]

We love this dance here in New Zealand

[@number1angel66]

I'm English, Irish, Scottish and German and should know this dance but sadly I grew up with a mother who knew nor seemed to care nothing about dancing. Her mother died when she was eight but apparently my grandmother loved dance as much as I do. I now live in an area where the only dancing is a mixture of country and other American dances, none of which are as fun and potentially dangerous as this! I learned of this dance through a book I'm currently reading, titled Royals. Not at all my favorite genre but I'm glad I stepped out of my comfort zone! Blessings to all in love and light!🙏🏼💜🙏🏼💙🙏🏼💚🙏🏼💛🙏🏼🧡🙏🏼

[@stuartberesford3585]

?

[@johnmudd6453]

No you are American with mixed ancestry

[@Hannahgrace901]

This is so beautiful

[@steviemacmuttley]

fabulous dance.

[@JJsWonders]

Great dance. Pro tip: don't down a couple of pints just before this one....

[@kerrypeterson554]

This video is so passive aggressive against ceilidh dancing 😂

[@jennieredhead]

I got a bruise from this dance... And I don't mean a wee one I mean one that looked like I had has a few rounds with Mohammed Ali... ceildh dancing is no for the faint hearted

[@mubarakabegum5386]

beautiful

[@c.m.196]

Lovely

[@nightkeo7538]

I know this dance!! It's very funny dance. Russia.

[@froggystyle642]

Watch at 3x speed if you want any kind of authenticity

[@KrisHughes]

I much prefer the wilder ceilidh style, but Shepherd's explanation is spot on. Why is this listed under "Comedy"????

[@crazy4beatles]

oh, so that's what this dance supposed to look like. Hehe I had the biggest bruise on my arms from hooking elbows as the only way to avoid falling during the turns.

[@deerlamp]

We do it wrong then, at our school the top couple spins for 16 and then we both split off at the same time at the start and then spin with a person at the side then meet in the middle yo spin then split off again all the way dosn

[@rhiannaquin8029]

Good

[@_Ben4810]

They are just doing a "What footballer's injury have you sustained & how...?" on talkSPORT radio, & someone messaged that their friend ruptured her ACL whilst Stripping The Willow...!?! He said she went down as if she'd been snipered...!!! 😆😆😆

[@Randorr]

Aa I mind doing these in school growing up :)

[@horselover4934]

God why every year do we have to do this every year in school 😔😔😔😣😣😣😱😱😱😱😤😤😤😤😤🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😑😑😑😑🙄🙄🙄🙄

[@salvatoremanfredid115]

Hi, does the tune played by the guy with the accordion have a specific name?

[@brendanoleary8854]

Hi Salvatore - there are two tunes. The first in Amaj sounds like "Kenny Gillies of Portnalong", and the second in Dmaj is definitely "Jig Run Rig" by Fergie MacDonald. Very sedate compared to the way they are normally played, but a good speed for learning.

[@maryjanebrubaker1997]

Salvatore Manfredi D The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra does the song for this dance under the same name as this dance.

[@o.mcneely4424]

Unless you’re getting spun like the teacups at Disney and in immediate peril every time you reach for a new partner…this ain’t Strip the Willow 🤣

[@friendlydark]

going to my first scottish wedding next weekend and i had no idea what a ceilidh was until now

[@nutyyyy]

Hope you survived

[@latish8355]

❤❤❤💋💋💋

[@kiconco90]

Haha if you are not Scottish this will look soooo confusing

[@davidthaler7018]

Not really. This bears a striking resemblance to an American square/country dance called "The Virginia Reel." I'm told that the state of Virginia has, or once had, a Scottish community, which, if true, would explain the similarity.

[@VittoMar]

Cambiano i popoli e le lingue ma finisce sempre a tarantella napulitan :D

[@gilbertmoyes2918]

Why is this classified by this bbc as comedy 😠

[@ospreybird]

:-)