There are several different types of sets (ie the way the dancers line up at the start of the dance).  By far the most common is the longways set in which the men line up opposite the ladies with the music to the men's left.  Most commonly such sets are for four couples but there are also dances for three and five couples and rarely, for six.

With a four-couple longways set, the most common type of dance is for three couples.  This seems a bit odd until you realise that when the dance starts, only the first three couples are involved.  After the first time through, the dance progresses so that a different three couples are now dancing.  Click here to see a graphical representation of how this works.  With three-couple dances in four-couple sets, the dance is repeated eight times, which allows each of the couples to take the leading role twice.

Four couple sets can also be the basis for four-couple dances.  Here, all four couples are dancing throughout each repetition of the dance (of which there are usually four in total).  Sometimes the first couple plays the lead role and ends in fourth place so that successively each couple is the dancing couple.  In other dances, the progression is more complicated but in almost every case, each couple starts each new repetition from a different place.  You never get bored doing SCDs!

When a longways set is for five couples, usually two couples dance the same formations - one at the top half and one at the bottom half of the set.  This means that the couple in the middle of the set have got twice as much work to do since they have to dance with both dancing couples in turn.  Click here to see how this works.

The square set is just that - four couples round the sides of a square.  Click here to see what it looks like. There are also variations on this such as a triangular set for three couples or a five couple set with the fifth couple in the middle of the square.

Click here to return to the SCD primer page