The Virginia Reel has an American barn dance feel to it, but don’t let that put you off — it goes down brilliantly at Scottish weddings. There’s something about the way it builds that makes it particularly satisfying to watch and to dance. Once the first couple starts working their way down the line, every guest can see exactly what’s coming, which takes away the anxiety and replaces it with anticipation.

Why the Virginia Reel works at weddings

The Virginia Reel has a lovely natural drama to it. It starts with everyone together doing the same thing, builds through a series of partner turns, then hands the spotlight to the top couple while the rest of the set watches and cheers. That combination of group activity and individual moment is great for wedding energy — it gives guests something to do together and something to enjoy watching.

It’s also very forgiving for beginners. The opening section — advancing, retiring, and turning — is simple enough that guests can feel capable right from the start. By the time the more complex part arrives, the room is warm and the calling keeps everyone right. I find it particularly popular with mixed-nationality guest lists because the barn dance roots make it feel slightly different from the more traditional Scottish dances, which can be a nice change of pace mid-ceilidh.

How the Virginia Reel works

The dance is formed in longwise sets of four couples — men on one side, ladies on the other, facing their partners. Couples are numbered from the top (nearest the music) downward.

The basic pattern

• All advance toward your partner for two steps, double high five your partner, then retire back.
• All advance and turn your partner with the right hand and retire again.
• All advance and turn your partner with the left hand and retire again
• All advance and turn your partner with both hands and retire again.
• All advance and do a do-si-do with your partner then retire, — walk past them right shoulder to right shoulder, step around each other back to back, and return to place without turning to face them.
• The top couple join both hands and side-slip (gallop) down the middle of the set to the bottom, then side-slip back up to the top.
• The top couple cast off — the man walks behind the men’s line, the lady walks behind the ladies’ line — leading their respective lines down to the bottom of the set. At the bottom, the top couple meet and form an arch with their joined hands, while the other three couples walk up through the middle to return to their places. The couple that was second is now at the top.

The whole sequence then repeats with the new top couple leading. The dance continues until every couple has had their turn at the top.

Tips for guests

The opening section is straightforward — advance, retire, turn. Don’t overthink the turns; just take your partner’s hand and go round. The do-si-do can catch people out because you don’t face your partner at any point — you pass them shoulder to shoulder and return to place walking backwards. Think of it as walking in a small square around each other.

When it’s your turn as the top couple, the side-slip down the middle is the fun bit — hold both hands with your partner and take short quick sideways steps (or a gallop if you’re feeling bold). The arch at the bottom is simple: just hold your hands high and let everyone walk through underneath.

What the Virginia Reel feels like on the night

There’s a lovely communal warmth to it. The opening section with everyone doing the same moves together creates a real sense of the whole set being in it together, and then when the top couple takes over there’s a natural moment of celebration — the rest of the set often claps them down and back. It’s one of those dances where guests who don’t know each other at the start of the set feel like a team by the end.

It tends to work best mid-ceilidh when the room is already energised but not yet tired. The do-si-do section always raises a laugh because people invariably forget not to face their partner, which makes it all the more memorable.

The Virginia Reel is one of five dances in the ceilidh dance guide. Read more about planning a ceilidh at your Scottish wedding or find out about the DJ ceilidh calling service.