Reel
Also known as: Foursome Reel, Reel of Three, Reel of Four, Ríl
History & Cultural Context
Clear references to reels appear in Scotland from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, and the form is defined less by any fixed sequence than by its structure: dancers weave a figure of eight past one another — the reel of three or reel of four — then stop and set, dancing energetic steps in place, then weave again. The music is in 4/4 or cut time with a steady run of even eighth notes and no dotting, which is what makes it feel faster and lighter than a hornpipe at the same metronome mark. The foursome reel was the standard Highland social version, and reels travelled with Scottish and Irish emigration into Cape Breton, New England, Appalachia and Australia, where the interweaving figure survives inside contra dance and square dance as the hey. In Ireland the reel became the most common and fastest of the soft-shoe competition dances, danced with Irish step technique rather than Scottish, and in Scottish Highland competition it survives in set pieces such as the Highland Reel and the Reel of Tulloch. It also stands as the quick companion to the strathspey, the two frequently danced and played as a pair with the reel supplying the release.
Cultural Significance
The reel was the ordinary social dance of Scottish communities for centuries, danced at weddings, harvest gatherings and any occasion with a fiddler, and its small four-person set meant it needed neither a large hall nor a caller. Church disapproval of dancing in some periods pushed it into houses and barns without much reducing it. In Ireland and in emigrant communities abroad it served the same function, and in the twentieth century it moved substantially into the organised worlds of country dance societies and competitive step dancing.
Characteristic Movement & Technique
Travelling is done with a light springing travelling step, the weight kept up and the path curving continuously as dancers pass alternately by right and left shoulders. Setting steps are danced on the spot with elevation and turned-out legs, and this is where technical display lives — the Highland setting steps involve beats of the free foot against the supporting ankle and calf. The upper body stays erect and the arms are held either at the sides or raised, depending on tradition, with no leaning into the direction of travel. Irish competitive reels are danced in soft shoes with high, quiet leaps and pointed feet, so that the effect is buoyant rather than percussive.
Partnering Dynamics
A set dance rather than a couple dance in its original form: the classic Scottish reel is for four dancers, or three, who interweave as a group and have no sustained partner hold. There is no closed hold at all in the traditional forms, though dancers may take hands briefly for a turn. The Irish competition reel is danced solo.
Competitive Context
Reels are danced competitively in at least three living systems. Irish feiseanna include the reel as a standard soft-shoe dance at prescribed tempos, Highland competitions under the Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing include the Highland Reel and the Reel of Tulloch, and Scottish country dance events run team and demonstration competitions in which reel-time dances feature heavily. Cape Breton step dancing sustains a separate percussive reel tradition with its own competitions and gatherings.
Regional Variations
Scottish reels emphasise the set structure and Highland setting technique; Irish reels are faster, denser in step material and largely solo in the competitive tradition. Cape Breton preserves an older percussive style of reel step dancing, close to the floor and tightly tied to the fiddler. In New England and the Canadian Maritimes the reel figure lives on within contra dance as the hey, while the tune type became the backbone of American old-time fiddle repertoire.
Common Misconceptions
The Virginia Reel is not a Scottish reel; it is a longways country dance of English derivation that acquired the name, and it uses different figures. Reel also gets used loosely as a synonym for any fast fiddle tune, which obscures that it names a specific even-eighth-note rhythm distinct from the jig's compound time and the hornpipe's dotted swing. And a reel is not simply a fast strathspey played up to speed; the rhythmic character is fundamentally different.
Peak Popularity
Signature Figures
- Reel of three
- Reel of four
- Figure of eight
- Setting step
- Hey
Notable Codifiers
- Royal Scottish Country Dance Society
- Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing
- An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha (the Irish Dancing Commission)
What to Wear
Attire guidance for Reel and other Historic Gilded Age Ballroom dances. Each card below is sized to the moment — class, practice, social, or competition — because the wardrobe shifts as the stakes do.
Reading the cards
In Class
Regular practice wear with smooth-soled shoes.
Social Dancing
Victorian/Edwardian ball events: women in corseted gowns with trains, men in white tie or period suits. Some events are less strict and welcome Edwardian-inspired modern formalwear.
Competition
Not competed; performed at Victorian balls and historical society events in period costume.
Shoes
Women: pointed-toe shoes with French heels (2"). Men: patent leather shoes or period boots. The era bridged between flat dancing and the heeled Latin shoes of the 20th century.
In Practice
Many Gilded Age groups practice corset-management — modern dancers underestimate how much the corset changes posture and breath.
Price Range
- Budget: Repurposed modern formalwear with period-adjacent silhouette; entry French-heel shoes $80–140.
- Mid: Reproduction Gilded Age gowns and white-tie pieces $400–1,500.
- Premium: Hand-tailored Edwardian costume $2,000–8,000+.
Quick Tips
- •Suede-soled shoes allow controlled sliding and pivoting — essential for most partner dances.
- •Avoid rubber soles on dance floors; they grip too much and can cause knee injuries.
- •Bring a separate pair of clean shoes for the dance floor to keep it in good condition.
Recommended Gear for Reel
Essential equipment and apparel selected for dancers learning Reel.
Women's Cheetah Print Sequin Top Y2K Tie Back Corset Halter Going Out Crop Tops
Verdusa
Under $50
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Sources & Further Reading
Cultural & Historical Context
Reel emerged from Scotland, spreading early to Ireland and northern England during the 1600s—1700s. Understanding the cultural roots, musical traditions, and social circumstances of this era enriches appreciation for the dance's characteristics and significance.
Formative Influences
Codifiers & Standardizers:
Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, Scottish Official Board of Highland Dancing, An Coimisiún le Rincí Gaelacha (the Irish Dancing Commission)
Signature Movement Vocabulary:
Reel of three, Reel of four, Figure of eight, Setting step, Hey
Primary Source Documents
The Library of Dance contains public-domain primary sources for dance history. Copyrighted modern syllabi are indexed with purchase links to their respective copyright owners. Search by dance name or codifier to discover primary source documents.
Last reviewed: August 2026 — This dance profile synthesizes historical research, cultural documentation, and contemporary practice knowledge to provide authoritative context.
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What did dancers wear?
Reel belongs to the Regency & Victorian (1800s) era. See how attire shaped the choreography — and the other way around.
Explore Regency & Victorian attire →Continue Exploring
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